April 18th 2008

SOUL STEALER debut album premieres May 5th worldwide

Long perfected self-titled debut full-length by Vilnius based five-piece SOUL STEALER, will be released shortly in a compact disk format. This also marks the beginning of cooperation with a Lithuanian heavy music label Ledo Takas Records. Two album deal between the band and the label was signed earlier this spring. The album with a length of 57 minutes is comprised of ten compositions, the list of which you can find in Label > Releases section. The album cover art is placed in the same area.
Together we offer for your attention the new SOUL STEALER song Dar Nevėlu from the new album, which is downloadable from Media or Releases sections.
The debut will be distributed by a major company nationally, as well as by few selected distributors worldwide. Official release date is April 21st for Lithuania, and May 5th for the rest of the world. Ledo Takas representatives, focusing on the new label strategy recently, hope that SOUL STEALER album in particular will be of service to a more active interest of foreign dealers in Lithuanian metal.
Various SOUL STEALER merchandise series with new album motives will be presented by the end of the month: male and female t-shirts, posters, stickers, badges, etc.
SOUL STEALER album presentation gig, as well as the return of the band in a live form after a vast gap, will happen on April 26th at Mulen Ružas club in Vilnius.
Soon enough a new official website of the band shall be launched at www.soulstealer.lt.

March 30th 2008

OBTEST Gyvybės Medis deluxe collectors' CD book

Gyvybės Medis book is a continuous art project of the previous album Iš Kartos Į Kartą, yet this time a true Lithuanian written book is released, with illustrations inside and the new OBTEST CD attached, instead of a photo album like last time.
Beginning with today, March 30th, we start registering your pre-orders for this special OBTEST CD book edition. The first 100 orders will get bonus stickers and A2 poster, signed by the band.
Retail price for CD book is 15 euro + postage. No wholesale orders possible!
To register, please e-mail back to tadas@ledotakas.net the following data:
- your name, surname;
- full snail mail address;
- e-mail address;
- the way you prefer to pay [paypal or bank wire transfer].
Then we’ll get back to you with payment details.
CD book edition is strictly limited to 1000 copies, the best part of which is already booked. So, be quick or be dead!

Gyvybės Medis release party will take place in celebrated by metal community Mulen Ružas club, Vilnius, on Friday, 11th April. The eve will be hosted by the team of Audronaša radio show. OBTEST will present and comment on the new album to media and fans, will answer the questions, will be attentive to all who want make pictures together or get signatures of the band members. There will be heaps of OBTEST music, regale, albums, beer, merchandise, uproar, as well as the promised exclusive musical surprise – of course OBTEST related, that will trap the party. Details will be revealed only inside the house; so far it is claimed to be an exceptional performance, never to be repeated again.
One more reason to participate is – this party will be free of charge, so we sincerely invite all friends & related!
Vilnius, Mulen Ružas, Friday, 2008-04-11. Doors open at 7 pm.

February 26th 2008

New OBTEST album details revealed

The much anticipated fourth album of OBTEST "Gyvybės Medis" will be released April 4th in three different formats - digipak compact disk and picture vinyl record is handled by Osmose Productions, whilst collectors' A5 sized CD book is worked by Ledo Takas Records. The album with a total playing time of 44 minutes consists of nine songs, the list of which you can find in the Releases section.
Starting of today, we offer nowhere yet revealed OBTEST track "Sakalo Vaikai" for your attention, which you can find in media section, or visiting just renewed official websites of both the band and the labels. Album cover art of digipak version is already confirmed as well.
Album release party will happen on April 4th in "Mulen Ružas" club, Vilnius, where both the album and new OBTEST merchandise series with new album motives, including shirts, hoods, posters, stickers and buttons, will be presented for the public.
The grand presentation gig of "Gyvybės Medis" will take place on April 26th in Vilnius, "Mulen Ružas" club. Details will follow shortly.

