New Release: Dakhma - Blessings of Amurdad

At long last, Zoroastrian Death Music returns. We are pleased to announce that Eisenwald will be releasing Dakhma’s forthcoming full-length album, “Blessings of Amurdad”. 

 

 

To be released November 19th, in various formats, you can expect to see:

Ltd. Digipak CD

Ltd. Tape (2 colors)

180g LP black vinyl (later)

Album Download

Stream

Pre-Save, Pre-Order & stream

 

Vinyl is in the works but will only see a release in 2022.

 

“I will speak of that which (he), the Holiest declared to me as the word that is best for mortals to obey; while he said: "they who for my sake render him obedience, shall all attain unto Welfare and Immortality by the actions of the Good Spirit.” 

– 45/5 Ushtavaiti Gatha

 

 

On “Blessings of Amurdad” (Amurdad translating to immortality in Middle Persian), Dakhma abducts listeners to a distant, foreign land and dares to journey to a time long ago, when desert mystics and noble empires still strode proudly through ancient Persia. Thematically, “Blessings of Amurdad” explores the complex relationship between mortality and immortality in Zoroastrianism, based mainly on key passages of the ancient text of the Gathas. In particular, the band manages to provide a compelling narrative detailing perceived jealousies expressed by mortals towards the divine and vice versa. These themes are captured in the compelling cover artwork, painted by the inimitable Babar Moghal, depicting an ancient tower of silence, seemingly forgotten and decaying but nevertheless exuding a sense of foreboding and nobility, hinting at the divine. 

 

 

Musically, Dakhma manage to expand on the harrowing, sinister atmosphere presented on previous works and infuse it with a strong feel for dynamics and rhythm. On “Blessings of Amurdad”, Dakhma shows a significant development in their ability to craft compelling songs, whilst further improving upon the gripping, middle eastern infused atmosphere that has characterized their sound up to this point. A drastic improvement in production, allowing for impressive clarity where other contemporary extreme metal projects settle for a stale mess of noise, provides these carefully developed songs with the appropriate sonic vehicle to fully absorb the listener and transfer them to the ominous desert landscape displayed on the album’s cover artwork.

Throughout the album, Karapan Darvish’s performance of various acoustic instrumentation provides for an organic contrast to the already lush and diverse sonic texture on display. Despite the new sonic textures explored on “Blessings of Amurdad”, what allows this album to truly elevate from the masses is the band’s diverse, occasionally experimental and deceptively catchy songwriting style, something that has been honed and developed upon greatly in comparison to previous releases. In particular, Ahu Spozgar’s drum and percussion performance showcases an incredible amount of detail, where each hit seems composed to enhance the sonic foundation laid by the guitars.

 

 

As pertains to production, the album was recorded and mixed by Karapan Darvish himself in the notorious "Crypt", which has been responsible for all notable works that have arisen from the midst of the Helvetic Underground Committee, with Greg Chandler handling mastering at Priory Recording Studios. 

And so, dare imbibe from Dakhma’s sonic chalice of divinity and accept the “Blessings of Amurdad”, in conspiracy with Eisenwald...

 

Tracklisting:

1.The Stench of the Wretched (Forsake Him!) [09:03]

2.The Gaze of Ahura (The King) [04:43]

3.Atash Bahram [04:25]

4.The Cry of Filth (Agerept) [06:54]

5.Birth of Flesh (Nama Karana) [05:52]

6.Afrinagan [03:39]

7.Oath of Purity (Amahraspand) [07:57]

8.The Rite of Dominion (Shehrevar) [08:59]

New Release: Unearthing the Sinister

Throughout the existence of the Helvetic Underground Committee, the Crypt has served as a haven for a plethora of creative endeavors of individual members and affiliated entities. Some of these creations have taken shape and developed into individual entities affiliated with the Helvetic Underground Committee, whereas other, perhaps more opaque creations, have remained concealed, buried by time and dust and hidden from all not involved in the inner workings of our Crypt.

