Following the fierce comeback statement "Black Matter Manifesto", Samael now present "Hidden Empire", the second track featured on their forthcoming limited 12" maxi single vinyl, due for release on 24 April via Napalm Records.
The new song delves into the unseen frameworks shaping modern existence, channelling its dark themes into a tense and weighty sonic landscape. Opening with echoes of Samael's classic era before shifting into a crushing fusion of heavy riffs and mechanical intensity, "Hidden Empire" highlights the band's ability to balance oppressive atmosphere with hypnotic melody. Together with "Black Matter Manifesto", it forms a powerful two‑track statement proving that the Swiss pioneers remain as uncompromising and forward‑thinking as ever.
Samael on "Hidden Empire": "Hidden in plain sight, right in front of us, everywhere and at all times. We no longer see what we are used to seeing; it is our reality, a reality to which we willingly submit in order to lead a painless but meaningless existence. Musically, the beginning of the song is somewhat reminiscent of Samael's classic track 'My Saviour', but it quickly evolves into something more unusual for the band. It is a heavy song with an industrial touch that maintains high tension from start to finish".
"Black Matter Manifesto" (click HERE for the lyric video) marks Samael's long‑awaited return — raw, forceful, and unmistakably theirs. With "Hidden Empire", the legendary Swiss innovators reaffirm their enduring presence, delivering a track that commands through sheer intensity while retaining the band's trademark melodies and haunting riffs. Together, these songs underscore Samael's relentless drive to expand a genre they helped shape — as vital, uncompromising, and imposing as ever. Link
* Samael live:
28.03.26 DE – Hirschaid / Braincrusher In Hell Festival
04.04.26 NO – Oslo / Inferno Festival
25.06.26 LT – Ukmerge / Kilkim Zaibu
05.08.26 CZ – Jaromer / Brutal Assault
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"It's about humans; we are the high parasites. We feast on the earth and on all the things that the earth gives us. We don't just take a little bit, we take everything." - Aaron Stainthorpe
"All of us want to bring back analogue methods—doing everything by hand. AI is completely outside our creative universe. It's a system designed to make things easier and faster." - Andy Julia
"I like to call our music suicide pop, because our songs are pretty easy to listen to, but the topics are very negative and quite dark. It's pop, but negative pop." - Simone Salvatori
"I'm quite obsessive, and when I work on music, I can overwork and get myself in trouble. I always had a breakdown when I finished an album, because I drove myself to the brink." - Mick Moss
