Australia is kind to us. Our very first release was of the Australian band The Dead and since then we’ve released albums by bands like Depravity, Arkheth, The Furor, Greytomb, Illimitable Dolor, Norse, Somnium Nox, and signed others like The Slow Death. Needless to say, we’ve had special support from that country. The latest band to join our roster are Vahrzaw, who featured a track on the Transcending Obscurity 2019 label sampler alongside other new signings such as Wardaemonic, Cryptivore and Makizeen. Here’s a sneak peek into the upcoming release of this delicious, unhinged black/death metal band.
Label owner Kunal Choksi states, “I’m thrilled to sign a band like Vahrzaw who show a ton of promise straddling the genres of death and black and infuse a bit of melody to make them stand apart from the rest. With their unique songwriting coupled with savage delivery, their new material should be even better. Watch out for this one.”
Vahrzaw members vomit forth the following proclamation, “We’re not unhappy that Vahrzaw have signed to Transcending Obscurity Records. After dealing with the incompetence of other labels, it’ll be refreshing to unleash our next opus on a label as highly regarded & professional as Transcending Obscurity. ‘The Trembling Voices of Conquered Men’ will be our most ambitious and experimental project to date, but will retain the aggressive blackened death metal we’re known for. Hails from Australia.”
Line up:
GVD: Bass & Vocals
SW: Guitars
BG: Battery
Artist: Alex Morkh Shadrin of Nether Temple Design (Paganizer, Interment).
Atmospheric death/doom metal band Oak with Gaerea members are on the verge of releasing their debut full length titled ‘Lone’ and we’re proud to sign a contract with them for their worldwide release on all formats. Oak fit well alongside our doom metal label mates such as Officium Triste, Jupiterian, Eremit, Drug Honkey, Illimitable Dolor, Et Moriemur, Towards Atlantis Lights, etc.
Label owner Kunal Choksi states, “I’ve had a fantastic experience working with Gaerea and when I came to know that their members are involved in another band playing doom metal called Oak, I was immediately intrigued. Upon listening to their music, it was clear that I had to work with them. Their level of professionalism is maintained over here as well, with everything sounding just the way it should and also careful consideration been given to the artwork and overall aesthetics. Despite being a new band, the members are experienced and know their way around things and I’m sure this will go down as a significant release in the genre in 2019.”
Oak members comment, “We’re thrilled to finally announce Oak’s first Full length is coming to you via Transcending Obscurity Records. Being friends with Kunal for such a long time and having worked with TOR in the past, it felt very natural to deliver this first experience via the Indian ranks, which never stop to amaze us. Oak is formed by passionate individuals and you can’t often find such committed team to work with. We feel at home. “Lone” is a long journey where you find yourself in the middle of multiple scenarios and you can almost see the landscaping as you hear the gigantic sounds that echo through all of those places. From the burden one could carry to hold this world to the claustrophobic maze that traps your soul, “Lone” was fully produced and mastered at Stone Sound Studios (The Ominous Circle, Colosso, etc,) by Ricardo Oliveira. The majestic cover art was crafted by one of the most talented hands of our time, Paolo Girardi.”
We often don’t wait till a band becomes big before we offer them a deal, but that’s because we believe in their music and know that we can help them rise. One such signing is this one, Hex from Spain, who’re playing death/doom metal with gusto and show the chops to become a real force. Bottom line is that we like their music, which can be compared to bands such as Bolt Thrower, Winter, Runemagick, etc. and we’re happy to put out their debut full length album titled ‘God Has No Name’. Stream a track exclusively here, which will also be part of the upcoming label sampler.
Transcending Obscurity owner states, “I’m pleased to stumble upon a band like Hex who’ve written a remarkable new album. It’s death/doom that’s not too conventional and has enough death metal in it to keep it from getting dull. Jonathan of Hex is an old friend who I know since the Pitchline zine days (we were almost like webzine editor colleagues) and we also had a bit of shared history with his other band Virulency back in the day. Here’s hoping things go well with this band and that it leaves a dent in the coming year.”