February 15th 2008

SOUL STEALER - new name on Ledo Takas roster

Lithuanian heavy metal band changes the name and signs the deal with Ledo Takas Records.
Soul Brothers, traditional heavy metal band from Vilnius, Lithuania, active since 2003, which has caused a new wave of interest in pure undiluted harmonious and spine-chilling metal as a genre to Lithuanian public, aims for new heights. For a few years their gigs keep packing clubs and halls with a solid devoted fanbase, due to excellently arranged and executed material, able to make walls vibrate.
The ambitious five-piece has yet stirred a massive interest this winter, after their much promising frontman Jeronimas Milius has won national Eurovision contest and will represent Lithuania in European competition in Serbia, later in May 2008. Not the least, the guitarist Enrikas Slavinskis has been a part of OBTEST line up for a few years already.
Finally, it's time for a breakthrough. The band returns with the new SOUL STEALER moniker, a deal with Ledo Takas Records and the debut album, to be unleashed literally in no time. Self-titled full-length record, scheduled for release yet this spring, contains to the gig goers already well familiar songs. As we speak off, this upcoming SOUL STEALER album is being intensively mixed at Thrigger Sound studio in Vilnius.
Along with the album premier, SOUL STEALER promise to renew their live activities, starting with the album presentation fiesta later in the year.

February 4th 2008

BREAKING NEWS: OBTEST signs a deal with the famous French label

OBTEST, the metal music band from Vilnius, Lithuania, already well familiar to pagan music community all over Europe, are reaching a new goal: to conquer the rest of the world. Such scope is not without reason. The band has just inked a deal with the famous French label OSMOSE PRODUCTIONS for release of a new album "Gyvybės Medis". This company specializes in heavy music industry for almost two decades now, and during that time has deservedly earned a name of one of the most influential metal labels worldwide, discovering and raising few dozens of nowadays' worldwide acclaimed artists. Such luminaries as Immortal, Enslaved, Dark Tranquillity, Marduk, Shining, Absu, Masters Hammer, Melechesh, Sigh, Vital Remains, Impaled Nazarene, Necromantia or Angelcorpse is enough to mention to realize the impact of this company in black, death, pagan or thrash metal market.
Much like the entire catalogue of French label, new OBTEST album will be distributed in music shops and via independent retailers worldwide, including Japan, Canada, Australia, USA and the entire Europe. LEDO TAKAS, long-lived label of the band, has secured an exclusive right to release and distribute new OBTEST album in the Baltic States.
"Gyvybės Medis" will be released in three different formats: digipak compact disk, picture vinyl record and collectors' A5 sized CD book. Due to peripeteia around this new deal, the release date is postponed for later time than expected before, yet it is clear and steady: the fourth OBTEST album will be born on fourth day of April, the fourth month of the year 2008. New OBTEST merchandise series will be presented at the same time.
"Such a twist in the new album publication was surprising. We have learned about it some time ago, and were pleasantly surprised. We hope that our new album will be available to all fans of the band even at the utmost ends of the earth" - comments OBTEST.
"This deal is the most significant OBTEST achievement in releasing field so far, and it is especially exciting that this pact is entered exactly with OSMOSE. It is an honour to put a unique music writing musicians in touch with publishing professionals who know their stuff. I am sure that this alliance will be versatilely beneficial, and we will live the first results pretty soon" - resumes LEDO TAKAS RECORDS chief and OBTEST manager Tadas Kazlauskas.

January 22nd 2008

A new LUCTUS album is in preparation

Lithuanian extreme black metal legions in emigration are working amain: after a succesful CD split with Argharus last spring, LUCTUS leader Simonas has already prepared a new album, which will consist of eight or nine compositions, thoroughly selected from almost twenty songs created recently. It will be the first LUCTUS full-length album for Ledo Takas. A new work is entitled "Jaučiant Pabaigą Arti" [Feeling The End Is Near], whilst lyrics for the first time are entirely written in Lithuanian. New album topics continue themes already started before: all destroying war, the end of it all approaching, knell for the country, peculiar interpretrations of death, although everything is treated in a more personal and yet more devastating way.
Recordings of the upcoming album are planned for this summer, and in all probability it will happen at a famous Phoenix Studio in Latvia, with Gints Lundbergs at the knobs.
At the moment a new LUCTUS website version is in works too, that shall be revealed soon at www.luctus.net address.

