DMP‘s Servants of Chaos festival in October 2024 heralded a triumphant return to the stage for ferocious Black Metal force, SLIDHR. Breaking years of silence, they unleashed a relentless performance which embodied the essence of their unyielding Black Metal artistry.

On the festival’s second day, SLIDHR took the stage after LIGHT OF THE MORNING STAR, building upon an aura of ominous majesty. Their unrelenting performance, propelled by blistering speed, brought to life both the ferocity of celebrated latest album “White Hart!” and the crushing weight of the band’s earlier works. Adding to the enigmatic atmosphere, Dungeon Synth act GEHEIMNISKNECHT framed the show with an eerie introduction and conclusion, immersing the audience in an esoteric haze.

Recorded at Servants of Chaos Festival on October 18-19, 2024
Resonanzwerk, Oberhausen, Germany
Debemur Morti Productions & Parasite Gallows Booking

Event Recording & Postproduction: tomanek|media

SLIDHR live line-up:

JD – vocals, guitar
BE – drums
SD – guitar
AnV – bass
Geheimnisknecht – synth (intro + outro)

Setlist:

01. Sentient Flames Consume
02. Wall of the Reptile
03. Belief Burned as Incense
04. Hex
05. White Hart!
06. What the Gauntlet Bestows
07. The Paupers’ Bones

“The entity of SLIDHR is that of pure hopelessness and desolation. Scion of the Black Stream, flowing into hollow vessels and the miasma to all creatures of the earth. SLIDHR is the illumination of the hidden serpent, removed of its black shroud, draining the vitality of very existence itself.

An understanding of SLIDHR is an understanding of the overwhelming essence of death.

SLIDHR is the exultation to a dead realm, itself a spark in a realm of nothingness, so far removed from recurring banality. It is creeping death enveloping the empty body of man, a great plague decimating mortal unity.”

Formed in 2005 and hailing from Dublin, Ireland, SLIDHR is an immersive maelstrom of venomously misanthropic Black Metal. The band’s name derives from the Sliðr, a river flowing through Hel, the land of the dead in Norse mythology – a moniker which befits their dark enigmatic power.

Founded as a solo project by artist, tattooist and bassist/guitarist/vocalist Joseph Deegan, since 2013 the band has featured Icelandic drummer Bjarni Einarsson (SINMARA, ALMYRKVI) and more recently bassist Stefan Dietz.

Following the 2006 cassette release of “Demo 1” (Debemur Morti Productions), the band has unleashed two full-length albums – “Deluge” (2013, DMP) and “The Futile Fires Of Man” (2018, Ván Records) – in addition to two EPs and two split releases. The abyssal atmosphere of these records in combination with furiously intense select live performances at festivals such as Inferno, Prague Death Mass, Caledonian Darkness and Ascension has established SLIDHR as a force to be reckoned with.

A highly-anticipated third long player entitled “White Hart!” was released via DMP at the end of 2023.

As a second evocation from forthcoming album “White Hart!“, Ireland’s finest SLIDHR present ‘What The Gauntlet Bestows‘. This perfectly executed new composition convinces with full blown Black Metal fanaticism and carefully interwoven passages of ominous calm. Listen via Bandcamp and the label’s YT channel, below.

Composer J. Deegan notes:

“Given that the first single and title track is probably the most musically direct and aggressive track on the album, it is easy to see why this one sounds a lot more diverse. The core is still somewhat brutal and straightforward but branching out to avoid fatigue. Some bands can do brutality from beginning to end but that is not really our thing. As with almost all SLIDHR tracks, this one began with me figuring out stuff on guitar. It’s my main and my favorite instrument to write on. When I compose a song, I try to let it develop as I write but also not overthink. The last section of this one was a result of my fondness for stuff like BATHORY and ISENGARD. Heavy, catchy folkish vibes. We have visited this before but there’s always room for more of this stuff. Lyrically, this one deals with those who are too weak to stand for what they believe in and are content to live a life of servitude to tyranny. Weaklings who are happy to do as they are commanded for fear of the master’s whip. Perhaps for some the years of punishment will result in a breaking point.“

Find more information about the album here.

“White Hart!” will be released on CD, vinyl and digital via Debemur Morti Productions on October 13th. Pre-orders are possible via the label’s EU, US and Bandcamp shops.

“The entity of SLIDHR is that of pure hopelessness and desolation. Scion of the Black Stream, flowing into hollow vessels and the miasma to all creatures of the earth. SLIDHR is the illumination of the hidden serpent, removed of its black shroud, draining the vitality of very existence itself.

