Portuguese black metallers Ginnungagap stream the entirety of their highly anticipated debut album, Heliacal Arising, at the Transmissions From the Dark YouTube channel. Set for international release on December 8th via Signal Rex, hear Ginnungagap’s Heliacal Arising in its entirety exclusively: Ginnungagap – Heliacal Arising (full album, 2023) – YouTube
The cult is alive! Winter is approaching, and the tyrants of the Clandestine Circle of Aldebaran slowly return… When few expected it, much less considered the shadowy entity RIP, Ginnungagap arrive with their long-awaited first full-length, fittingly titled Heliacal Arising.
No strangers to the ever-fertile Portuguese black metal underground, Ginnungagap preceded the esteemed likes of Trono Além Morte, Ordem Satânica, and Voëmmr. To date, they’ve delivered two extremely limited tapes, but now are even more embraced by the cold and frosty winds of the Aldebaran Star. Witness Heliacal Arising. What is set to be a new landmark not only for the Circle but for the wider Portuguese underground, Ginnungagap here conjure a bewitching storm of strangely soothing mysticism. Shadows and secrets still remain, but Heliacal Arising moves with etheric might – „raw“ on a very basic or simplified level, but embellished with a rare refinement that makes their musings simply otherworldly. Is there synth in there, or some unorthodox twist of strings? Is it recorded live in the rehearsal room, or painstakingly layered with an auteur’s touch? Only Ginnungagap know, but thankfully, the faithful reap the rewards: Heliacal Arising is transportive black metal par excellence, an effortless throwback to ancient-days atmosphere.
Its grim, gauzy womb sharpened to kaleidoscopic clarity courtesy of Henri Sorvali’s mastering at Trollhouse Audio, Ginnungagap’s Heliacal Arising stakes its claim for one of the greatest albums ever done in Portugal. Feel the Perpetual Winter Reign fall down!