November 20th 2007

DISSIMULATION will participate in German Festung Open Air festival

To paraphrase the classic, the talks about DISSIMULATION death once again happened to appear highly exagerrated. Black metal trio has turned into regularly put to rest [by rumours] Lithuanian band a while ago, and the plague from their debut album coursing guys ever since, shall be blamed for that, if anything at all. But much like the result never can go without a reason, the band again and again prove to be no wimps, but rather worth of their misty [im]mortal status. The answer to all grapevine can be only one – the music!
Concerning this, DISSIMULATION has written and stored quite some of that recently, already seriously considering the new, their third full-length. So far neither recording session timeline nor moreover the album release date are certain. Everything will depend on few factors - first of all, when new facilities of Phoenix studio are finished, and next, when all pre-production of the new record is finalized. Rehearsal tapes heard so far sound very promising though!
As if it's not enough, DISSIMULATION intend to return back to the live stage after almost two years break. The most important performance for next year is already confirmed – it is a prestigiuos Festung Open Air festival, annually taking place in a kult Bitterfeld city near Leipzig, Germany. FOA is known for its old school approach and line-up, usually avoiding any other than thrash, black, pagan and heavy metal bands. It is an honour to mark that DISSIMULATION are among the first seven bands confirmed for next year edition, along with such luminaries as Enslaved, Nifelheim, Solstafir, Angelcorpse, Svartahrid and The Batallion. Festival will take place on May 10-11th, 2008.
We can practically guarantee right now that there will be a heavyweighted alko-bus organized from Vilnius to Festung! More info – as soon as more details are cleared.
This should not remain the only DISSIMULATION appearance on stage next year, and it's quite possible that they will be spotted in live situation in Lithuania yet until May.

November 19th 2007

OBTEST are ready for a new crusade

Pagan metal leaders from Vilnius are about to face the dog-days. The very last week of November they will spend together with metal sound shaman Gints Lundbergs at Phoenix studio in Latvia, where the final mixing and mastering works of "Gyvybės Medis" album will take place. Album design details are being tuned at this point as well.
It is certain that the new album will witness its three forms: digi CD, limited 12" picture vinyl, and special CD edition, which will most naturally be limited as well. Tentative release date: February 16th 2008. At the same time the new OBTEST shirt and other merchandise series will be presented.
"Gyvybės Medis" consists of nine new songs, with a combined playing time of 44 minutes.
Ledo Takas starts the promotional campaign for a new OBTEST album in December, and invites everybody interested to contribute in one or other form. Any initiative is welcomed.
December 20th OBTEST will play their last gig in Lithuania before the new album gets released; it will happen at "Trejos Šešerios" festival in Vilnius. January 19th OBTEST will also show up in Riga, at "Baltic Bizarre" festival. Further gigs presenting new album are scheduled for March 2008, both in Lithuania and abroad.

August 7th 2007

New track of OBTEST - "Vedlys"!

Last Saturday OBTEST have gathered one of the largest audiences of the evening during the major Roko Naktys festival, and played their biggest gig yet here in Lithuania. Now the instruments are already packed for a trip to Czech Republic, where pagan warriors will appear at the Brutal Assault festival this Friday, August 10th. The band is escorted with two overcrowded buses as well as dozen of autos of loyal fan front, what will certainly intensify this very important event of their march. Even though OBTEST performance is set to begin quite early - half past afternoon, it is reasonable to expect a warm support from public, having in mind enlarged interest to the band and letters of fans, confirming their presence in Jaromer.
Other than that, festival organizers put up a "Brutal Assault vol. 12" CD compilation, which will contain bands that appear at the festival. No reason to guess – one track of OBTEST is also included over there! More than that – almost ten thousand visitors counting Brutal Assault fest will be fed with a brand new and nowhere heard before track "Vedlys" [The Guide] from the upcoming fourth OBTEST album "Gyvybės Medis" [The Tree Of Life] . So far it is just a working mix version, since the album is still not completely mixed.
Knowing that not all supporters of OBTEST will be able to visit Brutal Assault, we decided to let everybody hear this new song right here and right now, yet before the festival! Look out for it in Label>Media section. Soon enough "Vedlys" should be also uploaded in both the band's and label's MySpace profiles.

