IRON BONEHEAD PRODUCTIONS is proud to present a special mini-album from ILL OMEN, The Grande Usurper, on CD and 12" vinyl formats.
A prolific force within the Australian black metal underground, ILL OMEN has built a canon of enviably massive proportions - and not just "massive" in size, but rather in the heights/depths to which mainman IV aims. Much like he has in his death metal-oriented vehicle TEMPLE NIGHTSIDE, IV scours the murk with single-minded intent, but with ILL OMEN, he pursues a vision of black metal that's ceremonial and sinuous, often slowly drifting like fog lingering across an empty grave. Such was the case with 2016's massive Æ.Thy.Rift - arguably, IV's perfection of slo-mo blackdoom - and here, he returns with his first recording since that critically acclaimed third album.
And yet, The Grande Usurper is a grand break from the gooey, stretched-out expanses of Æ.Thy.Rift. No less murky, instead, IV sends the listener on a wild ride through the most bestial recesses of the characteristic ILL OMEN sound. Across its four-song/25-minute runtime, The Grande Usurper roils and revels among the filth, pulsing with barely contained rage, as mind-melting solos yawn slowly up from the crypt, invoking that same sense of delirium as Æ.Thy.Rift but faster. Altogether, it's a record that consolidates all the gnarled 'n' gnarling weapons within the ILL OMEN arsenal, but wields them in obscene and horrifyingly new ways. Hideous energy, slipstreaming songwriting, coffin-bound atmosphere crushed: here is revealed The Grande Usurper.
supported by 15 fans who also own “The Grande Usurper”
Mikolaj is a real multi-talent in bass as well as guitar as well as vocals and "Darkside" Maciej's drumming is a well-calibrated 100th-of-seconds-clockwork. Not for nothing is Mgla considered as a standard for a lot of other blacker-than-black metal bands. I hope to see this band live once..... grote_smurf
supported by 13 fans who also own “The Grande Usurper”
Литоургиiа réussit l'impensable : faire entrer le black metal dans l'église orthodoxe. S'il y a une dimension dramaturgique (indissociable de tout office religieux), Литоургиiа reste profond, solennel et touche le sublime.
Après la sortie de cet album a lieu un Grand Schisme et un larcin : Христофор se fait dépouiller de son propre groupe par Барфоломей et Мартин ; tout ce qui reste ici provient de ces deux hérétiques. Suivez la procession de Батюшка ici : https://sphieratz.bandcamp.com/album/- Jordan Vauvert
supported by 13 fans who also own “The Grande Usurper”
This album is just 100/100, like so many albums from mgla. How can a band hit the spot so many times? They are incredible. Thank you for accompanying me almost daily these days :) adrianradillo
The metal’s band revelatory new record crosses genres and styles, effortlessly combining seemingly incompatible subgenres. Bandcamp Album of the Day Apr 26, 2024
supported by 12 fans who also own “The Grande Usurper”
Portal is a truly grandiose Metal experience (whether speaking of albums or seeing them live) with an epic catalog. Ion and Vexovoid are my favorites. DOOM