"Apparently somebody in this f*cking universe answered my longstanding wish at last. These 10 tracks have the spirit and the balls I missed in Bethlehem for more than 18 years!" - Marcus Losen (ex-Bethlehem)
Black metal pioneers Bethlehem will release their new album, Bethlehem, on December 2 via Prophecy Productions. Produced by the band and Markus Stock (Empyrium, The Vision Bleak) at Klangschmiede Studio E (Helrunar, Secrets of the Moon), Bethlehem is the band's eighth full-length record, and its release celebrates the 25th anniversary of the award-winning group, who features in its ranks bassist Bartsch, drummer Wolz, guitarist Karzov and new singer Onielar, from none other than German black metal stalwarts Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult.
In advance of the record's release, Bethlehem is streaming the new song "Kalt' Ritt in leicht faltiger Leere", which according to Bartsch, "could be translated to "Cold Ride in Flimsy Wrinkled Void". Experience Bethlehem's "Kalt' Ritt In Leicht Faltiger Leere" now, at THIS location.
""Kalt' Ritt in leicht faltiger Leere" lyrically, as well as musically, stands for the transcendental range of Bethlehem in 2016," comments Bartsch. "Onielar's unique and completely insane vocals put the finishing touch to it. Something wicked this way comes!"
Bethlehem is the follow-up to Bethlehem's 2014 LP, Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia, which was hailed as "strange, heavy, explorative, and dark" and "one of the best albums of the year" by Decibel. Self-titled albums usually suggest either a questionable "return to the roots" or a band reinvention of sorts. For Bethlehem, however, the release of the eponymously titled Bethlehem is a welcome rejuvenation in every respect. After long-standing drummer Wolz returned to the fold, Bartsch recruited Russian guitarist Karzov (who took on a major role in Bethlehem's songwriting) and a new singer: none other than Onielar from German black metal stalwarts Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult. Onielar's deranged vocals add to the deranged morbidity of Bethlehem, an album that conjures a fresh take on Bethlehem's mid-to-late-90s sound that Bartsch calls "anarchic as always".
Ultimately, Bethlehem encompasses everything the progenitors of dark metal are about, combining the group's early harshness with an outrageous catchiness and the experimentalism Bethlehem has always boasted, all crowned with a production that perfectly balances both rawness and power.
"Kalt' Ritt In Leicht Faltiger Leere" Track Listing:
1.) Fickselbomber Panzerplauze
2.) Kalt' Ritt In Leicht Faltiger Leere (listen HERE)
3.) Kynokephale Freuden Im Sumpfleben
4.) Die Dunkelheit Darbt
5.) Gängel Gängel Gang
6.) Arg Tot Frohlockt Kein Kind
7.) Verderbnisheilung In Sterbend' Mahr
8.) Wahn Schmiedet Sarg
9.) Verdammnis Straft Gezügeltes Aas
10.) Kein Mampf Mit Kutzenzangen
Bethlehem is available for pre-order as digipak CD and limited 2CD collector's box set (box with hot foil stamping, incl. digipak CD, bonus CD with four exclusive tracks (2 exclusive and 2 demos), bonus booklet and armband):
World: https://en.prophecy.de/artists/bethlehem/bethlehem-bethlehem.html
US: https://us.prophecy.de/artists/bethlehem/bethlehem-bethlehem.html
