ENSIFERUM Launches Lyric Video For “For Sirens”, NOTHGARD Epic melodic death metallers release “Lightcrawler” digital single, CATTLE DECAPITATION ‘Monolith of Inhumanity’, ‘The Anthropocene Extinction’ vinyl re-issues now available.
Last Friday (July 10th), Ensiferum released their new full-length, Thalassic, via Metal Blade Records.
A lyric video for the album track “For Sirens” can now be viewed HERE.
Ensiferum are a true powerhouse when it comes to folk-inspired melodic death metal, something they hammer home more resolutely than ever with eighth full-length Thalassic. The title translating from ancient Greek as “of or relating to seas”, it’s a suitably huge and wide-ranging collection that incorporates orchestrations and traditional folk instrumentation alongside the roaring guitars, bass, and drums. “I think we managed to take another step ahead musically and we also utilized the best parts of our old sound,” states bassist/vocalist Sami Hinkka. “There are lots of Ensiferum’s trademarks: beautiful folkish melodies, ass-kicking riffs, a nice mix of different vocals and great singalong choruses.” The addition of new keyboard player/lead clean vocalist Pekka Montin also “really raised the new songs to another level”, while Mikko P. Mustonen once again presided over the orchestrations, and violin virtuoso Lassi Logren recorded folk instruments on a few tracks.
The biggest difference separating Thalassic from the rest of Ensiferum’s catalogue comes from the fact that it’s the first of their albums to be built around a theme. “The idea of it started to brew in my mind when I was doing interviews for ‘Two Paths’ and many journalists asked if it was a theme album, and I noticed that I was answering all the time that because of the way we compose it’s almost impossible to make a theme album. This really started to piss me off and the decision was made: the next album would have a theme. At that time, we already had a few songs almost ready for the next album, and I started to listen to the demos much more from the feeling aspect instead of analyzing them musically. For some reason, all of them took me to a seashore, and the theme was found: something related to sea or water. So I started to read about history, myths and legend around the world that had something to do with the theme, but even though all of the lyrics are obviously inspired by this, I tried my best to keep Ensiferum’s heroic mentality in them. In the end, there were too many ideas for lyrics, because I didn’t set myself any boundaries – like all stories would have to be Nordic, etc, and one of my favourite songs on the album tells about Andromeda from Greek mythology. I can’t promise that this way of lyric-writing will be the future of Ensiferum, but at least we did this once.”
Mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren, Thalassic was recorded and produced in Petrax and Sonic Pump studios by Janne Joutsenniemi, who was involved on their albums Victory Songs (2007) and From Afar (2009). “We like to go to a studio when we have all the songs 99.9% ready so the producer’s main job is to kick our asses while we record. Of course Janne Joutsenniemi is a world-class producer, and we asked his opinion if we were doubting any details. It was really a pleasure to work with him again, and I think this was one of the most easy-going studio sessions I have ever been part of. We are extremely happy with the result.”
Stream and purchase Thalassic now at: metalblade.com/ensiferum
Epic Melodic Death Metallers Nothgard have just released a brand new digital single, Lightcrawler!
Feel free to check it out on all digital platforms worldwide.
The single was recorded and mixed by Nothgard’s very own Dom R. Crey (vocals/guitar) at his Splendid Wave Studios in Germany. The finishing touch was given by the fantastic Maor Appelbaum in Los Angeles / USA.
To underline the message of the single, the band shot a dark, atmospheric music video (directed by Dream Film Factory) with high quality special effects.
Comments Nothgard singer/guitarist Dom R. Crey: “To me, ‘Lightcrawler’ is a bit more than just a single. The whole thing has slumbered in my brain for some time. I just needed the right trigger to put it into lyrics and music. For the listener, the ‘Lightcrawler’ is just a metaphorical figure, but for me, it is a real being. It is an embodiment of people I met in my life. People who made me feel drained and sick.”
Nothgard entered the official German album charts with their latest album Malady X at position 53! Visit www.metalblade.com/nothgard to check out all three videos Nothgard produced for Malady X and to order the album.
Due to overwhelming demand, Cattle Decapitation will release LP re-issues of their classic albums Monolith of Inhumanity and The Anthropocene Extinction via Metal Blade Records on August 21st.
Pre-order your copies now at: metalblade.com/cattledecapitation
See below for an overview of available formats:
Monolith of Inhumanity LP re-issue
– “An Exhibition of Insides” bone / oxblood melt vinyl (US exclusive – first pressing 700 copies)
– “Erythrocytic Disgorgence” beer w/ red splatter vinyl (US exclusive – first pressing 300 copies)
– 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
– “Projectile Ovulation” clear w/ red and white splatter vinyl (EU exclusive – limited to 300 copies)
– “Eye of the Monolith” red w/ black splatter vinyl (EU webshop exclusive – limited to 200 copies)
– “Precious Metal” gold / silver split vinyl (EU webshop exclusive – limited to 100 copies)
* exclusive bundles with shirts and merch items are also available!
The Anthropocene Extinction LP re-issue
– “Message in a Bottle” coke bottle green w/ white inside vinyl (US exclusive – first pressing 700 copies)
– “Anthropocrepitus” clear w/ aqua blue and gold splatter vinyl (US exclusive – first pressing 300 copies)
– 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
– “Circo Inhumanitas” yellow / red circus tent vinyl (EU exclusive – limited to 300 copies)
– “Trash Explosion” multi-color splatter vinyl (EU webshop exclusive – limited to 200 copies)
– “Anti-Arctic” white / blue melt vinyl (EU webshop exclusive – limited to 100 copies)
* exclusive bundles with shirts and merch items are also available! Including the “Octagoat” T-Shirt design (Metal Blade exclusive)