The most harrowing of these buried - but never forgotten - creations have now been curated and assembled by the Helvetic Underground Committee to be unveiled in the form of a special release, entitled "Unearthing the Sinister". This collection of works ranges from a period of several years and contains creations from various individual members as well as obscure entities that, although discarded long ago, we deem to have produced audio that is worthy of being propagated. As such, the names of the entities and individuals who have created these works shall remain undisclosed, as these identities have lost any and all meaning for the material created. Rather, these works should be considered the organic creations of the Helvetic Underground Committee.

Certain titles for the individual tracks have been retained, insofar as the title must be viewed as a part of the work in order for it to retain cohesion. All other tracks remain untitled. You can stream the full compilation here:

These recordings are the raw creations of sinister minds, assembled and executed in conditions of varying duress and professionalism in the Crypt. They are to be experienced as such.

Available exclusively on tape through Temple Wolf Productions

Artwork by Tim Wey.

Visual embodiment of the sinister by Dungeoncinth.

New Release: Lykhaeon - Opprobrium

A new era has dawned for Lykhaeon, necessitating some announcements. Most significantly, their next full-length album "Opprobrium" is set for release through Repose Records on July 21st. Some information on the concepts explored below:

On “Opprobrium”, Lykhaeon presents a stirring interpretation of a classic tale from Greek mythology, providing a musical and lyrical underpinning that allow this compelling story of desire, deception and the arrogance of immortals to sear through the listeners speakers and grasp them with an urgency rarely seen when delving into the selected source material. The musical scope of Opprobrium exceeds what is commonly exercised in modern extreme music to include unorthodox acoustic instrumentation and choir vocalisations that, albeit grand in presentation, are wholly necessary to appropriately convey the unfolding narrative. 


“Chorus: Born of the light and the earth, pure succulent flesh, white limbs of desire, unsuspecting and gay, beware the temptation that groweth from the earth below thine feet.  For he is coming and his hunger is ravenous, his cunning great and his desire unshackled.”

When the lust of immortals becomes insatiable, it is frequently the realm of mortals that serves as the spring from which all desire can be quenched and any thirst satiated. Such is the fate of Persephone, who is - according to some tellings - the victim of a cruel ploy, a conspiracy incarnate, whereby her flesh is beset by the desire of the deity Hades. In his arrogance, appearing before her on a gilded chariot, treachery allows Hades to abduct the seed.


“Hades: My hands are the shrines of desolation, my breath reeks of ancient foul flesh, souls devoured by my ruinous splendor, abducting the seed!”


Lyrically, the tale of Persephone’s abduction by Hades and her eventual liberation, partially hindered by Hades’ final temptation, is composed in the form of a play, where the Chorus serves as an expository narrator alongside the characters of Hades, Zeus and Persephone. Each of the seven tracks on the album encompasses a short act, or rather a significant sequence of events driving the plot. 


“Chorus: The whorish arrogance of immortals feeds the corruption of their flesh; For they know naught but desire and the pursuit of all indulgence.”

Lykhaeon was exhumed from its vermin infested crypt in 2013 and is affiliated with the Helvetic Underground Committee. This is the first - and thus far only - release that sounds how Lykhaeon should sound.

Lykhaeon is:

Kerberos - Throat and Doom

Meister T. - Tomb and Summoning

Session drums performed by: J

Recorded in late 2019/early 2020 in the Crypt

Mixed by Kerberos & Meister T

Mastered by VK

Artwork by Ikonostasis: Artwork of Elijah Tamu

New Release: Ungfell - Es grauet

Rejoice, followers of alpine audio torment! The time has come to announce the details of the third Ungfell album. This concept album is called "Es grauet" and will be released on April 30th in various formats via Eisenwald. The glorious cover and the illustrations contained in the release were painted by the great Robbie C. Ward.

