12"

The second Single from the fifth full-length studio album, “Private Dancer”, by legendary American Pop Rock/Soul singer.
The Single become breakthrough global hit.
Capitol Records/EMI Electrola GmbH, 1984 (1C K 052 2001916). Made in Germany. First press. Used (cover/disc): EX/EX.


Tracklist:

A Side
1. What's Love Got To Do With It (Extended Version) 5:43

B Side
Don't Rush The Good Things 3:45

Total playing time: 9:28 min.
 

The first re-release of the first soundtrack album by legendary American Pop Rock/Soul singer.
Originally released in 1993, "What’s Love Got To Do With It" was a commercial and critical success. The album was the soundtrack for the Tina Turner biographical film of the same name and featured a collection of songs, some of which were re-recorded from Ike & Tina Turner period, as well five brand-new songs, one of which, "I Don't Wanna Fight", became a top 10 hit in both the UK and US. The album also includes Turner's version of The Tramps' disco classic "Disco Inferno", a song she had often performed live in concert in the late seventies but never previously recorded in studio, two tracks from 1984's "Private Dancer", the title track and a re-mixed version of "I Might Have Been Queen".
The album reached #1 in the UK, also making the top 10 in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Canada, and the top 20 in the US. It went on to be a Platinum record across the world, including the UK, US and Switzerland.
30th Anniversary release.
Parlophone Records Ltd., 1993/2024 (5054197555343). Made in Germany for the world.


Tracklist:

Side One
1. I Don't Wanna Fight 6:06
2. Rock Me Baby 3:57
3. Disco Inferno 4:03
4. Why Must We Wait Until Tonight? 5:53
5. Stay Awhile 4:50
6. Nutbush City Limits 3:19
7. (Darlin') You Know I Love You 4:27

Side Two
1. Proud Mary 5:25
2. A Fool In Love 2:54
3. It's Gonna Work Out Fine 2:49
4. Shake A Tail Feather 2:32
5. I Might Have Been Queen 4:20
6. What's Love Got To Do With It 3:49
7. Tina's Wish 3:08

Total playing time: 57:32 min.

The seventh full-length studio album by cult Czech Heavy Metal band.
The last album with the former vocalist/guitarist Zdeněk Černý, who passed of cancer on Dec 3rd, 2023.
The band line-up features guitarist Marek "Ashok" Šmerda (ex- Root 1999-2014 and Cradle Of Filth 2014-2025) and longtime Cradle Of Filth drummer & keyboardist (2006-present) Martin "Marthus" Škaroupka.
The release includes two posters, one of which originally signed by all band members.
Fiend Enterprises/Monster Nation, 2021/2022 (MN-048). Made in Czech. First press.


Tracklist:

Side A
1. On 04:12
2. Monstra 03:44
3. Černá díra 04:28
4. Třetí neznámá 04:12
5. Bůh dal ďáblu den 03:21
6. Král Fair Play 03:52

Side B
7. Osud a čas 06:03
8. Narkobaron 03:49
9. Ahoj lidi 04:21
10. Blbej den 06:20
11. My, on a ti co zbyli! 04:18

Total playing time: 48:40 min.

The ninth full-length studio album by legendary Symphonic Power Metal Opera all-star project.
Darkness descends over the hall, the curtain rises. Dear audience, welcome to the wondrous otherworld of Avantasia!
With his ninth album, Tobias Sammet invites you to join him on an enchanted journey into his own version of reality, which is full of fantastic events and encounters.
It is a captivating, deeply magical universe that Tobias Sammet has built over the past two decades. Since his debut "The Metal Opera" (2001), the Peter Pan of international Rock and Metal has romped between Metal, Classical and Rock, beguiling the biggest festivals around the world with his travelling circus and working with the greatest voices in the Metal world, including Alice Cooper and Scorpions' Klaus Meine.
According to Tobias Sammet, song ideas go back as far as 2018 but were not finalized until a few months before the album release.
Beside Tobbias Sammet, "A Paranormal Evening With The Moonflower Society" includes appearance by next vocalists: Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), Floor Jansen (Nightwish), Michael Kiske (Helloween), Jørn Lande, Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids), Bob Catley (Magnum), Eric Martin (Mr. Big) Geoff Tate (Queensrÿche).
Nuclear Blast GmbH, 2022 (58301 | NB5830-1). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:

I
1. Welcome To The Shadows 5:05
2. The Wicked Rule The Night 4:25
3. Kill The Pain Away 3:43
II
4. The Inmost Light 3:26
5. Misplaced Among The Angels 5:16
6. I Tame The Storm 3:52
Running time: 25:47 min.

