Italian black metal gods MORTUARY DRAPE will celebrate their 30th Anniversary show on November 12th, featuring ANCIENT‘s Frontman Zel (aka Aphazel) alongside many other great artists. Today Zel has unleashed a teaser for the show, watch it here:
MORTUARY DRAPE 30th anniversary show featuring Erik Danielsson (WATAIN, Sweden) Niklas Kvarforth (SHINING, Sweden) AC Wild & Andy “Bull” Panigada (BULLDOZER, Italy) Aphazel (ANCIENT, Norway) Al De Noble (DEATH SS, SECRET SPHERE, Italy) Trevor (SADIST, Italy)
ANCIENT released their long awaited 7th studio album, “Back To The Land Of The Dead” on September 16th in North America via (Megadeth bassist David Ellefson’s) EMP Underground/EMP Label Group, and in the rest of the World by Soulseller Records.
Norwegian extreme metal titans ANCIENT are confirmed for Gothoom Festival, set to take place on July 20-22, 2017 in Slovakia. Get more information on Gothoom Festival here.
ANCIENT frontman Zel commented: “It’s with great pleasure we announce our appearance at the Gothoom festival in July next year. Slovakia is a country we have many great memories from and we look very much forward to return to our fans there and unleash the Ancient spirit once again!!”
As recently announced, Zel will feature, as special guest on MORTUARY DRAPE’s 30th anniversary show, taking place on November 12th at LAB in Alessandria (Italy). Facebook event page here.
ANCIENT released their long awaited 7th studio album, “Back To The Land Of The Dead” on September 16th in North America via (Megadeth bassist David Ellefson’s) EMP Underground/EMP Label Group, and in the rest of the World by Soulseller Records.
“Back To The Land Of The Dead” is a comeback for ANCIENT, 12 years after the previous release “Night Visit”. The album was recorded in 7 different locations, in Norway, Denmark, Italy and Greece, mixed in Elfo Studios in Italy, and mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios. The album was produced by Ancient.
With Nick Barker behind the drumkit, the album is, as expected, the most aggressive and fastest album of ANCIENT, yet still with a good amount of clean guitars, and various dark atmospheres as the band is known for. The music was composed by Zel and Dhilorz. The lyrics on the album are all written by Zel, many of them speaking about the devil, the spirit of the devil and how it influences us in various devastating and destructive ways, as well as some fantasy lyrics, still somehow connected with the “old Nick subject”. The album cover shows a hooded figure coming back to “the land of the dead” to wake up the “spiritually dead people there”. The album is 66 minutes long and has 13 tracks, including a cover of Bathory “13 Candles”.
ANCIENT frontman Zel stated: “Death is just the beginning… “
The track listing is as follows :
1. Land of The Dead ( Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Dhilorz and Zel)
2. Beyond The Blood Moon (Music and lyrics by Zel)
3. The Sempiternal Haze (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel)
4. The Empyrean Sword (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel)
5. The Ancient Disarray (Music and lyrics by Zel)
6. Occlude The Gates (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel)
The Excruciating Journey
7. Part I Defiance and rage (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel)
8. Part II The Prodigal Years (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel)
9. Part III The Awakening (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel)
10. Death Will Die (Music and lyrics by Zel)
11. The Spiral (Music and lyrics by Zel)
12. Petrified By Their End (Music by Dhilorz and Zel, lyrics by Zel)
Bonus track :
13. 13 Candles (Music and lyrics by Quorthon)
ANCIENT line-up:
Zel (aka Aphazel) on vocals/guitars/keyboards
Dhilorz on guitars/bass
Nick Barker on drums
Live sessions:
Ghiulz Borroni (Bulldozer) on guitars
Norwegian extreme metal titans ANCIENT have launched the band’s new official promo photo, including the current line-up, featuring Zel (aka Aphazel) on vocals/guitars/keyboards, Dhilorz on guitars/bass and Nick Barker on drums, as well as Ghiulz Borroni (BULLDOZER), the band’s live session guitarist.
Furthermore ANCIENT‘s frontman Zel revealed that “later this month will be releaved news about the European 2017 tour.”
ANCIENT released their long awaited 7th studio album, “Back To The Land Of The Dead” on September 16th in North America via (Megadeth bassist David Ellefson’s) EMP Underground/EMP Label Group, and in the rest of the World by Soulseller Records.
