Is the virus comparable to Ragnarök? Of course it can be compared, but it is of course not a modern version of Ragnarök for our civilization. Although it will be for some individuals and businesses for sure. It is a pain for most of us of course with the Covid-19 virus spreading and killing, so to make something good for you guys, we decided to create a campaign for you who prefer to bury yourselves in misantrophic, doomy and negative music. At the bottom of this article, you will find a discount campaign for some great and inspiring music for these dark days, but first let’s dive into Ragnarök…
Ragnarök
Ragnarök is the downfall and doom in the Norse / viking belief, and is indeed a very interesting and inspiring piece of cultural history. Especially for metal music.
It states itself on the life-blood of fated men, paints red the powers’ homes with crimson gore. Black become the sun’s beams in the summers that follow, weathers all treacherous. Do you still seek to know? And what?
Brothers will fight and kill each other, sisters’ children will defile kinship. It is harsh in the world, whoredom rife – an axe age, a sword age – shields are riven – a wind age, a wolf age – before the world goes headlong.
No man will have mercy on another.
At Ragnarök, the mighty walls of Asgard were destroyed and the Bifrost Bridge was set alight by the flame giant Surt. The World Serpent, Jormungand, burst from the mighty ocean and engulfed the Vigrid Plain, spewing venom in all directions. Fenrir (Fenris) broke his bonds and roamed the earth with his savage brood, spreading death and destruction. The wolves swallowed the sun and moon, and even Yggdrasil itself shuddered…
Corona / Covid-19
The Covid-19 virus is hardly close to Ragnarök, but the pattern of virus spreading is extremely important. This modern age with globalization and people travelling all over the world, has left our civilization especially vulnerable to virus threats. The speed, with which such a virus spreads, is rapid. Compared to ‘digerdöden’, or the black death – an inspiration to many black metal bands, this virus has spread extremely fast. At that time, it started in the mid 1330-ies and arrived in Scandinavia the year 1349. It is not too hard to guess where the Norwegian black metal titans 1349 got their band name from. Nevertheless, the conclusion is of course that the speed with which a virus can spread, to where we live, is incredibly fast.
The big question is how long time will it take before another virus with significantly higher mortality rate hits us? When that happens, that could be Ragnarök. Maybe this will be Mother Nature’s way of dealing with over-population…
Campaign
To support and encourage the drowning in darkness, we will offer certain doomy titles at reduced prices from today until the 31st of May. Items can of course run out of stock and we aim to keep the site updated accordingly.
DE MYSTERIIS DOM SATHANAS (25TH ANNIVERSARY BOX SET) (5LP + BOOK)
This deluxe and so box will be a collector’s item since it is a one time pressing only, so you should reserve your copy now.
“De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas” is often considered to be the most important Black Metal album of all time. The legendary Pytten can be quoted on saying “it was the next big thing after Grieg”, and we couldn’t agree more. The album was released on Euronymous label “Deathlike Silence Productions” May 24th 1994, marked as Anti-Mosh 006.
This timeless album shall be honoured with the release of the 25th Anniversary Box Set, with the help and support by long time Mayhem friend Finn Håkon Rødland. The Iconic Album has been remastered for vinyl from the original DAT tapes by Solslottet Studio, with guidances from Pytten himself and approved by Hellhammer. The cover art and packaging will for the first time be presented as Hellhammer originally envisioned it back in 93/94, including also the lyric scroll booklet. Also included are four additional vinyls with stunning artwork consisting of two different rehearsal sessions in Oslo from February and May 1992, taken directly from tapes Euronymous made, the instrumental rough mix from Grieghallen June 1992, and the rough mix with vocals from the tape Attila got after the vocal recordings in April/May 1993.
The Box Set will include a 96 page book with a series of in depth interviews casting Light and Darkness on the recording process and the glory days of Mayhem making history in the early 90’s, such as Pytten, Hellhammer, Attila, Necrobutcher, Nocturno Culto of Darkthrone, Bård `Faust” Eithun of Emperor, Shagrath of Dimmu Borgir, Dr. Best of Mysticum, Steinar “Sverd” Johnsen of Mortem/Arcturus, Erik Danielsson of Watain, Tore Bratseth of Old Funeral, Ivar and Grutle of Enslaved, HBM Majesty of Mare/Vemod/Dark Sonority, Nergal of Behemoth, Silenoz of Dimmu Borgir and Jørgen Lid Widing (lyric scrolls). Liner notes by Finn Håkon Rødland, Metalion, Iver Sandøy of Solslottet studio, and Maniac. The Book will include the original handwritten lyrics by Dead and Snorre, plus never before seen photos from the DMDS photo session, presented here for the very first time. The book will also give detailed insight into the classic cover art of Nidarosdomen. THE PAST IS ALIVE!
The Box Contains: – Original Album “De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas”, Remasterered From The Original Dat Tapes – A 96 Page Book (See Description) – 4 x Bonus Vinyls.
This Box Set will be printed one time exclusively for the number of pre-orders only.
TRACKLIST
The
Original Album Re-mastered From The Original DAT Tapes
Side A
1.
Funeral Fog
2. Freezing Moon
3. Cursed In Eternity
4.
Pagan Fears
Side B
5. Life Eternal
6. From The Dark
Past
7. Buried By Time And Dust
8. De Mysteriis Dom
Sathanas
Bonus
Vinyl 1
Rehearsal Oslo: Skippergata, February 10th, 1992
Side
A
1. Buried By Time And Dust
2. Cursed In Eternity
3.
Materialized In Stone
4. Life Eternal
(Side B Blank)
Bonus
Vinyl 2
Studio Rehearsal Oslo: Møllergata, May 16th, 1992
Side
A
1. Funeral Fog
2. Freezing Moon
3. Pagan Fears
4.
Buried In Time
Side
B
5. Life Eternal
6. Buried By Time And Dust
7. Cursed
In Eternity
8. De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas
Bonus
Vinyl 3
Instrumental Rough Mix: Grieghallen, Bergen June
22nd-29th, 1992
Side A
1. Buried By Time And Dust
2.
Pagan Fears
3. Freezing Moon
4. Funeral Fog
Side B
5.
Life Eternal
6. From The Dark Past
7. Cursed In Eternity
8.
De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas
Bonus Vinyl 4 Vocal Session, Grieghallen,Bergen April 30th- May 2nd 1993 Side A 1. Cursed In Eternity 2. Pagan Fears 3. Freezing Moon Side B 4. Funeral Fog 5. Life Eternal
