HERETOIR
Dancing with nature spirits …
[ Logo: Heretoir ]
Action: HERETOIR
Title: Nightsphere
Base: Augsburg • Germany
Style: Atmospheric Post Black Metal
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal, Post Metal, Post Rock, Shoegaze
FFO: Alcest, Lantlôs, Amesoeurs
Type: Full-length
Format: CD + Vinyl
Label: Northern Silence
Release: Oct. 06, 2023
https://www.facebook.com/heretoir/
PR:
https://www.metalmessage.de/PR_HERETOIR_en.php
Bulletpoints:
🔘 Third album of the poetic German tragedians
🔘 Enchanting songs, full of depth and beauty
🔘 Definitely one of the best acts of the genre
https://youtu.be/4mHhCYCksZI
[ Glacierheart – Nightsphere Part II • Official Lyric Video ]
The band states:
„‚Glacierheart – Nightsphere Part II‘ – a song with a very diverse songstructure that leaves room for aggressive blast beat passages summoning dark Black Metal atmospheres, as well as fragile Post Rock parts with emotional clean vocals. The lyrics tell an epic tale of war between the natural world and the manmade realm of machines. The grand finale of ‚Glacierheart‘ is dominated by fierce screams and rhythmic doublebass passages illustrating the clash of the spirits of the wild and industrialized mankind.“
https://youtu.be/A3jnmSpolX0
[ Twilight Of The Machines • Official Music Video ]
The band states:
„In a world in which the conflict between industrialized mankind and untouched nature is producing increasingly noticeable consequences, we wanted to process the theme in a piece of music. Inspired by the civilization-critical writings of John Zerzan and Stanley Diamond, we created a song that addresses the clash between the world of machines and the wilderness in a melancholic but also powerful way. The music video illustrates this confrontation in an impressive and stirring way, as the protagonist tries to escape his dreary working world and also to find refuge in the spirits of the woods.“
Only 5 months after their 2023 mini-album „Wastelands“, HERETOIR releasing their new intense full-length „Nightsphere“!
The new record is a concept album dealing with the struggle between the forces of nature and a world of machines. Humanity is in the midst of this confrontation, and the dichotomy between living as an animal among animals and existing as a cog in the wheel of progress determines the course of the story the five songs tell.
„Nightsphere“ is a dark album that weaves atmospheric Black Metal parts with melodic clean passages, swirling blast beats with calm Post Rock and ambient sounds, and the intensity of desperate screams with the poignant emotionality of melancholic clean vocals into a musical journey through an archaic world.
[ Artwork: Painting by Karl Wilhelm Diefenbach ]
TRACKS:
- Sanctum – Nightsphere Part I 10:45
- Twilight Of The Machines 08:34
- Pneuma 06:57
- Glacierheart – Nightsphere Part II 11:57
- The Death Of Man 04:07
total: 42:21
It is also the first album that was entirely written by the full band, featuring contributions of every single member. „Nightsphere“ features ambient sounds of the long-time befriended project Hidehidehide as well as guest-appearances of two giants of the (Post) Black Metal genre – Tim Yatras of Austere who fuels the song „Twilight Of The Machines“ with his anguish and Nikita Kamprad of Der Weg einer Freiheit who delivers intense and powerful vocals on „Glacierheart – Nightsphere Part II“.
„Nightsphere“’s natural and organic but powerful sound was crafted by David Deutsch and Justin Felder at 1408 Productions in Hannover, who were responsible for the mix of the record. Furthermore Nikita Kamprad of Der Weg einer Freiheit took care of the mastering of the album.
Prepare to dive into a highly atmospheric night-realm and emotional maelstrom with „Nightsphere“. All while new songs for a future release are already written and recorded. HERETOIR are more determined than ever to enter the stages of the world with full force!
The band says about „Nightsphere“:
„This album is very special to us as this is our first album that was entirely written as a full band, featuring contributions of every single member of the band. The songs are dedicated to the spirits of the wilderness. ‚Nightsphere‘ is an atmospheric maelstrom that will engulf you.“
[ Pic: Toni B. Gunner Photography ]
LINE-UP
David ‚Eklatanz‘ Conrad • Vocals, Guitar
Maximilian Forst • Guitar
Kevin Storm • Guitar, Backing Vocals
Matthias ‚Nathanael‘ Settele • Bass, Backing Vocals
Nils Groth • Drums, Backing Vocals
FLASHBACK:
Combining the emotional and atmospheric elements of Black Metal with progressive rhythm-laden modern Metal structures and the beauty of Post Rock and Shoegaze, HERETOIR is a nostalgic, melancholic and soothing soundtrack in a mad world. Founded (in Augsburg/Germany) by David C. in 2006, HERETOIR conceptually and lyrically deals with existence, self-reflection, fears and dreams – life in all its facets.