“Back To The Land Of The Dead” is a comeback for ANCIENT, 12 years after the previous release “Night Visit”. The album was recorded in 7 different locations, in Norway, Denmark, Italy and Greece, mixed in Elfo Studios in Italy, and mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios. The album was produced by Ancient.
With Nick Barker behind the drumkit, the album is, as expected, the most aggressive and fastest album of ANCIENT, yet still with a good amount of clean guitars, and various dark atmospheres as the band is known for. The music was composed by Zel and Dhilorz. The lyrics on the album are all written by Zel, many of them speaking about the devil, the spirit of the devil and how it influences us in various devastating and destructive ways, as well as some fantasy lyrics, still somehow connected with the “old Nick subject”. The album cover shows a hooded figure coming back to “the land of the dead” to wake up the “spiritually dead people there”. The album is 66 minutes long and has 13 tracks, including a cover of Bathory “13 Candles”.
ANCIENT frontman Zel states: “Death is just the beginning… “
The track listing is as follows :
1. Land of The Dead ( Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Dhilorz and Zel)
2. Beyond The Blood Moon (Music and lyrics by Zel)
3. The Sempiternal Haze (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel)
4. The Empyrean Sword (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel)
5. The Ancient Disarray (Music and lyrics by Zel)
6. Occlude The Gates (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel)
The Excruciating Journey
7. Part I Defiance and rage (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel)
8. Part II The Prodigal Years (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel)
9. Part III The Awakening (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel)
10. Death Will Die (Music and lyrics by Zel)
11. The Spiral (Music and lyrics by Zel)
12. Petrified By Their End (Music by Dhilorz and Zel, lyrics by Zel)
Bonus track :
13. 13 Candles (Music and lyrics by Quorthon)
Italian black metal gods MORTUARY DRAPE have announced ANCIENT‘s Frontman Zel(aka Aphazel) for the band’s 30th anniversary show, taking place on November 12th at LAB in Alessandria (Italy), read below the announcement:
“More great guests have been confirmed to the MORTUARY DRAPE’s 30th anniversary show. Besides Erik Danielsson (WATAIN) and AC Wild (BULLDOZER), Andy “Bull” Panigada (BULLDOZER’s guitars player), Al De Noble (DEATH SS and SECRET SPHERE’s guitars player), Aphazel, frontman of the mighty Norwegian extreme metallers ANCIENT – well known for their classic album “Svartalvheim” (1994) and they just released the new album “Back to the Land of the Dead” – will take part of the show.”
ANCIENT released their long awaited 7th studio album, “Back To The Land Of The Dead” on September 16th in North America via (Megadeth bassist David Ellefson’s) EMP Underground/EMP Label Group, and in the rest of the World by Soulseller Records.
Band: ANCIENT Album: “Back To The Land Of The Dead” Label: EMP Underground/EMP Label Group, Soulseller Records Release Date: September 16th, 2016
[see the tracklisting below]
Norwegian extreme metal titans ANCIENT released their long awaited 7th studio album, “Back To The Land Of The Dead” on September 16th in North America via (Megadeth bassist David Ellefson’s) EMP Underground/EMP Label Group, and in the rest of the World by Soulseller Records. “Back To The Land Of The Dead” is a comeback for ANCIENT, 12 years after the previous release “Night Visit”. The album was recorded in 7 different locations, in Norway, Denmark, Italy and Greece, mixed in Elfo Studios in Italy, and mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios. The album was produced by Ancient.
Being the band’s first album in 12 years, it’s safe to say that the level of expectation was huge to listen to this 66 minutes effort, divided in 12 original songs plus a Bathory cover. ANCIENT‘s genre, since the beginning was defined, by fans and media, as (melodic) black metal with roots in Norway, but I dare to say that with “Back To The Land Of The Dead” the musical style moves towards extreme; spiced with fragments of mysterious and sinister. A great amount of clean guitars, and various dark atmospheres are the band’s trademark! Zel‘s voice has the right sharp edge that slides along music as a beast of prey. And no need to say, that the contribution of Nick Barker on drums, brings an added impetus to the album, with his ferocious and recognizable drumming work, making so this album the most aggressive and fastest album of ANCIENT, so far. The new line-up sounds good, and it has gained the confidence, melting together the years’ experience, taking the best out of it.
Thematically“Back To The Land Of The Dead” speaks about the devil, the spirit of the devil and how it influences us in various devastating and destructive ways. The album cover shows a hooded figure coming back to “the land of the dead” to wake up the “spiritually dead people there”.