July 10th 2007

OBTEST news
>> Tūkstantmetis shirts, Black Series
>> Participation in Roko Naktys festival confirmed

The red edition of Tūkstantmetis shirts melting like snow in warm spring days, and since getting more and more requests of "the same, but black coloured" from choosy ones, we have not withstanded - in a few days the Black Series of OBTEST Tūkstantmetis shirts will be finished, that is - the same print is put on black coloured shirts! This time we will offer you standard t-shirts, sleeveless, girlies, and - attention - even baby shirts in various sizes! Simply because OBTEST fans' army is growing and getting stronger! First time new merchandise will be presented at Pragaro Aušra festival this Saturday, where Ledo Takas will have its stand.
It is also confirmed that OBTEST will take part in this year's international Roko Naktys festival in Plateliai, Lithuania, sharing the stage with as famous rockers as The 69 Eyes, Bix, ŽAS or Katedra. Festival will take place on first August weekend, whilst pagans from Vilnius will deliver their set in the evening of August 4th.

June 6th 2007

BLUTVIAL Full Moon Possession seven inch record is released

It's the sixth day of the sixth month of the seventh year, what means that cruel bloody seven inch EP of BLUTVIAL is out and available. The last accent we added is an artsy inside envelope with printed lyrics as well. The whole package bears an ultimate quality with deranged sounds inside, so you've been warned...
Excerpt of a title track is posted in media section!

May 24th 2007

OBTEST will participate in Hard Rock Laager festival in Estonia

So, it feels great to state one more fact. OBTEST have already played in the most well-known metal summer festival in the Baltic States four years ago, when HRL was still starting to take the acceleration. Meanwhile counting its sixth year of existence and titling itself as "the heaviest open air festival in Estonia" festival will meet perfectly around the globe known Lithuanian band as much developed event with quite solid line-up of participants and the audience coming not only from Baltic States, but from further lands as well. Cosy tranquillity between Vana-Vigala town cemetary and the river on June 29-30 will be disturbed by as honourable bands as Cathedral, Vader, Soilwork, Loits, Must Missa, Tharaphita, Entwine, Forgotten Sunrise, Burden Of Grief, and dozen more. Still not officially confirmed, but it looks like OBTEST will perform on the main - A stage, on the main festival date - Saturday.
Ledo Takas organizes a bus trip to this festival as well. More info coming soon.

May 21st 2007

OBTEST will participate in Brutal Assault festival in Czechia

Yes, we can announce it out loud: Lithuanian pagan metal ambassadors are confirmed among the performers of this year's Brutal Assault festival! It's the first time that Lithuanian metal band will play along so many big names of worldwide metal scene in one of the most prestigious summer open air festivals in Europe. It is one more recognition of both OBTEST music and Lithuanian metal appraisal in a much wider context, that will certainly service to the development of our musical culture.
We do hope that it will prompt Lithuanians to rush to this year's Brutal Assault even more, showing the temper of numerous Lithuanian metal forces in Czech military fortress. Festival will take place nearby Jaromer, situated in the eastern part of Czechia, on August 9-11, and will feature, among others, Satyricon, Suffocation, Enslaved, Deicide, Gorgoroth, Vader, Katatonia, Dismember, Pain, Belphegor, Immolation, Root, Saturnus, and Dying Fetus. Ledo Takas organizes a bus trip to this festival as well.

April 21st 2007

Exclusive OBTEST performances on the occasion of debut album's re-release

Exclusive OBTEST performances will take place to celebrate the re-release of Tūkstantmetis, OBTEST debut album, which is re-released on the 23rd of April, exactly ten years after it was initially unleashed on the public. Orders for the compact disk, enriched with a full set of lyrics and translations, as well as memoirs of the band members, are being taken now.
On the same day, impressive new Tūkstantmetis shirts will be unleashed, to be presented at Ledo Takas' own Burning Steel festival on April 29th.
With this we want to spotlight that OBTEST have decided to particularly celebrate re-release of Tūkstantmetis, preparing a special live set for this year's edition of cult Kilkim Žaibu festival, to take place at the legendary Plūgo Broliai area near Joniškis on June 9th. The pagan horde will play a Tūkstantmetis based repertoire, with many attributes, related people, and naturally - the War Spirit of those old times!
Another significant OBTEST performance will take place on May 5th in Vilnius. On this day Lithuanian capital city and some other towns will celebrate the Street Musicians Day, when loads of diverse performers of various genres will take their sounds to many parts of the city. The pagan metallers will prepare a special acoustic set, to be performed in the heart of the Old Town - Barbacan, well-known to all alternative public. The start is set for 6 pm, and the guys have promised to play as long as audience demands! Ledo Takas will try to suppliment the event with OBTEST merchandise etc.
We invite you to actively support the metal part of this feast, represented by OBTEST, as it is a perfect opportunity to show the strength of our subculture!!! Eime Su Mumis...

