SUPERNAL MUSIC MAILORDER NEWSLETTER

SUPERNAL MUSIC NEWSLETTER - 25/08/05

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In this issue:

* Welcome
* News
* Our latest releases
* Our next releases
* Our earlier releases
* Distribution
* Requests for promotional material
* Requests for advertising
* Contact details

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Welcome
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Through this newsletter we intend to bring you news and information about what plots and operations are brewing within Supernal Music's trenches. This newsletter is sent to magazines, fanzines, webzines, and distributors, as well as to our mail order customers.

If you have never heard from us before (where have you been?), we are a small, underground record label based in England. Our current roster includes bands like CAPRICORNUS, HATE FOREST, DRUDKH, SUNWHEEL, KATAXU, and THE MEADS OF ASPHODEL. We also have an excellent mail order service and online store, with thousands of products at cheap prices, available worldwide.

If you find these electronic newsletters an invasion of your privacy and an insult to your mailbox, unsubscribe instructions appear at the end. However, if you unsubscribe we will refer you to our disco mass-mailer.

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News
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ASHES
After unexpected technical difficulties, ‘Hymn to a Grey Sky’ is back on. The stock should be arriving at our headquarters sometime in September. Apparently there were uncorrectable errors in the master which were not detectable to the listener, but which prevented manufacturing, so we had to request a new copy of the master. Alas, the original recording had been wiped by a computer virus, we were told, so the whole album had to be re-recorded. All for the best, in any event, as the band was not entirely happy with the original version and this development provided the opportunity to rectify perceived deficiencies.

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ASTROFAES
The band has been more or less on hold for a while.

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BENIGHTED LEAMS
The long sold-out albums, ‘Astral Tenebrion’ (1998) and ‘Caliginous Romantic Myth’ (1996), are to be re-recorded. Work on ‘Astral Tenebrion’ will commence after September. The new version will have different vocals and the sound it was always meant to have; it will also come with improved artwork. Work on ‘Caliginous Romantic Myth’ will commence sometime next year. The new version will have different vocals, different lyrics, and it will come with completely new artwork. Nowadays the original versions are quite rare and sought-after: 2000 copies were made of the 1996 album, but only 500 of the 1998 follow-up.

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BEWITCHED
Their fifth album, “Unveiling Zion: The Mother’s Return”,is to become available in a matter of days now. It is in a similar vein to last year’s excellent “Self-Confidence”, but with folky parts, funereal doom sections, and ambient passages. This album includes a FALKENBACH cover.

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CAPRICORNUS
’At Any Cost’ remains uncompleted. The new material will continue with the fusion of neo-Romanic orchestration and Black Metal, but will be more symphonic and cosmological, with very unusual influences.

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CONTRA IGNEM FATUUM (ex-CIRCUMSCRIBER)

The improved re-recording of ‘Halcyon Mockery’ was hit by technical problems, but we are told it will be completed soon. Meanwhile, the band have recorded a mini-album, ‘Detritus’, which is to represent the conceptual prequel to the full album.

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DARK AGES

This is a Dark Ambient project by the leading HATE FOREST member. Profound soundscapes full of misanthropy and cultural pessimism, inspired by the Black Death, alchemy, gothic architecture, the rise and fall of empires, and human ignorance.

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DRUDKH
Their fourth album is near completion. It is to be called ‘Blood in Our Wells’. We have heard an early version, without the leads, and were completely blown away. This new album will completely obliterate all previous work.

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ETHEREAL WOODS
The successor to “Thickthorn” should be ready in the Autumn. Meanwhile, “Thickthorn” is still available: dreamy, archaic, primitive Black Metal for underground purists intensely preoccupied with combating dilution of the genre’s aesthetic canons.

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FLEURETY
The second edition of 2000's "Department of Apocalyptic Affairs", which will have completely new artwork, will be released later.

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HATE FOREST
HATE FOREST is now dead, but that does not mean there isn’t a musical canon to preserve. We will be re-issuing all their EPs on a CD called ‘Nietzscheism’. The release date will be 15 October, Nietzsche’s birthday. Also, we have agreed to re-issue ‘To Twilight Thickets’, which contains their rare album, ‘The Curse’, and an unreleased demo, ‘Temple Forest’.

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INFERNUM
The re-issue for their classic first album is available.

