Specials

Sometimes looking at music not only by checking out certain releases or what an artist says in an interview can lead to varying forms: Our Specials range from lengthy looks at scenes in certain places or at particular collectives releasing music in various shapes and formations. Furthermore we use our Specials page to host premieres for new music: Singles or videos but also sometimes even whole albums.

  • [Song Premiere] Empusae ft. Peter Bjärgö - Overwhelming Cruelty

    Empusae aka Nicolas van Meirhaeghe is one of these artists who is one of the best at what he is doing and still not enough people acknowledge the sheer power of his craft. Thus, that needs to be changed and if we here at Veil of Sound can do anything about it – let’s do it! Therefore we are proud to give you the premiere of his next single – this time a collaboration with Doom-infused vocalists Peter Bjärgö!


    Continue reading >

  • [Video Premiere] To End it All - The Drink of Silence

    You all know Sunn O))) - right? What are the Greg and Stephen known best for? Exactly - filling the pauses between two tones with drones. Well, what if you take out the drones - is that still Doom? Probably yes, as that genre is defined by the “space” between tones, right? Well, then this is Doom from the other side of Doom: We give you the premiere for the new sound phenom from the Pacific Northwest, To End it All and their new video for “The Drink of Silence” here on VoS!


    Continue reading >

  • [Video Premiere] Throwing Bricks & Ontaard - Blame Pt. 1

    Split records are a wonderful thing, because one might get to know the next favorite band. To me, I did not know Ontaard before getting to know them some weeks ago through their split with Throwing Bricks. Both Dutch bands will release Oud Zeer via Tartarus Records in mid-April. We are very happy to give you a video for Blame Pt. 1 which is not only the centrepiece of the split but also a track both bands wrote together. AND to make this premiere a little more special we also have a short interview for you to get to know more about the upcoming release and what sparked the collaboration. Enjoy!


    Continue reading >

  • [Video Premiere] Aortes - Lifeless

    Aortes from Vilnius, Lithuania are surely no newcomwers and have a few releases by now. However, their take on Blackened Post-Metal is always interesting, because they have found a very sweet spot - the one between Dark Americana and Post-Black Metal. Enjoy our premiere of the video of “Lifeless”, their latest single!


    Continue reading >

  • [Record Special] Je Est un Autre - Record Special - Flatworm Mysticism

    Je Est un Autre – “I am another”. Makes no sense? Might be, unless you are French philosopher Arthur Rimbaud and want to point out that the “I” is possible in relationship to the other. Or you are Bell Witch-famed bass player Dylan Desmond and use that line as the moniker for your new project and show a completely different side of yourself. Je Est un Autre is his outlet for incredibly deeply interwoven Ambient and the project releases its debut Flatworm Mysticism today. As we try to have one Bell Witch-related interview every few months ;-) , this is now number three and we hope you will enjoy this as much as all the others! Here is our record special for Flatworm Mysticism!

    Rimbaud’s idea is surely mighty interesting because of a the notion that we can only identify what we are by setting it into relation to another. But what if that “other” includes discovering that “I” am something totally different? What if I discover that myself? How does that change this correlation? Does it change it at all? How am I to perceive myself? What is my self-image? Can I see myself as something totally different? What if I suddenly feel in-human and more like an object? Difficult questions and maybe some that this record also doesn’t answer. Musically, this record is something totally different from Desmond’s other projects. Concerning the songwriting perspective it might not be, as repetition is still a key subject for all of Dylan’s work. However, in this context it is the question: Is this still repetition? Does the latter not require a separating point between two occurrences that they show its symmetry mirrored along the separating axis? Or in other words – if a riff is repetitive, does it need a small pause in between two repetitions? If not, then these wide, vast, meandering spaces, that Dylan layers upon each other, are not repetitive. If we take the single push on the key which prolongs into infinity, if we take this period as the repetition then this is highly repetitive music. Dylan has his own answer concerning the repetitive character of all of his work and if you want to find out more about that, then please check out the interview below!


    Continue reading >

  • [Record Premiere] Defying - Wadera

    “Wadera“ is the term for the female wolf, is connected to hunting and as such, it seems to have some kind of old-fashioned connotation. In that sense the atmospheric nature of Defying‘s new album of the same name, for the Polish band has tried to embellish their soundscape with some instruments that are more than 100 years old. The result is a remarkable record which we are really proud to present exclusively for you.


