Taken from 'Music Industry 3. Fitness Industry 1.' EP out 1st December via Rock Action Records
Arrow Video is thrilled to announce the first UK Blu-ray and DVD release of the sordid and notorious underground shocker Nekromantik, arriving in time for Christmas on 15th December 2014. One of 2014’s most talked about Arrow Video releases, Nekromantik makes its Blu-ray debut in the UK as an exclusive 3-disc digipak featuring Blu-ray, DVD and CD Soundtrack. This exclusive set will be limited to a run of only 3000 copies only and comes with a set of 5 x exclusive ‘Polaroid’ postcard images and a 100-page book, alongside a behemoth of extra features and content.
This 3-disc set comes loaded with exclusive director-approved content including the main feature Nekromantik (1987) and director Jörg Buttgereit’s previous short films Hot Love (1985) and Horror Heaven (1984). Alongside a wealth of archival content, this stunning new edition will feature brand new extras especially produced for this release, chief among them, the documentary Morbid Fascination: The Nekromantik Legacy, a new look at the impact of the film on the horror scene both in the UK and abroad, featuring interviews with numerous genre authorities such as critic Alan Jones and Marc Morris, producer of Video Nasties.
Alongside this, the disc will feature a newly-recorded interview with Buttgereit, an introduction to the film and an audio commentary with both himself and his co-writer Franz Rodenkirchen.
Other features on the discs include an archive Nekromantik featurette, which includes interviews with Buttgereit and Producer Manfred Jelinski and was produced for the film’s 10-year anniversary German VHS release, as well as two short featurettes comprising footage filmed at the premiere of Nekromantik and Hot Love, respectively. A vintage behind-the-scenes documentary, The Making of Nekromantik, will also be included which comes with a host of on-set footage.
The disc will also feature the trailer for Horror Heaven which features outtakes from the film, alongside this are trailers for Nekromantik, Der Todesking, Nekromantik 2 and Schramm and two Buttgereit-directed music videos: I Can’t Let Go by Shock Therapy (1995) and Lemmy, I’m a Feminist by Half Girl (2013). To round this off, an extensive image gallery featuring behind-the-scenes stills and the rare, surrealist German-language Nekromantik comic by Berlin artist Fil, reproduced in its entirety will be included on the disc.
The 3rd disc in this deluxe set features the complete Nekromantik soundtrack composed and performed by star Daktari Lorenz and musicians John Boy Walton and Hermann Kopp, plus rare tracks from Hot Love.
Synopsis
Nekromantik is the one-of-a-kind shock classic from cult director Jörg Buttgereit, weaving the tale of Rob Schmadtke (Daktari Lorenz), a young man who finds himself competing for the affections of his girlfriend with a putrefying cadaver.
An employee of Joe’s Streetcleaning Agency, a company which cleans up after grisly accidents, Rob takes advantage of his profession to indulge in his chosen hobby – the collection of body parts. Then, one day, Rob brings home an entire decomposing corpse, much to the delight of girlfriend Betty. There follows a twisted love triangle, resulting in some of the most shocking scenes ever committed to celluloid.
Nearly 30 years after its original release, Arrow Video is proud to present this classic of underground horror cinema – finally classified for UK release in its fully unexpurgated form.
A 100-page book Romance is Dead is also included within the set, this exclusive book features a new article on Nekromantik from critic Graham Rae, alongside pieces from writers David Kerekes (Sex Murder Art: The Films of Jörg Buttgereit), Kier-La Janisse (House of Psychotic Women), Linnie Blake (The Wounds of Nations) and an archive interview with real-life necrophile Karen Greenlee, all illustrated with new artwork and original archive stills.
Special Features
3-DISC DIRECTOR-APPROVED LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentation of three Buttgereit films: Nekromantik (1987), Hot Love (1985) [29 mins] and Horror Heaven (1984) [23 mins]
Optional English subtitles for all three films
Limited Edition packaging featuring new artwork by Gilles Vranckx
Individually-numbered #/3,000 Certificate
Set of 5 Exclusive Limited Edition Nekromantik “polaroid” postcards
27 track Nekromantik soundtrack CD
Exclusive Limited Edition 100-page book.
