Blackened death metal force, Thulcandra, are celebrating the release of their new studio album, Hail The Abyss, out now via Napalm Records. Guitarist / vocalist Steffen Kummerer recently spoke with Finland's Chaoszine about the record. Check out the interview below.
On the differences between Hail The Abyss and Thulcandra's previous album, A Dying Wish (2021)
Kummerer: "What we changed is simply the fact we tried to get a litle bit more diverse. On A Dying Wish we figured even very slow songs somehow work for Thulcandra. We never changed the style, but we tried to bring up a little bit more diversity when it comes to not only dynamics, but to the tempos. Most bands try to play faster and faster; we try to do both (laughs). With the closing song on the new album, I think we almost wrote a doom ballad."
"With Hail The Abyss, we count the 5th album within 20 years of Thulcandra“, Kummerer recently said. "A banger, and a diverse record that shows a unique blend of black and death metal, combined with classic heavy metal twin guitars. Hail The Abyss undoubtedly turned into a highlight of our long lasting career.“
Indeed, Hail The Abyss proves yet again why Thulcandra are atop death metal’s malefic vedette - showcasing their affinity for dark, aggressive and mellifluous metal while the entire album rips and terrorizes with the intensity of hell! As always, Thulcandra's about a vibe - there's always a unique "feel" that's distinctly old-school, but without the tired trappings of it.
In support of today's record release, the band just unleashed a new visualizer video for the final, crushing mid-tempo album single, "On The Wings Of Cosmic Fire".
Thulcandra’s rise to power ignited when the Germany-based outfit unleashed their debut album, Fallen Angel’s Dominion, upon metaldom in 2010. The group, fronted by founding member and visionary Steffen Kummerer (also of Obscura fame), have tightened their hibernal grip on blackened death metal since. The desolate melodic emanations in follow-up studio records Under a Frozen Sun (2011), Ascension Lost (2015), and the chart-topping, 2021-album A Dying Wish, dedicated to late drummer Chris Kratzer, solidified Thulcandra as a superior force, expertly thrusting the magic and mystery of mid-’90s melodic black-death metal into the modern era.
Hail The Abyss was produced and recorded by Steffen Kummerer at Klangfabrik, Germany, and was mixed and mastered by renowned producer Dan Swanö (Dissection, Opeth, Katatonia).
Order here.
Hail The Abyss tracklisting:
"In The Eye Of Heaven"
"Hail The Abyss"
"At Night"
"Velvet Damnation"
"On The Wings Of Cosmic Fire"
"Acheronian Cult"
"As I Walk Through The Gateway"
"Blood Of Slaves"
"In Darkness We Descend"
"The Final Closure"
"The Second Fall" - Live (CD Bonus Track)
1"Deliverance In Sin And Death" - Live (CD Bonus Track)
"Blood Of Slaves" visualizer:
"Hail The Abyss" video:
"As I Walk Through The Gateway" video:
Thulcandra is:
Steffen Kummerer - Guitars & Vocals
Mariano Delastik - Guitars
Carsten Schorn - Bass
Alessandro Delastik - Drums
(Photo - Grzegorz Golebiowski)
