From the Depths: Shining, Anaal Nathrakh, 1349

NEW SICKNESS: Swedish black metallers Shining have uploaded several new tracks off their forthcoming new album, 'VI / Klagopsalmer,' which is due out on Osmose Productions on June 15. The album was recorded at the Slaughterhouse Studios with producer Rickard Bengtsson and features Tom Cato "King Ov Hell" Visnes (God Seed, Sahg, Jotunspor, I, Audrey Horne) on session bass.

In other Shining news, frontman Niklas Kvarforth has launched his own record label, Katastropy Records. Avantgarde Music will be taking care of the actual pressing and distribution, while Kvarforth will be handling all promotion / A&R. Kvarforth commented, "Over the years I've been involved in many bands, and a lot of them ended up on useless labels that have done little or nothing for the bands. As a musician myself I understand what a band looks for from its label, and with Avantgarde's experience and infrastructure, I believe that we will be able to do a much better job for the artists."

The first three releases on Katastrophy will be a new version of Bethlehem's "suizid" album, which will be entitled 'A Sacrificial Offering to the Kingdom of Heaven in a Cracked Dogs Ear' and feature Kvarforth on vocals, as well as new releases from In Lingua Mortua and Livsnekad. Later releases will include albums from Monumentum, Love Planet, and a compilation of unreleased tracks from several bands that Kvarforth has been involved in.

CHAOS AND FIRE: Birmingham extreme metal horde Anaal Nathrakh are back with another collection of apocalyptic black/grind/industrial/death metal hymns to absolute destruction. Entitled 'In The Constellation Of The Black Widow,' the new album will be released by Candlelight Records on July 14. Commenting on the new album, vocalist V.I.T.R.I.O.L. (Mistress, Benediction) reveals, "Constellation is faster, more insidious, more ominous, more musically dextrous and wilder than ever before. The album will feature a curve ball guest appearance from Zeitgeist Memento of Mexican extremists Republika." In other Anaal Nathrakh-related news, Anaal Nathrakh multi-instrumentalist and former Mistress drummer Mick Kenney has joined with former Mistress members Drunk and Misery to return to earlier d-beat/grind project Fukpig. 'Spewings From A Selfish Nation', the first record since 2003's 'Nuclear Apocalypse' will be available as a download and an extremely limited CD release later in the year through FETO Records.

FRESH MEAT: Norwegian black metallers 1349 will be unleashing their latest aural assault, Revelations of the Black Flame, on June 2 via Candlelight Records. I got a taste of the new record at a listening party in Norway, and let me tell you - if you think you know 1349, you're in for a massive surprise. They've taken their trademark hyperblasting BM to a whole new level and incorporated a barrage of new influences, tempos, and sonic experiments designed to destroy any preconceptions you may have about the band or its message. Think chaos, menace, twisted tempos, and pure evil. Welcome to hell.