III
7. Paper Plane 3:53    
8. The Moonflower Society 5:14
9. Rhyme And Reason 4:41
IV
10. Scars 4:13
11. Arabesque 10:10
Running time: 28:11 min.

Total playing time: 53:58 min.

The ninth full-length studio album by legendary Symphonic Power Metal Opera all-star project.
Darkness descends over the hall, the curtain rises. Dear audience, welcome to the wondrous otherworld of Avantasia!
With his ninth album, Tobias Sammet invites you to join him on an enchanted journey into his own version of reality, which is full of fantastic events and encounters.
It is a captivating, deeply magical universe that Tobias Sammet has built over the past two decades. Since his debut "The Metal Opera" (2001), the Peter Pan of international Rock and Metal has romped between Metal, Classical and Rock, beguiling the biggest festivals around the world with his travelling circus and working with the greatest voices in the Metal world, including Alice Cooper and Scorpions' Klaus Meine.
According to Tobias Sammet, song ideas go back as far as 2018 but were not finalized until a few months before the album release.
Beside Tobbias Sammet, "A Paranormal Evening With The Moonflower Society" includes appearance by next vocalists: Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), Floor Jansen (Nightwish), Michael Kiske (Helloween), Jørn Lande, Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids), Bob Catley (Magnum), Eric Martin (Mr. Big) Geoff Tate (Queensrÿche).
Strictly Limited Edition to 3500 copies, double Grey (Moonstone) Vinyl.
Nuclear Blast GmbH, 2022 (58301 | NB5830-7). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:

I
1. Welcome To The Shadows 5:05
2. The Wicked Rule The Night 4:25
3. Kill The Pain Away 3:43
II
4. The Inmost Light 3:26
5. Misplaced Among The Angels 5:16
6. I Tame The Storm 3:52
Running time: 25:47 min.

III
7. Paper Plane 3:53    
8. The Moonflower Society 5:14
9. Rhyme And Reason 4:41
IV
10. Scars 4:13
11. Arabesque 10:10
Running time: 28:11 min.

Total playing time: 53:58 min.

The second full-length studio album by American singer-songwriter.
PolyGram Records, Inc./Polydor, 1990 (843 133-1). Made in Holland. First press. Used (cover/disc): NM-/NM.


Tracklist:

Side 1
1. Always  4:03
2. Swept Away  4:17
3. A Small Song  3:13
4. Skintight  4:10
5. Bon Vivant  4:20

Side 2
6. Face To Face  5:10
7. Grace Under Pressure  4:28
8. On The Frontline  4:57
9. Love Is My Religion  4:13
10. Circle Back Home  5:18

Total playing time: 44:09 min.

The seventh full-length studio album by cult Czech Death Metal band.
Two years after their last creation, Czech Death Metal icon is back with the "Beneath". Tortharry is active on the Czech Metal scene since 1991, when the band transformed itself from its initial formation named Executor, and began its Death Metal crusade with its first demo "Mezi Nebem A Peklem" ("Between Heaven And Hell"). Over the years, Tortharry amassed an extensive discography and contribute to various Metal compilations, including “Tribute To Death”. The band also have an impressive list of live shows, with symbolic peaks being twin concerts in 1998 in the Czech Republic as a support of the genre icon Death, and a South American tour with Gorgoroth and Belphegor in September 2007.
Sharp guitar riffs, unearthly fast drums and the right Death growl build in the space of nine tracks a monumental acoustic “wall of
death”, which then underscores the dreary, even nihilistic, lyrics of individual songs; a parable of motifs, which are not, or should not be, obvious at the first glance. Hidden thoughts, desires, guilt or crimes, plainly all which is concealed beneath the surface of the apparent, are the thematic cornerstone of this album, as its name itself hints. In short: “I want to bite you until you bleed!”
The release includes Bonus Track “Krvavá Práce”, a cover version of the song by a Czech Metal legend, Debustrol, which is not available on the CD version of the album.
MetalGate/Monster Nation, 2010 (MN-023). Made in Czech. First press.


