They stepped from the shadows in 2014, confident in their abilities from the start. Formicarius immediately began burning their path towards the black metal throne, unhindered by false modesty they refused to ‘know their place’. Their first single, Lake of The Dead, sent shockwaves through the scene and earned a place on Sony Music’s Speed Kills VII – a compilation that not only resurrected a legendary, groundbreaking series, but simultaneously sought to raise up the finest talent in the UK underground. Shows with Hate, Hecate Enthroned, Noctem, Negura Bunget and De Profundis followed and then a deal with German label Schwarzdorn Production. In 2017 the debut album from Formicarius, Black Mass Ritual, was unleashed and their flame became an inferno.
With the ashes of their first assault barely cooled, Formicarius have now returned with a brand new album of glorious symphonic black metal. On Friday 13th September Rending The Veil Of Flesh will deliver nine new tales from history’s darkest pages, the most harrowing of nightmares and the endless void that lies between the stars. Richer, deeper, more beguiling and enchanting, with Rending The Veil Of Flesh Formicarius have spread their black wings and taken flight. With the mighty drumming of Kevin Paradis of Benighted driving these bewitching songs through the howling winds and twilight skies this album is unstoppable! Bloody blasphemy infuses songs like the sinister ‘Early Will I Seek Thee’, which is bookended by a dread invocation from Sakis Tolis (Rotting Christ) and the plaintive violin playing of Nicholas Miller of Aklash. Riffs carved from terror dance twisted roundels through the horrors of ‘Stalker Among The Stars’ and ‘Dieu Et Mon Droit’ conceals hidden, desperate depths within its heart-haunting melodies.
Mixed and mastered at Parlour Studios (Dimmu Borgir, Samael, Venomous Concept etc), Rending The Veil Of Flesh is a tome of secrets and stories, a chest overflowing with cursed treasures and arcane artefacts, a stairway to the stars and the doorways to doom that lie between them. Formicarius have returned – transformed – to deliver a new truth, to burn your hypocrisy at the stake and right the wrongs of this dying world. The demons are on the wing and your flesh is but a veil for the rending.
Track Listing:
1 – Beyond The Veil Of Flesh
2 – Dieu Et Mon Droit
3 – Within The Depths
4 – Early Will I Seek Thee
5 – Inherit Our Sickness
6 – The Fourth Horseman
7 – Stalker Among The Stars
8 – Crimson Purge
9 – O, Dread Impaler
ONLINE
LINEUP
Lord Saunders - Vox, Guitar
Hægtesse - Vox, Bass
Nazarkardeh - Guitar
Morath - Keys
{tab=title="BIOGRAPHY" class="orange"}
Formed in 2015, Formicarius are a London-based Black Metal band comprised of a group of veteran metal musicians (featuring members of De Profundis, Domitorem and Phyrexia) who've largely worked together for the best part of a decade, priding themselves on their creativity, technicality, diverse influences and unique take on Black Metal.
Musically, Formicarius are and always have been a Black Metal act that gives a respectful nod to the fore-bearers of the genre, whilst bringing in elements of other styles to showcase the musical talents of their individual members.
Fans and critics alike have commented on the "punishing and pulverizing" guitar work with "melodic sweeping solos", the "fearless creativity" across all aspects of the musicianship including its "otherworldly, eerie" piano and symphonic work.
Collaborating with infamous 'Lord of Logos' Christophe Szpajdel, prolific videographer Andy Pilkington and talented photographer Louis Cheshire, Formicarius announced the release of their first EP with a lyric video for Lake of the Dead, and a photoshoot shot at Murder Mile Studios.
After a successful UK tour in 2015 to promote their self-released EP, Lake of the Dead, Formicarius went on to feature alongside renowned UK Metal Acts (incl. Akercocke, Voices, Acid Reign, Amulet) on Sony's legendary compilation, Speed Kills VII in December 2016.
Recording their debut album at Parlour Studios under the masterful eye of Producer Neil Haynes, Formicarius joined forces with Schwarzdorn Production (label-mates past and present incl. Asaru, Svarttjern, Vuolla, Repulsive Aggression) to build up to the release of Black Mass Ritual in July 2017, bringing artist Gary Ronaldson on board to realise the album cover vision - a haunting tribute to the Swiss witch-burning trials of the late 1300s, mentioned in the historical Formicarius book (the band's namesake).
Black Mass Ritual is a full-length album of 8 tracks written between 2012-2015, with diverse lyrical themes ranging from the horrors of war and madness to epic historical re-imaginings.
Playing to a packed out Camden Underworld for their album launch show supporting Tengger Cavalry and selling out their initial run of printed albums, Formicarius have continued to go from strength to strength, playing shows across the UK in 2017, with a string of headline dates already planned for 2018.
A music video for second single, May the Rats Eat Your Eyes was released to coincide with the album's release, filmed at Natural Light Studios by Michael Row, (Arrow Photography).
DISCOGRAPHY
Black Mass Ritual - 2017
Rending the Veil of Flesh - 2019