Profound Lore   Page 5

Dawnbringer

Night Of The Hammer

Profound Lore

Led by one-man heavy metal machine Chris Black, considered by many the savior of modern-day metal, Dawnbringer has become a force in underground realms over the last several years, releasing a number of acclaimed albums, most recently Nucleus (2010) and Into the Lair of the Sun God (2012) on Profound Lore Records. Lamentably, we live in an age where the majority of heavy metal is laughable at best. With their latest full-length on the horizon, Dawnbringer is once again ready to remind us that metal’s true spirit is still alive and well. Recorded in Oakland’s legendary Sharkbite Studios, Night of the Hammer is another glorious chapter in the band’s repertoire that showcases Black as one of the genre’s true visionaries. No image, no false attitude, no posturing or posing—just pure, heartfelt, genuine heavy metal the way it should be.

Menace Ruine

Venus Armata

Profound Lore

S. De La Moth and Geneviève, the duo comprising Montreal, Quebec’s Menace Ruine, have produced some of the most alluring and mesmerizing music in the experimental / noise scene in recent years. Their enigmatic, seductive sound mixes elements of industrial, classic goth / darkwave, martial ambient, black metal and neo-folk into a wondrous whole. The group has released material on such respected experimental labels as Alien8 and Aurora Borealis, appeared at the prestigious Roadburn Festival, and shared the stage with Mamiffer, Ash Borer, Nadja, Daniel Menche, Wolf Eyes, Watain and Aluk Todolo, to name a few. Menace Ruine’s fifth album continues the ongoing expansion of the pair’s sonic canvas, with Geneviève’s spellbinding vocals commanding even more of a presence here. Never completely abandoning traditional song structures, Venus Armata buries an alluring sense of melancholy and longing within pulsating layers of sound. It will stand as one of the most compelling albums in experimental / ambient music released this year, garnering further awareness and acclaim for Menace Ruine. Received a 7.4 rating from Pitchfork.

Occultation

Silence In The Ancestral House

Profound Lore

Featuring Negative Plane guitarist E.M., Occultation crafts one of the strangest and most distinct sounds in dark metal today. With a distinct mix of prog, classic metal and ’80s goth, the Brooklyn, NY, trio’s sound is singular and intriguing. Their 2012 debut Three and Seven turned heads with its wicked mix of classic Mercyful Fate, Death SS, Siouxie and the Banshees, and The Cure; now Occultation presents a work even more bewitching and fascinating. Produced, recorded and mixed at Godcity Studios by Kurt Ballou (responsible for capturing the sonic chaos of Converge, High on Fire, Skeletonwitch, Old Man Gloom and many more), this massive, multi-layered opus reveals new facets with each successive listen. Haunting, dreamlike and even more progressive than their past material, it showcases refined songwriting and alluring melodic sensibilities underpinned by the commanding and alluring vocals of V.B. Witness this unique and innovative band ascend to a completely new musical plane.

Witch Mountain

Mobile Of Angels

Profound Lore

Witch Mountain are probably Portland, Oregon’s oldest currently active metal band; they date back to 1997, formed by guitarist Rob Wrong and drummer Nathan Carson, at a time when Portland’s heavy music scene was practically non-existent. They released their debut album Come the Mountain in 2001 and played live with High On Fire, Goatsnake, Electric Wizard, Orange Goblin, Eyehategod, YOB, and Clutch, to name just a few. Fast forward to 2009: after a lengthy hiatus, Witch Mountain regrouped with a new vocalist (Uta Plotkin, taking over vocal duties from Wrong) and self-released their comeback album in 2010 South of Salem to critical acclaim. Plotkin was recognized as one of the most powerful female vocalists in heavy music, and her place was further solidified in 2012 with the release of Cauldron of the Wild to even more widespread acclaim and endless touring. Mobile of Angels is Witch Mountain’s most epic and musically challenging album to date. It’s darker and more brooding, with a cleaner and warmer-sounding production (courtesy of legendary producer Billy Anderson, who tracked and mixed the album at Type Foundry Studios, Portland) yet maintains the massive, heavy, bluesy and melodic tone the band is known for. With Mobile of Angels, Witch Mountain’s crossover appeal and awareness is sure to broaden.

Pallbearer

Foundations Of Burden

Profound Lore

***Back in stock on Pink Galaxy or Purple Galaxy colored vinyl!!!!!!  Received an 8.6 Best New Music rating from Pitchfork. In the short time that they’ve been a band, Little Rock, Arkansas’ Pallbearer have set a new standard for modern-day doom metal. The band’s debut full-length, 2012’s Sorrow and Extinction, made a massive impact not only in the metal scene, but crossed over to wider audiences in the mainstream as well, landing on numerous “Best of 2012” lists and garnering acclaim from Pitchfork, Decibel, Spin, Rolling Stone, Stereogum and Entertainment Weekly (to name just a few). Pallbearer followed the release by touring with the likes of St. Vitus, Boris and Enslaved, and performing at Roadburn, Hellfest, Maryland Death Fest, Scion Rockfest, Fun Fun Fun and Hopscotch. With their sophomore full-length, the band has taken it to the next level, unleashing a followup even more glorious than its predecessor. If Sorrow and Extinction left its mark on the metal scene, Foundations of Burden will be the stuff of legend. Captured by legendary producer Billy Anderson (Agalloch, Sleep, Neurosis, The Melvins etc.) at Type Foundry Studios in Portland, Oregon, the unparalleled album is an epic sonic landscape of triumphant proportions destined to solidify Pallbearer’s standing as one of the most important metal bands today.Note Price increase for LP.Limited colored vinyl edition available to mail-order customers only, while supplies last!