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KATAXU
Their fantastic debut full-length was released on 31 May 2005. Totally astral and orchestral Black Metal; a cosmological and more radical version of ‘Into the Nightside Eclipse’.

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LUNAR AURORA
The partially re-recorded and improved version of ”Ars Moriendi” is now available.

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MAYHEM
More news soon...

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SUNWHEEL
Their debut full-album is currently being recorded.

Meanwhile, their majestic "Monuments of the Elder Faith" mini-cd is still available.

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THE MEADS OF ASPHODEL

Their long-awaited third album, ‘Damascus Steel’, is set for an early Autumn release. This album is a continuation of the concept explored in the Jihad mini-album.

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THOR’S HAMMER

The re-issue of their classic debut, ‘Fidelity Shall Triumph’, is currently in production. It should be available in the next few weeks.

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MERCHANDISE

You can still order our very popular "ANTI-HUMAN" mugs. £5.99 a piece including p&p within the U.K.. Usual rates apply for foreign orders. SUPPORT THE WAR AGAINST HUMANITY!

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OTHER NEWS

The are a number of re-issues pending. More information later.

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Our latest releases:
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FERLY017CD KATAXU (Pol): “Hunger of Elements” cd

If you enjoyed their split with THUNDERBOLT, you can expect this, their debut full-length, to intensify their monumental, symphonic sound with more layering and a storming production. So far we have heard only rough mixes without vocals, but the material is already stunning!

FERLY028CD DARK AGES (Ukr): “Twilight of Europe” cd (2005)

Sinister and oppressive dark ambient project by HATE FOREST’s composer. Inspired by the Dark Ages, the plague, alchemy, ignorance, superstition, and the rise and fall of empires.

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Our next releases:
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We have a lot of projects in the works, but as a policy we only show what we can confirm. Dates subject to change, but in most cases, once the exact date is announced, we stick to it.

FERLY018SPD/

CRUOR001SPD MAYHEM (Nor) "Out from the Dark" pd re-issue (2004)

Version alpha and beta of this picture disc showed a band photograph with red and gold backgrounds respectively. Version delta, the third one, will be a shape picture disc (limited of course), with truly horrific artwork, designed to offend and fill you with revulsion.

FERLY019CD HATE FOREST (UKr): “Nietzcheism” (2005)

The collected eps: “Darkness”, “Blood & Fire”, Ritual”, and “Resistance”.

FERLY020CD THE MEADS OF ASPHODEL (GBr): “Damascus Steel” mcd (2005)

Otherwise identifiable as “Jihad II”, this is to be a continuation of the incredible and highly provocative “Jihad” mini-album from 2002, which appeared as a split with MAYHEM.

FERLY025CD SUNWHEEL (Pol): tba cd (2005)

Not yet recorded.

FERLY027CD ASHES (GBr): “Hymns to a Gray Sky” cd (2005)

Debut full-length. Not yet recorded.

FERLY030CD THOR’S HAMMER (Pol): “Fidelity Shall Triumph” cd (2005)

Re-worked and improved version of the debut album from 1998.

FERLY031CD CAPRICORNUS (Pol): “At Any Cost” cd (2005)

Second album. Not yet recorded.

FERLY032CD CIRCUMSCRIBER (GBr): “Halcyon Mockery” cd (2005)

Re-recorded and improved re-issue of their amazing third demo. Epic, monumental Black Metal with glacial keyboards and imperial splendour.

FERLY033CD KATAXU (Pol): new cd (2006)

Second album. Not yet recorded.

FERLY034CD ETHEREAL WOODS (GBr): new cd (2005)

Second album. Not yet recorded.

FERLY004CD-beta FLEURETY (Nor) "Department of Apocalyptic Affairs" cd (second edition) (2004)

Our second edition of this collaborative effort featuring the good, the bad, and the ugly of the Norwegian Black Metal elite will have new, improved artwork, quite unlike anything seen. We continue our tradition of doing things in a way no one has thought of before.

CORTES005CD BEWITCHED (Chl): "Hibernum in Perpetuum" 2cd (re-issue) (2004)

Their debut album, re-mastered and with a wealth of bonus material. Obscure and classicist, this album shows the wintry BEWITCHED at its rawest and coldest.