Hex vocalist Jonathan Pernía comments, “We’re thrilled to announce that Hex is joining the ranks of Transcending Obscurity Records. We’ve known Kunal for many years even before he launched the label and we can’t wait to unleash our new release in cooperation with such an amazing record label. Kunal Choksi’s label is growing on a spectacular way and it’s releasing the works of top-notch international bands like Master, Gaerea, Paganizer, Officium Triste or Jupiterian to name but a few, but also some of our favourite Spanish acts like Eternal Storm, Come Back From The Dead and Lifelost. Join us believers, the time has come…let there be darkness!!!
Line up – Adolfo WB – Guitars Jon – Guitars Asier – Drums Jonathan – Vocals Endika – Bass
Artwork by Adolfo WB Warbanner
Track listing – 1. Thy Kingdom Gone 2. Soulsculptor 3. Worshipping Falsehood 4. Daevangelism – The Dark Sunset 5. Apocryphal 6. Where Gods Shall Not Reign 7. All Those Lies That Dwells
Dutch death metal band Burial Remains with members of Fleshcrawl, Boal and Grim Fate playing crushing old school death metal will be releasing their debut on our label in early 2019 on pretty much all formats. Their music is a mix of the bludgeoning death metal from their scene mixed with the HM-2 driven madness that the Swedish scene is known for. It’s the best of both worlds as far as we’re concerned.
Transcending Obscurity label owner Kunal Choksi states, “It’s thanks to Jonny Pettersson who let me in on this band that this signing became possible. Burial Remains play crushing HM-2 driven old school death metal like in the glory days but with amplified brutality. It doesn’t hurt that the band features the vocalist of Fleshcrawl. The band is all set to unleash their debut EP in early 2019 on various formats including tape.”
Burial Remains member Wim comments, “Even before we where actively seeking out labels Kunal had shown interest in our band. His eagerness to sign the band, alongside the outstanding releases put out by Transcending Obscurity and excellent references by Jonny Pettersson, made it an easy choice for us to work with him. We are looking forward to this collaboration and bringing you some filthy, crushing, old-school death metal together.”
Band lineup – Wim – Guitar (Grim Fate, Boal) Philippus – Guitar and bass (Dimaeon, Boal) Danny – Drums (Disintegrate, Dimaeon) Sven – Vocals (Fleshcrawl)
Vocals on Burn With Me by Ralf Hauber (Revel In Flesh, Heads For The Dead)
Mixed and mastered by Jonny Pettersson (Wombbath, Heads For The Dead, Nattravnen, Henry Kane)
Artwork by Mortuus Art (Sadistik Forest)
Track listing – 1. Crucifixion Of The Vanquished 2. They Crawl 3. Trinity Of Deception 4. March Of The Undead 5. Burn With Me 6. Days Of Dread 7. Tormentor (Kreator cover)
Transcending Obscurity is constantly on the lookout for bands that push the limit and don’t play safe. Trench Warfare have that savage spark along with good songwriting sensibilities and we’re proud to welcome them to our roster.
Transcending Obscurity label owner states, “We’re excited to work with a very promising band in Trench Warfare from US. It’s not often we get a chance to deal with this kind of fervent and acerbic black/death metal with the right amount of darkness and filth and we’re delighted to get our hands dirty, so to speak. You can expect their debut full length to be out in early 2019 on both CD and LP formats with their corresponding box sets.”
Trench Warfare comments, “Back when we formed, if one would have said that in just a few years we would join a label roster that includes some of death metal’s pioneers, we would have laughed. But here we are. We’re the same maniacs who were inspired to make the most hateful and angry war metal that we possibly could on our 2015 demo. Our debut full-length, ‘Hatred Prayer’, continues to encompass our passion for raw, violent expression, but we’ve incorporated elements from black metal and death metal as well as death doom and beyond. ‘Hatred Prayer’ is a conduit for pure catharsis because it is a true curse upon humanity, upon our enemies, upon those we wish to suffer to the most severe extent imaginable. It’s an honor to sign with Transcending Obscurity Records. We look forward to destroying eardrums and scarring the universe.”
