SAMAEL “Blood Ritual” /CD/

Embroidered bordered woven patch.

105x25mm 

The Best Of compilation album by legendary Swiss Symphonic/Electro Industrial/Black Metal band.
The very noble Best-Of release from one of the most visionary and innovative Extreme Metal bands! Their Black Metal sound has evolved as they've introduced elements of Industrial, Goth and other styles into their sound.
This second compilation in the band’s discography is a perfect historical overview, from "Worship Him" (1990) to "Reign Of Light" (2004). 18 remastered songs, over 75 minutes playing time, liner notes to each song written by Vorph, glossy print, 24-page booklet. 
Century Media Records, 2007 (Century Media 8355-2). Made in USA. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Exodus 03:45
2. Black Trip 03:18
3. Rebellion 03:26
4. Baphomet's Throne 03:31
5. Telepath 03:34
6. Together 04:25
7. Supra Karma 04:30
8. Jupiterian Vibe 03:23
9. Rain 04:01
10. The Cross 03:17
11. After The Sepulture 04:29
12. On Earth 04:00
13. Moonskin 03:58
14. Worship Him 06:29
15. Ceremony Of Opposites 04:35
16. Blood Ritual 03:25
17. Into The Pentagram 06:44
18. Koh-I-Noor 05:26
19. Reading Mind 03:24
Total playing time: 79:40 min.

The ninth full-length studio album by legendary Swiss Industrial Death/Black Metal band.
After two years of silence, legendary band Samael is back! Expect a harsh dissonance to the catchy and electronica-meets-Metal approach of the predecessor "Solar Soul". Harking back to the good old Black Metal days of Samael, the band`s ninth effort combines the extreme sounds of the era 1994 – 1996 with sophisticated songwriting and unearthly grooves.
Earlier in 2009 the band began promoting a virtual Death Metal band from their Myspace profile. The band was called "Above" and featured computer-designed band members in a virtual world, whose lyrics and songs were written by Samael. Later through Myspace, the band announced that they would be taking their side-project Above and turning it into their newest Samael album.
Commenting on the album, Vorph said: "After 20 years, we've tried to do an album that would represent what Samael is all about and we did "Solar Soul". We feel now it is the right time to remind the people where we come from and that's exactly what "Above" will do. It is like an enhanced version of our three or four first albums, maybe the missing link between "Ceremony of Opposites" and "Passage". With the "Era One" project we've tried to work on different influences; with "Above" we stripped everything down."
Produced by the band and mixed by the one and only Mr. Fredrik Nordström (In Flames, Opeth, Arch Enemy), "Above" surely is the most surprising and aggressive in the whole Samael discography! Musically “Above” embedded a lot of memorable influences: Bathory, Slayer, Iron Maiden… to name just a few bands that shaped the sound of Samael in the first place. The lyrical content is also reminiscent of the band approach until the album “Eternal”. It’s not a “one song one topic” type of lyrics, but that was never really the case with Samael. Some of the themes tackled throughout the album are: change, personal quest, sex and ambition… something that has been part of entire Samael history.
While “Above” seems to lack the originality of the standard Samael album the first time through it quickly becomes apparent on subsequent listens why the album is every bit as good as any of the other titles in the band’s discography. With the new direction present on the album, it should appeal to people who enjoy their earlier work as well as those who were put off by the heavy emphasis on Electronica. This modern take on the band’s Black Metal roots is so focused on that sound that it almost ends up being their downfall, but with repeated listens that concern slowly fades away. The album is easily accessible while offering many benefits in the long run. Samael has done well in incorporating a modern twist to things. A decent listen, and finally a record that should show at least some of the potential that this quartet possesses. Grace the marriage of era, and distinguish how Samael make the concept of Black Metal seem complete with Industrial Metal!
Nuclear Blast GmbH, 2009 (NB 2322-2). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Under One Flag 03:43
2. Virtual War 04:04
3. Polygames 03:55
4. Earth Country 03:55
5. Illumination 03:31
6. Black Hole 03:38
7. In There 04:01
8. Dark Side 03:30
9. God's Snake 04:07
10. On the Top of It All 04:42
Total playing time: 39:06 min.