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Our earlier releases:
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In case you are not familiar with what we've done before, here is a re-run of our past crimes against humanity:

On Supernal Music (the main label)

AURA001CD BENIGHTED LEAMS (GBr) "Caliginous Romantic Myth" cd, 1996 (sold out)
aw, cavernous Black Metal in the mid 90s vein with unusual riffing and unexpected twists and turns and an obscure, Doomy atmosphere. The lyrics are in an arcane hybrid of various forms of archaic English.

AURA002CD BENIGHTED LEAMS (GBr) "Astral Tenebrion" cd, 1998 (sold out)
Second album, which abandons the Mediaeval themes of the predecessor in favour of a deep space concept. More orchestrated and with some ambient parts, but just as obscure. (Sold out)

AURA003CD BENIGHTED LEAMS (GBr) "Ferly Centesms" cd, 2004
Third album. Totally raw, twisted, and depressive Black Metal obscurantism, with cavernous sound, hissing production, and the most impenetrable lyrics ever written.

FERLY001CD              DEINONYCHUS (Nld) "Ark of Thought" cd, 1997
The third album from the blackly depressive and constantly negative Marco Kehren. Guaranteed to wipe the smile off your face.

FERLY002CD              M87 (GBr) "Noctilucent Threnody" cd, 1999
Deep space music, combining cosmic noise pieces with eerie symphonic sounds of vast, mind-boggling proportions. Although it doesn't sound like it at all when you play it, the music was created entirely with 7- and 8- string guitars and 7-string bass. Cold and monumental - one of our most mysterious and least known releases.

FERLY003MCD             FLEURETY (Nor) "Last-Minute Lies" mcd, 1999 (sold out)
Norway's enfants terribles ended a four-year hiatus with this sublime mini-album, which is Doomier and at the same time more dissonant than their 1995 debut on Misanthropy Records. Female vocals, saxophone, syncopated drums, and broken, unpredictable arrangements.

FERLY004CD-alpha      FLEURETY (Nor) "Department of Apocalyptic Affairs" cd, 2000 (temp. out of print)
This second full album from Norway's most awkward and unorthodox band hosts a wide variety of contributions from la crème de la crème of the Norwegian clique, including Garm, Maniac, Hellhammer, and others. This effort is crammed with electronics, effects, and eclectic song writing, which nevertheless retains a modicum of dissonant post-Black Metal guitars as a framework. Voted one of the top 40 albums of 2000 in that years Terrorizer's readers' poll, despite its thoroughly unconventional and uncommercial approach.

FERLY005CD              THE MEADS OF ASPHODEL (GBr) "The Excommunication of Christ" cd, 2001
Part of the new wave of British Black Metal, alongside with AKERCOCKE and ANAAL NATHRAKH, this is probably the weirdest one of the three, with their Mediaevalisms, Middle Eastern flavour, and unorthodox song writing. Symphonic, unpredictable, with rumbling guitars and catchy, unforgettable riffs. Even though we never placed any ads in any magazine and eschewed all forms of hype, the album received 8/10 in Metal Hammer, was proclaimed "album of the week" by Malcolm Dome in his radio show, and the band was featured in the December issue of Terrorizer.

FERLY006CD              HATE FOREST (Ukr): "The Most Ancient Ones" cd / mc, 2002
Darker than black, fast, unmelodic true Black Metal, inspired by Nietzschean philosophy, the ideology of elitism, and the nocturnal atmosphere of deep forests and swamps. This is a reworking of the material which originally appeared in the rare "The Curse" album, previously available on cassette only, now re-recorded at twice the speed.

FERLY007PD              MAYHEM (Nor)/THE MEADS OF ASPHODEL (GBr): "Freezing Moon, Carnage/Jihad" 10" pd, 2002 (Sold out)
Unusual split vinyl, limited to 666 copies and now sold out. The MAYHEM side contained two popular songs, in this version the only ones the band ever recorded in a proper studio with the classic line up (Dead, Euronymous, Necrobutcher, Hellhammer). THE MEADS OF ASPHODEL's side contains a four-track mini-album, inspired by the attack of 11 September 2001. 8/10 in Terrorizer and Single of the Week in Kerrang!

