SELBST - New album out now!

South America is generally better known for its gleefully nasty take on Blackened Thrash than it is for highbrow Black Metal.

One-man army (although a four-piece band for touring purposes) SELBST is about to readdress that balance with second full-length release, "Relatos De Angustia" (‘Stories Of Anguish’). After forming the band as a two-piece in 2010, multi-instrumentalist N chose to go solo, escaping the socio-economic turmoil in his native Venezuela and relocated to Santiago, Chile where he continues to operate alone – appropriate for a band whose moniker references philosopher Carl Jung’s individualist concept of the self. It ties in nicely to the mournful introspection that characterises much of "Relatos De Angustia", from the consternated dissonance of opener "Praeludium" bleeding into "Deafening Wailing Of The Desperate Ones" staccato riffs and the keening, trebly leads of "The Depths Of Selfishness".

The record’s first half establishes an emotional tone and sonic palette, very much a continuation of what began on 2017’s self-titled release. The hesitancy has been replaced with a palpable sense of confidence as the music flows from introspection to fury and leads reach for the sky as drums rattle breathlessly. The second half offers variation on the formula, "The Weight Of Breathing" playing with skittish time signatures and towering melodic calamity, while "Let The Pain Run Through" closes the record in experimental fashion, playing with chorally gothic vocals and maleficent formlessness. (Thanks to Tom O' Boyle / Metal Hammer for this great review)

"Relatos De Angustia" is available now on CD, Vinyl, Cassette and Digital via our EU shop, Bandcamp and US shop. Bundles are available at a cheaper rate exclusively from our EU shop. Stream it through your fave platform here.