The fourth EP by legendary Swiss Symphonic Industrial/Electro Black/Dark Metal band.
Samael have definitely had a polarizing career. They began as a mid-paced Black Metal band that specialized in creating a rhythmic groove that the genre wasn’t really known for. They eventually found that they could enhance that groove by including Industrial elements (most notably a drum machine). This actually led to one of their most revered albums, "Passage". Instead of just sticking to their unique style, though, they pushed further into the Industrial genre; alienating a large amount of their fans in the process. In 2009 Samael surprised everybody by releasing the most aggressive album of their careers – an album that mixed the speed and atmosphere of Black Metal with the rhythmic pulse of Industrial Metal. This lead to the obvious question: was "Above" a one-time deal or were Samael back in the Metal genre for good? Almost year and a half after the release of “Above”, Samael are back with “Antigod”. While Samael’s new EP can’t really answer that question definitively, it’s at least a good tentative “yes”.
The new song, “Antigod,” sounds like it could have been lifted directly from "Passage". It is the kind of rhythmic, Industrialized Black Metal that the band used to do so well. It features the pounding percussion, thick orchestral synths, and Vorph’s long-missed growl that made "Passage" so great. That song is followed up by the band’s second re-creation of the song “Into the Pentagram”. That song was originally found on the band’s debut and subsequently re-done on their "Rebellion" EP. This version of the song has been given the band’s Industrial treatment – replacing the live drums of the first two versions with a drum machine and additional synths – and while it is great, it lacks the dark atmosphere of the "Rebellion" version. The EP is rounded out by two live tracks, a remix, and an all-synth finale. The live tracks are both taken from the band’s Industrial era, but they’re much more powerful live. The remix of “Antigod” isn’t terrible. It lacks the power and heaviness of the original, and is actually a bit grating due to the thin drum sound and distorted vocals. The all-synth new track, “Ten Thousand Years”, is an instrumental composition, sounding more as a soundtrack for a movie. It is a nice pompous track.
"Antigod" is a great surprise since it truly does provide the back-to-roots feel that we were initially promised with "Above". The live tracks show that the band is still pretty kick-ass and heavy in a live situation. Overall, whether you choose to listen to this EP or not, know that “Antigod” is a great return to the band’s roots and hopefully it is a sign of things to come!!
Nuclear Blast GmbH, 2010 (NB 2672-2). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Antigod 4:04
2. Into The Pentagram (2010) 4:44
3. Reign Of Light 3:47
4. Slavocracy 4:16
5. Antigod (Dark Night Remix) 3:50
6. Ten Thousand Years 4:44
Total playing time: 25:25 min.
 

