Dying Victims Productions is proud to announce the following new Pre-orders:
DVP 230 Vigilance – Vigilance MLP/MCD
DYING VICTIMS PRODUCTIONS is proud to present a brand-new mini-album from Slovenia’s VIGILANCE, simply self-titled Vigilance, on CD and 12” vinyl formats.
Born from the cavernous depths of Adelsberg, Slovenia’s VIGILANCE have been unleashing their own brand of heavy metal since Walpurgisnacht 2010. Inspired both by the harmonic arts of the original NWOBHM wave and the sepulchral elements of the first wave of black metal, VIGILANCE have steadily perfected their craft over the past decade-plus, possessing a unique crossover appeal to fans of early Iron Maiden and Mercyful Fate as equally as Venom and Bathory.
However, after years of taking that throwback sound to countless stages across Europe, it was VIGILANCE’s fourth album, Enter the Endless Abyss – released in 2019 by DYING VICTIMS to widespread acclaim – where the band had their breakout moment. Dark and dynamic but galloping gloriously with the eternal luminescence of HEAVY METAL might, Enter the Endless Abyss proved that VIGILANCE had truly nailed their subtly unique sound – and made it more compelling than ever.
And although some three years have passed since that pivotal record, VIGILANCE return with the same fire on the brand-new mini-album Vigilance. Across its five-song/26-minute duration, VIGILANCE’s self-titled salvo goes in an ever-epic direction, maximizing that (memorable) sonic storytelling they so compactly revealed on its full-length predecessor. Everything’s still head- and fistbangingly metal, arguably even more so here – the dual-guitar work is FIRE in the non-flashiest way – but there’s equally a sense of fantastical AOR ala classic-era Rainbow as the record progresses, hitting a heavenly high with nearly-seven-minute closer “Orbis Mundi.” And while VIGILANCE’s execution has never been doubted, on Vigilance do they loosen up a bit and let these more mysterious odes wind and wend with a suitably earthier feel. Put another way, take one look at that gorgeous cover artwork and you KNOW what you’re in for!
VIGILANCE have been aging like a fine wine, and have only grown more potent. Drink deeply of the concise cup that is Vigilance!
– Regular edition on black vinyl, with insert, poster, sticker, post card and download code.
– Special edition on electric blue vinyl, with insert, poster, sticker, post card, download code and patch.
– CD edition with sticker.
Out 21st October
DVP 233 Bunker 66 / Lucifuge – Of Night And Lust MLP/MCD
DYING VICTIMS PRODUCTIONS is proud to present Of Night and Lust, a special split mini-album between BUNKER 66 and Germany’s LUCIFUGE, on CD and 12” vinyl formats.
Both BUNKER 66 and LUCIFUGE should be familiar names to those versed in the dark deeds of DYING VICTIMS: Just earlier this year, BUNKER 66 released through the label a split 7” with fellow Italian filth-bangers HELLCRASH, as well as their long-awaited (and rightly celebrated) fourth album, Beyond the Help of Prayers, earlier in 2021; for their part, LUCIFUGE released their equally celebrated fourth album, Infernal Power, through DYING VICTIMS during the spring of 2021. Here on Of Night and Lust, both bands each deliver three exclusive songs, making for 24 minutes of ancient speed metal sleaze and metalpunk ghoulishness.
BUNKER 66 are up first and show no signs of slowing down, especially so after 15 years as a band now. “Mellhammer” and “Sulphurous Lust” are exemplary displays of their greasy speed-metal surge, and yet subtly exude an eerie aspect that perhaps point the way forward for future recordings. Capping their entry is a faithful cover of Motörhead’s “Doctor Rock,” which both underlines BUNKER 66’s roots as well as reverently paying respect to the fallen gods of Lemmy and Würzel. LUCIFUGE follow with an even-more-blackened iteration of their etched-in-stone metalpunk across the tracks “The Great Unseen” and “In Blood and Dust.” They conclude with a surprising-yet-storming anthem fittingly titled “Warriors of the Night.” While many metal anthems have been attempted under such a title, you’ve truly never heard one as invigorating as this – nor LUCIFUGE so bright and brassy!
