DARK FOREST announces line-up change

Cruz del Sur Music and DARK FOREST would like to render public the latest news regarding the bands’ ongoings, as over the last couple of months things may have seemed quiet in the Dark Forest camp but under the surface there has been a lot going on!

Firstly, DARK FOREST has been busily engaged in the writing and rehearsing of a new album which will be released some point later this year.

Secondly, it is our painful duty to announce that James Lees has left the band. This may come as a shock for fans that have followed us since the early days, as Jim was one of the original Dark Forest members, joining the band ten years ago when he was just thirteen years old! He decided to call it a day, saying that he feels his time in the band has run its course and he wants to explore and concentrate on other areas in his life. Even though it was painful for the band to accept, we respect his decision and would like to thank Jim for his huge contribution in making Dark Forest what it is and for all the fun we’ve had over the last ten years! We’re all still best of friends with Jim and he continues to support the band whole heartedly.

Thirdly, DARK FOREST has been extremely fortunate in finding a new guitarist who is, we all agree, the only person who could possibly have replaced Jim.

Here is a message from Jim –

“It’s been a terrific 10 years of crisp melodies, rampant intoxication and illegitimate children. Thanks to all of the labels over the years for supporting many ventures and taking the Forest to foreign shores. Huge gratitude to the many fans out there, thanks for the support. I leave Dark Forest in the capable hands of Mr Patrick Jenkins (of Grene Knyght fame), he will takeover my guitar duties, the lucky sod. And of course, thanks to the Dark Forest boys themselves, cheers chaps, it’s been a fucking blast! Be seeing you.”

So it is our delight to announce that Patrick Jenkins is officially on board with us as second lead guitarist. Read more “DARK FOREST announces line-up change”

SACRED STEEL “The Bloodshed Summoning” available for PRE-ORDERS NOW!

SACRED STEEL “The Bloodshed Summoning” is now available for pre-order in Limited Edition Vinyl and CD.

Due to the very limited amount of the print run, we recommend to place your order for the vinyl edition as soon as possible, as once they are sold, they will not be repressed.
The vinyl comes in two colors: an ultra-limited “blood red” pressing, and a limited “standard black” version, both featuring an ultra-luxury 16-page, big-format, full -colored booklet and a personal download-code to retrieve digital files from Cruz del Sur music’s website.

Once again, and sorry if we stress on this point, please bear in mind that, by decision of the band and label, the vinyl won’t be repressed when sold out.

The CD-edition comes with a 20-page booklet and 3 bonus tracks (not available via download).

Read more “SACRED STEEL “The Bloodshed Summoning” available for PRE-ORDERS NOW!”

PAGAN ALTAR “The Lords of Hypocrisy” out soon on Cruz del Sur Music


Cruz del Sur music is proud to present “The  Lords of Hypocrisy”: this is the band’s new studio album after many years of inactivity during which the band seemed destined to be put to sleep. Luckily instead, “The  Lords of Hypocrisy” is the result of the great feedback received by Pagan Altar during this stint in musical limbo, a new chapter in their unique sound.
After the release of the cd “Volume I” in 1998, the band was pushed by a consistent number of enthusiast fans to also release another album, supposed to follow their first work. The impossibility to resurrect the old-recorded tracks only conserved on old tapes spoiled by time forced the band to completely re-record the materials, although it was impossible to reunite the full original line-up for such an important task.
In year 2004, the band entered “Oracle Studios” – the modern heirs of the mighty “Pagan studios” – to lay down tracks for material that the band had written between ’78 and ’83… it really sounds so actual after many years of oblivion!
Delicate passages introduce a riff-driven marriage of vocal harmonies and lead-breaks able to take the listener through more reflective paths than other average musical attempts. Beside the usual dark themes, “The Lords of Hypocrisy” also contains the band’s personal point of view on society and religion, delivered with rich and strong themes abundantly interspersed within the tracks. In the band’s own words:

“Figures of Religion that preach to society, standing upright and tall / Screaming from the pulpit on Sunday morning / To save you from the fall/ Can you hear them? / Can you see them? Don’t believe them;  /don’t believe what they say!”

Pre-orders will be available starting in the first week of January, so come back and check for more information soon.