The last time we spoke to black metal pontificator Alexander von Meilenwald he had the following to say about The Ruins of Beverast’s origins: “I didn’t define any concrete goals in the beginning, to be honest. The Ruins Of Beverast were established rather spontaneously when I felt the need to express new musical urges that haunted me for some time in the early years of the new millennium. That was not preceded by any conceptual thoughts or ideas. Yet, when making music it has always been my goal to draw a musical picture and evolve eerie and surreal atmospheres more than to create a sequence of guitar riffs or follow a certain style. The concentration on ghastly sceneries is made easier for me now when working alone, because the atmosphere of the songs is way more homogeneous than it was in my previous band, where we always had to compromise.”

Well, as it was with previous albums—specifically 2009’s blindingly good Foulest Semen of a Sheltered Elite full-length—The Ruins of Beverast’s new album, Blood Vaults – The Blazing Gospel Of Heinrich Kramer (Cryptae Sanguinum – Evangelium Flagrans Henrici Institoris), is one of haunting images, surreal atmospheres, and eerie themes fit for a Lovecraft novel or a real-life movie about the horrors and atrocities of the Church. Von Meilenwald’s creativity knows no bounds on Blood Vaults. From “Daemon” to “Spires, the Wailing City” and “Trial” to “Monument,” Blood Vaults is an effort of stupendous conviction and vision. The icing on the cake is the Church-choir degeneration treatment in “Malefica.” It’s clear The Ruins of Beverast lead-priest has no affinity for the Church or its teachings.

It’s an absolute honor to be able to stream the entire Blood Vaults. Bow down! It’s time to worship not on Sunday but on Humpday.

** The Ruins of Beverast’s new album, Blood Vaults – The Blazing Gospel Of Heinrich Kramer (Cryptae Sanguinum – Evangelium Flagrans Henrici Institoris), is out NOW on Ván Records. It’s available HERE in a few kick-ass configurations on vinyl and CD. Like double blue vinyl with bronze hot-foil embossing or a CD with bronze hot-foil embossing with a hardcover. Yeah, we want them all!