New album to be released April 9th

On April 9, Dutch Black Metal legends COUNTESS will release their long-awaited new full-length album, entitled ‘Ancient Lies And Battle Cries' through the band's long-time label Barbarian Wrath.

'Ancient Lies And Battle Cries', the band's fourteenth full-length, features ten tracks of uncompromising METAL, blending first wave Black Metal and traditional Heavy Metal in a way only COUNTESS can. The result of almost three years of writing and recording, 'Ancient Lies' will surely satisfy all those who long for the days when Black Metal was still METAL.

The album's full track list:

1. Battle Sky

2. Call Of The Ancient Pantheon

3. By Hammer And Blood

4. Vengeance Of The Slain

5. Beneath The Eye Of Wisdom

6. Confessions Of A Polytheist

7. Pray For The Cult

8. Cursed Seed Of Aten

9. Burn The Throne

10. The Last Temple

'I Am The Infidel' shirt available now

Heavy 100% cotton black shirt with white print on both sides. Available sizes: M, L, XL and XXL. Available here.

New EP ‘Sermons Of The Infidel’ to be released June 17

On June 17, Dutch Black Metal veterans Countess will release a new EP entitled ‘Sermons Of The Infidel’. The EP will be exclusively available digitally through the band’s official Bandcamp site.

‘Sermons Of The Infidel’ features 35 minutes of METAL spread over eight tracks: six brand new versions of Countess classics and two new songs. The EP is the first Countess release since 2011’s full-length ‘On Wings Of Defiance’, two tracks of which are featured here in killer new renditions. All songs are exemplary of Countess’ unique blend of first wave Black Metal and traditional Heavy Metal.

Track list:

- Hymn To The Gods Of Yore

- Trumpets Of Dawn
- I Am The Infidel
- Sermon Of The Devil Preacher
- Son Of The Dragon
- Child Of The Millennia
- City Of Satan           
- Chosen By The Gods

On Wings Of Defiance

This is our thirteenth full-length album that was released in 2011. 'On Wings Of Defiance' is a theme album, revolving around, obviously, defiance: standing for what one believes in, against whatever odds, whatever the cost. The album's first eight tracks all tell tales of defiance and the title track explicitly vocalizes the record's theme.

Messalina

While there are probably dozens of metal songs about Elizabeth Bathory, the number of songs about Messalina is surprisingly small. Suprisingly, given that Messalina's reputation makes her a subject that is at least as 'metal' as the infamous countess. Perhaps even more so, when taking into account that Messalina's actions may have been less brutal than Elizabeth's, they were certainly as immoral and definitely more subtle and devious. Also, while nowadays many historians question whether Elizabeth actually committed the brutal acts contributed to her, such doubts hardly exist concerning Messalina's legend.