It is a musical universe set for the discovery of one’s deepest thoughts and the soul that rests in each of us. After a first demo and EP („Existenz“ (2008) & „.Existenz.“ (2009)), multiple compilation contributions and a split release with the band Thränenkind („Wiedersehen – unsere Hoffnung“, 2010) HERETOIR released their eponymous debut album „Heretoir“ on February 25th, 2011 through Northern Silence Productions.
Melodizing the topic of loss, „Heretoir“ was very well received by fans and press around the world, not least because of the powerful and atmospheric cover artwork of exceptional French artists Fursy Teyssier (Les Discrets) and Metastazis (artworks for Alcest, Anathema, Enthroned, As I Lay Dying, Gorgoroth and many more).
With the release of the debut album Matthias S. (bass), Max F. (guitar) and Emanuel D. (drums) joined the line-up and HERETOIR evolved into a full band. It didn’t take long for the group to share stages with acts like Agalloch, Alcest, Eluveitie, Graveworm, Sólstafir or Secrets Of The Moon.
In parallel with the progression of the live shows, the EP re-recording/compilation „Substanz“ was released on August 24th, 2012. After several European tours with Agrypnie, Der Weg einer Freiheit and Dornenreich and one tour through England with Dawn Ray’d, as well as performances at the Summerbreeze Open Air, the Ragnarök Festival, and support shows for renowned post-rockers God Is An Astronaut and melancholic masters Katatonia, HERETOIR was able to build up a reputation in the atmospheric Metal scene. In 2016 Emanuel D. left the band and Nils G. became the new drummer. The current line-up was completed by Kevin Storm, who joined the band in 2020.
Following more than 5 years of intense touring, the much-anticipated second album „The Circle“ was released in March 2017. „The Circle“ deals with the cycle of life, death and rebirth. Weaving crushing heaviness and atmospheric melodies, the album portrays an emotional journey – a life dedicated to self reflection and freedom.
Besides another very special cover art by Fursy Teyssier the album furthermore features guest vocals by Alcest mastermind Stéphane ‚Neige‘ Paut and mastering by the renowned sound engineer Lasse Lammert. „The Circle“ received incredible worldwide feedback by press and fans alike.
HERETOIR embarked on an extensive European tour in Spring 2017 together with the US Black Metal band Ghost Bath, visiting more than 15 countries in 5 weeks. More festival appearances and a tour with Finnish Melodic Death Metal masters Kalmah followed and in 2018 the band toured China for two weeks.
During the last years/pandemic the band worked hard and focussed on writing new material. 2023 marks an important year for HERETOIR: On 10 th February 2023 the remastered version of the debut album „Heretoir“ with bonus tracks was released. Only 3 months later the band released their new mini-album „Wastelands“ on May 19th, 2023 – their first new material in 6 years – with great worldwide reception.
HERETOIR are available for interviews via phone, Skype, Zoom & email
DISCOGRAPHY
2009 • .Existenz. • EP
2011 • Heretoir • Full-length
2014 • Just For A Moment • Single
2017 • The Circle • Full-length
2019 • Golden Dust (Acoustic Version) • Single
2023 • Wastelands • EP
2023 • Nightsphere • Full-length
MEDIA FEEDBACK:
10 / 10
➤ „… an emotional masterpiece of Black Metal art, which is much more than just music … interplay between hopeful on the one hand and the realization and despair on the other … high pleasure … production and mastering ensure a perfect sound of the whole, which comes across neither too rough nor too smooth, but earthy and natural … this is exactly how atmospheric Post Black Metal Anno ’23 must sound.“
(Metal Only)
10 / 10
➤ „… shatter traditional classifications, and regardless of genre will make you think ‚this is just a great band‘. Every now and then, there’ll be a band who come along and remind you how and why you fell in love with music … for Post Metal fans or those looking for something a little different; add this album to your regular shuffle and playlists upon release day. You won’t regret it.“
(Ever Metal)
97 / 100
➤ „… one of the best Post Black Metal releases of 2023 … five masterful tracks … filled with dreamy and bleak soundscapes … will please any fan of the genre and the band … mid-tempo brilliance they are known for … blistering onslaughts mixed in between atmospheric passages … the weeping lead guitars are to die for … immerse the listener from start to finish … a seamless experience filled with different moods and engaging soundscapes …“
(Infernal Masquerade)
95 / 100
➤ „HERETOIR reminded me how fascinated I was by their previous album. ‚Nightsphere‘, with its similar, contradictory and opposed elements, offers a certainly different, but just as striking and contemplative approach.“
(Acta Infernalis)
95 / 100