DISC 1 [BLU-RAY] & DISC 2 [DVD] – NEKROMANTIK & JÖRG BUTTGEREIT SHORT FILMS
Nekromantik audio commentary with Jörg Buttgereit and co writer Franz Rodenkirchen
Hot Love audio commentary with Buttgereit
Horror Heaven audio commentary with Buttgereit
Director’s introduction to Nekromantik
Alternative “Grindhouse Version” of Nekromantik, newly-transferred for this release from the only existing 35mm print [Blu-ray only]
In Conversation with The Death King – A brand-new 2014 interview with Buttgereit conducted exclusively for this release
Morbid Fascination: The Nekromantik Legacy – A brand-new 2014 documentary looking at the impact of the film on the horror scene both in the UK and abroad, featuring interviews with genre critic Alan Jones, Marc Morris, producer of Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide Parts 1 & 2, and Buttgereit biographer David Kerekes
Q&A with Buttgereit recorded at Glasgow’s Centre for Contemporary Arts (2014)
The Making of Nekromantik – A vintage documentary featuring a wealth of behind-the-scenes footage, newly-transferred in HD and viewable with two different audio tracks: an English commentary with Buttgereit, co-author Franz Rodenkirchen and David Kerekes, and a German-language audio track featuring radio interviews with Buttgereit, Rodenkirchen and producer Manfred Jelinski
Nekromantik Featurette – A look back at the film’s production, featuring interviews with Buttgereit and Jelinski, produced for the film’s 10-year anniversary German VHS release
Nekromantik Premiere – A short featurette comprised of footage from the film’s premiere in Berlin, January 1988
“Das Letzte” – A short featurette comprising footage from the 1985 premiere of Hot Love
Horror Heaven trailer featuring outtakes from the film
Two Buttgereit-directed music videos: ‘I Can’t Let Go’ by Shock Therapy (1995) and ‘Lemmy, I’m a Feminist’ by Half Girl (2013)
Complete collection of Buttgereit feature film trailers: Nekromantik, Der Todesking, Nekromantik 2 and Schramm
Extensive image gallery including behind-the-scenes stills and the rare, surrealist German-language Nekromantik comic by Berlin artist Fil, reproduced in its entirety.
DISC 3 [CD] – NEKROMANTIK SOUNDTRACK: ULTIMATE EDITION – LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE
27-track CD featuring the complete Nekromantik soundtrack composed and performed by star Daktari Lorenz and musicians John Boy Walton and Hermann Kopp, plus rare tracks from Hot Love.
100-PAGE BOOK – ‘ROMANCE IS DEAD’ – LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE
Exclusive perfect-bound book featuring a new article on Nekromantik from critic Graham Rae, alongside pieces from writers David Kerekes (Sex Murder Art: The Films of Jörg Buttgereit), Kier-La Janisse (House of Psychotic Women), Linnie Blake (The Wounds of Nations ) and an archive interview with real-life necrophile Karen Greenlee, all illustrated with new artwork and original archive stills.
Following excellent, career-best reviews and a Top 20 chart entry for new album Phantom Radio last month, MARK LANEGAN BAND have just unveiled an atmospheric video to current single "Floor Of The Ocean". Watch it below...
Mark Lanegan Band will be touring the UK in January. Dates/info below:
Tuesday 20 January – GLASGOW - ABC
Wednesday 21 January – NEWCASTLE – Riverside
Thursday 22 January – LEEDS – Met University
Friday 23 January – MANCHESTER – Ritz
Monday 26 January – BIRMINGHAM – The Library
Tuesday 27 January – BRISTOL – O2 Academy
Wednesday 28 January – LONDON – Shepherd's Bush Empire
Thursday 29 January – PORTSMOUTH – Pyramids
Critical acclaim for Phantom Radio, out now on Flooded Soil / Heavenly Recordings.
"Mark Lanegan deserves elevation to the front rank of modern rock artists and Phantom Radio may be the album to finally force that shift in public percetion. Unlike most gothic pop, Lanegan's art is not a matter of fashion or mascara: it's a genuine cri du coeur, as rare and beautiful as anything in music"
The Independent – 5 Stars ***** (Album Of The Week)
"It's fantastic, these unfamiliar surroundings – be it the Moroderesque shimmer of Floor Of The Ocean or the imperial synths of Waltzing In Blue – lending Lanegan's songs a fresh new bite. A brave inspired step into the unknown."
MOJO – 4 Stars ****
"That ancient-sounding voice, seemingly hewn from rock's substrata, has always worked as a drone in its own right, and here it's matched by keyboards that shimmer behind, as if Lee Hazlewood were performing early-80s New Order."
Q – 4 Stars ****
"A beautiful set that balances Lanegan's ongoing love of blues and folk with further explorations of the electronic terrain he explored on 2012's Blues Funeral"
Uncut – 8/10
"Depite writing much of Phantom Radio on a phone app called Funk Box, Mark Lanegan boasts a melodic elegance more commonly associated with a classical orchestra… A graceful record that brings out the very best in the gruff veteran."
NME – 8/10
"A career highlight… The Superb 'Floor Of The Ocean' could be the Sisters Of Mercy covering Joy Division, while 'Torn Red Heart' might be the most beautiful love song Lanegan has ever recorded"
The Guardian – 4 Stars ****
"Lanegan carries his burdens with conviction and deceptive range. 'Floor Of The Ocean' is a synth-blues beauty, while the gorgeous post-punk hymnal 'Torn Red Heart', spotlights his timeless way with rueful songs of bruised fatalism."
The Independent On Sunday – 4 Stars ****
"Mark Lanegan focuses his latest album around his love of krautrock and British post-punk… Phantom Radio proves that there's not just mileage left in him still, but that he's going to lead us to many more places yet."
DIY – 4 Stars ****
"These songs are compelling, bleak, bruising and brilliantly realised… A compelling return."
The Sun – 4 Stars ****
"Phantom Radio builds on the electro leanings of 2012's Blues Funeral, taking us back to the gloomier bits of the 1980s, with the transitional Joy Division/New Order a reference point… Long-time fans will lap up Torn Red Heart, the prettiest thing he has created outside of his Isobel Campbell collaborations"
The Sunday Times (Album Of The Week)
Horror has a home at 88 Films.