April 8th 2007

Ledo Takas revives the Funeral Vinyl series and introduces BLUTVIAL

The most loyal supporters of our label still remember DISSIMULATION debut seven inch, released on purple wax and tagged "Funeral Violet Vinyl". Well, the series abruptly ended with that solitary release seven years ago, and now it's time for a new run.
The name for the series has been slightly modified to "Funeral Vinyl" since we thought it would limit artists a little bit to enforce solely purple coloured vinyls, so yeah - now they shall feature more diverse colours.
But let's cut the crap and present the first 7", scheduled for June 6th as a release date. We are very proud to stand behind debuting record of BLUTVIAL, Britain based old school black metal project with a sublime industrial touch. Whether that is of importance or not, the duo consists of two noble gentlemen, namely Aort also known from <code> and Ewchymlaen also spotted in Reign Of Erebus, that have created a hell lot of excellent riffs and lethal noises under a BLUTVIAL banner. Bloodred coloured EP will certainly feature on its 666 hand-numbered copies, as you might expect from us.
Next artists for this exclusive 7" series are already negotiated, and it's assured some more surprises are yet to come, in the not so distant future!

March 19th 2007

New album of OBTEST to be recorded in a famous Polish studio

The most well known Lithuanian pagan metal band is ready for a new jump for quality. New target, idea and aim is to record next album in a fully professional and worldwide metal scene acclaimed studio.
Ledo Takas has got in touch with Hertz studio in Bialystok yet last year, but it was not until this April that studio was available to use, since it already had a long schedule far ahead. So, after this patient wait for one year, Lithuanians are starting their session in the middle of this coming April.
OBTEST guitar player Sadlave claims: "It will be a very serious challenge for a band, and so far it is quite hard to foresee the end result, as we are used to a sound we create ourselves, but it’s the very time to resolve for this step – OBTEST have matured for new heights."
New album of pagan metallers has both name and concept already – “Gyvybės Medis” [“The Tree of Life”]. All music and most of the lyrics for it are already written. Apart the title track, some other titles include: “Šviesa” [“Light”], “Apeigos” [“Ceremonial”], “Tai Ne Pabaiga” [“It’s Not The End”]...
Hertz studio has got its cult status thanks to two brothers – Wojtek and Slawek Wieslawski, who are the main engines of it all. Such bands as Decapitated, Hate, Crionics, Devilyn, Hell-Born, Parricide, Dies Irae, Trauma, and legendary Vader have been using the skills of the two. None other but Vader are working in Hertz right now, with their new recording of old classics, and right after them – in April – studio is occupied by OBTEST.
“We are really glad that OBTEST will record their new album in our studio. We wait for them and we are ready for new challenge!” – Wojtek Wieslawski comments on a new cooperation.
“You can compare recording session in Hertz studio with a sports world: shift to a new league is never easy and implicit, yet it always inspires. New songs of OBTEST are indeed of unusual vigour, so it would be a shame if it would lose part of its charm due to limited sound quality. Hertz mostly works with death metal sounding bands, yet there is not a single reason to doubt the competence of brothers Wieslawski. I am sure that joined team of Polish sound engineers and Lithuanian musicians will reach a very good result” – unhesitates Ledo Takas label chief Tadas Kazlauskas.
So far it’s difficult to say if album mastering will also be accomplished in Hertz or some other studio – it will depend on how recording session will progress.
OBTEST album “Gyvybės Medis” is planned to be released in the fall of 2007.

March 11th 2007

Debut OBTEST album ten year' re-release via Ledo Takas

Tūkstantmetis, the debut full-length of OBTEST was finished in spring of 1997, and initially released on tape April 23rd of the same year, to mark one thousand years since the murder of the first christian missionary on the Baltic shore, that happened on 23rd of April 997.
Since limited tape and CD editions are turning into much sought-after rarities nowadays, and to commemorate ten years after its initial release, Ledo Takas announce the CD re-release of the kult pagan/black metal classic with a code name: "Tūkstantmetis + 10".
The new slipcase edition will contain an improved and enhanced booklet, as well as liner notes written by the band, revealing the true story behind album recordings.
Ten year' reissue is scheduled [you bet!] for April 23rd 2007, completed by a new OBTEST short and long sleeve shirt edition with Tūkstantmetis design.