Tracklist:

Side A
1. Voiceless Storm 03:20
2. Entrenched 03:33
3. Beneath 03:18
4. Request 03:54
5. Behind the Curtain 04:10

Side B
6. In the Shadow 03:30
7. Through the Ice 03:27
8. Deep Down (And in My Embrace) 04:23
9. The Camp 04:53
10. Krvavá Práce (Debustrol cover) 3:38

Total playing time: 38:28 min.


https://tortharry.bandcamp.com/

The third full-length studio album by Swedish Hard Rock band.
Mercury, 1987 (832 960-1). Made in Holland. First press. OIS. Used (cover/disc): EX+/EX+.


Tracklist:

Side 1
1. Sole Survivor  5:04
2. You're The One I Want  4:03
3. Take Me On Your Wings  4:05
4. Best Of Me  5:24
5. Dancing On The Edge  4:32

Side 2
6. Outlaw  4:50
7. World Of Promises  3:57
8. One Way To Glory  4:35
9. Save Yourself  4:35
10. The Winner  3:37

Total playing time: 44:42 min.
 

For the first time on vinyl, the debut full-length studio album by cult Czech Melodic Heavy/Power Metal band.
The Trezor band was formed in 1987 in Ostrava. After the few local shows and line-up changes, they prepared a concert program a year later, which was recorded in 1990 as "Síla Života" and "V Srdci Tvém" demos. In 1991 "V Srdci Tvém / Pěsti" 7"EP was officially released.
The debut album, "Máš Svou Šanci!", was released as CD and MC in 1994. The second album, "Tváří V Tvář", was released in 1996. A number of video clips were created for both albums and the band performed at major Rock festivals.
The band went in hiatus in 1998, but never officially was disbanded.
Supraphon/Monster Nation, 1994/2025 (MN-057). Made in Czech. First press.


Tracklist:

Side A
1. Nejsi sám 3:35
2. Brána do pekel 3:47
3. Máš svou šanci! 3:15
4. Už je čas 3:34
5. Nevěř svým snům 4:10
6. Nadešel tvůj den 5:05

Side B
7. Máš dost 4:03
8. Já chci žít 4:40
9. Metal Storm 4:24
10. Nádherný svět 9:31

Total playing time: 46:04 min.

The ninth full-length studio album by legendary Canadian Hard Rock band.
MCA Records Inc./WEA Musik GmbH, 1987 (255 139-1 (MCA-42083)). Made in Germany. First press. Used (cover/disc): VG/VG.


Tracklist:

Side 1
1. Prologue: Into The Forever  1:01
2. Never Say Never  3:36
3. Headed For Nowhere  6:07
4. All The King's Horses  1:47
5. Carry On The Flame  5:14
6. Let The Light (Shine On Me)  5:33

Side 2
7. Long Time Gone  5:10
8. Rock You Down  3:57
9. Prelude: The Waking Dream  1:13
10. On And On  3:49
11. All Over Again  3:57
12. Running In The Night  3:51

Total playing time: 45:15 min.

The seventh full-length studio album by legendary Canadian Hard Rock band.
MCA Records, 1984 (MCA-5537). Made in USA. First press. OIS. Used (cover/disc): NM/NM-.


Tracklist:

Side 1
1. Spellbound  5:12
2. Rock Out, Roll On  5:10
3. Cool Down  4:49
4. Follow Your Heart  3:32
    
Side 2
5. Time Goes By  5:57
6. Midsummer's Daydream  1:40
7. Time Canon  1:32
8. Killing Time  4:15
9. Stranger In A Strange Land  5:11
10. Little Boy Blues  3:33

Total playing time: 40:51 min.

