- Limited Edition with Solid Blue Record Label
Limited editions 3 pressings of 1000 each. 3rd press label is fade blue, 1st and 2nd are dark blue. The album cover illustration was drawn by Igor Dint and heavily influenced by artwork by the Swiss Graphics artist (H.R. Giger) best known for the ALIEN movies.
Black Shepherd - Immortal Aggression: A Belgian Power Metal Blast Released in 1988, Black Shepherd's "Immortal Aggression" stormed onto the heavy metal scene with a fury. This limited-edition 12" vinyl LP, with its solid blue record label, marked the Belgian band's debut and cemented their place within the thriving European power metal movement.
Historical Context
The late 1980s was a pivotal time for heavy metal, particularly in Europe. While American and British bands continued to dominate the mainstream, European bands were rapidly gaining recognition, bringing their unique cultural influences and musical styles to the forefront. Black Shepherd emerged from this burgeoning scene, infusing their music with the melodic power and epic storytelling that would become hallmarks of the power metal genre.
Musical Exploration
"Immortal Aggression" showcases Black Shepherd's exploration of the power metal sound. The album is characterized by fast tempos, soaring vocals, intricate guitar work, and a driving rhythm section. The band's songwriting often features fantastical and mythological themes, creating a sense of epic grandeur that resonated with fans of the genre.
Music Genre
Black Shepherd firmly belongs to the power metal genre. However, their music also incorporates elements of traditional heavy metal, adding a layer of aggression and rawness to their sound. This blend of power and heavy metal resulted in a unique sonic identity that set them apart from their contemporaries.
Production Team and Recording Studio
While specific details about the production team and recording studio are not readily available, the album's sound quality suggests a professional and well-executed recording process. The production captures the raw energy of the band's performance while also highlighting the melodic and technical aspects of their music.
| Album Fact Sheet: BLACK SHEPHERD (BEL) - Immortal Aggression |
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Music Genre: Power/Speed Metal |
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Album Production Information: Sound/Recording Engineer(s): Ward Cuzsinsky,
Ward Cuzsinsky (also spelled Ward Kuczynski) is a producer and sound engineer from Belgium. During the 1980s he has produced and engineered the heavy metal albums of several Belgium bands (Acid, Crossfire, Killer, Scavenger, Ostrogoth, etc) and two Metal bands from Norway: Artch and Witchhammer.
Album cover design: Igor Dint (real-name: Igor Pint) |
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Record Company / Catalog number / Label: PUNK ETC PETC 12 (Blue Coloured Label) Punk Etc is a record label from Belgium and was established by Dirk Michiels in 1983. |
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Record Format 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram |
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Year & Country: 1988 Made in Belgium |
Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: BLACK SHEPHERD (BEL) - Immortal Aggression |
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Complete Track-listing of the album "BLACK SHEPHERD (BEL) - Immortal Aggression" |
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The detailed tracklist of this record "BLACK SHEPHERnD (BEL) - Immortal Aggression" is:
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The front cover of Immortal Aggression by Black Shepherd is a nightmarish fusion of cybernetic horror and biomechanical surrealism, clearly influenced by the eerie, dystopian aesthetics of H.R. Giger.
A grotesque humanoid figure dominates the scene, sitting on a throne of twisted machinery, wires, and tubes that seem to merge organically with its flesh. Its face is hollow-eyed and expressionless, with sharp, almost alien features. Two large, curved horns protrude from its head, giving it a demonic or satanic presence, while its arms and torso are riddled with bio-mechanical modifications—suggesting a terrifying blend of human and machine.
Surrounding this unholy entity is an industrial nightmare: gears, pipes, and mechanical appendages slither like serpents, wrapping around its form. A massive, snake-like creature looms from the upper left, its grotesque head watching over the figure as if it were a master controlling its creation. Meanwhile, a small, fanged creature gnaws at the figure’s arm, adding another layer of horror to the composition.
The background is filled with complex mechanical details, evoking a dystopian world where flesh and metal have fused into something monstrous. The sky is a hazy blue, contrasting with the dark, mechanical chaos below.
The Black Shepherd logo is sharp, blood-red, and metallic, reminiscent of classic extreme metal typography. The album title, Immortal Aggression, is printed in a bold, stark font at the bottom, grounding the image in the aggression and chaos that the music within likely delivers.
This is a cover that screams raw, unrelenting thrash with a death metal edge, a perfect visual representation of the extreme sonic brutality Black Shepherd is known for.
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The back cover of Immortal Aggression by Black Shepherd is a chaotic and grotesque fusion of horror and biomechanical surrealism. Dominating the scene is a monstrous, demonic figure with an elongated skull-like face, piercing eyes, and a mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth. Its body is a disturbing blend of skeletal structure and writhing, organic tentacle-like appendages, stretching outward as if consuming the background in its nightmarish grip.
The tracklist is scrawled in blood-red, raw handwritten font, split between Side A and Side B, adding to the overall sinister and aggressive vibe. The titles include violent and apocalyptic themes, reinforcing the thrash/death metal intensity of the album.
Below this eldritch horror, framed in blood-red borders, are black-and-white performance shots of the band members—each image looking gritty and unpolished, capturing the raw underground energy of Yvan Verhaegen (vocals), Alain Verhaegen (drums), Michel Olivé (lead guitar), Igor Philtjens (lead guitar), and Patrick Luyten (bass). Additional credits mention that the bass parts on the record were played by Patrick Minnebieër.
The entire aesthetic screams DIY thrash metal brutality, reminiscent of underground European metal bands that thrived on raw sound, unfiltered aggression, and horror-infused imagery. The blend of chaotic visuals and the unrelenting themes suggests that Immortal Aggression is as uncompromising in its sonic assault as it is in its artwork.
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Close-up of the record label for Black Shepherd - Immortal Aggression, released on Punk Etc (Petc 12). The label features a sky-blue background with bold black text, including the album title, track listing for Side A, and the iconic "PLAY LOUD !!!!!!!!" message. This Belgian thrash metal release captures the raw energy of underground metal.
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Close-up of the record label for Black Shepherd - Immortal Aggression, Side B. Released on Punk Etc (Petc 12), the label maintains its distinctive sky-blue background with bold black text. Side B features thrash anthems like "Another Day to Die," "Kill the Priest," and "Evil Revenge." The "PLAY LOUD !!!!!!!!" message remains, emphasizing the raw power of this Belgian underground metal gem.