For the many fans of Hades Almighty the long wait is finally over as the band is set to release a new EP, the first studio release from the band since 2001. The three-track digi-EP, titled Pyre Era, Black!, will hit the streets on Dark Essence Records on October 23rd and serves as an introduction to a new era for the legendary Norwegian band, as well as a taste of what to expect from what will be the band's fifth full-length album, due for release next year. A full stream of the new EP can be found below.

Photography for the artwork for Pyre Era, Black! is by Christian Misje.

Tracklisting:

“Pyre Era, Black!”
“Funeral Storm”
“Bound”

Last year it was announced that founding member and vocalist/bassist Janto was quitting the band on the best of terms, and that co-founders, guitarist Jorn (ex-Dominanz, ex-Old Funeral, ex-Immortal, ex-Amputation) and drummer Remi, would be searching for a replacement. The replacement chosen turned out to be no stranger to black metal fans when it was revealed that Ask Ty (Kampfar, Krakow) would take on vocal duties and that once again Hades Almighty would be making its mark as one of the great Norwegian black metal bands.

Originally formed in 1992 as Hades, the band changed their name to Hades Almighty in 1998 due to the pre-existence of a US band of the same name. Things on the recording front have been quiet in the fourteen years since the release of Hades Almighty's fourth full-length album, The Pulse Of Decay, but the band itself has not let the grass grow too long under their feet by being relatively active on the live scene. Nor, it would seem, have they lost any of their studio skills as Pyre Era, Black! amply demonstrates.

It is an EP that hints at the pitch black, epic sound that originally made Hades Almighty so unique, but with additional new elements, not least the outstanding vocals of their new frontman that give the character and depth fans have grown to expect from the band. There are some who might have wondered how Ask Ty, well known for his drumming skills, would be able to handle vocals, but this is not his first outing behind the microphone, having performed vocals both in the studio and live for Kampfar and Krakow, and Pyre Era, Black! demonstrates just how versatile he is.

Hades Almighty's first live appearance with the new lineup will take place in the Netherlands at the Aurora Infernalis festival in Arnhem on the 24th of October, followed by an appearance at Bergen's Black Metal and Tattoo festival BlekkMetal in Bergen on the 13th of November.