FERLY007CD MAYHEM (Nor)/THE MEADS OF ASPHODEL (GBr): "Freezing Moon, Carnage/Jihad" cd, 2002
Compact disc version of the sold-out picture disc, with two bonus tracks from THE MEADS OF ASPHODEL. The MAYHEM side contained two popular songs, in this version the only ones the band ever recorded in a proper studio with the classic line up (Dead, Euronymous, Necrobutcher, Hellhammer). THE MEADS OF ASPHODEL's side contains a four-track mini-album, inspired by the attack of 11 September 2001.

FERLY008CD HATE FOREST (Ukr): "Purity" cd, 2003
Third album from this most laconic and hostile Ukrainian horde. This album combines the deadly speed of "The Most Ancient Ones" with epos and a reflective character, rooted in a sense of ancient history and shamanic mysticism.

FERLY009CD DRUDKH (Ukr) "Forgotten Legends" cd, 2003

This new outfit includes members from HATE FOREST, albeit musically it is comparable to the more epic side of BURZUM. DRUDKH, which means "wood" in sanskrit, focuses on the solitary contemplation of nature. Four lengthy tracks flowing like streams in the forest, yet raw like the dark, moist earth.

FERLY010CD THE MEADS OF ASPHODEL (GBr): "Exhuming the Grave of Yeshua" cd, 2003

The extraordinary follow-up to "The Excommunication of Christ" (if we leave aside "Jihad" for a moment, the latter being a mini-album): retrogression on the guitars, now positively raw, combined with progression on the orchestral and arranged elements. An album without limits, yet true to its Black Metal roots. We doubt another English band will beat them with a better album this year. 9/10 in Terrorizer and position 8 out of the 40 best albums of 2003 in Terrorizer's Readers' Poll and 8/10 in Hard Rock (France) (more to follow).

FERLY011CD CAPRICORNUS (Pol): "Alone Against All" cd, 2004

Full-length debut, similar to THOR'S HAMMER (not surprisingly, since this is the same Capricornus behind the band) but with different, more extreme vocals, catchier riffs, and cosmic atmospheres. A very strong combination of the Lightning and the Sun.

FERLY012CD DRUDKH (Ukr): "Autumn Aurora" cd, 2004

Second album, this time incorporating keyboards and enhancing the dreamy, atmospheric element.

FERLY013CD HATE FOREST (Ukr): "Battlefields" cd (17.05.2004)

Funereal, ominous, epic. Alternating three monumental tracks with three traditional Ukrainian folk songs, and a funeral lamentation, recorded live on a bleak, remote Eastern village.

FERLY014CD INFERNUM (Pol): "...Taur-Nu-Fuin..." cd

At last, after many years of it being out of print and unavailable anywhere, we will be re-issuing this Polish Black Metal classic (featuring Capricornus and Rob Darken in the line-up) with new, improved layout and a statement from Capricornus.

FERLY015CD HATE FOREST (Ukr): "Scythia+1" cd (16.08.2004)

As the original Ukrainian version is sold out, and so is the American digipak version (limited to 1000 and 444 copies respectively), this re-issue will ensure that such a great album does not remain unavailable. Our version will come with improved layout and two bonus tracks, showing HATE FOREST at its finest.

FERLY016MCD SUNWHEEL (Pol): "Monuments of the Elder Faith" mcd

Debut mini-album. Much more darkly majestic and oppressively monumental still than their “Prophecies...” demo. This is the totalitarian version of “Into the Nightside Eclipse”!

FERLY021CD ASTROFAES (Ukr): “Those Whose Past is Immortal” cd (31.01.2005)

New album from this Ukrainian horde, and by far their best one. Faster and with addictive riffing.

FERLY022CD DRUDKH (Ukr): “Lebedyna Doroga” (21.02.2005)

Their third album. We hear it will be superior even to the previous two.

FERLY023CD HATE FOREST (Ukr): “Sorrow” cd (21.03.2005)

Seventh album: this one will be the opposite of “Battlefields”: totally fast and relentless. A real storm of hatred.

FERLY024CD ETHEREAL WOODS (GBr): “Thickthorn” cd (2004)

Dreamy, melancholic, mid-tempo, yet at the same time raw and primitive Black Metal. It has a nostalgic 1990s feel, although the guitar technique is different from the usual strumming, being a bit more rhythmical while still dissonant.

FERLY026CD ASHES (GBr): “Funeral Forest” cd, 2004

Re-issue of the their amazing 2^nd demo, with their first, “Blackened Wrath”, tagged on as a bonus. Raw, fast, and melodic Black Metal, drenched in reverb, with an almost ambient-like atmosphere in parts.