‘Hatred Prayer’ will be unleashed in early 2019 on various formats. Album artwork has been made by Misanthropic Art.
Album track listing – 1. Decimate Legions 2. Spare No Wrath 3. Axioms of Prevarication 4. Barbarous Temperment 5. Astral Projection into the Shapeless Abysmal Void 6. Evil Shall Triumph 7. Behead Muhammad 8. Young Lord (Poison Idea cover) 9. The New Lord 10. Blood Cleaning 11. Sate Thy Lust 12. Hatred Prayer
We’ve signed a few bands keeping the label’s future in mind and Burial Hordes from Greece are one among them. Their style of dark and blackened death metal music is highly impressive and one can expect their new material to be stunning as well. They’ve got members of Dead Congregation, Necrovorous, Pile of Excrements and others, so the quality should be right there. You can preview their 2018 album below.
Label owner Kunal Choksi states, “We’re thrilled to sign yet another Greek band after Dødsferd, Cerebrum, Nigredo and that’s Burial Hordes. I’ve been a huge fan of their music and I’m sure the band will be a force to be reckoned with. Their style of music is dark death metal with black undertones and it’s a delight to work with them. Watch out for one of their songs in the upcoming label sampler. The future is dark.”
Burial Hordes add, “We are very honoured to join forces with Transcending Obscurity Records one of the most dynamic and thriving labels in extreme music and we thank Kunal for the trust that show to our horde. Burial Hordes is working upon the new album and we can promise that we will dive deeper in the frostbitten territories of human psyche, to unleash another study of cold rationalism against the comforting illusions of mankind. Burial Hordes has been destroying hope since 2001 and we will keep destroying it until our inevitable end.”
UK death/doom band The Drowning are playing crushing death/doom metal with the melodies and structure intact. Their upcoming full length promises to be the best one of their career and fans of both death and doom metal should be all over it. It’s rare to see a band straddle it without compromising on either the heaviness or the atmosphere. They’re in good company alongside other death/doom bands such as Officium Triste, Illimitable Dolor, Esogenesi, Towards Atlantis Lights, Et Moriemur, etc.
Label owner Kunal Choksi states, “I’m thrilled to come across yet another talented UK band in The Drowning. They’ve been around for a while and it’s time they get the attention that they deserve. Their brand of hard-hitting death/doom metal is of the kind that stays with you long after the album is over and I’m excited to work with them. The UK scene has been kind to our label and here’s hoping this proves to be a fine experience for everyone involved. Special thanks to Chris Kee for letting me on to this band and sorting things out.”
The Drowning members comment, “2018 has been an exciting time in The Drowning camp. It has seen the completion of our fifth full length album, which we worked on long and hard to get the best from the new material. We believe it’s our best work to date and signing to the mighty Transcending Obscurity Records puts our work into the hands of one of the best new labels around. They’ve been signing major artists from around the world and this is a massive step for The Drowning. We are very, very proud to be a part of Transcending Obscurity’s incredible roster of bands.”
Line up – Matt Small – Vocals Mike Hitchen – Guitar Jason Hodges – Guitar Steve Hart – Drums Richard Moore – Bass
Track listing – 1. Alpha Orionis 2. The Triumph of the Wolf in Death 3. Prometheus Blinded 4. In Cold Earth 5. All That We Need of Hell 6. Harrowed Path 7. I Carve the Heart From the Universe 8. Blood Marks My Grave
We’re happy to have another solid old school death metal band on our roster that includes ones like Master, Paganizer, Crawl, Heads For The Dead, Ursinne, Down Among The Dead Men, Feral, Nattravnen, etc. Live Burial play primitive old school death metal with the heart in the right place and with a sound that’s perfectly tempered. Watch out for the new full length in 2019.