The debut full-length studio album by cult Polish Heavy Metal band.
Polton, 1982 (PLP – 002). Made in Poland. First press. Used (cover/disc): EX/VG+.


Tracklist:

Side A
1. Wysokie sfery 04:59
2. Ludzie jak dynie 03:32
3. Nocny sabat 02:48
4. Trzy zapałki 05:11

Side B
5. Na co cię stać? 04:02
6. Jeden kroczek 04:09
7. Twoje sumienie 03:25
8. Bez podtekstów 04:57
     
Total playing time: 33:03 min.

The fifth full-length studio album by legendary American Heavy Metal/Hard Rock band.
After the commercial disappointment of "Come Out And Play" it was to be a two year gap before Twisted Sister would release their fifth studio album. AJ Pero had vacated the drum stool to be replaced by Joey "Seven" Franco but the nucleus of Twisted Sister was still together and looking back on this album, it was panned by the music press and manage to receive even worse reviews than "Come Out And Play", it should now be considered an undiscovered gem amongst band's fans worldwide.
Album was strongly influenced by Hair Metal bands, although the band split after its release and had a lot of conflicts with this record which led to a split. The album was originally supposed to be a Dee Snider solo record but the record company demanded it be recorded and released as Twisted Sister. "Love Is For Suckers" was released by Atlantic Records on August 13, 1987. The tour for the album ended in Minneapolis, Minnesota on October 10, 1987. Two days later, on October 12, 1987, vocalist Dee Snider announced his departure from the band.
The Twisted Sister sound and image had also changed from the bestial, back street brawling racket of "Stay Hungry", "You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll" and the excellent "Under The Blade". Perhaps this was more to do with America's white middle class trying to stop the likes of Twisted Sister denigrating the masses with their perverted and unsolicited music or the bands new found financial happiness but for whatever reason Twisted Sister had lost something and "Love Is For Suckers" was to be the bands final studio release.
This would be Twisted Sister's final studio album, as all albums since have been compilations or live albums (with the exception of 2004's "Still Hungry" which was a rerecording of 1984's "Stay Hungry" and "A Twisted Christmas" in 2006).
Dee Snider has stated that he likes many of the songs on the album, vocally. However he feels that if they play any of them live, it may bring back bad memories for the band. No songs from this album appeared on the band's 1992 greatest hits album "Big Hits And Nasty Cuts".
There have been conflicting reports over the years as to exactly what the recording line-up for the album was. Jay Jay French, Eddie Ojeda and Mark "The Animal" Mendoza are all credited in their normal roles but some or all of the guitars and bass were recorded by credited guest musician Reb Beach.
Looking back now "Love Is For Suckers", whilst not reaching quite up to the bands early rabble rousing, street fighting, brash and over the top standards of early releases still makes a great noise! Sounding more aggressive and eager to amend previous misdemeanors, Snider and Co. deliver an album containing more than a few stand out, trade mark Twisted Sister anthems.
So, here we have a lost classic and one of the best and most overlooked Rock albums of the late 80's!!
Atlantic Recording Corporation/WEA International Inc., 1987 (781 772-1 | WX 120). Made in Germany. First press. Used (cover/disc): EX+/NM.


Tracklist:

Side One
1. Wake Up (The Sleeping Giant) 4:21
2. Hot Love 3:28      
3. Love Is For Suckers 3:25
4. I'm So Hot For You 4:05
5. Tonight 3:51

Side Two
6. Me And The Boys 3:52
7. One Bad Habit 3:18
8. I Want This Night (To Last Forever) 4:18
9. You Are All That I Need 4:17
10. Yeah Right! 3:14 

Total playing time: 38:13 min.

The fourth full-length studio album by legendary British Heavy Metal band.
"The Cage" marked a move in a more commercial direction, selling over 200 000 copies and giving birth to two top 50 songs in the UK, namely the covers of Leiber & Stoller's song "Love Potion No. 9", performed by The Clovers, and the lesser-known RPM song "Rendezvous". Another Single, charted at 63, was the Steve Thompson song "Paris by Air".
It was shortly after producing this album that the band split for the first time, due to tensions with their record company. Robb Weir and Brian Dick then formed the band Sergeant.
Rare edition in hard cover sleeve with titles in Spanish and English.
MCA Records, 1982/1983 (LAE-530). Made in Mexico. Used (cover/disc): VG-/VG+.


