ZWARTPLAAG 'Haatstorm'

A pure aggressive and hateful black metal offensive with their typical own style of riffs. After a couple of demos, this debut album confirms Zwartplaag has quickly become one of not many black metal hordes in the Dutch underground that matter.

1. Intro 01:43
2. Forgotten tower of moon 06:41
3. Countess of blood 06:55
4. Nachtkwaad 07:15
5. Last stronghold of eternal hate 07:30
6. Imperial death march 06:30
7. Winds of desecration and lust 06:01
8. Den plaag geleden 07:52
9. Haatstorm 06:31
10. Outro 02:36

Unleashed februari 2010 on cd and tape. "Haatstorm" album tshirt available now too in sizes S to XXL. Front: albumcover, logo, title; back: three photos + text. Click here for a photo.

100 / 100 metal-archives: "Haatstorm has a relentless, ancient, black metal feel that stands in a class of its own, as for example Taake, whereas Zwartplaag does not sound like the Taake horde. Haatstorm presents a new, unique brand of melodic, spine-tingling darkness using buzzing guitars. The epic-sounding lead guitars have not been heard like this since Sacramentum's "Far Away From the Sun," all the way back to 1996, yet Zwartplaag do not sound much like the Sacramentum horde. All the music on Haastorm makes you feel like you are experiencing a mass grave site, as one of the best tracks suggests "Imperial Death March". Every track (except the intro and outro) has memorable riffing and a new, unique, very dark, black metal feel that far surpass everything for the genre. The bass, drums, guitar and vocals perfectly fit together for each track, and create the tightest horde for a debut. Each musician is already one of the best in his class. Only label-mate Cultus, on "A Seat in Vahalla" has any of the special, unique sounds of Haatstorm, yet Zwartplaag do not sound like Cultus. The production is of the highest quality, yet dark black metal rawness strongly comes through the entire CD. A perfect hour long LP that you will not get tired of."

Heidens Hart

Murw “Kanker”

It has been said often about Murw that their songwriting and compositions were extraordinary; the potential was clearly there; it was just that not many people appreciated the unpolished and raw self-production of their previous material. Personally, a lo-fi production never bothers me.

However, the band decided to experiment and recorded this new album "Kanker" in a well known studio in Austria, and had it mastered in Slovenia. You can expect a heavy yet very clear sound. Production-wise, the album may appeal to a larger audience. However, do not fear their typical nonconformist songwriting and melodies have been replaced with artificiality, sing-a-long choruses and top 40 song structures. This is not an easy-listening pop metal album. The clear production reveals only little of the many layers of sick melodies, virtuoso playing and psychedelica. With this new level of production, combined with their ever genius songwriting and progressive and technical compositions, the future is theirs. Material here is very diverse, as we know Murw at their best. Expect to be sucked in four deranged songs that will wipe your happiness away like snow before the sun, and let their twists elevate you from total despair and disappointment, into delirium, and then transcend you into the laughing outsider. Because let's be honest, in this nowadays scene there are hardly any original and innovative bands left. Everyone wants to fit in some sub genre, its image and its scene. Not many bands write for the sake of themselves exclusively. If you are prepared to be amazed, add this album to your collection. You will not find any modern stoner or hippie influences on this album. A comparison to this album is impossible; just as all previous material from Murw, no two tracks are alike and all passages are highly unique and intelligent. However, to give you an idea, the material here matches with the best songs written by Esoteric, Mournful Congregation, Ved Buens Ende, old Paradise Lost, etc.

This time, all lyrics are included as well, giving a more than bleak insight to their hope-less and detached motivations, confronting you with personal mourning and disappointments.

“Kanker”
Heidens Hart 2011
1. Kanker 7:38
2. Als sneeuw voor de zon 11:46
3. De buitenstaander 7:38
4. Artificiality 10:38

Recorded and mixed at Vato Loco by M. Schirenc, August 2010. All music, lyrics and drawings by F. Kerkhoff.

Line-up on this recording:

• F. Kerkhoff: guitars, bass, vocals, keyboards

• R. Duijndam: vocals, bass
• P. Civikov: drums

Additional vocals on 'Artificiality' by miss A. Lenders

Heidens Hart

Mordaehoth “EENS WEER PREVALEERT HET HEIDENS HART”

Mordaehoth has always been led by one man; Sigwyrd (formerly known as Draugluin) who is the creative drive behind this horde. Starting out as a band in 1995 Mordaehoth released several demo's (in various line up's) being; "Solis Sacerdotibus" in 1997 (which was released as a split demo with Sigwyrd's ambient project Sullen), a promo in 1998 and the "Liederen van het onterfde land" demo in 1999 (which was re-released by BRH in 2003.) This demo got the band signed to the notorious Berzerker rex. However, Mordaehoth (which had become a solo project by then) only got to release one tape called "Verdoem al't Christelijk leven" in 2000 due to the demise of this label. Weary of this problem Sigwyrd decided to release Mordaehoth's debut album "Bloedwraak" on his own label New Era Productions in 2001. Not cut out to be a businessman he soon left New Era Productions in the hands of two friends to focus on what he did best; making music, and started writing material for the second album.

In 2003 a tape entitled "Balder" was released containing two new tracks to promote the upcoming album. Unfortunately the album wouldn't be released any time soon and things became rather silent round Mordaehoth. In 2004 Sigwyrd released "Hate Sessions", a short, ink black and raw cassette EP serving as an outlet for his darkest emotions. Not meant to be sold this "release" was only spread amongst friends. Two other out of the ordinary releases followed; a split 10" MLP in 2005 with Italian maniacs Altar of Perversion containing metal interpretations of Der Blutharsch songs and a 3 way split with the Flemish Myself and Veinen (a one time only project of Goat from Heretic and Welter member Krieger) in 2006. After these obscure oddities Mordaehoth once more withdrew into a deathlike silence. Now, after the ritual number of nine years since the release of the “Bloedwraak” debut album, Mordaehoth returns from the fog-veiled swamps of the pagan lowlands to present their all new full-length album.

