Since the unholy reunion between the two Mystic Circle founders, A. Blackwar and Beelzebub, in 2021, the Germanic black metal wargods are stronger than ever. What began anew in 2022 with the self-titled album and was continued the following year with Erzdämon is now completed with Hexenbrand 1486. The band's forthcoming studio offering has been announced for release on 31 October by ROAR on CD, vinyl (both featuring a comic) and digitally.

"More serious, more respectful and more authentic" is the definition of the tenth Mystic Circle opus, epic Hexenbrand 1486 -  a statement that certainly applies to the formation's attitude. "It's a journey through time in the Mystic Circle universe. The album is very varied, and each song has its own dominance. We could release every track as a single, and that says a lot about the strength of the longplayer", emphasises A. Blackwar.

About the new single, "Ghost Of Whitechapel", frontman Beelzebub adds: "The classic Jack the Ripper story from the monster's point of view. We did a lot of research, from the alleged letters written by the original killer to the verses he is said to have spoken to himself. Inspired by the comic From Hell, which is a true masterpiece, we had to make the song".

Hexenbrand 1486, produced with Nils Lesser, is mainly about the book Malleus Maleficarum (Hammer of Witches), written by the German Catholic clergyman Heinrich Kramer (under his Latinized name Henricus Institor) and first published in the German city of Speyer in 1486. "We are lucky to live near well-known events and dark legends. Our Nibelungen cult 'Drachenblut' comes from our region, as does the concept in the second part of the new record about Heinrich 'Institoris' Kramer, the author of the Hexenhammer", A. Blackwar explains.

"Heinrich Kramer embodies everything we hate about the holy institution of the church. He was a vile sadist who acted out his resentment towards women under the cloak of Christian scripture. The Hexenhammer is the work of a madman and should encourage everyone even more to leave the church and follow their own path of faith", says Beelzebub.

The horror flair of the 80s already played a major role in the duo's style on Mystic Circle and Erzdämon. On Hexenbrand 1486, the duo consistently goes one step further, adding dark synthwave passages in appropriate places, with a comparable flair to legendary horror shockers and soundtracks by Dario Argento, who used synthesisers in his own way.

In keeping with the theme of witches, three women are represented on Hexenbrand 1486: The two singers Sarah Jezebel Deva (ex-Cradle Of Filth, The Kovenant) and Karo Hafke (Umbra et Imago, Giants Causeway) as well as Natalie Ostermaier, the author and illustrator of the book Kramer, from which the accompanying comic is taken, that is integrated in the CD booklet and comes with the vinyl first edition as a 12-page A5 comic. "Sarah has once again taken on the classic part. This time it's different with Karo. She carries the album with her voice and embodies the countless women who were burned and tortured because of sick fantasies back then. She gives the new album a special stamp. Natalie Ostermaier and her book, Kramer, came into play through the concept. She liked the idea of using an excerpt from her book for our album, and so what had to come together, came together."

Following the Hexenbrand 1486 release on 31 October, Mystic Circle will increasingly focus on the announced live presence, to kick off in South America and Mexico in spring 2026. The band recently signed a booking deal with Flaming Arts (Possessed, Belphegor, God Dethroned and others), and is looking for guest musicians to complement the band's live line-up. "We're going to do a lot, because we like the old stage shows of great masters like W.A.S.P., Dio or Alice Cooper." In case you've missed the upcoming album's first video single, "Boogeyman", find it HERE.  Link

Hexenbrand 1486 tracklist:
01. Luciferian
02. The Scarlet Queen Of Harlots 
03. Boogeyman 
04. In The Sign Of The Goat 
05. Ghost Of Whitechapel 
06. Institoris (Heinrich Kramer) 
07. The Bible Of Witch Chase 
08. Blutschande Unzucht Sodomie 
09. Dance On The Wings Of Black Magic 
10. Zeugnis Der Verachtung (Outro)