As the year draws to a close, we can conclude that 2014 has been a memorable year for Countess. There were several new releases and re-releases and we returned to the stage after an absence of more than sixteen years . . . in this newsletter we’ll take a look at some key events from the past year and we’re announcing a special midwinter sale.
MIDWINTER SALE: 15% OFF EVERYTHING
If you
place an order at our webstore
between now and December 31st, simply use midwinter as your discount code and you’ll get 15% off your entire
order!
SERMONS
OF THE INFIDEL: A COLLECTION OF CLASSICS
In November, we released ‘Sermons Of The Infidel’, a selection of 15 songs from Countess' past. These tracks were selected by the band and all - save two live songs - were recorded again specifically for this album. Two of these songs have never been released on CD before.
Eight songs
were released in 2013 as a digital-only EP. Due to popular demand, we decided
to release a physical version as well. The original tracks have been remixed
and remastered and seven tracks have been added: five more new versions of
Countess classics and two live tracks.
RETURN TO THE STAGE: SUCCESFUL FESTIVAL
APPEARANCES
This year, Countess performed live again for the first time since 1997. A new line-up was formed early in 2014 and in the remainder of the year we did several successful shows at a selection of festivals: ‘Veneration Of The Dead’ in Holland, ‘Under The Black Sun’ in Germany, ‘Metal Magic’ in Denmark, ‘Witches Wrath’ in Germany and ‘Black Flames Of Blasphemy’ in Finland.
THE GOSPEL OF THE HORNED ONE: RE-RELEASE ON CD
AND LP
In October, the legendary first Countess album was re-released by New Era Productions and Heidens Hart. The CD is almost an exact duplicate of the original album, save for enhanced quality cover art and two bonus tracks. The LP has been carefully optimized for vinyl format, so it sounds fuller and better, but not drastically different. The LP also comes with two inserts and is limited to 500 hand numbered copies.
In August, we launched a brand new website. The site features the band’s history, releases, images, videos, store and more. You can also find the lyrics to all our albums there.
In April, the long-awaited new Countess album was released by Barbarian Wrath. Our fourteenth full-length, the record features ten tracks of uncompromising metal, blending first wave Black Metal and traditional Heavy Metal in a way only Countess can. Here’s what some reviews had to say about the album:
“The songs remain absurdly catchy and the tracks have an astounding amount of depth and longevity in them for relatively simple compositions. This is the joy and the gift of Metal in the hands of masters.” (Wonderbox Metal)
“Real songs!!! You can tell them apart, you feel something while listening to them and you remember you have listened to them. That, the precious thing most musicians forgot about while trying to be smart, that thing is here.” (Funereal Drone)
“I personally love it. Every track on here is amazing and this should be a modern classic. Ah, well, I'll just spin it a few thousand times myself!” (The Third Of The Storms)
According to the Heavy Metal Saloon, the song ‘Call Of The Ancient Pantheon’ is one of this year’s fifteen best songs.
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