All the tracks on the album work well together in harmony; varying between the top speed and slowdowns, using also lighter parts with acoustic guitars, creating so the mythical atmospheric concept of “Back To The Land Of The Dead”. I personally got hooked to this album, right after the first listening. I had the privilege to get it already some months before the release, and since then, I’ve consumed the tracks over and over again, trying even to “get enough of it” but instead each time the album takes my breath away, like it did months ago.
To be able to detail my thoughts on this album, I have to “slice” it between the different atmospheres it creates in me. Each part has its own different charm, and all parts are linked harmoniously together, so that one part cannot lack the other one, otherwise the album wouldn’t be complete. It’s like a sequence that leaves in you a full and enjoyable harmony.
Overall. “Back To The Land Of The Dead” is like a logical and distinctive movie, you have to see it fully, several times, to get the right taste of it. If somebody should have any hint of doubt on this album, I challenge you to listen to this masterpiece, without comparing to earlier ones… without doubts, this one will hit you with its magic!
Rating 10/10
Check out the album teaser here:
The new ANCIENT line-up is:
Zel (aka Aphazel) on vocals/guitars/keyboards
Dhilorz on guitars/bass
Nick Barker on drums
Live sessions:
Ghiulz Borroni (Bulldozer) on guitars
“Back To The Land Of The Dead” track listing:
1. Land of The Dead (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Dhilorz and Zel)
2. Beyond The Blood Moon (Music and lyrics by Zel)
3. The Sempiternal Haze (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel)
4. The Empyrean Sword (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel)
5. The Ancient Disarray (Music and lyrics by Zel)
6. Occlude The Gates (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel)
The Excruciating Journey
7. Part I Defiance and rage (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel)
8. Part II The Prodigal Years (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel)
9. Part III The Awakening (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel)
10. Death Will Die (Music and lyrics by Zel)
11. The Spiral (Music and lyrics by Zel)
12. Petrified By Their End (Music by Dhilorz and Zel, lyrics by Zel)
Bonus track :
13. 13 Candles (Music and lyrics by Quorthon)
Stream “Death Will Die” and “Land Of The Dead” here:
Norwegian extreme metal titans ANCIENT released their long awaited 7th studio album, “Back To The Land Of The Dead” on September 16th in North America via (Megadeth bassist David Ellefson’s) EMP Underground/EMP Label Group, and in the rest of the World by Soulseller Records. Today ANCIENT has unleashed a teaser video for the album.
“Back To The Land Of The Dead” is a comeback for ANCIENT, 12 years after the previous release “Night Visit”. The album was recorded in 7 different locations, in Norway, Denmark, Italy and Greece, mixed in Elfo Studios in Italy, and mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios. The album was produced by Ancient.
With Nick Barker behind the drumkit, the album is, as expected, the most aggressive and fastest album of ANCIENT, yet still with a good amount of clean guitars, and various dark atmospheres as the band is known for. The music was composed by Zel and Dhilorz. The lyrics on the album are all written by Zel, many of them speaking about the devil, the spirit of the devil and how it influences us in various devastating and destructive ways, as well as some fantasy lyrics, still somehow connected with the “old Nick subject”. The album cover shows a hooded figure coming back to “the land of the dead” to wake up the “spiritually dead people there”. The album is 66 minutes long and has 13 tracks, including a cover of Bathory “13 Candles”.
ANCIENT frontman Zel states: “Death is just the beginning… “
The track listing is as follows :
1. Land of The Dead ( Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Dhilorz and Zel)
2. Beyond The Blood Moon (Music and lyrics by Zel)
3. The Sempiternal Haze (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel)
4. The Empyrean Sword (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel)
5. The Ancient Disarray (Music and lyrics by Zel)
6. Occlude The Gates (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel)
The Excruciating Journey
7. Part I Defiance and rage (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel)
8. Part II The Prodigal Years (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel)
9. Part III The Awakening (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel)
10. Death Will Die (Music and lyrics by Zel)
11. The Spiral (Music and lyrics by Zel)
12. Petrified By Their End (Music by Dhilorz and Zel, lyrics by Zel)
Bonus track :
13. 13 Candles (Music and lyrics by Quorthon)
The new ANCIENT line-up is featuring Zel (aka Aphazel) on vocals/guitars/keyboards, Dhilorz on guitars/bass and Nick Barker on drums. Just recently the band announced Ghiulz Borroni, esteemed shredder of extreme metal scene and lead guitarist of the legendary cult band BULLDOZER, to be the band’s live session guitarist.
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