On their third full-length album, "Es grauet", Ungfell abducts the listeners on a sonic journey detailing moral ambivalence and treachery. Set in a seemingly idyllic rural village in pre-modern times, all is not as it seems. Tragedy strikes the town in the form of a horrific, grisly murder. Unfounded accusations lead the town further astray, while these occurrences of debauchery exceed the comprehension of the local inhabitants. Alas, evil lurks where you may least expect it... The story unfolds, accompanied by ravaging riffs and gripping songwriting that appropriately underline the complex, yet harrowing narrative. "Es grauet" shows Ungfell at their most ambitious and most audacious, featuring incredibly dynamic and warm production values, emphasizing atmosphere even more than previous releases and managing to compliment the story being told. 

Follow Ungfell and "Es grauet" here. Information on pre-sale for LP and CD versions will be shared closer to the release date. 

New Release: Urgeist - Weltenflucht

 We are eager to present the latest creation by the forsaken woodland dwellers Urgeist, an image and audio amalgamation entitled "Weltenflucht". "Weltenflucht" was previously exhibited in Vienna for the event "Der Berg ruft zurück - zwischen Weltenflucht, Nationalerotik und politischem Aktivismus" on March 21st 2019.

"Urgeist will in seiner Emanation die Essenz des Urtums beschwören. Dem unmittelbaren Wesen, der Naturgewalt, dem Tod, wie auch dem skurrilen Geiste, Witz und Elend Gestalt verleihen. Keine Ideale. Keine Wahrheit.

Ewige Wiederkehr im Wandel der Gezeiten."

New Release: Knüppelknecht - Whoretex of Darkness

 

Raging lunatics of true speed chaos gather! Excavated from the ruins of a drunken, filthy zombie punk riff orgy come the hideous sounds of Knüppelknecht. Fusing the furious fire of true speed metal with the unbridled, malicious chaos of corpse infested tomb punk, Knüppelknecht unleashes sounds that are sure to enthral any headbanging maniac who enjoys a serious dose of gore soaked riff slaughter when blowing their speakers.

"Whoretex of Darkness", three tracks of pure audio filth to be unleashed in digital and cassette formats soon through Hexenkult.

Urgeist - Ade Pöstli Stubete

On an unsuspecting early December evening in 2019, the decrepit woodland vagabonds of Urgeist descended upon the infamous Pöstli in Äugstertal, Switzerland. This fateful evening featured their first and only live performance, accompanied by Taifl, the sinister Basel natives with whom Urgeist had allied earlier in the year to release a split album full of harrowing tales of forlorn, vengeful spirits of yore. 

Urgeist played several unreleased tracks on that evening, to the resounding delight of the perhaps somewhat surprised audience who didn't appear all too accustomed with the mystical craft being presented on stage. Watch their set in entirety here:

Support Urgeist here.

New Release: Death. Void. Terror. - To The Great Monolith II

For the past few days, the glorious rays of total audio devastation emanating from Death. Void. Terror.'s sophomore full-length release have had the desired effect and contaminated plenty who have basked in the Great Monolith's purity. For those eager to delve into the heinous craft of these practitioners, "To The Great Monolith II" is still available from Repose Records, order here.

Additionally, official H.U.C. pins as well as DVT sigil pins are available here, produced by Repose Records.

Cower in fear! A new decade of Helvetic Audio Torment.

A new decade is upon us, and with it we are eager to unveil a plethora of new music from our midst. Our crypt has vomited forth several worthy audio recordings in the past year alone, yet there is much more to come in due course.

In a time when too many have strayed from making worthwhile music and prioritize the portrayal of some lame self-image, we continue to set quality above any pretense of aggrandizement and categorically reject any notion of compromise in our pursuits. Our sounds will ring true to those who have ears to hear and shall speak for themselves.

New Release: Urgeist/Taifl Split

Urgeist has allied with the fiendish cohort known as Taifl from Basel to unleash a hideous, sinister split CD of music from times long past, when the wild was teeming with unknown, decrepit forces; roaming freely and still feared by simple folk.