Monarch

Sabbracadaver

Profound Lore

For years, France’s most recognized extreme doom metal band Monarch have been delivering some of the most punishing amplifier worship. Earning this reputation over the course of countless live shows and tours, Monarch is truly an experience to behold within the realm of doom metal. A heaving, earth-rumbling low-end rhythm section underpins crawling, churning riffs of despair, while the harsh and commanding vocals of Emilie Bresson hold all within their spellbinding grip.  Continuing to raise the bar and push the threshold with each successive release, Monarch unleashes their latest work and Profound Lore Records debut. Sabbracadaver could very well be their heaviest and haunting yet. Those who have already fallen under the band’s spell will recognize Sabbracadaver as a most enchanting work—an album that will find its place within the upper reaches of the doom metal hierarchy.

Wolvhammer

Clawing Into Black Sun

Profound Lore

Over years of self-infliction, abuse and debauchery, Minneapolis / Chicago metal band Wolvhammer has evolved into a ruthless killing machine. Following the acclaimed 2011 sophomore full-length Obsidian Plains, the group unleashes Clawing Into Black Sun, a volatile amalgamation of black metal, death rock and punk. Easily their best work to date, the punishing and accomplished album displays stunning musical development and a renewed sense of focus. Wolvhammer is planning an extensive series of live assaults in support of Clawing Into Black Sun. If their recent tour in support of Black Dahlia Murder and Skeletonwitch is any indication, exposure on the live front will bring them even more awareness and recognition.

Alraune

The Process Of Self-immolation

Profound Lore

Received a 7.5 rating from Pitchfork. Alraune is a new black metal band based out of Nashville, TN, that counts among its ranks vocalist / guitarist Z. Allen (also the sound engineer for Loss), guitarist J. House, bassist J. Weilburg and drummer T. Coburn (also of new pillaging noise-mongers Yautja). After playing the local live circuit, the group disseminated a two-song demo within underground circles, garnering some notoriety—even landing on the popular metal site Steel For Brains’ top releases of 2013 list, as well as being heralded by well known veteran metal journalist Nathan Birk as the next breakthrough band in American black metal. Underground buzz continued to build with the announcement of the band’s partnership with Profound Lore Records and Gilead Media to release their debut album, The Process of Self-Immolation, on CD and vinyl respectively. Complex and twisted, Alraune’s vicious yet progressive style puts them alongside such American black metal bands as Ash Borer, Fell Voices, Negative Plane, Wolves in the Throne Room, Leviathan, Avichi and Krallice.

Auroch

Taman Shud

Profound Lore

Formed in 2008, Vancouver, BC’s Auroch are poised to bear the flag of Canadian death metal chaos alongside likeminded bands of the new generation Mitochondrion (vocalist / guitarist Shawn Haché and live-lineup bassist Sebastian Montesi both play in Auroch), Antediluvian and Chthe’ilist. It’s a tradition stretching from the legendary and still-active Gorguts back to the mid-’90s heydays of Cryptopsy and Kataklysm. Auroch released their debut From Forgotten Worlds in 2011 on Poland’s Hellthrasher Productions. That album’s insane musical approach to violent, technical death metal is present on its followup, Taman Shud, albeit in a darker, deadlier manifestation. Here the band truly makes their mark upon the death metal scene as one of North America’s most brutal and musically proficient acts. The release is preceded by the limited-edition Seven Veils 7-inch EP (Graceless Recordings), and the Auroch is scheduled to play this year’s Killtown Deathfest, Europe’s premiere death metal festival, and Incubate fest; live assaults in Canada and the US are imminent.

Atlas Moth

The Old Believer

Profound Lore

Chicago, Illinois’s The Atlas Moth has always been hard to categorize. Drawing from myriad influences and styles, their sound is one of the most unique and unusual in today’s American underground—progressive psychedelic metal both crushingly heavy and sublimely beautiful. After albums on Candlelight and Profound Lore, widespread touring both on their own and supporting Gojira and Devin Townsend, and festival appearances that include Scion Rock Fest, Roadburn and Pitchfork Music Festival, the band has made quite a name for themselves. On their third full-length release, The Atlas Moth unleash their most glorious and emotionally riveting work yet. The Old Believer exceeds all previous efforts on the strength of its unparalleled songwriting and focused presentation. Produced by guitarist / keyboardist Andrew Ragin at Chicago’s Wall to Wall Studios and mixed and mastered by Ragin and Kyle Spence of Harvey Milk in Atlanta, Georgia, the album features guest appearances by Gojira vocalist Joe Duplantier and Subrosa violinists Kim Pack and Sarah Pendleton. The art and design for The Old Believer was created by Invisible Creature (Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters, Norma Jean, etc.) and features a water-reveal stock on the CD booklet’s front and back cover.