March 9th 2007

Ledo Takas My Space site is launched

Yep, we resigned our old school attitudes and did it! At least a good opportunity for you to write what you really think about us :) Go on!

March 7th 2007

LUCTUS/ARGHARUS Sonitus Caeli Ardentis CD shipping now!

Legions of new Lithuanian black metal breed are ready to assault: what's left is to hand-number the booklets, and to pack the discs into boxes.
Official album release date remains March 13th, but we accept your orders right now, and will start to ship on 9th March. That concerns both retail and wholesale orders.

March 5th 2007

OBTEST once again nominated for Lithuanian Alternative Music Awards

The best Lithuanian metal band of 2005 is nominated again for Lithuanian Alternative Music Awards in the category of the best metal group. Beside that, the most notorious Ledo Takas team will grace this year's A-LT edition with their live set, and this will be their last concert in Vilnius this half of a year. It is scheduled for March 17th at The House of Polish Culture in Vilnius. More info: www.a-lt.org.
More important news from OBTEST camp – very soon!!

February 14th 2007

Official OBTEST at My Space community

In order to be within the timeline we all live, OBTEST have set themselves a place among the ever increasing by number virtual community of My Space musical branch, where from now on it will be possible to find samples of music, to get acquainted with the band's biography and discography, as well as to learn about the coming gigs and other OBTEST related events. It is also possible to write comments and to discuss this and that with the band members. Look for OBTEST at www.myspace.com/obtestofficial.
The band yet apologizes for their offical website www.obtest.lt being down for a while, and promises to start it anew shortly.

February 1st 2007

OBTEST are back from USA trip

After a successful gig at Heathen Crusade festival in Minnesota on 20th January, few days later OBTEST have also performed a unique show at a rezervation of indian Lakota tribe in South Dakota. This unique event is important not only for the heavy music history, but also to accent the clash of two ethnic groups that have many cultural parallels in between. The band sincerily thanks the coordinator of this event Jurgita and indian chief Floyd, for everything :)
Both gigs have witnessed that Americans treat pagan metal as yet undiscovered but very interesting music medium. "We will return!!!", - state the band members.
Even if OBTEST have spread the largest amount of merchandise among the festival participants, there is some stuff left for souvenir hunters: there are - very few - special US shirts and badges, so get up for hunt. More details about that - in releases section and the webshop.

January 27th 2007

URSKUMUG album - among the best

Polish "Dark Zone" radio show has announced their selection of the best albums for 2006. In the show presenter's tops, Am Nodr, the latest album of Latvian black metallers URSKUMUG, has been ranked at an honourable sixteenth position, right behind Vader, Slayer and Darkthrone. Monotheist by Celtic Frost was voted as the very best album of the year.

January 11th 2007

New OBTEST merchandise

Nine days to go until the historical first ever performance of Lithuanian metal band on American soil, namely OBTEST at Heathen Crusade festival, St. Paul, Minnesota, Ledo Takas reinforce the promotional department for the band with another bunch of Iš Kartos Į Kartą shirts, specially designed for this ocassion, as well as heaps of new, almost 4 cm diameter buttons [as well representing all other Ledo Takas artists]!! To be presented for American audience, first of all :) Or, go - be there - and grab that stuff first!!!
OBTEST start their fourty five minutes show at 8:20 pm on Saturday, January 20th!

December 31st 2006

Ledo Takas webshop is launched

New year starts with a new virtual webshop here at Ledo Takas headquarters. From now on you will be able to learn all the latest distribution news, and get in details about the merchandise and music offered much faster and more comfortable. None the less, orders can be forwarded right away not even leaving the webshop.
You can discover the initial result of a project that was in works for few years clicking WEBSHOP link on right menu. We will keep improving and stuffing it with all kind of news.
There is an option to subscribe for mailorder news by e-mail, you simply need to follow the instructions inside the webshop.