With the flames of their Black Mass Ritual now glimmering embers at the foot of the stake – the witch’s spirit embraced by her master, her body ashes in the wind – they step once more from the shadows, bringing devilment and wickedness... FORMICARIUS have returned. The new nobility of British black metal have delved deeper into the darkness, scouring history’s blackest pages for tales of blood and terror. They have stared into the void between the stars and gazed into the abyss within us all, tasting the horrors that bestride the dimensions and those that crawl along the corridors of our minds. Raging at the hypocrisy of those who deem themselves pious and righteous, they have come to rend the veil of flesh!
“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;”
- Hebrews 10:19-25
Rending the Veil of Flesh sees FORMICARIUS cutting deep into the bloody centuries of Christianity and as they have spread their demon wings lyrically, so has their music become richer and darker, painted in a thousand layers, the many hued colours of twilight. To perfect their musical visions FORMICARIUS have called upon fellow dwellers in perdition. The inversion of the divine that is ‘Early Will I Seek Thee’ is bookended by a dread invocation from Sakis Tolis (ROTTING CHRIST) and the plaintive violin playing of Nicholas Miller of AKLASH. Throughout the album the mighty drumming of Kevin Paradis (BENIGHTED) propels each grand and glorious track forward like machines of war. To set the final seal upon this new tome of defiance, FORMICARIUS turned to Parlour Studios (Dimmu Borgir, Samael, Venomous Concept etc) for the final mix and mastering.
“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;”
- Psalms 63:1
FORMICARIUS’ decimation of David’s cry in the wilderness stands at the heart of Rending the Veil of Flesh; ‘Early Will I Seek Thee’ epitomises the new found strength and confidence that the band have gathered since their debut album. All they have learnt through their experiences of playing with the likes of Hate, Hecate Enthroned, Noctem and Negura Bunget, through the success of their single ‘Lake Of The Dead’ which was featured by Sony on their Speed Kills VII compilation and their debut album Black Mass Ritual, released by Schwarzdorn Production in 2017, that propelled them from the shadows to the spotlight...it has all come to magnificent fruition here, on Rending the Veil of Flesh.
Do not close your eyes in anticipation of blessed slumber, for they come to deliver a new truth, to right the wrongs of this dying world. The demons are on the wing and your flesh is but a veil for the rending.
“...grandiose black metal of the highest order.”
– POWERPLAY ROCK & METAL MAGAZINE
supported by 5 fans who also own “Rending the Veil of Flesh (SD52CD)”
The first 30 seconds of "Revenge by Fire" convinced me to get the whole album! It is a face-melting blend of speed and black metal, reminiscent of Hellripper! KVAEN is a Swedish solo project much like Hellripper but many known guest musicians helped J. Björnfot in his endeavor. Altogether it is really a solid debut album, I loved the melodies and the pace changes in the second half too, ending with a "calm" instrumental one. Well-done!! sachavonkarl74
supported by 4 fans who also own “Rending the Veil of Flesh (SD52CD)”
The atmosphere of this album is fantastic. Makes you feel like you're knee-deep in the trenches drenched in mud, filth, sweat, and blood. Truly encapsulates the horrors of World War I, and the fact that the lyrics of some of the songs are taken from old war letters really adds to the authenticity.
Favorite Track(s): Die Feuertaufe, Grabenlieder edoerfler