2020 Retro – LYCHGATE

Despite the pandemic and all its consequences on the metal scene, the year 2020 has been a busy and productive year for us. Apart from new albums and EPs, we were also happy to unleash the first ARCHGOAT live album onto the world as well as making sure that important re-releases were being done. The Order of Outer Sound was started as an experiment, and our new inhouse PR guy Jonathan – a long time follower and fan of our releases – came into the label in September. With all these events happening, we found it fitting to reflect publicly on the year 2020, and we do that by writing a little something each day about one of the releases that was unleashed this year. Additionally, we invited the artists to do the same, so that you get a deeper insight into the label’s world!

After the challenging, yet highly interesting album “The Contagion In Nine Steps” (released via Blood Music in 2018), the English Avantgarde Black Metal band LYCHGATE crafted a new four song EP which we released this march. “Also sprach Futura” combines complex song writing with an intelligent lyrical approach, but at the same time it is also more accessible than their earlier releases.

Our Jonathan comments on his listening experience of this vanguard piece:

“As soon as a new LYCHGATE release finds its way into my ears, I know that I have to be present and attentive or neither will I be able to understand what’s going on nor will I emotionally feel what those English metalheads are shooting my way. “Also sprach Futura” is no different in this regard, however, I was surprised that I actually found my way into this musical labyrinth rather easily and the EP clicked already after a couple of spins. The reason for that might be the fact that while LYCHGATE implemented again new elements into their sounds while keeping some traditional fundaments alive, they tried to reduce complexity a bit – without wanting to sound dull and flat, of course. Therefore, some of the guitar work as well as the song writing is more direct. The same accounts for the ‘orchestral’ parts which grant “Also sprach Futura” an epic and dangerous vibe. If you want to enter LYCHGATE’s universe, “Also sprach Futura” is a good place to start. And we here at Debemur Morti Productions hope, of course, that a new album will soon find its way into our mailboxes!”

Guitarist and mastermind Vortigern interprets this EP “Also sprach Futura” as a transitional piece:

“For us, “Also sprach Futura” was a bridging point between the last album and our next one: a combination of new ideas and ideas used on previous releases. It came out during an awkward time, namely during the pandemic, but will nevertheless form a valid part of the LYCHGATE discography, as we prepare ourselves to work hard on the next album during 2021.”

If you didn’t have a chance to give the EP a spin yet, you can do so on our Youtube channel (see and hear also below). Also, the EP is still available via our EU shop, Bandcamp, and US shop.