Valborg - Urknall - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Valborg are undisputed masters of sophisticated primitivism. In the course of six albums, the Germans have been cherished by the likes of metal pioneer Tom G. Warrior (Celtic Frost/Triptykon) for their exceptional uniquess, and now InchZentrumInch (InchcenterInch) combines the best of it's two predecessors, the atmospheric depth of InchRomantikInch and the rawness of InchEndstrandInch. Once again, an evocative cover artwork by Peter Böhme visualizes the music perfectly as simple as singular, powerfully striking. Thematically, the trio is maybe more topical than ever, dealing with escalation of any kind and the dissolution of self. Valborg once more prove that blunt musical force can be used in a refined, even emotional way; during songwriting, the untimely death of their friend and instrument maker René Marquis tore a hole into the family they consider themselves to be and had a significant influence on the material. For this reason InchZentrumInch is, more than anything, about finding the center again. It speaks of condensation and contraction, evoking the color red for heating, once more gaining weight. Musically though, there is and will never be a middle ground... InchZentrumInch is available as Digisleeve CD and LP (black and ltd. White vinyl). At the same time, Lupus Lounge / Prophecy Productions are re-releasing Valborg's entire album discography up to InchRomantikInch as single Digipak CDs with new artworks and in a limited, numbered box set titled InchUrknallInch, also containing the group's early demos on two additional CDs and a 64-page booklet. Album Tracks 1. Rote Augen 2. Alphakomet 3. Anomalie 4. Nahtod 5. Ultragrab 6. Nonnenstern 7. Kreuzer 8. Schwerter Der Zeit 9. Vakuum

Valborg have always been willing to experiment, shift boundaries, and while always remaining true to their harsh and sinister musical core, the Germans have never stuck to one particular musical box while consciously avoiding to become trapped in a stylistic pigeon hole. As a result many stickers have been applied to their sound doom, blackened death metal, industrial among others. On their new album entitled InchDer AlteInch (InchThe Old OneInch), Valborg take a rather reductionist approach. Their new tracks are deliberately kept short, making use of simple structures, brutal, while making use of extreme vocals and their trademark lambasting and relentless drum beat. Aided by LANTLOS-mastermind Markus Siegenhort, who took on all production roles, Valborg have opted for a raw and unpolished sound that relies heavily on the guitars as all keyboards have been ditched on this album. Audible influences include all of the band's metal aspects but also add elements derived from punk and wave for example. The result of this simplification process are hard-hitting tracks that still maintain a dark cinematic quality and construct threatening nightmare scenarios within cosmic dimensions, which fits the Germans' lyrical themes that explore the maddening horrors awaiting in the abyss of outer space, xenomorphic manipulation and apocalyptic visions that are often referring to and sometimes taken from the canon of modern science fiction literature. Valborg were conceived in the German City of Bonn in 2002. Critics have compared Valborg with such artists as GODFLESH, CELTIC FROST and TRIPTYKON as well as TYPE O NEGATIVE among others, but the trio clearly went their own way and continued to defy easy categorisations. The Germans have twice been invited and performed at the taste-making Roadburn Festival in the Netherlands as well as other prestigious festivals. They have also criss-

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Fortid's debut album, the of InchVöluspáInch as a 3CD large- artbook unites the band's first three albums InchVöluspá Part I Thor's AngerInch (2003), InchVöluspá Part II The Arrival Of FenrisInch (2007) and InchVöluspáPart III Fall Of The AgesInch (2010). These albums, forming a conceptual trilogy, are herewith brought together on one for the first time. Three bonus tracks were added to each album, and in addition the first two albums were remastered by Einar InchEldurInch Thorberg Gudmundsson. The artbook contains 60 pages and impresses at first glance with it's hardcover, which is finished with golden hotfoil. The content of the artbook includes introductions by Kari Palsson and Einar InchEldurInch Thorberg Gudmundsson, all lyrics in original language and in English translation, essays on the band's history and numerous visual material from each creative period of Fortid. InchVöluspáInch is an impressive monument to these milestones of Icelandic Pagan Black Metal, which honors the importance of the first three Fortid albums. Album Tracks 1. Into Battle 2. Til Orustu 3. An Ode to the Raven 4. Krummavi-Sur 5. Ymir's Death 6. Daudi Ymis 7. Creations 8. Skapanir 9. Birth of Men 10. Faeding Manna 11. Thor's Anger 12. Reidi Thors 13. The Past 14. Fortid 15. Krummavi-Sur (Remix) 16. Daudi Ymis (Remix) 17. Reidi Thors (Remix) 1. Bifrost 2. Odin's Sacrifice 3. Forn Odins 4. Baldur's Murder 5. Mord Baldurs 6. World of Hel 7. Helheimur 8. The Arrival of Fenris 9. Koma Fenris 10. Nastrond 11. The Presence 12. Nutid 13. Forn Odins (Remix) 14. Helheimur (Remix) 15. Koma Fenris (Remix) 1. Ancient Halls 2. Fornir Salir 3. Ragnarok Army from the East 4. Austursins Heimsenda Her 5. Fall of the Ages 6. Fall Aldanna 7. Equilibrium Reclaimed 8. Jafnvegi Endurh