    Continue reading >

  • [Song Premiere] Velcros - Bitter Lake

    Drive. Verve. Power. Urgency. Or: Adolescence. Youthfulness. Mindlessness. Carelessness. One of these two sides does not describe the new record by Leipzig, Germany-based trio Velcros and yes, you are right, it’s the second one. Even though might also see the one word in both groups that we could exclude - want to find out which one? Well, follow the premiere for their new single “Bitter Lake” here on Veil of Sound!


    Continue reading >

  • [Video Premiere] Bosco Sacro - Ice Was Pure

    Brittle and fragile and a voice somewhere between Beth Gibbons and Anneke van Giersbergen. That is the first impression of Bosco Sacro and their very Ambient-ladden TripHop. Enjoy our premiere of their new video!


    Continue reading >

  • [Record Premiere] A-Sun Amissa - Ruins Era

    How difficult and yet accessible can you make a record? When listening to A-Sun Amissa’s work one might not see that paradox at first, because the music is simply overwhelming (and overwhelmingly good, that is!), but when you listen to their records several times you might notice it. The new full-length Ruins Era is no exception to that rule!


    Continue reading >

  • [Song Premiere] Cuntroaches - Gordian Knot

    Back in the 4th century BC, Alexander the Great encountered the problem of the Gordian Knot which seemed impossible to untangle - how did he solve that problem? By slicing it apart with the help of his sword. Why am I telling you this? Because today we present you a song of the same name by Berlin based outfit Cuntroaches. And how do they cut the “Gordian Knot”? By attacking it with moody Noise and several Black Metal attacks! Lovely.


    Continue reading >

  • [Records Special] Various Artists - The Short Sharp 666 January 666

    “Note for everyone - Thorsten will deliver his part of the Short Sharp Shots soon and he has a different, less-travelling perspective for you!” That’s what Martin wrote in December but I, Thorsten, must admit I failed with coming up with my half of the Short Sharp 666 in December but everyone who knows me, knows that it wasn’t my best time. Those who still want to know are free to ask privately - but beware life can kick you when you’re down sometimes. But why am I writing all of this? Because I basically want to say - I am back, we are back and back are the Short Sharp 666! And this time you will find them split into two segments - first Martin’s and then mine! Enjoy our selection!


    Continue reading >

  • [Video Premiere] Vægtløs - Aftryk

    If there is one thing that basically all VoS-members can agree on, then it’s atmosphere. A good record is more than just chords, beats, screams and more - it has something that we can only label as consistent atmosphere and stays true to itself. The genre is not that important, not even that the band sticks to one all the way through - again the atmosphere is much more important. Aftryk by Aalborg, Denmark-based quartet Vægtløs is such a record, full of mood and atmosphere. Therefore we are proud to give you today’s video premiere!


    Continue reading >

  • [Video Premiere] Nox - The Bitter End

    Whenever you have the opportunity to do something new, you should at least consider it. Unless it’s something about butchering your neighbor who thinks it’s a good idea to hang up some new pictures on a Sunday morning. Well…. Anyway, talking about butchering - fortunately the new project called The Nox Entity did not do that when recording their cover version of Placebo’s “The Bitter End” - they gave it a very nice twist and showcase some of their amazing skills. With this track the duo consisting of members of Rope Sect and Hemelbestorner announce their existence as a new entity concentrating on things off their regular guitar-driven paths. However, one must attest that the two individuals surely know how to arrange songs and how to set moods. Enjoy this very electronic version of the Placebo classic and make sure to set your eyes for the debut release called Entity later this spring via Neuropa Records!


    Continue reading >

  • [Record Special] Corax B.M. - Pagana

    Storm. Maybe the most underestimated element is the one that always comes to my mind when thinking about the strength of the four. Storm (or Air to be precise) is also the one I associate the most with what is called Pagan (Black) Metal. No matter if Bathory or Enslaved, Fortið or Narglfar, this is one genre widely associated with Scandinavia and the historic regions of the Norsemen. But there is also this other Pagan tradition rooted in the Southern regions of Europe, especially in Greece. Thus we are happy to give you the premiere of another great Greek Pagan Black Metal record: Corax B.M.’s Pagana! Enjoy


    Continue reading >

  • [Record Special] Besra - Transitions

    Post-Metal has seen of a decline in its classic form and an ascend when taking in elements from other genres. And then there are these bands that are simply so good at what they do, too good to ignore. Besra from Finland are one of these bands whose sound is familiar but whose ideas are much more than your regular. They mix some progressive elements into their songs and especially the great clean vocals are an amazing add-on! Therefore we are very happy to feature this interview with the band and review of Transitions you find here. Enjoy this special!