Tracklist:

Side A
1. Rendezvous (RPM cover) 3:25
2. Lonely At The Top 3:33
3. Letters From L.A. 3:15
4. Paris By Air 3:00
5. Tides 4:16

Side B
1. Makin Tracks 3:38
2. The Cage 1:12
3. Love Potion Number (The Clovers cover) 9 2:05
4. You Always See What You Want To See 3:16
5. Danger In Paradise 3:33
6. The Actor 4:19

Total playing time: 35:32 min.

30th Anniversary Edition, the first official re-release of the second full-length studio album by legendary American Gothic/Thrash/Hardcore/Doom Metal band.
Type O Negative has always had a strange and twisted sense of humour. But nowhere is this more obvious than on this album. They have given us some strange liner notes at times, but this album really is the go-to point if you want to tell someone how weird this band is.
The album was designed to mimic a live performance, with fake audience noise and comedic interruptions like a staged bomb threat, satirizing a previous tour controversy. The initial release featured an extreme close-up of an anus, reportedly belonging to frontman Peter Steele. Later reissues feature different cover art, such as a stylized "Dance of Death" painting.
Now, the craziest part about this album is that it is supposed to be a live album, because the band's label Roadrunner had it written in the contract that Type O Negative was to record a live album. However, the band allegedly took the money they were supposed to spend on producing the live album on cheap vodka instead. Realizing they needed to fulfil their contractual obligations, the band simply re-recorded their debut album, "Slow Deep And Hard", added a couple of songs and retitled some other songs and then added fake crowd noise… But they did not stop there. It would be too easy to simply add in crowd noise. No, Type O Negative added in chants of "You Suck!" and improvised a fight between Steele and the fans, with Steele yelling "You suck too" at one point in the album and then making fun of the crowd because he's getting paid to play, and the crowd had to pay to get in. At about the midway point, the band claimed it had to stop playing because there was a bomb threat in the concert hall. After a few seconds of silence, they began playing again…
Beyond the insanity of the fake crowd, the music is very impressive, and it does sound as if they are playing live. The first seven tracks are the fake concert, and then the band adds in a very interesting cover of the Black Sabbath classic "Paranoid" for the final track.
The musicianship is tight and is held together well despite the often changing tempos. Type O Negative will never be mistaken for an incredibly musically talented act. But that is okay, because the band plays just well enough to sound fine playing the style of music they play. They have always been able to write long, multipart epic songs and this has been their best musical quality. Here, for example, we have the fifteen-minute opener "I Know You're Fucking Someone Else", which lays the groundwork for the rest of the album. The band's style is a form of Gothic Metal, incorporating various influences such as Black Sabbath and The Beatles. They take those influences and slow them down and twist them to form a sound that is unlike any other band. The track "Hey Peter" is a rearranging of the Jimi Hendrix song "Hey Joe" about a jealous lover ready to kill his cheating girlfriend. Here, Peter Steele replaces the gun with an axe. The last track is a morosely slow adaptation of the Black Sabbath classic "Paranoid". Somehow, the band stretches it out more than twice as long as the original.
Overall, this is a very fun listen. The humour involved keeps things light and interesting, despite the very dark subject. At all, Type O Negative never did record a real live album.
Remastered re-release on a double Green/Black Marbled vinyl in gatefold cover features original censored cover art with peelable scratch n’ sniff sticker surprise. The release also includes Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" cover song as a bonus track, and an exclusive fold-out colour poster of the 1493 painting “The Dance of Death”.
Roadrunner Records, Inc./Warner Music Group/Run Out Groove, 1992/2022 (ROGV-171). Made In The Netherlands.


Tracklist:

Side One
1. I Know You're Fucking Someone Else 15:02
Side Two
1. Are You Afraid 2:13
2. Gravity 7:13
3. Pain 4:40
Running time: 29:08 min.