The tenth full-length studio album by legendary Swiss Symphonic Industrial/Electro Black/Dark Metal band.
All throughout the ‘90s, Samael was busy pushing the boundaries of Black Metal, dropping all the standard frozen aesthetics and playing with Electronic sounds. While there was still plenty of occult and anti-Christian sentiment, Samael always played to the beat of a different drum. Many fans didn’t care for just how different that beat got several years later, when the band could more accurately be described as an Industrial or even Symphonic outfit. Long time fanatics should brace themselves as the prodigal son returns to its roots and produces a sound that reminds the world why Samael was so highly regarded in the first place.
As though trying to make up for the less aggressive albums, Samael’s previous release, “Above”, was unnecessarily harsh and heavy, with a production that made all the songs bleed together into one mass of incompressible screams. It seems the band learned a valuable lesson from that release, as “Lux Mundi” has a much more organic and fluid production, and all the instruments get a chance to shine. From front man Vorph’s distinctive growl to the melodic and menacing guitar work, all the best Samael elements are put on display. Black Metal is still deeply rooted in Samael's sound, but modern Industrial rears its ugly head and accentuates its presence all the time. The connection of the two styles is seamless (like it was before), but this time it sounds exceptionally well. The production and song writing style clearly brings to mind Samael’s 90’s era work, with some modern sensibilities. Generally the keyboard and electronic parts play a supporting role, with shorter intro or interlude segments that have a bigger emphasis, which leads to an overall heavier experience that still has loads of atmosphere. The electronic programming is used to vary the tone of each song, giving the various tracks a distinct feel. Not simply a return to old sounds, the album is also a rising new dawn that combines the various styles heard throughout Samael’s impressive two decade career. The songs “The Shadow of the Sword” and “The Truth is Marching On” strike the best balance between the “Reign Of Light” era and the “Passage” era, with just enough Electronic sounds to match the fast paced guitar work. “Mother Night” gives a heavy take on the idea of a ballad, while “Pagan Trance” gives a nod to the band’s mystical roots. “Soul Invictus” is also worth a special mention, with a thundering drum beat and swirling dual guitar rhythm that is nearly trance inducing.
The album is clearly trying, and mostly succeeds, to be a successor to the “Passage” album. “Lux Mundi” is undoubtedly among the best of the band’s offerings and an album that will bring Samael defectors back to the fold! Samael returns to form and strikes the right balance between furious Black Metal, melody, and Electronic sounds. This is the best active Metal band from Switzerland, as opposed to institutionalized religion which they always criticize, and has no problem with fitting into the demands of the 21st century. Their thinking about music is modern and archaism-free. With bands like Samael around, the future looks bright!!
Nuclear Blast GmbH, 2011 (NB 2790-2). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Luxferre 3:49
2. Let My People Be! 3:49
3. Of War 3:41
4. Antigod 4:04
5. For A Thousand Years 4:55
6. The Shadow Of The Sword 3:49
7. In The Deep 4:02
8. Mother Night 4:18
9. Pagan Trance 4:19
10. In Gold We Trust 3:29
11. Soul Invictus 4:18
12. The Truth Is Marching On 4:29
Total playing time: 49:02

The eighth full-length studio album by legendary Swiss Symphonic/Electro Industrial/Black Metal band.
From crude Black Metal to finessed Industrial Electronics, Samael's long and not always smooth career path has left many fans upset and stranded by the roadside - especially due to the erratic qualities of 1999's Electro Metal hangover "Eternal" and the radical Trip-Hop departures of 2004's otherwise impressive "Reign Of Light".
With their seventh longplay, 2007's "Solar Soul", the Swiss quartet appeared to be striving to achieve some kind of historical balance between all of these disparate styles. As a result, numbers like "Promised Land", "Valkyries' New Ride" and the title track see the band re-injecting some of the analog Metal elements of early-day efforts into its still thoroughly digital aesthetic, thus rendering those songs at once inventive and worthy of a good headbang.
"Solar Soul" features a wide range of Electronic Synth effects and keyboard melodies to conform to Black Metal. Add that, a lead and rhythm guitar, and, insert onomatopoeia, you have Metal with a contemporary vibe, at times showcasing a Pop-esque groove. The intention is not only to put the melody of our forefathers in practice, but to inject catchiness and harmony of vocals vis-a-vis leads.
Nuclear Blast GmbH, 2007 (NB 1898-0). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Solar Soul 03:44
2. Promised Land 03:57
3. Slavocracy 03:30
4. Western Ground 04:06
5. On the Rise 03:51
6. Alliance 03:40
7. Suspended Time 03:44
8. Valkyries' New Ride 03:53
9. Ave! 04:15
10. Quasar Waves 03:36
11. Architect (Bonus Track) 03:52
12. Olympus 04:39
Total playing time: 46:47 min.