An understanding of SLIDHR is an understanding of the overwhelming essence of death.

SLIDHR is the exultation to a dead realm, itself a spark in a realm of nothingness, so far removed from recurring banality. It is creeping death enveloping the empty body of man, a great plague decimating mortal unity.“

Formed in 2005 and hailing from Dublin, Ireland, SLIDHR is an immersive maelstrom of venomously misanthropic Black Metal. The band’s name derives from the Sliðr, a river flowing through Hel, the land of the dead in Norse mythology – a moniker which befits their dark enigmatic power.

Founded as a solo project by artist, tattooist and bassist/guitarist/vocalist Joseph Deegan, since 2013 the band has featured Icelandic drummer Bjarni Einarsson (SINMARA, ALMYRKVI) and more recently bassist Stefan Dietz.

Following the 2006 cassette release of “Demo 1” (Debemur Morti Productions), the band has unleashed two full-length albums – “Deluge” (2013, DMP) and “The Futile Fires Of Man” (2018, Ván Records) – in addition to two EPs and two split releases. The abyssal atmosphere of these records in combination with furiously intense select live performances at festivals such as Inferno, Prague Death Mass, Caledonian Darkness and Ascension has established SLIDHR as a force to be reckoned with.

A highly-anticipated third long player entitled “White Hart!” will be released via DMP at the end of 2023.

Five years after “The Futile Fires Of Man” (2018), Ireland’s SLIDHR return to release a grim new work of Black Metal Art. “White Hart!” will darken the sky on October 13th and bring forth 8 compositions brim-filled with passion, hatred and venom!

Tracklist:

01. The Temple Armoury
02. White Hart!
03. Sacred Defiance
04. Trench Offering
05. What The Gauntlet Bestows
06. The Bloodied Tongue
07. Wall Of The Reptile
08. Hate’s Noose Tightens

Main composer and mastermind J. Deegan is also responsible for the cover artwork, mixing and mastering of “White Hart!“. B. Einarsson recorded the drums and recently joined band-member S. Dietz performed bass and contributed additional vocals.

The mysterious title “White Hart!” symbolises a white deer which holds mystical meaning, as J. Deegan narrates:

“The symbol of the white hart was used to represent the messenger from the otherworld. The album title was actually specifically inspired by something that happened in England a couple of years ago when a white stag entered a city and rather than capture it or usher it back to the woods, it was unnecessarily shot and killed by the police. Given the totalitarian state of the world at that time it struck me as hugely symbolic. I immediately knew it would influence the lyrics on the next album somehow. The tyranny of the self-professed ‘elites’ who impose their will on the world will have their just rewards one day, in this life or the next. The titles they bestow on one another are meaningless, that’s what I was getting at with the symbolism in that painting. The light of retribution will shine on them one day.“

A first song from the forthcoming album and pre-order possibilities will be revealed on September 4th. “White Hart!” will be released via CD, vinyl and digital formats via Debemur Morti Productions on October 13th.

“The entity of SLIDHR is that of pure hopelessness and desolation. Scion of the Black Stream, flowing into hollow vessels and the miasma to all creatures of the earth. SLIDHR is the illumination of the hidden serpent, removed of its black shroud, draining the vitality of very existence itself.

An understanding of SLIDHR is an understanding of the overwhelming essence of death.

SLIDHR is the exultation to a dead realm, itself a spark in a realm of nothingness, so far removed from recurring banality. It is creeping death enveloping the empty body of man, a great plague decimating mortal unity.“

Formed in 2005 and hailing from Dublin, Ireland, SLIDHR is an immersive maelstrom of venomously misanthropic Black Metal. The band’s name derives from the Sliðr, a river flowing through Hel, the land of the dead in Norse mythology – a moniker which befits their dark enigmatic power.

Founded as a solo project by artist, tattooist and bassist/guitarist/vocalist Joseph Deegan, since 2013 the band has featured Icelandic drummer Bjarni Einarsson (SINMARA, ALMYRKVI) and more recently bassist Stefan Dietz.

Following the 2006 cassette release of “Demo 1” (Debemur Morti Productions), the band has unleashed two full-length albums – “Deluge” (2013, DMP) and “The Futile Fires Of Man” (2018, Ván Records) – in addition to two EPs and two split releases. The abyssal atmosphere of these records in combination with furiously intense select live performances at festivals such as Inferno, Prague Death Mass, Caledonian Darkness and Ascension has established SLIDHR as a force to be reckoned with.

A highly-anticipated third long player entitled “White Hart!” will be released via DMP on October 13th 2023.