Side Three
1. Kill You Tonight 2:16
2. Hey Pete 5:10
3. Kill You Tonight (Reprise) 7:08
Side Four
1. Paranoid 7:20
Running time: 21:54 min.

Total playing time: 51:02 min.

25th Anniversary Edition first re-release of the second full-length album by the legendary German Heavy Metal singer (ex-Accept) and his band.
Udo Dirkschneider will always be remembered as that wild little guy on a giant ball smashing into things on MTV for the video to Accept’s “Balls to the Wall”.  Only a few years after that iconic Heavy Metal video, Udo went out on his own and formed the band U.D.O.  In 1988, he released his second solo effort titled "Mean Machine". This was, in many ways, his first solo album, as his first release were songs written by Accept. On "Mean Machine" these were his songs and his former band's. Not that too much changed, as the voice was still as mean and snarling as ever. The guitars were distorted and the rhythm section played like a locomotive.  
"Mean Machine" is one of the best U.D.O. ever released albums, as well as the title track is one of the best tunes he ever released. “Dirty Boys” is an ode to that Rock and Roll lifestyle while “Streets on Fire” is an epic rocker. “Don’t Look Back” kicks off the show by smacking you between the eyes with a loud riff while “Break the Rules” summed up what Udo’s fans wanted out of life… to rock out and break the rules! 
The album still sounds great. So, crank it up and get your German Rock out as Udo has always done it right! This is a great trip back in time!!
Remastered re-release. Gatefold 180 gram Red Vinyl. Includes live bonus track “Break The Rules”.
Breeze Music GmbH/BMG Ariola Hamburg GmbH/AFM Records, 1989/2013 (AFM 428-1). Made in Germany.


Tracklist:

SIDE A
1. Don't Look Back 3:12
2. Break The Rules 4:00
3. We're History 3:30
4. Painted Love 4:57
5. Mean Machine 3:53
6. Dirty Boys 3:47

SIDE B
7. Streets On Fire 3:50 
8. Lost Passion 4:10 
9. Sweet Little Child 4:49 
10. Catch My Fall 3:56 
11. Still In Love With You 0:48 
Bonus Track: 
12. Break The Rules 4:00

Total playing time: 44:52 min.

The hybrid live/studio album by legendary Irish Rock band.
Island Records Ltd./BMG Ariola/Bertelsmann Music Group, 1988 (60 694 7). Made in Germany. First press. Club Edition. 2x OIS. Used (cover/disc 1/disc 2): EX+/EX+/EX+.


Tracklist:

Side One
1. Helter Skelter  3:07
2. Van Diemen's Land  3:05
3. Desire  2:59
4. Hawkmoon 269  6:22

Side Two
5. All Along The Watchtower  4:24
6. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For  5:53
7. Freedom For My People  0:37
8. Silver And Gold  5:51
9. Pride (In The Name Of Love)  4:26

Side Three
1. Angel Of Harlem  3:49
2. Love Rescue Me  6:23
3. When Love Comes To Town  4:14
4. Heartland  5:02

Side Four
5. God Part II  3:15
6. The Star Spangled Banner  0:43
7. Bullet The Blue Sky  5:37
8. All I Want Is You  6:30

Total playing time: 72:17 min.

The fourth full-length studio album by legendary Irish Rock band.
Island Records Ltd./Ariola Group Of Companies, 1984 (206 530-620). Made in Germany. First press. OIS. Used (cover/disc): EX/VG+.


Tracklist:

Side 1
1. A Sort Of Homecoming  5:27
2. Pride (In The Name Of Love)  3:48
3. Wire  4:17
4. The Unforgettable Fire  4:54
5. Promenade  2:32

Side 2
6. 4th Of July  2:15
7. Bad  6:08
8. Indian Summer Sky  4:17
9. Elvis Presley And America  6:24
10. Mlk  2:33

Total playing time: 42:35 min.

The third full-length studio album by legendary Irish Rock band.
Island Records/ Ariola Eurodisc GmbH, 1983 (205 259-320). Made in Germany. First press. Used (cover/disc): EX-/EX-.