Dead Congregation

Promulgation Of The Fall

Profound Lore

Greece’s Dead Congregation made a massive impact with the release of their 2008 debut album Graves of the Archangels. Widely regarded as a milestone within the genre, it is a pillar in modern-day death metal unparalleled. With their new album Promulgation of the Fall, the band has advanced the musicianship, brutality and atmosphere harnessed on their debut to new levels of sophistication. Technical, twisted odes of total death unleash a darkness uncanny through skillful song craft and composition. The vicious assault of myriad enveloping riffs and an earth-crushing rhythm section invokes the total decimation of all that is pure and sacred.  Promulgation of the Fall is a masterpiece that fulfills the potential hinted at by Graves of the Archangels—a realization of the true intent of modern-day death metal. At the vanguard of the new age of true death metal, Dead Congregation marks its existence among the genre’s elite.

Agalloch

The Serpent & The Sphere

Profound Lore

In the years since their inception in 1997, Pacific Northwest band Agalloch has slowly risen to prominence as one of America’s best and most distinct metal exports, amassing an obsessive cult following of diehard fans in the process. Incorporating myriad influences, the group draws from many sub-genres—dark metal, progressive, black metal, neo-folk, post-metal—to establish a new standard, a sound wholly their own. Following early releases, Agalloch garnered widespread critical acclaim with their 2010 opus (and Profound Lore debut) Marrow of the Spirit, one of the most celebrated metal albums of that year. Expansive touring and exposure to packed and sold-out venues across North America and abroad saw the band take their career to the next level, attracting even more awareness and recognition. With their new album looming on the horizon, the group is poised to add another masterpiece to their impeccable repertoire. If Marrow of the Spirit was the apocalyptic unraveling of the mortal coil, then The Serpent & The Sphere is the cosmic aftermath whereby new dimensions and planes of existence are revealed and explored. The most atmospheric and progressive Agalloch release to date, the vibe is dark, expansive and otherworldly. The Serpent & The Sphere features the production and mixing expertise of Billy Anderson (Neurosis, Sleep, Swans, High On Fire); Canadian neo-folk musician Nathanaël Larochette of Musk Ox adds to the album’s acoustic interludes.

Lord Mantis

Death Mask

Profound Lore

Over the years, Chicago doom / noise band Lord Mantis have made a name for themselves within the underground metal scene alongside fellow local metal bands like The Atlas Moth and Yakuza. Their last album, Pervertor (Candlelight Records), brought them recognition within doom and even black metal circles, assisted by the fact that the band features current and former members from Indian, Nachtmystium, Abigail Williams and Avichi.  With their third album, Lord Mantis present their most devastating and triumphant work to date. Death Mask is a much darker, doomier and more experimental offering destined to bring further recognition to Lord Mantis among the doom / black / noise metal elite, who will herald them as one of the best and most twisted underground metal bands hailing from America.

Wold

Postsocial

Profound Lore

One of the most bizarre and polarizing musical entities in extreme music returns with their fifth and most likely final full-length album, completing the circle they started many years ago from the barren wastelands of Saskatchewan, Canada.  The five elongated tracks on Postsocial comprise some of the most intriguing work ever from blackened noise terrorists Wold. Residing on the alien fringes of the harsh black metal, noise and experimental realms, the band’s music is an intimidating yet transcendental barrage of unforgiving white noise steeped in occult and esoteric dogma. Postsocial is the ultimate testament to the Wold aesthetic, which has garnered accolades from the likes of Matthew Barney, Björk, Pitchfork and The Wire.

Impetuous Ritual

Unholy Congregation Of Hypocritical Ambivalence

Profound Lore

NOW AVAILABLE ON VINYL IN A LIMITED EDITION!!!In their brief career, Australia’s Impetuous Ritual has already been recognized as one of the mightiest death metal entities in the underground today, alongside such likeminded acts as Portal (with whom Impetuous Ritual shares two members) and Mitochondrion. From their leveling, jaw-dropping live performances to the devastating, ultra-brutal, occult-driven style showcased on their Relentless Execution of Ceremonial Excrescence debut album, no death metal on the planet captures the vibe, attitude and aesthetic of Impetuous Ritual.  With their anticipated follow-up to Relentless Execution, the band takes their sound even further into the depths of horror and depravity. Christened Unholy Congregation of Hypocritical Ambivalence, the album will be hailed as the death metal triumph of 2014.

