IT'S A TRAP! Scandinavian Music Journal

Pitchfork top metal of 2011

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:05:17 -0800

Pitchfork's best metal albums of 2011 list includes selections from Vanhelgd (#34), In Solitude (#9) and Circle of Ouroborus (#7): http://pitchfork.com/features/show-no-mercy/8717-best-albums-of-2011/

Vanhelgd - Mänsklighetens finala ruin

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 12:19:02 -0800

Swedish death metallers Vanhelgd have a new track posted for free download: http://www.myspace.com/vanhelgd/blog/542207805
Look for the band's new album "Church of death" to be released in April.

Maim album gets title, samples now posted

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 20:01:34 -0800

Swedish death metallers Maim have confirmed that their new album "Deceased to exist" will be released in early 2011 via Soulseller Records and are now streaming three new sample tunes at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/maimdeathmetal
You can peep the new cover art from Mattias Frisk (Vanhelgd) over there as well.

New Vanhelgd EP coming soon

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:16:32 -0700

Vanhelgd's new 12" EP "Praise the serpent" will be released in time for the Nuclear War Now, happening in Berlin on November 19 and will include two exclusive tracks recorded during the same sessions the band recorded their upcoming full-length "Church of death".

Vanhelgd complete album + live preview

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 13:38:08 -0700

Vanhelgd's new album "Church of death" is now 100% finished and being sent to the label for pressing. No official release date yet, but you can preview a live version of the track "Total apokalyps" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzJIXWNmlL0

Various Artists Invocation of death vol. 1 Death Invocation Records

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:34:23 -0700

10 tracks of raw (fucking) death metal, committed to cassette tape, the flimsiest of formats and the perfect medium to showcase the New Wave of Old Swedish Death (NWOSD??). Just as it should be, because fidelity is far from the point in this horrorshow. Of the 10 acts featured on the tracklist, Vanhelgd was the only name I immediately recognized, though Gravehammer does (justifiably) seem to be making waves of their own with their recently released 7" on Detest Records. Somewhat unsurprisingly, those two are also two of the immediate standouts, but that doesn't mean the rest of the acts are slackers; far from it in fact, all are solid, satisfying listens, from the German thrash-influenced battery of Decapitation to the rawer, more Repulsion-ified attack of both Zombiefied and Reincarnage. However, my favorite discovery of this collection has got to be "Funeral plague" by Abduction, the heaviest cut of the lot by far and a song that would not be at all out of place on Earache Records' seminal "Grindcrusher" compilation from 1989. Växjö's Eviscerated rank #2 with an epic number, full of twisted riffs and a well-developed sense of melody. Definitely looking forward to hearing more from both those guys, definitely keeping a close eye on Death Invocation Records.

New Vanhelgd gets title

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:50:22 -0700

The new Vanhelgd album will be called "Church of death". Tracklist details at myspace: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=316883180&blogId=538352754

Death Invocation unveils "Invocation of death"

Thu, 27 May 2010 12:16:11 -0700

Swedish cassette-only underground metal label Death Invocation Records has confirmed the lineup for their upcoming compilation "Invocation of death vol.1": Gravehammer, Eviscerated, Mass Death, Vanhelgd, Entrapment, Manipulator, Decapitation, Reincarnage, Abduction, Zombiefied. No official release date, but they say it should be available in June or July.

Vanhelgd to record new album this month

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:47:20 -0800

Vanhelgd will be going into the studio on March 19 to record 10 songs for their sophomore album. Says the band, "Hopfully we will get a crappier sound than on our hifi nu-metal album Cult of Lazarus."

Vanhelgd, Miasmal and Faustcoven to play NWN Fest

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:00:16 -0800

Scandinavian acts Vanhelgd, Miasmal and Faustcoven will play the Nuclear War Now! Fest II in Berlin this November: http://www.nwnprod.com/?p=797

Two new Vanhelgd tracks now streaming

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:52:12 -0700

Swedish old-school death metal revivalists Vanhelgd just added two new tracks to their myspace player, including a cut from the new album "Cult of Lazarus" and a new demo track: http://www.myspace.com/vanhelgd

Decibel feature on old-school death

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:57:42 -0700

The latest Decibel Magazine has a feature on old-school death metal, a genre I dearly love, which features interview content with Swedish act Vanhelgd (and others): http://decibelmagazine.com/Content.aspx?ncid=314485

Vanhelgd to get vinyl release via Nuclear War Now

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:16:17 -0700

US label Nuclear War Now will be releasing Vanhelgd's (remember?) album "Cult of Lazarus" on vinyl in the near future. More details to come.

Metal Nightmare interviews Vanhelgd, Tribulation

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:53:05 -0700

Recently spotlighted Swedish metal act Vanhelgd and the also-excellent up-and-coming youngsters Tribulation (their new album "The horror" is 100% killer) are both interviews in the latest issue of online fanzine Metal Nightmare: http://www.metalnightmare.com/issue_twenty_six/issuetwentysix.html