FERLY029CD LUNAR AURORA (Deu): “Ars Moriendi” re-issue cd (2005)

Re-issue of the masterful 4^th album, which has been unavailable and out of print for the past two years. With an added guitar track and new, improved layouts, this will be the definitive version.

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On Conquistador Records (sub-division)

CORTES001CD             BEWITCHED (Chl) "Dragonflight" cd, 1999 (sold out)
After 1996's frozen Black/Doom opus, the hyperaustral demons returned with a work heavy with old MERCYFUL FATE overtones, combining 90s and 80s Black Metal with an epic feel and brilliant technical ability.

CORTES002CD             SATHANAS (USA) "Armies of Charon" cd, 1999 (sold out)
Dirty, raw, obscure Black/Death/Thrash in the archaic vein of the late 80s. First officially released album by this cult band (at the time "Black Earth", since released by blackmental.com, was yet to come out).

CORTES003CD             SARGATANAS (Mex) "The Enlightenment" cd, 1999 (sold out)
Coarse, raw, brutal Black/Death stripped down to the barest essentials and delivered with a rumbling, heavy sound and guttural vocals. Great, hellish disc filled with the darkness of the ancient underground.

CORTES004CD             BEWITCHED (Chl) "Somewhere Beyond the Mist" cd, 2001
Third album from the talented Chilean Black Metal veterans, this time casting away the obvious old MERCYFUL FATE influences of "Dragonflight" in favour of a more technical approach, combining 90s and 80s Black Metal, with brilliant leads and varied vocal work, and Satanic / Tolkienesque / Northern European mythological themes.

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On Nazgul's Eyrie Productions (subdivision)

NEP017CD DAWNFALL (Deu) "Drei Räume" cd, 2002

Recorded many years ago, this is the long-vaulted successor to the infamous "Dominance of Darkness" debut. Weird, nightmarish, disfigured, you will most likely be repelled at first by what these Germans recorded, walking the thin dividing line between torture and demented genius. Yet this is a clever work, necro and avant garde at the same time, however tortuous.

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On Cruentous Aadorns (ex-Black Metal Records) (subdivision)

CRUOR001PD-alpha MAYHEM (Nor) "Out from the Dark" pd, 1996 (sold out)

7-track rehearsal from 1991, with the classic line-up (Dead, Euronymous, Necrobutcher, Hellhammer). Great sound. Band photo with red background. Only 1000 copies were made.

CRUOR001PD-beta MAYHEM (Nor) "Out from the Dark" pd, 1997 (sold out)

Same as above, but with a gold background.

CRUOR002PD-alpha MAYHEM (Nor) "Freezing Moon/Carnage" pd, 1997 (sold out)

The material we released as a 10" split and then as a split cd with THE MEADS OF ASPHODEL in 2002, originally came out on its own five years earlier, as a 12" picture disc ep. Only 1000 copies were made.

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Distribution
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If you wish to distribute our releases in your territory, and would like to find out about wholesale prices and terms and conditions, or about trades, please get in touch by sending us an email at mailto:sales@supernalmusic.com.

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Request for promotional material
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We don’t believe in equality and we don’t think mediocrity ought to be encouraged with charity and subsidisies. Therefore, to enter our mailing list, we will require professionalism and consistency.

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Advertising
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Begging for advertisement is futile: we don't believe anything advertising executives tell us as a rule. If we decide to advertise, we will get in touch. Cold callers from ad sales personnel will have the receiver slammed down without a word. Emails will be ignored and deleted. Faxes will be shredded without a glance. If you want advertisement, go to church.

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Contact details
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Label:

Supernal Music
P. O. Box 171
Cranleigh
GU6 8WW
United Kingdom
Fax: +44 (0)1483 542928
Email: mail@supernalmusic.com
Website: http://www.supernalmusic.com

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Bands:

ASHES

Email: info@ashes-online.com

Website: http://www.ashes-online.com

ASTROFAES:

Email: no interview

Website: no website

BENIGHTED LEAMS:
Email: benightedleams@supernalmusic.com
Website: http://www.supernalmusic.com/labels/supernal/benighted_leams.htm

BEWITCHED:
Email: bewitchedcontact@hotmail.com
Website: http://bewitchedrealm.cjb.net