Coffinworm

IV.I.VIII

Profound Lore

Emerging from the Indianapolis underground in 2007, notorious blackened doom metal abomination Coffinworm first attained notoriety with their 2009 Great Bringer of Night demo. The group unleashed their debut LP, When All Become None, the next year, making a even bigger impression in doom / sludge metal circles and following it with a series of devastating live shows that included appearances at SXSW and The Power of the Riff. Four years after the release of their first album, Coffinworm returns with a followup that levels its predecessor—called by acclaimed producer / engineer Sanford Parker (Corrections House, Twilight, Yakuza, Wovenhand, Lord Mantis, etc.) one of the most insane and craziest albums he’s ever recorded. Far more complex and lacerating than anything the band has attempted thus far, IV.I.VIII offers six tracks of pure, blackened, unholy doom metal terror that will serve as the soundtrack to the inevitable dark era soon to befall this feeble mortal coil.

Psalm Zero

The Drain

Profound Lore

Received a 7.7 rating from Pitchfork. Psalm Zero is a new band comprised of respected avant-garde rock musician Charlie Looker (ex-Extra Life / Zs / Dirty Projectors) and Andrew Hock of Castevet. Considering the artists’ differing outputs, one might imagine a collaboration would result in an unresolvable musical clash; however, the duo crafts intriguing experimental metal with Looker’s distinct vocal style providing the perfect counterpoint to Hock’s harsh delivery. Pounding rhythms complement melodic arrangements, while programmed synth and electronic beats also find their way into the mix. The public got its first taste of what Psalm Zero had to offer in 2013 when the band performed a handful of local shows in the New York area; in November they released their debut 7-inch Force My Hand on Looker’s Last Things imprint. Their debut album The Drain, recorded by legendary producer Martin Bisi (Swans, Sonic Youth, Helmet, Bill Laswell, John Zorn, etc.), is one of the most unique heavy music albums of 2014 and will introduce the band to a worldwide audience.

Artificial Brain

Labyrinth Constellation

Profound Lore

***OUT OF PRINT, LAST WAREHOUSE COPIES FOUND!!!  Now available on vinyl! New York band Artificial Brain was formed in 2011 by guitarist Dan Gargiulo of Revocation and vocalist Will Smith of Biolich (a now-defunct ensemble that included several members who went on to form Castevet). Following up a well received demo and two-song EP, Artificial Brain unleashes their debut full-length Labyrinth Constellation via Profound Lore—a devastating work destined to forge a much-deserved reputation for the band in the American death metal scene. Like such predecessors as Nocturnus, Artificial Brain incorporates sci-fi elements into their twisted, guttural sound. Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Colin Marston (of Krallice, Gorguts, Dysrhythmia, etc.) in his Thousand Caves studios, Labyrinth Constellation offers a unique take on the genre, with stunning cover artwork painted by Paolo “Madman” Girardi to complement the dark and dissonant death metal. A cosmic dose of complex brutality, it fits neatly alongside the other denizens of Profound Lore’s twisted death metal contingent: Portal, Mitochondrion, Grave Miasma, Abyssal, and newcomers Auroch and Chthe’ilist.

Avichi

Catharsis Absolute

Profound Lore

Multi-instrumentalist Andrew Markuszewski (a.k.a. Aamonael), one of the founding members of the popular and notorious Nachtmystium, currently plays in blackened sludge metal abomination Lord Mantis. But Avichi is his solo outlet to show that he is one of the premier visionaries in today’s black metal scene. Releasing his debut album under the Avichi moniker in 2007, he gained even further recognition for his sophomore full-length The Devil’s Fractal, a dark and sinister opus released by Profound Lore in 2011 that told the history of Lucifer in seven chapters. Set to build upon the success of The Devil’s Fractal, the new Avichi album will solidify Markuszewski’s reputation as one of the most important masterminds of the American underground. Catharsis Absolute is a virulent yet enlightening expression of sophisticated black metal and the artist’s most accomplished work to date. Needless to say, it is an essential release for fans of cult entities such as Leviathan, Negative Plane, Lurker of Chalice, Deathspell Omega, Katharsis and early Nachtmystium.

Vaura

Missing

Profound Lore

Brooklyn, NY’s Vaura was formed in late 2009 by guitarist Kevin Hufnagel (also of Gorguts and Dysrhythmia fame) and vocalist / guitarist Joshua Strawn after the two musicians were introduced by a mutual friend; the pair were soon demo-ing a set of songs that mixed grandiose melodic guitars, synth textures and hazy, distant vocals. When bassist Toby Driver (Kayo Dot and Maudlin of the Well mastermind) and drummer Charlie Schmid joined the fold, Vaura reworked the demo material to assemble their debut Selenelion, released early 2012 on Wierd Records. Praised upon its release by notable press outlets such as Decibel, Pitchfork, Dusted and Alarm Press, the album showcased Vaura’s seamless meld of progressive metal, shoegaze, post-punk and indie rock. With their new album The Missing, Vaura takes their sound even further, building upon the foundation they laid down on Selenelion. Their progressive metal elements harken back to ’80s-era Rush and classic Queensryche, to which the band adds strains of post-punk and dark-wave to deliver one of the most distinct heavy music albums of the year.