    Continue reading >

  • [AOTY 2023] Martin - AOTY 2023

    Best Folk/Avantgarde 2023


    Continue reading >

  • [AOTY 2023] Lucia - AOTY 2023

    Рожь - Bcë


    Continue reading >

  • [Album Premiere] Linnea Hjertén - Nio Systrar

    We are having another premiere this week and it might blow your mind, because it is something different. Linnea Hjertén is releasing her debut LP Nio systrar tomorrow and we are happy to premiere the album in full here on VoS. Imagine a form of Nordic Dead Can Dance. Vocals and layers are important, words are not.


    Continue reading >

  • [Song Premiere] Junta - Sin Piedad

    60 seconds. That’s all Junta need to showcase their No-nonsense-old-school-Hardcore with a few noisey bits. Sentient Ruin doing it again and laying a slightly different piece into their puzzle. MDC, Circle Jerks, State of Alert and many others from that first wave of (American) Hardcore - here are you heirs.


    Continue reading >

  • [Song Premiere] Uragano - Capo Danno

    Screamo/Post-Hardcore outfit Uragano has secretly been whirling in the Italian underground for ten years after emerging from Sanremo. The band has released music in various formats and did live shows around Europe and UK. And now, the world will be yanked into their vortex of music fusing anything and everything Hardcore and pouring out frustrated Screamo vocals at odds with the surroundings. Be ready for January 25 when their album LP1 will be thrown at the world via Ripcord Records, Dischi Decenti 1a0, Salto Mortale Music, Non Ti Seguo, Remorse Records, 5 feet Under Records and Bus Stop Press.


    Continue reading >

  • [Records Special] Various Artists - The Short Sharp 666 December 2023

    The short reviews of our Short Sharp 666 December-issue have something in common, even though the styles, genres and the (place of) origin of the albums reviewed are very different to each other. They all take you on a journey into the unknown. Thus we shall do the same. I would like to guide you to some of the recent highlights of the Northern European sonical hemisphere. Are you ready? So fasten you seatbelts! It will be an adventurous ride. And here we go…


    Continue reading >

  • [Record Premiere] Gula - Birds of the Apocalypse

    We haven’t had a premiere here on VoS for quite some time and as the Xmas-hole is coming up soon, this might be the last premiere for 2023. BUT if it is, then this is one, we couldn’t be prouder of and one that couldn’t fit better - we give you the full stream for Gula’s upcoming opus magnum Birds of the Apocalypse!


    Continue reading >

  • [Records Special] Various Artists - The Short Sharp 666

    Our new series continues. Of course! There is just so much great music, that we have to share with you! Middle of each month, our head honcho Thorsten and I give you six short reviews each. Less than 150 words on each record that we love but didn’t have enough time to review properly. But because of reasons that are bigger than life AND even music, you’ll just have to make do with me this time. (Bear hugs to my big man!) Here are my thoughts on Gravesend, Pénitence Onirique, Ragana, Afterbirth, Forest Swords and Aho Ssan! This selection is as diverse as the one before. From gutter brawls to organic collaboration, everybody will find here what each of you might need right now. Just take a look…


    Continue reading >

  • [Festival Review] Damnation Festival - 2023 Edition

    Damnation is the pinnacle of metal music for many. It’s as much a showcase for up and coming bands as it is for established bands. Experrtly curated, it has becose the largest indoor metal festival in Europe and it has returned for a full day of music and camaraderie. We were lucky enough to be there to experiencee it in all of it’s glory


    Continue reading >

  • [Song Premiere] ALDRIG - Amarone

    Black Metal is a stale thing? It’s always the same? “Sounds like dudes who don’t know their instruments”? Well, somehow yes. Somehow no. As with all genres, Black Metal in its rich depths and cavernous rabbitholes takes some time to understand and appreciate. Heck, Rap music is also not the same as Rap music.Need proof for this idea connected to Black Metal? Listen to the premiere of this song by ALDRIG and listen to the little details.


    Continue reading >