It should be noted that this release was created to commemorate the live performance of both Urgeist and Taifl at the "Pöstli Stubete" in Äugstertal, Switzerland, on December 7th, 2019.

Limited to 93 pieces and sent along with three exclusive stickers. Four tracks by Urgeist, three tracks by Taifl, seven tracks of forlorn folk misery.

Purchase here.

Pre-Order: Death. Void. Terror. - To The Great Monolith II

NO ORIGIN. 

Gaze into the Great Monolith and behold its horrors and glory! This is the essence of the practitioner's pursuit. Delving into the unconscious, the practitioners allow their limbs to move spontaneously by channeling the Great Monolith's sublime essence, leaving sounds that are stripped of any humanity or sense of physical awareness. It is in this state that Death. Void. Terror. endeavor to attain the purity that emanates from the Great Monolith. 

This purity may never be fully grasped or attained by any individual practitioner, resulting in it being essentially futile. Yet it is not fruitless, for the practitioner's purpose is to serve as a vessel for the Great Monolith's purity and not to attain any semblance of creative satisfaction. Practitioners must be bereft of such arrogance! As ambitious as the individual practitioner's pursuit may be, his pursuit of the purity expressed through the Great Monolith remains but that - a pursuit. 

By aiming to approximate the purity of the Great Monolith's transmissions, different approaches have been applied by individual practitioners, leading to correspondingly different visual manifestations that each serve as a separate aspect to the audial manifestations pursued by practitioners 

NO ORDER. 

Pre-orders for "To The Great Monolith II" available here.

Track premiere here.

New Release: ATEIGGÄR - Us d'r Höll chunnt nume Zyt

Ateiggär's debut EP, "Us d'r Höll chunnt nume Zyt", is now available for purchase directly from Eisenwald Tonschmiede as well as streaming from the usual platforms.

Embark upon a mystical journey through soundscapes detailing visions of Levania, and explorations into the conscience of Gods told through the twisted soundscapes of total arcane mastery!

Order Europe/World

Order North-America

New Release: Death. Void. Terror. - To The Great Monolith II

Agony returns...

Death. Void. Terror.

"To The Great Monolith II"

Out in January 2020 through Repose Records.

LP/CD/MC.

Gaze into the Great Monolith...

Terror Returns...

Gaze into the Great Monolith eternally and behold its horrors and glory! This is the essence of the practitioner's pursuit. Bear in mind, however, that the purity of the Great Monolith may never be grasped nor attained by any individual practitioner. The practitioner's pursuit is, therefore, essentially futile.

Yet it is not fruitless, for the practitioner's purpose is to serve as a vessel for the Great Monolith's purity, and not to attain any semblance of creative satisfaction. For as ambitious as the individual practitioner's pursuit may be, his pursuit of the purity expressed through the Great Monolith remains but that - a pursuit. By aiming to approximate the purity of the Great Monolith's transmissions, different approaches have been applied by individual practitioners, leading to correspondingly different visual manifestations that serve as a separate aspect to the audial manifestations pursued by practitioners..."

New Release: ATEIGGÄR - Us d'r Höll chunt nume Zyt

The Helvetic Underground Committee is pleased to announce a new entity that has spawned from its midst. Give heed and cower before ATEIGGÄR! Gather before this fearsome entity that has, after deliberate and meticulous examination, managed to decode and transcribe into audial form the supernatural formulae containing concealed wisdom on the spheres of might, the nature of time and space. Embark upon a mystical journey through soundscapes detailing visions of Levania, and explorations into the conscience of gods told through the twisted soundscape of total arcane mastery!

ATEIGGÄR (suitably, this moniker means "initiator of ideas") was formed in early 2019 by Fauth Temenkeel and Fauth Lantav. While their lyrical universe is formed around alchemistic and mystic ideas stemming from the early modern period, ATEIGGÄR's sound is deeply rooted in the traditions of second-wave black metal. Proudly purist yet not exclusively backwards-looking, the five songs comprising Us d'r Höll chunt nume Zyt - the band's first public recording, a veritable bolt from the blue - compellingly create a tapestry of mysticism and splendor strongly breathing the air of the ancients, a staunchly '90s-entrenched majesty and might.