Yob

Catharsis

Profound Lore

Fans across the globe consider Catharsis, the 2003 sophomore album by Oregon’s YOB, to be the band’s best work and one of the finest doom metal releases of the genre. The group even performed Catharsis in its entirety at the 2012 Roadburn Festival to much acclaim. However, as the label that originally issued the album folded, it has remained out of print for years and hard to come by—until now. Profound Lore is proud to unveil the long-awaited reissue of YOB’s sought-after cult classic, ten years after its initial release. Remastered from the original tapes by legendary grunge godfather Tad Doyle, Catharsis sounds heavier and more monstrous than ever. Liner notes by the band’s founder and mastermind Mike Scheidt are complimented by new artwork by designer Aaron Edge, making this CD the definitive edition of one of the most colossal American doom metal releases of the last decade from one of the most important bands in heavy music today.

Castevet

Obsian

Profound Lore

***NOW AVAILABLE ON VINYL!!!    New York’s Castevet is one of the most invigorating, unique and musically advanced bands in the extreme metal underground. Emerging from the same scene as Krallice, Liturgy and Tombs, they possess a sound unlike any of their contemporaries. The trio incorporates influences ranging from avant-garde dissonant black metal (Ved Buens Ende, Deathspell Omega), neo-classical, jazz and progressive metal, and while they are often associated with the American black metal movement, they defy categorization.  With the addition of Krallice bassist / vocalist Nicholas McMaster to the band’s ranks, Castevet pushes their songwriting and artistry to a new level. Sophomore album Obsian paints an even denser, more complex sonic picture than their acclaimed Mounds of Ash debut, with a musical fortitude far beyond their contemporaries in the American black / extreme metal scene.

Subrosa

More Constant Than The Gods

Profound Lore

***BACK IN STOCK!!!  Received an 8.3 rating from Pitchfork.  Since their formation in the summer of 2005, Subrosa has been recognized as one of the more unique bands in the doom / rock genre. Underpinned by a monolithically heavy rhythm section and featuring two electric violinists and the enchanting vocals of Rebecca Vernon, the Salt Lake City-based group garnered widespread critical acclaim in 2011 for their third album (and Profound Lore debut) No Help for the Mighty Ones, a powerful mix of Kyuss, Sleep, L7 and PJ Harvey as well as folk, neoclassical and chamber music influences. With their newest full-length, Subrosa presents their most accomplished and enrapturing work yet, one that shall bring the band even more accolades. More Constant Than the Gods continues in the vein of its predecessor while improving upon the aspects that landed that release on so many “Best of 2011” lists (Decibel, Pitchfork’s “Show No Mercy” column, etc.). The meticulously composed and beautifully structured album is not only the best-sounding Subrosa recording yet, it’s also the heaviest. Destined to be one of the most lauded doom metal / rock releases of 2013, More Constant Than the Gods will earn Subrosa a place alongside Royal Thunder, Kylesa and Witch Mountain as one of the most prominent bands of the genre.

Grave Miasma

Odori Sepulcrorum

Profound Lore

Initially conceived in 2002 under the guise of Goat Molestör, this band of occult death metal alchemists took their aesthetic to new plateaus of invincibility in 2008 when they rechristened themselves Grave Miasma. Soon after, a debut 35-minute EP entitled Exalted Emanation surfaced, followed by their Realm of Evoked Doom EP (which compiled material from their Goat Molestör demo days), and overnight, the London-based ensemble was known and revered worldwide throughout the death metal underground. With devastating live shows that fulfilled the promise of those initial EPs, Grave Miasma made their mark at many reputable international festivals—Roadburn, Hole in the Sky, Kill Town Deathfest, Hell’s Pleasure, Black Mass Ritual Fest, Redemption Festival in Europe; Rites of Darkness and Martyrdoom in the US, where they have also done a West Coast tour; Noctis Fest in Canada—all even before any kind of full-length had been released. Now, Grave Miasma are poised to reign amongst the death metal elite. Pure death metal revelation, their debut album Odori Sepulcrorum raises the scene to a new level, with no other 2013 work able to match its power. The release showcases a new sense of artistry, harnessing uncanny atmospherics and heaving might. A milestone in occult death metal, Odori Sepulcrorum will go down as a classic of ritual darkness.

Vasaeleth

All Uproarious Darkness

Profound Lore

Vasaeleth made waves in the underground with their demo and debut full-length album Crypt Born & Tethered to Ruin, one of the best death metal albums released in 2010. Raw, dark, murky and atmospheric, the duo’s trademark style is that of true death manifested—a reaction against the clean and polished sound that passes for death metal of today. Vasaeleth’s latest release is the darkest and most ferocious in their repertoire. Five tracks long, clocking in at a lean 19 minutes, All Uproarious Darkness is a devastating work that makes it point quickly and definitively and doesn’t linger around for the aftermath.