Tracklist:

Side 1
1. Sunday Bloody Sunday  4:38
2. Seconds  3:24
3. New Year's Day  5:38
4. Like A Song...  4:48
5. Drowning Man  4:12

Side 2
6. The Refugee  3:40
7. Two Hearts Beat As One  5:00
8. Red Light  4:09
9. Surrender  6:01
10. "40"  2:08

Total playing time: 43:38 min.

The fourth re-release of the third full-length studio album by cult Norwegian Folk Black Metal band.
From their Folkish Black Metal beginnings, to their current Post Rock/Electronic music experimentation, Ulver have always stood tall in the Norwegian music scenario. For a band of musicians to change so deeply and drastically, yet to be able to keep producing music that is so true to them and so utterly splendid, is something beyond extraordinary. "Nattens Madrigal" marks the end of an era for Ulver, namely their Folk/Black Metal period, and tops it off, not without throwing in unique elements, that would distinguish the record both from those following and from those precedeing it. If "Bergtatt" was a real work of art in combining Atmospheric Black Metal with the Norwegian folklore and Folk music, and "Kveldssanger" was a pure Folk album, "Nattens Madrigal" exhibits the Black Metal core of Ulver in its purest, rawest and most violent song, but without abandoning the Folk elements that made the fortune of the previous albums.
"Nattens Madrigal" is a sort of concept focused on the theme of lycanthropy, inspired by the traditional Norwegian tales of werewolves. The album expands the "Metal" component of Ulver's sound, but it does not fall to incorporate acoustic arpeggios and Folk melodies, making up for a unique mix of Raw Black Metal and Folk.
Musically speaking, the album is absolutely fantastic: the twin axes often play different patterns that complement each other perfectly, consisting in frantic tremolo picking or harsh chords according to the case, both soaked with significative sparks of melody, that are widely incorporated in the riffing and the acoustic parts alike. In the meanwhile, a ferocious and merciless assault is taking place behind the drum-kit, in the form of relentless and extremely fast blast beats, that offer a harsh counterpart to the aggressive yet melodic riffing. The screams are equally rabid, mostly centered around the typical mid-range of Old-school Black Metal acts, but occasionally spacing in the higher, shriek-like register. The bass lines are particularly interesting and complex, especially considering the fact that this is a Black Metal album, as they don't follow the guitars' patterns for the whole duration of the CD, but instead tend to vary quite often.
Something that "Nattens Madrigal" has become particularly infamous for is the extreme lo-fi production, with the guitar sound consisting in too many highs and the axes placed far too high in the mix, drowning the rest of the instruments, especially the bass. It was reported that much of the money Century Media Records gave the band to record it, was spent on drugs, suits, and a car, with the rest used on the album itself, resulting in the rather poor production and mastering (the band has corroborated that this was partially, though not completely, true). Upon release of the album, Century Media created an advertising campaign that claimed it was recorded "in the middle of a forest"; this, in addition to "the big labels" signing Black Metal acts, in frontman Kristoffer Rygg's eyes, made Black Metal appear cheapened and gimmicky, and was enough for him to give up Black Metal entirely. Thankfully, the re-mastered version (available in vinyl) has almost solved the problem, as the new mix allows the bass and the vocals to be clearly heard, without depriving the guitars of that extremely raw and piercing sound that some may hate, or at least need some time to get accustomed to.
"Nattens Madrigal" is a must-have and an obliged listen for any Black Metal fan: it's raw, aggressive yet melodic, furious yet evocative, and makes up for a glorious conclusion for Ulver's Black Metal trilogy. Don't miss this album for any reason!
Century Media Records Ltd./Sony Music Entertainment/De Agostini Publishing S.p.A., 1997/2002/2024 (DeAgostini 66). Made in Italy. Pressed in France.


Tracklist:

Side 1
1. I - Wolf And Fear 6:16
2. II - Wolf And The Devil 6:21
3. III - Wolf And Hatred 4:48
4. IV - Wolf And Man 5:21

Side 2
5. V - Wolf And The Moon 5:14
6. VI - Wolf And Passion 5:48
7. VII - Wolf And Destiny 5:32
8. VIII - Wolf And The Night 4:38

Total playing time: 43:58 min.


https://centurymedia.bandcamp.com/