After delivering the triumphant 2023 affirmation that they are “…still fucking I.C.E.!” via 20-year-awaited second album “Ancient Glacial Resurgence”, the inimitable battalion strikes immediately again with another shattering full-length of mystical black metal savagery.
The third revelation from IMPERIAL CRYSTALLINE ENTOMBMENT is the latest apocalyptic statement from a legion once seemingly cryogenically frozen in time – advancing their legacy in a hostile whirlwind of compulsive new paeans to the ancient anti-God Råvaskieth.
On “Abominable Astral Summoning” the band strikes more cold-blooded and barbarous than ever. The still-addictive songwriting leans further into evil obscurity, the percussive battering – now more texturally organic – airtight and hypnotic. The accelerated tremolos dial up the epicness, with the uniformly exceptional riffing skewed and dynamically varied to counterbalance the familiar whiteout intensity.
In the words of I.C.E.: “I.C.E. returns for another relentless wave of arctic blizzard attacks! Ravaskieth has invoked a fifth frozen soul to be added to the ranks of the upcoming obliteration regime: Avalanche! – Mover of the glacial mountains! Together alongside Mammoth, Bleak, Blisserred and IceSickKill, they combine powers to advance the archaic imperial army of ravenous white death! Toiling deep inside hollow caverns of ice, complete with clandestine sacrifices and esoteric offerings, I.C.E. has now raised a new legion of frigid banshee phantoms and abominable behemoths that are now re-animated and ready for destruction. The blitzkrieg of freezing white death is inescapable and here once again!”
Tracklist:
1.A Call To Worship
2.Insufferable Shivers
3.Phantoms Of Ice
4.Frigid Spirits Arcane
5.White Behemoths Of Woe
6.Avalanche Apocalypse
7.Esoteric Offerings
8.The Cold Cosmic Veil
9.Cryogenic Death
10.From The Arctic Void
11.Clandestine Cavern Sacrifice
All music was recorded, mixed and mastered by Ron Vento at Nightsky Recording Studios. Cover artwork is courtesy of Mike Hrubovcak (AZURE EMOTE, HOUSE BY THE CEMETARY), and the layout was crafted by Yurii Kazarian / Into The Abyss Design.
I.C.E. had this to say about their forthcoming assault:
“Relentless is the attack from the wrath of Ravaskieth! We are continual as the ever-flowing sands of time. There is no way to prepare for the coming death. The earth will freeze and crumble to the never ending cold and bleak emptiness that will consume all life. The legion of I.C.E. has now evolved into a bigger and stronger blizzard storm force with the addition of Avalanche (guitars) – the mover of the glacial mountains! You will all suffocate under the heavy weight of bright white snow, returning the earth to its original frozen arctic state!”
To prepare listeners for the onslaught, IMPERIAL CRYSTALLINE ENTOMBMENT present a video for first single: ‘Insufferable Shivers‘!
True to I.C.E.’s inimitable signature style, the track is a relentless and addictive maelstrom of frostbitten riffs and blizzard tempos, with the chilling video a perfect visual manifestation. The band expands:
“This footage is but a small glimpse into the astral arctic rituals that are performed by I.C.E. in places that shall remain unspoken. All those who dared travel to these crystalline caverns did not make it back alive save one. One remained to spread the fear and warning to all others that obliteration is near. The arctic storm is coming for you all!”
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“Abominable Astral Summoning” will be released on CD, vinyl – including an exclusive DMP variant – and digital on July 11th via Debemur Morti Productions. A special t-shirt design will accompany the launch. Pre-orders are now live at the official EU website of the label and BandCamp (it’s BandCamp Friday, so you may want to use that option).
Mother of THE VOID.
Underground music is the ultimate weapon against mediocrity.