Amsg

Anti Cosmic Tyranny

Profound Lore

Canada’s AMSG was born in 2007 after mastermind / black metal terrorist / crime lord Angelfukk Witchhammer put his previous cult band Ouroboros to rest and served a prison sentence for what the police deemed “Black Metal Terrorism.” His sinister and dangerous sonic rituals conjure the ancient black metal spirit of legendary bands such as Mortuary Drape, early Samael, early Rotting Christ and Necromantia. Demonstrating a twisted and deranged style that incorporates mid-paced, progressive black metal and dark, deathly melancholy, AMSG released their debut EP, The Principle of Evil Becomes the Ideal of the Promethean, in 2010. Debut full-length Anti Cosmic Tyranny is a testament of the real essence of black metal—the sonic interpretation of a Satanic ritual replete with layered whispers, chants and other subliminal sounds that honor the endless dark Aeon and the chaotic black light. Composed during Witchhammer’s most recent prison stint, the album will make black metal dangerous again. Not for the faint of heart or the weak of mind.

Morne

Shadows

Profound Lore

With influences ranging from doom metal and classic rock all the way to progressive and chamber music, Morne’s unique brand of post-sludge / crust is unrelentingly heavy and cinematic in scope. The Boston group attracted widespread attention in the underground metal and punk scenes with their 2009 debut album Untold Wait, most notably earning an endorsement from Darkthrone themselves; it helped that the group’s lineup featured guitarist Jeff Hayward of the legendary sludge band Grief. Their followup, 2011’s Asylum, was a sprawling exercise in monolithic heaviness, pushing their sound even further and garnering significant critical acclaim. Profound Lore is once again proud to present Morne’s third full-length, Shadows, an even colder and bleaker outing marked by crawling tempos and colossal atmospherics. Melodic and morose, the album is infused with a new sense of doom, with moments reminiscent of Evoken, Mournful Congregation or the now-defunct Morgion. Shadows proves Morne’s distinctiveness in heavy music and is set to be one of the most memorable underground releases of 2013.

Man’s Gin

Rebellion Hymns

Profound Lore

Formed by Erik Wunder years ago while still living in Colorado, Man’s Gin began as an outlet for the Cobalt frontman to write dark booze jams and murder ballads on his acoustic guitar. Upon moving to Brooklyn, New York, Wunder assembled upright bass / ebow player Josh Lozano and guitarist / pianist Scott Edward and took the band’s sound up a notch. The result was the debut album Smiling Dogs, a sonic jaunt down America’s barren wastelands that garnered acclaim throughout the underground. Man’s Gin soon became known for putting on an awesome live set, performing mainly around the New York area as well as doing a short tour with Bruce Lamont of Yakuza. Recorded and produced by Andrew Schneider (Unsane, Pelican, Cave In, Converge) at Translator Audio in Brooklyn, sophomore album Rebellion Hymns is a emotionally charged, cinematic opus, employing a more expansive sonic palette this time around. The group brings a formidable cast of guest musicians along for the ride, including renowned solo artist and former member of Swans Jarboe, Wunder’s Cobalt co-conspirator Phil McSorley, and John LaMaccia of Candiria. A work of genuine wonder and dark beauty, Rebellion Hymns features photography and art direction by respected rock / metal photographer Jimmy Hubbard.

Gevurah

Necheshirion

Profound Lore

The two members that comprise Canada’s newest black metal disciples Gevurah embrace the pure essence of the genre, upholding the true values of black metal—values that honor and give praise to the dark lord through uncompromising and sophisticated art presented in an intellectual manner. Necheshirion is Gevurah’s debut EP and features five hymns of elite Satanic black metal clocking in at 33 minutes. Reminiscent of such acts as Deathspell Omega, Funeral Mist and Causus Luciferi-era Watain, the release includes a cover of Malign’s “Entering Timeless Halls.”

Liar In Wait

Translations Of The Lost

Profound Lore

Formed by Wolvhammer bandmates Adam Clemans and Jeff Wilson (Chrome Waves, Doomsday, ex-Nachtmystium) with members of Minneapolis bands Mourner and Iron Thrones, Liar in Wait sees these accomplished musicians tap into their admiration for classic ’80s goth / darkwave in the vein of The Cure, Bauhaus, Joy Division and Sisters of Mercy.  Limited to 1000 copies, the Translations of the Lost captures the brooding, gut-wrenching melancholy of the aforementioned bands’ classic moments of glory. Featuring a cover of Fields of the Nephilim’s “And There Will Your Heart Be Also,” the four-song EP is a statement of purpose from this promising new band that is poised to unleash a new energy and movement in dark music.