“EENS WEER PREVALEERT HET HEIDENS HART” album release notes Carved, burnt and built during years, 'Eens weer prevaleert het heidens hart' (not to be confused with the same titled 1998 demo) offers the ultimate grim pagan metal opus from The Netherlands: long and dark warhymns, blending bitter melancholy over lost ages with flaming hate for the postmodern world; and pride in taking action in the revolt against it! In a truly overcrowded scene Mordaehoth deserves your attention by standing out with a mix of pagan and black metal and influences of dark folk with added atmosphere of occasional keyboards and clean vocals.

In an age where blogspots rape true underground mentality we offer you the format of choice in excquisite presentation:

- CD in A5 digipack edition with 16 page booklet, limited to 500 handnumbered copies;

- LP in white vinyl, 12" x 24" fold-out cover with 16 page A5 booklet, limited to 300 handnumbered copies;

- MC on pro-printed, high quality cassettes, limited to 300 handnumbered copies.
All versions have been hand-assemblied, so please excuse minor imperfections!
All printing is done in full-colour, on high-gloss, laminated paper!

“EENS WEER PREVALEERT HET HEIDENS HART”
Heidens Hart Records / New Era Productions 2010
1. Balder 06:59 * Releasedate: Out now!;
2. Helheim 03:31 * Highly anticipated second album;
3. Alvader 02:50 * Mastered at Tuianti studio (Ancestors Blood, Cultus,
4. Beschermd bij den hamerslag 07:01 Armagedda, Zwartplaag, Heimdalls Wacht...);
5. Prayers to a god who never came 05:55 * Worldwide release through the fucking underground!
6. Als 't vlammend zwaard de laatste dageraad inluidt 06:38
7. Father's sword 05:26
8. Bloodstorm 07:14

Heidens Hart 

HEIMDALLS WACHT - Nichtorte – Oder die Geistreise des Runenschamen

Heidens Hart Records  introduce their newest signing: German black / pagan metal band Heimdalls Wacht. Without a doubt one of the most respected black metal bands from Germany, always following their own old-school path and attitude, never wimping out or going for the stereotypes or for cheap political remarks.

Heimdalls Wacht is all about nostalgia. Their music represents the deity Heimdall, who looks at the modern world and concludes that everything he has fought for, has been in vain. He finds that all culture and identity has been lost, and he is overtaken with feelings of nostalgia, melancholy and anger. This translates to highly varied and expressionistic music, elevating through times long forgotten: epic yet melancholic guitar melodies and captivating, triumphant choirs are carefully composed to mix with aggressive and fierce blasting parts, as well as sections that remind of traditional folk music. No track is without a memorable tune, as 'Maelstrom', 'Der Wind gibt mir Geleit' and 'Ignis fatuus' will prove. The lyrics are at times conceptual, philosophical and traditional wonderings, deeply rooted in the history of their home-state Westphalia (a key state of Germany with a rich history), and especially its center Mönsterland, sometimes even written in the dialect of the area. To further stress this representation, the band refuses to give in to big promotional campaigns, and stresses they stand for noncommercial values in the metal underground scene, in a way not many bands share unfortunately. Neither do they have an official website or any social community accounts. Any eventual web-presence is to further explain their complex concept.

Four full length albums have been released since 2005 (though, with its spontaneous and primitive recording circumstances, 'Westfälischer Schlachtenlärm' was really more a demo), each one showing clear progression over the predecessor, yet always maintaining that feeling of nostalgia; always capturing that rough, primordial atmosphere and authentic mood of Heimdalls Wacht. Right after their first sign of life, the band got quickly offered high places on various big club and open air festivals. Their albums found a way to their fans in record time, leaving them completely sold-out in a short time – an almost surreal situation in this age of illegal downloads. The latest album 'Nichtorte', presented to you here, was originally released by an established promising German label who also represented popular bands like Angantyr, Orlog, Hel, Vardlokkur, Helritt, among others. Unfortunately, the label folded right after the album was released, so only a couple of hundreds cd's were sold, and no promotion was done at all. How better for Heidens Hart to start of this collaboration of tyrants with a proper and deserved release of the latest Heimdalls Wacht album 'Nichtorte - Oder die Geistreise des Runenschamanen'!?

heidenshart

Nichtorte – Oder die Geistreise des Runenschamen 

Heidens Hart 2011

1. Deindividuation 1:13

2. Maelstrom 4:36

3. Der Wind gibt mir Geleit 6:29

4. Ignis Fatuus 5:54

5. Die Lichtung im Mondesschein 1:20

6. Die Einsamkeit des Gestaltenwandlers 4:50

7. Waldeinsamkeit 8:54

8. Die Bürde der Schande 9:48

9. Das Treffen der Bergtrolle 1:12

10. Im Steinkreis der Alben 5:48

11. Der Zug der Wolkenfrauen 10:47

12. Reindividuation 1:02

Line-up:

• Narhemoth – Kreischstimme

• Saruman – Gesangsstimmen, Brüllstimme, Erzählung, Bass, akustische und elektrische Gitarre, Maultrommel und andere Rhythmusinstrumente, Flöte, Tastenklänge

• Feuerriese – Schlagzeug

heidenshart