(written by Islander)

Samhain is of course a prime occasion for the release of new music in the realms of metal, a time entirely fitting for the emergence of spirits (musical and otherwise) through parted veils that will no longer conceal them. This year one such release is the debut album of the Italian band Araphel, a record named The Endchanter.

It has been an eagerly awaited release in these quarters ever since learning that Araphel‘s veteran lineup includes members of Into Darkness, Thulsa Doom, Black Oath, and Extirpation. The intrigue increased when we read that while the music is rooted in black metal (of varying shades), its themes depart from cliched tropes of the fantastical and instead delve into more human realities and realizations — “a critique of society and the dullness of our lives and rules we are forced to live by.”

We’ll share these further words from the press materials: Continue reading »