Label owner Kunal Choksi states, “I’m chuffed to get a chance to work with Live Burial. I loved their past material and the new stuff sounds great as well. I think they will be a very good fit on the label, what with our old school death metal roster and being in the company of other veteran UK death metal bands such as De Profundis, Warlord U.K., and Warcrab. It has been great working with the band so far and one can only expect big things in the future.”
Live Burial members comment, “When the opportunity rose to work with Transcending Obscurity, we just couldn’t resist! They’ve been instrumental in pushing the presence of underground death metal in terms of quality releases, and we can’t wait to be a part of that! We look forward to working with them to bring out our yet to be titled sophomore record. This culminates 18 months of writing and planning, featuring 41 minutes of pure old school inspired death metal.”
This is definitely one of our most eagerly awaited releases and it’s coming out at the best time of the year for us, just following ones by Master and Heads For The Dead. If you like death metal drenched in darkness and lots of eerie old school atmosphere, keep an eye out for this one. Pre-orders begin this month.
Transcending Obscurity label owner Kunal Choksi states, “I’ve been waiting for this release for a long time and finally things are completely ready. The timing is just perfect, as it follows the release of Jonny’s band Heads For The Dead and also the mighty Master. It’s also the first time we’ll be working with the legend Kam Lee, so we’re all very excited about it. Above all though, the music is exceptional and both Jonny and Kam have outdone themselves here – it’s dark death metal with elements of black and atmospheric doom. Needless to say, it’s one of the most awaited releases this year for us.”
Nattravnen‘s vocalist Kam Lee comments, “I am very excited for this album. First off it was during the making of The Grotesquery‘s 4th full length album, when Rogga Johansson told me about Jonny, and that he was looking for a vocalist to put lyrics and vocals to some music that he had. Rogga already knew by working with me previously on the three albums for The Grotesquery my ability to be able to put concept albums together with a storyline. And that this was something that possibly Johnny was looking to do with the music he had. Also I knew Jonny’s work from other bands like Wombbath, Ashcloud, Just Before Dawn & Henry Kane, so when I found out that I had a chance and opportunity to work with this great musician I jumped on it. Once I heard the music I knew exactly the tone that this album needed to take and it was perfect with the theme I was working on. As well it was like synchronicity… as if the universe wanted something to happen because I just so happen to be working on my own gothic horror fairy tale at the time and was leaning towards doing something with Scandinavian mythology. Johnny and I got to talking and he told me about this legend that his grandmother used to tell him as a child about the Night Raven. As soon as he told me the name of this mythical creature everything just fell into place. And that’s how everything came to be. The name of the band, the entire concept story, the mythology, everything all based on the Nattravnen.”
Nattravnen‘s music composer Jonny Pettersson adds, “This album have been in the making for a long time. I started working on these songs many years ago, but never felt that I could give them the vocal justice they needed. Rogga Johansson (Paganizer, Down Among the Dead Men and many more) introduced me to Kam who accepted the task of vocal mastery. It’s been an honour to complete the album with Kam, and with once again mighty Transcending Obscurity backing us up, and with label boss Kunal’s pure dedication, I’m positive this is one for the books.”
Line up – Kam Lee – Vocals and lyrics (ex-Death, ex-Massacre, The Grotesquery) Jonny Pettersson – All instruments (Heads For The Dead, Wombbath, Henry Kane)
Artwork by Juanjo Castellano (Carnation, Revel In Flesh)
Logo by Kunal Choksi
Track listing – 1. The Night Of The Raven 2. Suicidium, The Seductress Of Death 3. Corvus Corax Crown 4. Upon The Sound Of Her Wings 5. Return To Nevermore 6. From The Haunted Sea 7. The Anger Of Despair When Coping With Your Death 8. Kingdom Of The Nattravnen 9. Kult Av Ravnen
