SECRETS OF THE MOON · Arcana Vanity Death (The Demos Years) | 2CD

Double CD in jewelcase with 32-page booklet.

Background information about 'Arcana Vanity Death (The Demos Years)'

There's something utterly magical about digging up the dusty relics of a band's early days. And when that band is Secrets of the Moon, one of Germany's most revered dark metal outfits, you know you're in for a treat. This compilation collects everything from their formative years between 1995 and 2000, and let me tell you - it's a treasure trove.

Originally brought to life by bassist and vocalist Daevas after his departure from Martyrium in Osnabrück, Secrets of the Moon spent 27 years carving their name into the underground before calling it quits in 2022. But before the masterpiece Stronghold of the Inviolables (2001) ever saw the light of day, this mischievous collective had already amassed a body of work that includes the demos Unearthed Arcana and Vanitas, the infamous Moondance Madness tape, the Promotape 98, and the cult split 7" with Lunar Aurora. Sure, these recordings are rawer and less polished than the studio albums - but that's exactly where their charm lies. Every second oozes that mystical, occult atmosphere that defined the early black metal underground.

What makes this release truly special is the care put into it. All songs have been freshly remastered from the original tapes by Patrick W. Engel at Temple of Disharmony. The 32-page booklet features a brand-new in-depth interview with Lars "Devas" Plegge and Phil "sG" Jonas, plus never-before-seen photos from the band's glorious past. Cover artwork comes courtesy of Misanthropic-Art. Over 130 minutes of pure black metal magik spread across two CDs - this is essential listening for anyone who wants to understand where the mystique of Secrets of the Moon truly began.

For fans of:
Lunar Aurora, Nagelfar, Katharsis, Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult

Track listing

CD 1:

1. Intro (Unearthed Arcana 1995)
2. Screams Of Anguish (Unearthed Arcana 1995)
3. Lonesome In Forest At Nightfall (Unearthed Arcana 1995)
4. Sensual Defloration (Unearthed Arcana 1995)
5. Saila (Unearthed Arcana 1995)
6. Luna Eclipse (Unearthed Arcana 1995)
7. Idolize Me (Vanitas 1997)
8. Caller Of The Moon (Vanitas 1997)
9. Vanitas (Vanitas 1997)
10. My Life For Yours (Vanitas 1997)
11. Sadomatic Rites (Vanitas 1997)
12. Idolize Me (Moondance Madness 1997)
13. My Life For Yours (Moondance Madness 1997)
14. Moonstruck (Moondance Madness 1997)
15. Vanitas (Moondance Madness 1997)
16. Atomic Nuclear Desolation (Moondance Madness 1997)

CD 2:

1. Screams Of Anguish (Promo-Tape 1998)
2. Saila (Promo-Tape 1998)
3. Orion In The Wintersky (Promo-Tape 1998)
4. My Life For Yours (Promo-Tape 1998)
5. Fanatica (Promo-Tape 1998)
6. Through Golden Spheres (Promo-Tape 1998)
7. Leichengott (Promo-Tape 1998)
8. Through Golden Spheres (Split Single 2000)
9. Awake (Unreleased Song, Rehearsal 1996)
10. Under The Sign Of The Capricorn (Rehearsal 1997)
11. Under A Funeral Moon (Rehearsal 1997, 2024 Vocals)
12. Dethroned Emperor (Live Osnabrück 1998)
13. Through Golden Spheres (Split Single, Alternate Mix 1999)

Manufacturer: Darkness Shall Rise Productions, Lengenfelder Straße 58, 08107 Kirchberg, Germany, Contact: darknessshallrise.de