Altar Of Plagues

Teethed Glory And Injury

Profound Lore

Now available on vinyl in a limited edition, pressed on heavy wax at 45 RPM.   Already recognized as one of the underground’s best live acts, Ireland’s Altar of Plagues released their debut album White Tomb in 2009, garnering widespread acclaim as one of the most prominent contemporary groups merging the genres of black metal, post-metal, experimental and ambient. Refining their sound even further with 2011’s Mammal, the band distanced themselves from the post-black metal stereotype, delivering something darker, bleaker and more singular. A North American tour followed with label mates The Atlas Moth, culminating in an appearance at the 2012 Hopscotch Festival. Now, Altar of Plagues emerges with Teethed Glory and Injury, their most accomplished work to date. The nine-track album is unlike anything the group has done before, pushing further into new sonic terrain. Realized primarily on analog equipment in the studio, it incorporates more ambient, noise and electronica elements in the signature Altar of Plagues sound, distancing them further from the so-called post-metal movement. A true exploration of sound rather than simply a collection of riffs backed by a steady rhythm section, Teethed Glory and Injury is the product of a band in their own league, aeons beyond the work of their contemporaries.

Vhol

S/t

Profound Lore

VHÖL began as an idea by guitarist John Cobbett (Hammers of Misfortune) and drummer Aesop Dekker (Agalloch, Worm Ouroboros) to create music together. The two shared the stage for a number of years in the now-defunt Ludicra, and wanted their new collaboration to incorporate influences from both metal and hardcore punk—from the likes of old-school bands such as Discharge and classic Judas Priest. When the time came to find a vocalist, Cobbett and Dekker immediately thought of Mike Scheidt of YOB; without a second thought Scheidt committed his singular vocal talents to the project. Sigrid Sheie of (Hammers of Misfortune, Amber Asylum) rounded out the lineup on bass. Despite the members’ pedigrees, VHÖL is its own beast distinct from anything black metal or doom metal—don’t think “Ludicra Part Two” or “Ludicra with Mike from YOB on vocals.” Yet their signature styles are all over the group’s self-titled debut, a pummeling, face-melting attack that doesn’t let up for one moment. Raw and primal, the album pulls from a diverse set of influences for a feeling of both savagery and epic beauty.

Portal

Vexovoid

Profound Lore

***NOW AVAILABLE AGAIN ON VINYL AFTER BEING UNAVAILABLE FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS!!!!  Black vinyl, printed inner sleve, printed insert all encased in a poly bag.  Received an 8.0 rating from Pitchfork.  No death metal band in the history of the genre is as bizarre, unique and aesthetically engaging as Australia’s Portal. Unfolding a singular vision through polarizing music, distinct imagery and otherworldly live shows, Portal has slowly set a new standard within the underground over the course of a decade—indeed, giving a new meaning to the term “death metal” itself. The band has spread their sonic plague via three full-length albums to date, the last of which, 2009’s Swarth, brought them their highest level of recognition and praise yet. Portal’s surreal psychosis sounds like a Lovecraftian nightmare manifested; weird rhythms and perplexing musical structures twist together in a cinematic soundscape of sheer terror and madness. Vexovoid takes their artistry to new levels, delivering their biggest and most dense sounding album of their career. Comprised of seven harrowing tracks, it proves once again why Portal is the harbinger of the coming new dreadful age of death metal.

Helen Money

Arriving Angels

Profound Lore

Avant-classical virtuoso cellist Alison Chesley created the Helen Money moniker to showcase her compositions and uncommon approach to her instrument; Arriving Angels is her third full-length album and one of the most intriguing Profound Lore releases to date. Recorded, engineered and mixed by the iconic Steve Albini at Electrical Audio and featuring Neurosis drummer Jason Roeder on four tracks, Arriving Angels is a unique opus that mixes classical composition and progressive, dirge-like metal, performed almost entirely on the cello. Aside from her solo work, Chesley has played on more than 100 albums with artists like Bob Mould, Disturbed, Anthrax, Broken Social Scene, Yakuza, Russian Circles and Archer Prewitt, and was part of the acoustic rock duo Verbow, releasing two albums on Epic Records in the ’90s. She has also composed music for film and dance, including the soundtrack to the award-winning documentary Indestructible. As Helen Money, Chesley has opened for bands as diverse as Mono, Earth, The Bad Plus and Nina Nastasia, and toured the US and Europe extensively with Albini’s Shellac.

Ash Borer

S/t

Profound Lore

2012’s Cold of Ages was one of the most highly acclaimed American black metal releases of the year, praised by the likes of Pitchfork, Popmatters and Decibel Magazine. Now, Ash Borer and Profound Lore Records have conspired to reissue the band’s acclaimed self-titled debut, initially released in limited quantities on vinyl and cassette only and now out of print. Available on CD for the first time ever, the 2011 album captures the vitriolic, ambient black metal fury for which Ash Borer is quickly becoming renowned. Comprised of three elongated, time-stretching songs, it’s a powerful statement of purpose that proves the Northern California band is one of the most innovative, original and powerful currently in existence.

