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
To further strengthen our black metal roster, we’ve signed an exceptional band from Croatia called Bednja. They will be playing hard-hitting black metal mixed with hardcore and atmospheric elements. We can’t wait to put it out but the album will most likely see a release very early next year. Here’s the album artwork of the full length ‘Doline Su Ostale Iza Nas’ –
Transcending Obscurity Records owner Kunal Choksi says, “We’re proud to sign our first band from Croatia. The deal however had been finalized well before the world cup so it has nothing to do with this. The reason such a fresh band is on the label is because their music is an exceptional blend of black metal with elements of hardcore and progressive black metal. It’s a rare treat to come across such a band and it was hard to resist despite our extremely busy schedule. Watch out for their release which will be on multiple formats and box sets.”
Bednja adds, “After years spent on the underground scene, we were very enthusiastic about this new band we started and the music we began to make! Getting in touch with Kunal turned out to be the best thing, and we’re very happy to sign a deal with Transcending Obscurity! As the world around us (and especially here in Croatia) keeps spiralling downward, we hope to get our message across to as many people possible – and what better way than through a label with such a big and diverse roster!”
Spanish death metal band Eternal Storm will be releasing their upcoming album titled ‘Come The Tide’ on Transcending Obscurity Records. It’s a superbly tempered album that takes in elements of progressive, melodic as well as aggressive death metal to create their own brand of death metal that is at once refreshing and unpredictable without losing continuity. They’ll be good label mates with our existing death metal bands such as De Profundis, Heads For The Dead, Eye of Purgatory and others.
Label owner Kunal Choksi states, “I’m very happy to come across a fresh and resounding album in the style after ages. It happens to be the new full length of the ambitious Spanish band Eternal Storm who seem to have a great future ahead of them. Their death metal music is expansive, even atmospheric and progressive, which lingers in your mind long after it’s over. We’re proud to welcome them to our fold.”
Eternal Storm guitarist Daniel Maganto comments, “After all these years working on our debut full-length, we are excited to announce that it will finally be released via the Indian label Transcending Obscurity Records. We feel honored to be collaborating with a passionate and committed individual like Kunal, and to be sharing home with bands we admire and respect like Master, Officium Triste, Paganizer, De Profundis and many others. This is also our first recording with Mateo on drums and we can’t wait to show you the evolution the band has undergone since ‘From the Ashes’. More news soon!”
Line up – Kheryon – Bass, lead vocals Jamie Torres – Guitars, backup vocals (clean/growls), keyboard Mateo Novati – Drums, backup vocals (growls) Daniel Maganto – Guitars, backup vocals (growls), keyboard
Tracklisting – 1. The Strand (Through The Wall Of Light Pt. I) 2. Immersion (Through The Wall Of Light Pt. II) 3. Detachment 4. The Mountain 5. Of Winter And Treason 6. Drifters 7. The Scarlet Lake 8. Embracing Waves
It’s interesting how death metal can reinvent itself to sound refreshing all over again. And more so, when experienced band members get around to doing that. So here’s another death metal band signing that’s been a long time coming, but that’s to ensure that the music is presented in the best way possible. The music will be revealed in due time but you can have a look at the artwork that’s created by Juanjo Castellano (Interment, Revel In Flesh, Coffins), with the logo made by none other than Mark Riddick (Fetid Zombie).
Label owner Kunal Choksi states, “I’m thrilled to work with a very promising new band in Goregӓng which have members of Venom Inc., Ribspreader, Soilwork, The Absence, etc. More importantly, their style of music is what most appealed to me – it’s reminiscent of early Wombbath and Baphomet, in that it’s catchy, grimy and filthy with a punk edge to it. It’s great to work with bands that strive to break the mould and do something that retains the essence of the genre at the same time.”
Goregӓng member Taylor Nordberg comments, “We are incredibly excited about working with Kunal and Transcending Obscurity! We are all big fans of what he has built and the quality bands/products he has released. We can’t wait to unleash this album to you all! “We are the most foul. We are Goregäng.””