25th Anniversary re-release of the debut full-length studio album by legendary Swiss Black Metal Band.
Released in 1991, it was the first-ever release from Osmose Productions, an independent French Black Metal label.
To celebrate the 25 years of Osmose Productions, label get the permission from Century Media to re-issue their very first release under a limited to 1000 copies digipack edition.
"Worship Him" considered a milestone in the development of second wave of Black Metal.
Century Media/Osmose Productions, 1991/2016 (OPCD001). Made in France. Pressed in Austria.


Tracklist:
1. Sleep Of Death 3:44
2. Worship Him 6:30
3. Knowledge Of The Ancient Kingdom 5:05
4. Morbid Metal 4:54
5. Rite Of Cthulhu 2:04
6. The Black Face 3:30
7. Into The Pentagram 6:46
8. Messenger Of The Light 2:42
9. Last Benediction 1:24
10. The Dark 4:27
Total playing time: 41:06 min.

The eleventh full-length studio album by legendary Swiss Symphonic Industrial/Black/Dark Metal band.
The first Samael album on Napalm Records, and the first to feature bassist Thomas "Drop" Betrisey. The release year of the album coincides with the band's 30th anniversary.
"Hegemony" was in the making for over four years and saw a shift from the occult and spiritual themes prevalent on past albums to social and political topics. However, as Vorph said, "Hegemony" closely connected with predecessor album "Lux Mundi".
Frighteningly brutal, a colorless bouquet from the withered flowers of Behemoth and Dimmu Borgir, "Hegemony" is a slick and vital record that sounds absolutely massive and is wickedly good fun.
Napalm Records Handels GmbH, 2017 (NPR 718 DP). Made in Austria. Pressed in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Hegemony 3:47
2. Samael 3:58
3. Angel Of Wrath 3:29
4. Rite Of Renewal 4:31
5. Red Planet 3:58
6. Black Supremacy 3:50
7. Murder Or Suicide 4:03
8. This World 3:52
9. Against All Enemies 4:31
10. Land Of The Living 4:12
11. Dictate Of Transparency 3:58
12. Helter Skelter (The Beatles cover) 3:26
13. Storm Of Fire 4:11    (Bonus Track)
Total playing time: 51:29 min.

Deluxe Edition re-release of the first EP by legendary Swiss Symphonic Industrial Black Metal band.
"Rebellion" is an interesting little median between Samael's strongest albums, a relic from a time, when most bands still seemed to care about releasing short-form works that had some unique content and genuine value. At the time it was easily the most experimental and varied of their recordings, if only because they saw fit to really test the waters beyond Metal with some of Xytras' evocative, ritualistic Ambient music with beats, having a few pretty decent, harder hitting tunes which mark that transition from "Ceremony Of Opposites" to the sheer brilliance.
Though it merely collected the leftover tracks from 1994's "Ceremony Of Opposites", the "Rebellion" EP still serves as a tasty morsel of what Samael was about to accomplish musically. Tracks like "Rebellion" and "Static Journey" advance the Swiss Black Metal merchants' experiments with synths and electronic drumbeats, and an amusing cover of Alice Cooper's "I Love the Dead" adds a little variety to boot.
This is one of the first step in the new path taken by the band after their Black Metal early days and one of the most unique releases in the genre. Without a doubt, one of the best EP’s ever released!
Limited Deluxe Edition 24-kt Gold Translucent CD, housed in luxury 6-page Soft Touch Digipak with embossed gold foil stamping and voluminous varnish. Luxury textured sticker inside!
First 50 copies include exclusive Patch and available with orders via Total Metal Shop only.
Century Media Records/Metal Scrap Records, 1995/2023 (MSR188DP). Made in Europe for the world.


Tracklist:
1. Rebellion 3:25
2. After the Sepulture (New Version) 3:33
3. I Love the Dead (Alice Cooper cover) 3:33
4. Static Journey 6:04
5. Into the Pentagram (New Version) 4:24
6. Hidden Tracks 13:46
     I. Unnamed
     II. Static Journey (Deutsche Version)
Total playing time: 34:59 min.