Bell Witch

Longing

Profound Lore

Seattle’s Bell Witch is a doom metal duo comprised of bassist / vocalist Dylan Desmond (also a member of Samothrace) and drummer / vocalist Adrian Guerra. With only the bare minimum at their disposal, the pair crafts some of the darkest, heaviest and most dismal time-stretching doom in recent memory, and their sole release up to this point, a 2011 self-titled demo, has already garnered significant recognition from the underground scene. With a more sinister and enveloping sound, Bell Witch’s debut full-length Longing is a marathon-like exercise in extreme doom. Testing the thresholds of listeners who become engrossed in its overwhelming sonic experience, it’s a powerful statement from one of the most promising acts the American scene has to offer. Longing features guest vocals from Aerial Ruin’s Erik Moggridge on the track “Rows (of Endless Waves).” Catch the band on tour in support of the album’s release.

Atriarch

Ritual Of Passing

Profound Lore

Portland, Oregon’s Atriarch are one of the most intriguing bands in today’s underground scene, honing over the last few years a unique amalgamation of death rock, classic ’80s goth, doom and black metal. Their 2011 album Forever the End was a promising, albeit formative, debut, and the group further developed their sound on the recent split LP with comrades Alaric, released last May on 20 Buck Spin. Atriarch finds their true sonic calling on their sophomore full-length Ritual of Passing. Delivering tenfold on the potential of the previous two releases, the album is marked by an altogether heavier sound, more deep and substantive. Atriarch draws inspiration from such legendary bands as Bauhaus, Joy Division, Rudimentary Peni and Killing Joke, as well as more recent groups like The Gault, Asunder and Burzum, adding their own twist for a unique take on a classic sound. A stirring, mesmerizing work, Ritual of Passing proves Atriarch is a force to be reckoned with in America’s underground heavy music scene.

Indesinence

Vessels Of Light And Decay

Profound Lore

Formed in 2001, London’s Indesinence is one of the few UK death / doom bands (alongside Esoteric) that upholds the classic tradition spearheaded long ago by the likes of Paradise Lost, Anathema and My Dying Bride—forefathers of the genre who have since shed their roots and explored different styles. Taking influence from the aforementioned British Big Three (most notably early Paradise Lost) along with other luminaries such as Disembowelment and Skepticism, Indesinence has generated quite the reputation in their homeland.  With a career that spans twelve years, the group has put out only a handful of releases: the Ecstatic Lethargy demo, their Noctambulism full-length (Goat of Mendes Records), and Neptunian compilation EP. Vessels of Light and Decay, Indesinence’s long-awaited sophomore album and their first release since 2006, is a full-frontal assault in the spirit of Celtic Frost, Swans, Demoncy and Barclay James Harvest that solidifies their legacy in the death / funeral / doom metal movement. Beautifully packaged in a deluxe hardcover digibook, it is set to make a statement as one of the top albums that the genre will offer all year.

Yakuza

Beyul

Profound Lore

Formed over a decade ago, Chicago avant-garde metal band Yakuza fought an uphill battle as a criminally underrated and under-appreciated act in the heavy music scene. Their unique, eclectic sound incorporates jazz-influenced and ultra-progressive moments rarely heard in the genre, while band leader / vocalist Bruce Lamont’s occasional saxophone work makes them even more alien and distinct from their contemporaries. Yakuza fought for recognition during their tenures at notable metal labels Century Media and Prosthetic Records, and while they garnered massive critical acclaim from outlets like Rolling Stone and Pitchfork (not to mention testimonials from their peers in Mastodon and Neurosis), it wasn’t until Profound Lore released their fifth album, 2010’s Of Seismic Consequence, that Yakuza finally earned more widespread recognition from the metal public. Now, the band follows Of Seismic Consequence with another storming triumph that will bring them the attention and respect they’ve deserved since the beginning of their career. With Lamont’s strongest performance to date, Beyul takes it to the next level, melding their revolutionary style with straightforward, more accessible songwriting and melodies—an ambitious and powerful album from a band at the height of their powers.

Menace Ruine

Alight In Ashes

Profound Lore

Formed in 2006 by S. De La Moth and Geneviève, Montreal’s Menace Ruine defined their harsh and hypnotizing sound on a series of albums for the Alien8 and Aurora Borealis labels. The duo mixes martial ambient and neo-folk influences with elements of experimental music and black metal, adding mesmerizing vocals that set them apart from any other in the North American underground. Alight in Ashes is Menace Ruine’s fourth album and marks a return to the melodic sounds last heard on 2008’s The Die Is Cast. With their first release for Profound Lore, the band delivers their most intriguing, unnerving and spellbinding recording to date—a meticulously crafted work that recalls Burzum’s Filosofem, Merzbow, Nico and The Moon Lay Hidden Beneath a Cloud. Geneviève’s powerful, haunting vocals weave into the dark, trance-inducing music to cast a spell of elegant, apocalyptic beauty. Menace Ruine soon hits the road with labelmates Ash Borer for a West Coast tour that includes the Stella Natura fest in the heart of Tahoe National Forest’s Desolation Wilderness Area. A series of European dates with Seattle’s Mamiffer is also planned.