Since the unholy reunion between the two MYSTIC CIRCLE founders A. Blackwar and Beelzebub in 2021, the Germanic black metal wargods are stronger than ever. What began anew in 2022 with the self-titled “Mystic Circle” album and was rewarded with a sensational #78 place in the German album charts, was continued the following year with “Erzdämon” and now completed with “Hexenbrand 1486”. The band’s forthcoming studio offering has been announced for a release on October 31, 2025 via ROAR, and will be available on CD and Vinyl (both featuring a comic) as well as Digital formats. The pre-sale has just started at: https://mysticcircle.rpm.link/hexenbrandPR
MYSTIC CIRCLE sound unmistakable, their trademarks are manifold and their hunger seems almost insatiable. What the duo has created in recent years is unparalleled and continues the legacy that the band created in the nineties with their classics “Drachenblut” (1998) and “Infernal Satanic Verses” (1999). MYSTIC CIRCLE themselves describe their style as melodic extreme metal, their very own mix of old-school death and black metal, traditional heavy metal of the eighties and horror soundtracks.
“More serious, more respectful and more authentic” is the definition of the tenth MYSTIC CIRCLE epic “Hexenbrand 1486” – a statement that certainly applies to the formation’s attitude. “It’s a journey through time in the Mystic Circle universe. The album is very varied and each song has its own dominance. We could release every track as a single and that says a lot about the strength of the longplayer,” emphasizes A. Blackwar.
About their new single, “Ghost Of Whitechapel”, frontman Beelzebub adds:
“The classic Jack the Ripper story from the monster’s point of view. We did a lot of research, from the alleged letters written by the original killer to the verses he is said to have spoken to himself. Inspired by the comic “From Hell’, which is a true masterpiece, we had to make the song.”
Listen to the song now streaming on: https://mysticcircle.rpm.link/ghostPR
“Hexenbrand 1486”, produced with Nils Lesser, is largely about the ‘Malleus Maleficarum’, the hammer of witches, which was written in Speyer/Germany in the year 1486. “We are lucky to live near well-known events and dark legends. Our Nibelungen cult “Drachenblut” comes from our region, as does the concept in the second part of the new record about Heinrich “Institoris” Kramer, the author of the Hexenhammer,” A. Blackwar explains.
“Heinrich Kramer embodies everything we hate about the holy institution of the church. He was a vile sadist who acted out his resentment towards women under the cloak of Christian scripture. The Hexenhammer is the work of a madman and should encourage everyone even more to leave the church and follow their own path of faith,” says Beelzebub.
The horror flair of the 80s already played a major role in the duo’s style on “Mystic Circle” and “Erzdämon”. On “Hexenbrand 1486” they consistently go one step further and add dark synth wave passages in appropriate places, with a comparable flair to legendary horror shockers and soundtracks by Dario Argento, who used synthesizers in his very own way.
In keeping with the theme of witches, three women are represented on “Hexenbrand 1486”: The two singers Sarah Jezebel Deva (ex-CRADLE OF FILTH, THE KOVENANT) and Karo Hafke (UMBRA ET IMAGO, GIANTS CAUSAWAY) as well as Natalie Ostermaier, the author and illustrator of the book “Kramer”, from which the accompanying comic is taken, that is integrated in the CD booklet and comes with the vinyl first edition as a 12-page A5 comic. “Sarah has once again taken on the classic part. This time it’s different with Karo. She carries the album with her voice and embodies the countless women who were burned and tortured because of sick fantasies back then. She gives the new album a special stamp. Natalie Ostermaier and her book “Kramer” came into play through the concept. She liked the idea of using an excerpt from her book for our album, and so what had to come together came together.”
Following the album release of “Hexenbrand 1486” on October 31, 2025, MYSTIC CIRCLE will increasingly focus on the announced live presence, which is scheduled to kick off in South America and Mexico in spring 2026. The band recently signed a booking deal with Flaming Arts (POSSESSED, BELPHEGOR, GOD DETHRONED and others). They are looking for support from guest musicians to complete the band live. “We’re going to do a lot, because we like the old stage shows of great masters like W.A.S.P, DIO or ALICE COOPER.”
Pre-Order “Hexenbrand 1486” now on https://mysticcircle.rpm.link/hexenbrandPR
Tracklist:
- Luciferian
- The Scarlet Queen Of Harlots
- Boogeyman
- In The Sign Of The Goat
- Ghost Of Whitechapel
- Institoris (Heinrich Kramer)
- The Bible Of Witch Chase
- Blutschande Unzucht Sodomie
- Dance On The Wings Of Black Magic
- Zeugnis Der Verachtung (Outro)
MYSTIC CIRCLE is:
Beelzebub – Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards
A. Blackwar – Drums, Guitars, Keyboards
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