THOU SHALT SUFFER – into the woods of belial DCD

Revealing Emperors’ dark past…

Founded by Samoth and Ihsahn in 1991, EMPEROR became widely acclaimed for their innovation and sophistication. They unquestionably rank among Black Metal’s most seminal bands. Throughout their exceptional career, they released landmark albums that will forever belong to the genre’s canon. Given EMPEROR’s status and popularity, it may then come as a surprise to some that this legendary band was a side-project of the Norwegian duo. This is especially true given that, at the time that EMPEROR was established, Samoth and Ihsahn’s main band was THOU SHALT SUFFER.

Although quite a short-lived entity and bound to forever dwell in the shadows of its members’ celebrated offshoot, the material which had spawned under the name THOU SHALT SUFFER is notable and worth being paid attention to. Even though the three recordings which comprises of a five-track-rehearsal, the EP Open The Mysteries Of Your Creation, and the demo Into The Woods Of Belial that the horde managed to unleash in 1991, are no less dark than what EMPEROR came up with subsequently, THOU SHALT SUFFER weren’t a Black Metal band, but were sworn to Death Metal of a distinctly t4068651003555
enebrous nature. Like many Norwegian bands, including IMMORTAL, ENSLAVED, BORKNAGAR, and HADES ALMIGHTY – who began as Death Metal acts under different names in the late 1980s and early 1990s before shifting towards Black Metal, Ihsahn and Samoth, aided by various members, (most infamously Ildjarn on bass), cut their teeth in a Death Metal outfit. It is sonically somewhat comparable to the earliest period of DARKTHRONE, PARADISE LOST, SENTENCED and the like when all of them still played Death Metal, and with some hints of CARCASS, which are especially audible in the fast parts, THOU SHALT SUFFER put to tape some great Death Metal darkness of lasting quality.

Despite the members being very young at the time the recordings were done, the tracks are proficiently composed and competently performed. They frequently shift between doomy, mid-tempo, and fast sections that are accompanied by Ihsahn’s morbid growls, which have nothing in common with his high shrieks that he would later be known for. This, plus some obscure keyboards on top, which adds a sombre layer to the compositions, the band were able to turn their music into a mandatory feast for devotees of dark Metal.

Darkness Shall Rise is very proud to present this re-release, which features the three recordings that THOU SHALT SUFFER had released during their short lifespan. As usual, we went to great lengths to turn this re-release into something out of the ordinary. Not only was all the music mastered for vinyl to achieve the best sound by Patrick W. Engel, but we didn’t spare any effort to create a thick booklet featuring old pictures, of which many are unpublished, and a lengthy interview with Samoth. Also for this release, the band has opened their vault and for the VERY FIRST TIME EVER, obscure material prior to THOU SHALT SUFFER has been exclusively featured. Namely XERASIA with rare rehearsal tracks from 1990, EMBRYONIC rehearsal tracks, and the official EMBRYONIC demo The Land of The Lost Souls from 1990.

This is the ULTIMATE edition of these ancient Death Metal relics!

The songs were completely new remastered from the original tapes by Patrick W. Engel at the Temple of Disharmony.

2CD jewel-case, 28-page booklet.

Tracks:

1. CD1: Into the Woods of Belial
2. I Seek the Path of Obscurity
3. Chimera Dimension
4. The Goat of a Thousand Young
5. Succumb to Vestigia Terrent
6. Painful Void of Time
7. Spectral Prophecy
8. Into the Woods of Belial
9. The Goat of a Thousand Young
10. Chimera Dimension
11. CD2: I Seek the Path of Obscurity
12. …Obscurity Supreme
13. Succumb to Vestigia Terrent
14. Painful Void of Time
15. Spectral Prophecy
16. Intro
17. The Land of the Lost Souls
18. Throne of Blood
19. Morbid Silence
20. Meet Your Fate
21. Morbid Silence
22. Throne of Blood

Genres: Death Metal, Black Metal

Label: Darkness Shall Rise Productions

Erscheinungsjahr: 2026

Künstler: THOU SHALT SUFFER

Format: CD

EAN: 0803341153325

GPSR Information:
Manufacturer:
Darkness Shall Rise Productions
Lengenfelder Straße 58, 08107 Kirchberg, Germany
darknessshallrise(at)gmx.de