Artist: Ancient
Label: Brutal Planet Records
UPC: 886922496127
Genre: Black Metal
Release Date: 11/2026

CD IS AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER AND WILL SHIP BEFORE RELEASE DATE OF NOVEMBER 6, 2026! IF YOU ORDER THIS AND OTHER ITEMS IN 1 ORDER, EVERYTHING WILL SHIP TOGETHER. PLEASE PLACE SEPARATE ORDERS TO AVOID SHIPPING DELAYS ON IN-STOCK ITEMS.

Originally released by Metal Blade Records in 1999, Ancient's The Halls of Eternity stands as one of the most expansive and atmospheric albums in the Norwegian black metal band's catalog. Ancient's fourth full-length arrived during a major period of transition, while still pushing forward the dark, melodic, and increasingly ambitious sound the band had developed throughout the 1990s.

Aphazel takes center stage throughout the album, handling vocals, guitars, bass, and keyboards. He is joined by Krigse on drums and Deadly Kristin on female vocals, while former Ancient member Jesus Christ! makes a special guest appearance on “I, Madman,” contributing guitars, bass, keyboards, and spoken parts.

The result is more than an hour of music that combines Ancient's black metal foundation with sweeping keyboards, melodic guitar work, acoustic passages, female vocals, atmospheric interludes, and extended compositions. The album moves easily between aggression and atmosphere while maintaining the dark and epic character that made Ancient such a distinctive presence during the classic Metal Blade era.

This new Brutal Planet Records Metal Icon Series edition becomes especially valuable for longtime fans through the inclusion of a brand-new retrospective written by Aphazel.

Looking back more than a quarter-century later, Aphazel remembers The Halls of Eternity as a defining crossroads in Ancient's journey. Following another period of lineup changes, including the departure of Kaiaphas, Aphazel found himself carrying the band into its next chapter while assuming the lead vocal role in addition to his duties on guitars, bass, and keyboards.

His new retrospective gives fans a firsthand look at that period of uncertainty and renewal. Aphazel reflects on the circumstances surrounding the album, Ancient's evolution, and his feelings about the finished record decades later. He also specifically identifies “A Woeful Summoning” and “The Halls Of Eternity” among the album's strongest compositions.

The music itself supports that assessment. The atmospheric instrumental “Cast Into The Unfathomed Deeps” opens the album before giving way to “Born In Flames” and “The Battle Of The Ancient Warriors.” From there, Ancient stretches into the haunting “A Woeful Summoning,” “Cosmic Exile,” and “Spiritual Supremacy.”

The second half becomes even more expansive with “The Heritage,” “I, Madman,” and “From Behind Comes The Sword,” before reaching the massive title track, “The Halls Of Eternity.” The instrumental “Arrival” brings the journey to its conclusion.

The original album was produced by Ancient and recorded, mixed, and mastered at Flying Studio in Gravellona Toce, Italy between February and April 1999, with Marco Negro engineering and mixing.

For this 2026 edition, the album has been remastered by Rob Colwell and packaged in a jewel case with an extensive 16-page booklet. The booklet combines the album's lyrics and credits with archival band photography, original imagery, personnel information, and Aphazel's new retrospective.

This is exactly the kind of material longtime fans want from a serious archival reissue: not merely the music again, but additional context directly from someone who was there creating it.

Limited to only 300 copies, this Brutal Planet Records Metal Icon Series edition gives The Halls of Eternity the expanded CD presentation this classic Ancient album deserves.