Description
Hail The Abyss – Strictly Limited Gatefold Edition in BLACK.
THULCANDRA’s rise to power ignited when the Germany-based outfit unleashed their debut album, Fallen Angel’s Dominion, upon metaldom in 2010. The group, fronted by founding member and visionary Steffen Kummerer (also of Obscura fame), have tightened their hibernal grip on blackened death metal since. The desolate melodic emanations in follow-up studio records Under a Frozen Sun (2011), Ascension Lost (2015), and the chart-topping, 2021-album A Dying Wish, dedicated to the late drummer Chris Kratzer, solidified THULCANDRA as a superior force, expertly thrusting the magic and mystery of mid-’90s melodic black-death metal into the modern era.
Their fifth attack, entitled Hail the Abyss, sees THULCANDRA prove yet again why they’re atop death metal’s malefic vedette! Fierce tracks such as “As I Walk Through The Gateway”, or the uber-brutal “Blood Of Slaves”, showcase the band‘s affinity for dark, aggressive, and mellifluous metal while the album title track and the epic, mid-tempo rager “On The Wings Of Cosmic Fire” rip and terrorize with the intensity of hell. As always, THULCANDRA‘s about a vibe – there’s a distinct “feel” to the band’s latest album that’s distinctly old-school but without the tired trappings of it.
The four-piece just invaded North America for the first time ever with Fleshgod Apocalypse, Obscura and Wolfheart, while presenting the hotly-anticipated Hail the Abyss in all its glory – slated for release on May 19, 2023 via Napalm Records. Cooperation with renowned Dan Swanö (Dissection, Opeth, Katatonia), who handled the crushing album mix, was compulsory, as was the re-invitation to cover-master Lochner. Don’t fear the reaper—fear the majestic might of THULCANDRA, as Hail the Abyss will see them ultimately rise to full power!
A Dying Wish – Strictly Limited Gatefold Edition in BLACK.
A Dying Wish guarantees instant frostbites just as the first glance at the thrilling icy-blue cover artwork promises. After the listener is buried under the opener’s avalanche, THULCANDRA spans a dark arc between acoustic interludes and harsh blackened death metal parts. The quiet interlude “In Bleak Misery” marches into “A Shining Abyss”, which guides its listeners like a torch through the night.
Dramatic riffing and the screeching growls of Steffen Kummerer create dark and dense walls of sound as up-tempo tracks like “The Slivering Silver” and “Devouring Darkness” offers strong leads, driving riffs and engaging drums that let the storm rage on without mercy. The final, title track “A Dying Wish” provides a great finale that covers everyone and everything under a massive layer of cold, leaving the world behind in nothing but ice and snow.