Band line-up – Jeramie Kling – Lead Vocals, Guitar (Venom Inc. (live), Ribspreader, ex-Wombbath, The Absence) Brandon Clingo – Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocals Taylor Nordberg – Drums, Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocals (Soilwork (live), Ribspreader, ex-Wombbath, The Absence)
‘Neon Graves’ tracklisting – 1. A Cavity In Reality 2. False Flags 3. Cathedral Of Chemicals 4. Silence Is Consent 5. Spray Of Teeth 6. Feeble-Minded Rash 7. Neon Graves 8. Plague Of Hammers 9. Goregӓng 10. Weightless Sentinels 11. Putrid Judgement 12. This Era Of Human
While we’ve been on the lookout for worthy grind/crust acts, they’re few and far between, at least the ones that appeal to us. Marginal put out a brilliant album late last year, following the devastating HM-2 crust release by Henry Kane, and it’s obviously with great pleasure that we announce the addition of another grind/crust band to our roster this year after Morgue Supplier from US. The fact that they’re from Argentina only makes things interesting. Their work ethics and professionalism are better than most bands in established countries for this kind of music.
Transcending Obscurity Records owner Kunal Choksi states, “I’m extremely happy to get a chance to work with another killer crust/grind band after Henry Kane and Marginal. In fact, it was the latter band’s member Johan Antonissen who tipped me off about this band, even though they had already approached me. I simply adore their passion and zeal for this kind of music. I wasn’t expecting such a band from Argentina but I’m only glad to have this opportunity. Medium‘s album will be out on multiple formats when the time is right. For now enjoy this clip taken from their official video.”
Medium add, “We are utterly proud and excited for being signed by Transcending Obscurity Records. Their support and our commitment join forces to make our debut album and further releases available in all corners known (and unknown)”
It’s great that we’re getting a chance to work with more German bands. In addition to the massively awaited album by Heads For The Dead, which features members of Revel In Flesh among others, we have also announced the signing of Eremit who play stunning doom/sludge metal and Temple Koludra playing black metal and sharing members with Hexer.
Label owner Kunal Choksi states, “It’s an honour to work with the mesmerizing cosmic doom band Hexer from Germany. Along with label mates Eremit, they are sure to leave a mark where this style goes. Their brand of doom is just what I was looking for – something atmospheric and also intriguing, with the kind of occult heaviness that you can find in their label mates Jupiterian, with whom they toured last year. Their new album is one of my most anticipated releases and I’m sure it’ll be exceptional.”
Hexer members comment, “When Kunal invited us to join the roster of Transcending Obscurity, we already heard a lot about his work and the effort he puts into his releases, by our friends of Jupiterian and the german Trvefrykt-Zine. This collaboration gives us the opportunity, to work on new conceptual ideas and to create new soundscapes for the next chapter of our story. We are extremely stoked, that Transcending Obscurity will join us on this cosmic trip!”
Transcending Obscurity signs occult German black metal band Temple Koludra in a multiple album deal. It’s a significant signing that strengthens our black metal repertoire. This year has already seen signings of bands such as P.H.O.B.O.S., Dødsferd and Lifelost for the genre, and this will be another feather in the cap of the label. Along with the current releases of Arkheth, Nigredo, Gaerea and Sathanas, and the aforementioned signings, this is going to be the strongest year for the label where this genre is concerned. You can stream an exclusive new song from the upcoming full length below.
Label owner Kunal Choksi says, “It’s with immense pleasure that we welcome another German band after Eremit and partly Heads For The Dead to our label. It’s all possible because of V. of Jupiterian who told me about the band, and one thing led to another and culminated in this fantastic signing. It’s a coincidence that the band is into Indian spirituality and it can only be for the better. One can expect great things from the band’s upcoming full length titled ‘Seven! Sirens! To the Lost Archetype’.
Temple Koludra members state, “With Transcending Obscurity, we found the right label to release our upcoming work, after a long period of absence. Kunal understands and appreciates the spirit of our concept, so we are glad to be able to join forces with him.
‘Seven! Sirens! To A Lost Archetype’ combines chaotic black metal, with ritual instruments (kangling, rag dung etc.) from different traditions of the Himalayan region and underlines the endeavor to create a culture-overcoming symbiosis. But despite all tendency to reach for the east, these are just translation fragments of the underlying devotion, a devotion that is not geographically located but within the shining heart of darkness.”
Tracklisting for ‘Seven! Sirens! To the Lost Archetype’ – 1 Trimūrti 2 Vajra 3 Grey Apparition 4 Nāmarūpa 5 This Diadem will Last 6 Vertigo 7 White I Trance