 

To be released November 15th on 12'' vinyl and cassette tape formats through Eisenwald Tonschmiede

New Release: ARKHAAIK - *dʰg̑ʰm̥tós

The thundering sound of the ancients and the monolithic march of titans have been unshackled. ARKHAAIK's debut is available now. Released through Iron Bonehead Productions.

"Witness the unearthed ancients, beholden to the almighty sky father, ruler of the daylit skies! Behold the mighty bull! In his veins, the blood of the ancients pounds with fervor, and reciprocating this fervor, we bathe in his gore. Through the spilling of his blood, we attain ancient divinity."

Bathe in the blood of the bull here.

New Release: KVELGEYST - Alkahest

Alchemical rites of ritualistic depravity have been released upon the masses. Kvelgeyst's debut album "Alkahest" is now available on vinyl and CD formats through Vendetta records as well as through the usual streaming platforms.

Order here: Bandcamp, LP, CD

New Release: KVELGEYST - Alkahest

The Helvetic Underground Committee is pleased to let it be known that the mysterious entity known as Kvelgeyst has completed many years of alchemical experiments to extract a formidable elixir, Alkahest, to be unleashed by Vendetta Records on 12 June 2019. 

Kvelgeyst was originally called into life in 2015 to delve into the most obscure practices known to man in pursuit of a universal solvent, the alkahest. Their thorough search for transmutations has been molded into the form of wicked riff-craft and otherworldly, musical chaos. 

Kvelgeyst is:
Urgeist - Guitars, Vocals
Meister T. - Bass, Vocals, Synths

V. Knüppelknecht - Drums

Alkahest was recorded in H.U.C. crypt in 2018.

Mixed by Kerberos and Meister T.

Mastered by Andreas Rosczyk at Goblin Sound.

Bathe in gold here. 

Dakhma unpublished from Facebook

Dakhma was recently unpublished from Facebook due to continued violations of Facebook's page guidelines, apparently caused by the album artwork for "Hamkar Atonement". Although the decision to unpublish Dakhma's page was appealed out of principle, it has become increasingly obvious that Facebook's community guidelines result in automated, brainless censorship that is frankly not worth the time and effort required to deal with in order to maintain the mere semblance of a presence on the shitstain that is that website. As such, any information related to Dakhma and the Zoroastrian Death Music practiced by this entity will be posted on the (Facebook-owned, but somehow still ever so slightly less ridiculously censored) Instagram under dakhma_zdm.

Follow here.

New Release: Arkhaaik - *dʰg̑ʰm̥tós u̯rsn̥gwhé̄n

Arkhaaik is the excavation of rites long forgotten, of primitive worship and ancient deities that ruled long before man dominated and soiled the earth. These sounds explore Europe's bronze age and encompass the very essence of said rites that were extinct long ago, told in the Indo-European tongue that was used at the time and is now long lost to the ages, its utterance strange to the modern ear.

Encompassing three expansive tracks in 33 minutes, Arkhaaik's first sonic manifestation suitable takes a guttural (and GUTTING) form, drawing together sepulchral death metal, blackened bestiality and lava-like doom into sulfuric, senses-flaying mass. Its cavernous, ceaselessly roiling slipstream of carnal hysteria and barbarism punishes physically and penetrates psychically; it is of his earth, and beyond it.

Now, witness the unearthed ancients, beholden to the almighty sky father, ruler of the daylit skies! Behold the mighty bull! In his veins, the blood of the ancients pounds with fervor, and reciprocating this fervor, Arkhaaik bathe in his gore. Through the spilling of his blood, they atatin ancient divinity.

Listen to ancient death HERE.