– Regular edition on black vinyl, with insert, poster, sticker, post card and download code.
– Special edition on bone colored vinyl, with insert, poster, sticker, post card, download code and two patch.
– MCD edition with sticker.
Out 21st October
DVP 234 Witch Blade – Månsken LP/CD
DYING VICTIMS PRODUCTIONS is proud to present the highly anticipated second album of Sweden’s WITCH BLADE, Månsken, on CD and vinyl LP formats.
Hailing from Kristinehamn, Sweden’s WITCH BLADE were formed back in 2012 by Witchlover and Witchhunter. The two childhood friends had been playing together in other projects but wanted to form a band that honored their heavy metal heroes: namely Angel Witch, Tokyo Blade, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden. After writing a couple of songs, the band became a three-piece when drummer Witchburner joined in early 2013. The same year, the band recorded their self-titled debut demo, which sold out quickly and was later re-released by Levitate Records, followed by a 7” single titled Fjärrans Krig in 2014. After working as a sound engineer on the single recording, Witchdoctor joined on second guitar just in time for the band’s debut album, Oskuldernas Eld, released in 2015 by DYING VICTIMS.
WITCH BLADE made their live debut in 2015 as a supporting act for Black Trip. Since then, the band have made several live appearances around Sweden. Thereafter, a period of hibernation followed until 2021, when the band decided to continue again as a trio. The result is something of a rebirth: Månsken, WITCH BLADE’s second album.
While the cover to Oskuldernas Eld certainly clued listeners in to its contents, the one for Månsken compellingly complements the album’s contents in a most tasteful fashion. There’s undoubtedly an olde-worlde, magickally musty flair to WITCH BLADE here – also keenly note the band’s change in logos – their traditional heavy metal going back even further in time to the proto-metal era. Nothing overdriven, nothing too over-the-top, just hard rocking AND hot rockin’ and an almost narrative moodiness to the songwriting whilst staying locked into classic verse/chorus/break structures, WITCH BLADE once again locate that wonderful (and elusive) balance between garage-born emotion and swords & sorcery stateliness. To a man, the riffs and leads of guitarists Witchlover and Witchdoctor (who also drums here) often impart a melancholy on par with Wishbone Ash’s Argus or Thin Lizzy’s Black Rose, while frontman/bassist Witchhunter sings his heart out in his native tongue, which only heightens the heart-on-sleeve pathos across Månsken. And just like its full-length predecessor, the eight-song Månsken is an extremely swift & satisfying spin at 33 minutes.
All those denim-clad diehards and cloak-wrapped warlocks into early (and moody) hard rock AND cult NWOBHM, you are hereby commanded to witness the rebirth of WITCH BLADE with Månsken!
– Regular edition on black vinyl, with insert, poster, sticker, post card and download code.
– Special edition on electric blue vinyl, with insert, poster, sticker, post card, download code and patch.
– CD edition with sticker.
Out 21st October
DVP 235 Spectre / Tension – Hard Attacks / Earth Crisis 7”
DYING VICTIMS PRODUCTIONS is proud to present a new split release between Spectre and Tension, on 7” vinyl format.
Both heavy metal acts are no strangers to Dying Victims and its audience, as they have released two EPs as well as an EP and an album respectively. Spectre’s side contains one straight rocking track “Hard Attacks” which was originally recorded in 2017 and only distributed handmade CD-R which was given away for free with orders from the band’s own Heavy Chains Records store.
Tension’s debut album came out in early 2022 and was, unfortunately, quickly followed by the band splitting up. Now, posthumously, the last track of the CD edition of the album, “Earth Crisis”, gets its well-deserved vinyl treatment as it was left off the vinyl in order to reduce playing time and to preserve the best possible sound. Melancholic heavy metal at its best!
– 7″ edition comes with sticker, button, download code.
Out 21st October
Repress:
DVP 192 Knife – Knife
– Regular edition on black vinyl, with insert, poster, sticker, post card and download code.
– Special edition on olive green vinyl, with insert, poster, sticker, post card, download code and patch.