Ancient - Halls of Eternity (*CD, 2026, Brutal Planet) Black Metal classic!

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☠️ Content Note

Ancient explores intentionally dark, provocative, and occult-themed imagery and lyrics consistent with the traditions of extreme black metal. This release is presented for its musical, historical, and collector significance. Listeners who are sensitive to such themes should purchase accordingly.

🦇 Release Details

Artist: Ancient
Title: The Halls of Eternity
Label: Brutal Planet Records
Catalog Number: BPCD1718
UPC: 732131699043
Format: CD / Jewel Case
Pressing: Limited to 300 Copies
Booklet: Deluxe 16-Page Booklet
Tracks: 11 / Over 60 Minutes
Original Release: 1999 – Metal Blade Records
Series: Metal Icon Series
Release Date: November 2026

🕯️ Key Collector Details

• Limited to only 300 copies
• Originally released by Metal Blade Records in 1999
• Officially licensed from Metal Blade Records
• Part of the Brutal Planet Records Metal Icon Series
• Remastered by Rob Colwell
• Deluxe 16-page booklet packed with lyrics, credits, artwork, and archival band photography
• Brand-new retrospective liner notes by Aphazel, looking back on the album more than 25 years later
• Aphazel reflects on Ancient's lineup changes, taking the band forward after Kaiaphas's departure, the recording period, and the album's place in Ancient's history
• Features founding member Aphazel on vocals, guitars, bass, and keyboards
• Features Krigse on drums and Deadly Kristin on female vocals
• Special guest appearance by former Ancient member Jesus Christ! on “I, Madman”
• Produced by Ancient
• Originally recorded, mixed, and mastered at Flying Studio in Gravellona Toce, Italy during February–April 1999
• Engineered and mixed by Marco Negro
• Layout and design by Scott Waters / NoLifeTilMetal
• A sweeping combination of black metal aggression, atmospheric keyboards, female vocals, acoustic passages, melody, and epic compositions
• For Fans Of: Cradle of Filth, Mayhem, Darkthrone, Emperor, Dissection, and atmospheric/melodic black metal

🩸 Ancient – The Halls of Eternity

Originally released by Metal Blade Records in 1999, Ancient's The Halls of Eternity stands as one of the most expansive and atmospheric albums in the Norwegian black metal band's catalog. Ancient's fourth full-length arrived during a major period of transition, while still pushing forward the dark, melodic, and increasingly ambitious sound the band had developed throughout the 1990s.

Aphazel takes center stage throughout the album, handling vocals, guitars, bass, and keyboards. He is joined by Krigse on drums and Deadly Kristin on female vocals, while former Ancient member Jesus Christ! makes a special guest appearance on “I, Madman,” contributing guitars, bass, keyboards, and spoken parts.

The result is more than an hour of music that combines Ancient's black metal foundation with sweeping keyboards, melodic guitar work, acoustic passages, female vocals, atmospheric interludes, and extended compositions. The album moves easily between aggression and atmosphere while maintaining the dark and epic character that made Ancient such a distinctive presence during the classic Metal Blade era.

This new Brutal Planet Records Metal Icon Series edition becomes especially valuable for longtime fans through the inclusion of a brand-new retrospective written by Aphazel.

Looking back more than a quarter-century later, Aphazel remembers The Halls of Eternity as a defining crossroads in Ancient's journey. Following another period of lineup changes, including the departure of Kaiaphas, Aphazel found himself carrying the band into its next chapter while assuming the lead vocal role in addition to his duties on guitars, bass, and keyboards.

His new retrospective gives fans a firsthand look at that period of uncertainty and renewal. Aphazel reflects on the circumstances surrounding the album, Ancient's evolution, and his feelings about the finished record decades later. He also specifically identifies “A Woeful Summoning” and “The Halls Of Eternity” among the album's strongest compositions.

The music itself supports that assessment. The atmospheric instrumental “Cast Into The Unfathomed Deeps” opens the album before giving way to “Born In Flames” and “The Battle Of The Ancient Warriors.” From there, Ancient stretches into the haunting “A Woeful Summoning,” “Cosmic Exile,” and “Spiritual Supremacy.”

The second half becomes even more expansive with “The Heritage,” “I, Madman,” and “From Behind Comes The Sword,” before reaching the massive title track, “The Halls Of Eternity.” The instrumental “Arrival” brings the journey to its conclusion.

The original album was produced by Ancient and recorded, mixed, and mastered at Flying Studio in Gravellona Toce, Italy between February and April 1999, with Marco Negro engineering and mixing.

For this 2026 edition, the album has been remastered by Rob Colwell and packaged in a jewel case with an extensive 16-page booklet. The booklet combines the album's lyrics and credits with archival band photography, original imagery, personnel information, and Aphazel's new retrospective.

This is exactly the kind of material longtime fans want from a serious archival reissue: not merely the music again, but additional context directly from someone who was there creating it.

Limited to only 300 copies, this Brutal Planet Records Metal Icon Series edition gives The Halls of Eternity the expanded CD presentation this classic Ancient album deserves.

⚰️ Track Listing

1. Cast Into The Unfathomed Deeps
2. Born In Flames
3. The Battle Of The Ancient Warriors
4. A Woeful Summoning
5. Cosmic Exile
6. Spiritual Supremacy
7. The Heritage
8. I, Madman
9. From Behind Comes The Sword
10. The Halls Of Eternity
11. Arrival

🕸️ Song Titles

Cast Into The Unfathomed Deeps / Born In Flames / The Battle Of The Ancient Warriors / A Woeful Summoning / Cosmic Exile / Spiritual Supremacy / The Heritage / I, Madman / From Behind Comes The Sword / The Halls Of Eternity / Arrival