Norwegian dark metal experimental shapeshifters Manes return on 27 November with To Burn Is To Shine, their sixth full‑length and the follow‑up to 2018’s acclaimed Slow Motion Death Sequence. Eight years on, the Trondheim collective open a new chapter — one steeped in human fragility, psychological unrest and a descent into their bleakest sound to date. The album will be released via Avantgarde Music.
Formed in 1992 and long celebrated for their fearless evolution, Manes have travelled far from their black‑metal origins. From the cult debut Under Ein Blodraud Maane to the avant‑garde milestone Vilosophe, the group have spent three decades dissolving boundaries between metal, electronica, trip‑hop and experimental rock. To Burn Is To Shine continues that trajectory with seven dense, slow‑burning compositions where suffocating atmospheres, crawling heaviness and cinematic electronics collide.
Lyrically, the album abandons supernatural motifs in favour of stark human darkness — collapse, conflict, decay — threaded together by recurring imagery of fire. True to Manes’ ethos, the words act less as narrative and more as emotional texture, inviting interpretation rather than offering clarity.
The record features a strong cast of guests, including Ana Carolina Skaret (Mourning Sun), Eskil Blix (Djevel, Vemod), Marita Hellem (Enevelde), Rune Folgerø (Atrox, Drontheim) and Tom Christian Engelsøy (Drontheim), with Vegar Larsen (Whoredom Rife) performing drums on two tracks. Its striking visual identity comes from New York designer Michael Houtz, whose handcrafted artwork shapes the physical editions and merchandise.
More than thirty years since their formation, Manes remain one of Norway’s most uncompromising and unpredictable entities. The band have now revealed the first single, “Stones In Your Pockets (Nearly Swimming)”, offering a glimpse into the album’s oppressive, immersive world. Link
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