This is why we launched our ‘Slasher Classics Collection’ and our ’88 Italian’ lines – to make sure that shock-cinema buffs could anticipate some masterfully macabre motion picture pot-boilers filleting their way onto UK BluRay in genre-specific packaging. And we are thrilled, following our announcement of ZOMBI HOLOCAUST and BURIAL GROUND, to confirm that 88 Italian just gets bigger and better with the acquisition of a trio of fresh fear-flick favourites!
First up is NIGHT TRAIN MURDERS!
Originally banned in the UK as a 'video nasty', under its VHS-era title of DON'T RIDE ON LATE NIGHT TRAINS, this tense thriller is a malevolent mix of hair-raising Hitchcockian suspense and contemporary splatter movie shocks. Released in 1975 to a suitably disorientated audience, NIGHT TRAIN MURDERS tells of two young female travellers, including Irene Miracle from INFERNO, who are kidnapped and tormented by a gang of thugs (led by an older matriarch with murderous desires). Indeed, the horror and humiliation which takes place during their journey is the stuff of nightmares... but a final twist leads the criminals into the hands of one girl's pistol-packing parents! Also inspired by Wes Craven's legendary masterpiece, THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, and directed by giallo expert Aldo Lado (THE SHORT NIGHT OF THE GLASS DOLLS), this gritty and garish stomach-churner - which includes an iconic Ennio Morricone soundtrack - is finally unleashed in the UK in all of its HD gory glory!
Also debuting on 88 Italian is an underrated outing from the ever-stylish Antonio Bido (WATCH ME WHEN I KILL) - with 1978's BLOODSTAINED SHADOW making its worldwide BluRay debut courtesy of 88 Films. Never before released in the UK, this magnificent mystery-horror stars SUSPIRIA's Stefania Casini as an unassuming, and alluring, antiques dealer who gets caught up in a series of slasher-killings that may or may not point a finger towards someone she already knows. Beautifully shot, and as colourfully produced as any of the finest examples of the genre, this cat-and-mouse creeper is an underrated Italian classic that is packed full of inventive splatter set pieces, erotic allure and atmospheric intensity. Zip up your black gloves and groove to this prime HD presentation of a seventies Euro-shock sizzler!
Finally, we give you… SPASMO! Only the legendary Umberto Lenzi (CANNIBAL FEROX/ THE MAN FROM DEEP RIVER) could have made a giallo as intriguing, and
esoteric, as this mind-boggling, avant-garde, continental curio! With a cast bursting at the seams with genre legends - including Suzy Kendall (THIS BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE/ TORSO) and the late, great Ivan Rassimov (LAST CANNIBAL WORLD) - SPASMO is an unfortunately under-seen, but nonetheless highly regarded, giallo jaunt that cranks up the psychological terror and aims for a more
sophisticated arthouse vibe. More akin to the early work of Dario Argento and Mario Bava, than Lenzi's later gut-crunching gore-fests, SPASMO contains one of Ennio
Morricone's most menacing soundtrack scores, whilst its plot - of sex, corpses and a surreal mystery involving a killer with a fetish for mannequin dolls - is the sort of
trippy-hippy brilliance that only ‘alternative’ Italian cinema in the seventies could achieve!
Making its UK bow, in a stunning BluRay remaster, SPASMO is a must-have for fans of Italian cult, and Lenzi's vast cinematic CV, alike!
All three new additions to the 88 Films family will come with their original Italian language track, English subtitles, and – of course – English language versions too! Thrilled by the new 88 Italian announcements? Spread the word and support our love for classic grindhouse greats!
Each 88 Italian title will be arriving on UK shelves in the early part of 2015!
With much pride and without further ado the organisators reveal the line-up for Tongeren Metal Fest 2015, Belgium’s loudest metal festival set to take place Saturday 2nd of May 2015 at de VELINX in Tongeren. ENSLAVED, SCHIRENC PLAYS PUNGENT STENCH, BÖLZER, BODYFARM, INSANITY REIGNS SUPREME and DISINTERRED will make their appearance at the second edition of the festival.
With headliners ENSLAVED and SCHIRENC PLAYS PUNGENT STENCH the bar has been set high. The Norwegian progressive black/viking metal quintet ENSLAVED will present their new album exclusively in Belgium at Tongeren Metal Fest. Martin Schirenc - along with his two partners in crime - will perform all original and classic PUNGENT STENCH songs under the flag of ‘SCHIRENC PLAYS PUNGENT STENCH’. Viva La Muerte!
The emerging Swiss death/black metal duo BÖLZER left a deep impression with their two EP’s ‘Aura’ and ‘Soma’. Before they shake de VELINX to its foundations in May, you can catch the band live during their tour with metal titans BEHEMOTH and at the EINDHOVEN METAL MEETING in December.
As always, special attention is given to new and upcoming talent. After discovering the Dutch death metallers BODYFARM, the festival had to look no further. Local heroes INSANITY REIGNS SUPREME and DISINTERRED will kickstart the evening.