➤ „… with bravura … 42-minute emotional journey … you land in your own refuge … musical craftsmanship! One could also simply call ‚Nightsphere‘ the Post Black Metal record par excellence … the Germans of HERETOIR are at the top of this relevant subgenre. Must-buy, year-end list material!“
(Zware Metalen)
4,5 / 5
➤ „… an emotional up and down between fantastic post-rock melody arcs, black metal outbursts, cathartic clear vocals and thoughtful acoustic passages … thoroughly great album … offers almost everything you expect from HERETOIR or Post Black Metal in general in just three quarters of an hour … radiates a captivating atmosphere at all times …“
(Stormbringer)
14 / 15
➤ „… all the components of the sound are woven together into a homogeneous overall picture through a sombre underlying mood … another flawless masterpiece …“
(Legacy Magazin)
4 / 5
➤ „… entirely touching and involving … spiritual but gloomy ascension … the sonic horizon of Nightsphere is constantly raised and remains strong … this is the echo of human’s cry who stares at darkness, nostalgia and ruinations.“
(Heavy Music HQ)
90 / 100
➤ „… full of angry feelings and melancholic atmospheres.“
(X-Reviews)
8 / 10
➤ „… revel between beautiful melodies, carried drama and wild Black Metal frenzy … convinces musically all along the line … clear buy recommendation for all HERETOIR fans!“
(Powermetal DE)
8 / 10
➤ „… a good mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts … great … if you are a fan of atmospheric Post Black Metal, you should check out this album!“
(Occult Black Metal Zine)
8 / 10
➤ „… the songs can captivate despite an average length of just under ten minutes and are entertaining … HERETOIR sound more self-confident and firm in their own sound and break away somewhat from their Post Metal role models … stylistically ‚Nightsphere‘ is somewhat less experimental compared to its predecessors …“
(Metal DE)
8 / 10
➤ „… an impressive work by HERETOIR that meets and even exceeds expectations … an album that musically captures the conflict between nature and technology in an impressive and stirring way and at the same time touches the soul of the listener …“
(AM:plified Mag)
8 / 10
➤ „… compositional cleverness … an exciting journey through the desperate sound realm of Black Metal … with almost mesmerizing repetition Heretoir draws the listener under its spell … ‚Nightsphere‘ can be seen as a Gesamtkunstwerk, which convinces with a richness of ideas and musical variety … pleases already at the first listen and has enough details which guarantee a lasting listening experience …“
(Markus‘ Heavy Music Blog)
77 / 100
➤ „‚Nightsphere‘ is inclusive of all past aspects and traits … varietal, focused and particularly active for post-black metal today …“
(Grizzly Butts)
7,5 / 10
➤ „… great cinema. A gripping, complex, atmospherically dense sound with various moods and high recognition value. Really great and also just as well implemented.“
(Dark Festivals)
7,5 / 10
➤ „… melancholic and dreamy … take the listener on an astral journey and enchant with countless melodies, acoustic pads and piano sounds … very well done … what I like best is the diverse guitar work, which comes into its own very well, especially over headphones …“
(Crossfire Metal)
3,5 / 5
➤ „… isn’t common among Post Black albums … broody and melancholic, obviously by choice … it’s excellent atmosphere music … an album that is absolutely worth a listen.“
(Metal Epidemic)
7,3 / 10
➤ „… a well-made Blackgaze/Atmo-Black album with a moving and consistent core tone in addition to well-written songs …“
(Metal Storm)
➤ „The star here is David ‚Eklatanz‘ Conrad’s vocals and the explosion of many levels of despair and anguish … shows all the skills to convey emotion … to be compared to a broken jaw and an eye opener …“
(Metal Addicts)
➤ „… a gloomy album that combines the atmospheric Black Metal parts with clean melodic passages, lots of blast beats and quieter, almost Rock sounds … full of intensity through the desperate screams and more melancholic with clean vocals to emphasize the emotions … strongly composed … has its own unique sound …“
(Rancor Metalzine)
➤ „… all grandiose, as already with ‚Wastelands‘ … all tracks work and literally stick in the auditory canal … HERETOIR manage to captivate the listener from beginning to end … you hardly know how to deal with the oppressive mood that the album makes you feel …“
(Vampster)
➤ „… majestic and cavernous … there is something insidious about it … something between a funerary dirge and an ambient, dream-like backing … reflective … a solid, fantastic album whose concept is brought to life by the music HERETOIR has created … come for the music, stay for the story – I promise that it will devastate you.“
(Nine Circles)
➤ „… a masterpiece not to be missed under any circumstances … meticulous in every detail … carefully crafted … magnificent … truly immeasurable … moves to tears … offers everything it needs in the Post-Black realm …“
(Noisewriter)
etc.
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