Austria’s DARKSIDE have announced they will enter Shaark Studio in Czech Republic between February 15th and February 28th to record bass, guitars and vocals for their upcoming album, Inferno.

Since the length of the album exceeds the playing time of a regular CD, Darkside’s new album will be released as a double-CD album.

The album is monothematic and features an adaption of the true story of Madeleine de la palude, a woman living in 17th century France at the time of the inquisition. Being abused by her father’s friend, a priest, she tries to escape by becoming a nun, but this gets her even more into the fangs of the priest.

According to a press release: “The story is also an accusation towards monotheistic religions and their archaic rites and practises, now and then.”

Vocalist Wolf commented: We have quite a retro vibe on this album, without explicitly going for it from the start, the same like a lot of things for this album came together on coincidences. The story of the album is based in southern France, Kewin, our graphics designer, has roots in southern France, Darkside has had some of their best shows in the south of France, we were signed to Season Of Mist, who are situated in Marseille a.s.o. So, having our recording roots in Czech Republic, we thought it would be a cool thing to record parts of our album back there where everything started over 20 years ago. It was in Bzenec, where the studio is situated, where Darkside played four times the Attack Of Fire Festival, more often than any other band, without being a czech band. It was in this part of Czech Republic that KRABATHOR came from, the band we played well over 70 shows together in the first years of Darkside´s existence. We know the guys from the Shaark Studio, them being part of the band SHAARK, a classic thrash outfit from this area, part of them playing in MASTER these days. Putting all these things together with the fact, that we have this retro feeling on some songs of the new album, which means that there are songs that reflect the first albums of Darkside a bit, it was a logical step to go back to where it all started“

All drum tracks on the new album have been handled by Italian drummer Alessandro “Urmuz” Vagnoni (INFERNAL POETRY, DARK LUNACY, RESURRECTURIS). Alessandro recorded the drum tracks in Italy during December 2012.

Darkside has also announced the addition of Jaroslav Lukac (XXXX, RECODE THE SUBLIMINAL, FAUSTINUS) for the new album. Jaro will provide leads for most of the songs on the new album.

Wolf commented: “I’ve known Alessandro for quite some years now and I knew he was the right man to give this album the extra push it needed in terms of groove, skills and rhythm. I am very glad he took this responsibility and I must say he did an excellent job, Alessandro, you rock!

Jaro was actually a suggestion from our graphics designer, Kewin Miceli. We were talking about a few things with Kewin and he suggested asking Jaro about that, who agreed on stepping in and being a part of this project.”

Also collaborating on the album are classical guitarist Otto Jezek and DEVASTATING ENEMY guitarist Alexander Kodnar on the track ‘Madeleine’. PESTILENCE guitarist Patrick Mameli will play a solo on the track ‘Sacrificial Blessings’.

More details will be announced soon.

Artwork for the album was done by French artist Kewin Miceli (CRADLE OF FILTH, PENDACT, XXXX, SEPULTURA).

Tracklisting for Inferno is as follows:

‘Slaves Of God’ (Intro)

‘Black Halls Of Infancy’

‘Baptized In Fire’

‘Madeleine’ (Instrumental)

‘Ghosts In The Convent’

‘Inferno’

‘Father’ (Instrumental)

‘Hosts Of Depravity’

‘Sacrificial Blessings’

‘The Blood Of Golgatha’

‘Demonic Fornication’ (Instrumental)

‘Crowned In Torture’

‘Ardent Justice’

‘AIX 666’

‘Intrusion’ (Instrumental)

‘Malleus Maleficarum’

‘Where No Life Dwells’