It is sometimes very interesting and quite thrilling which obscure bands receive a belated appreciation. A good example is STOERMFLOOD from East Frisia in Germany, not too far from the place where I live. The band was founded in 1997 by vocalist Bernlef and Beowulf, who was in charge of all instruments and programming and laid down a whole musical and lyrical concept for eight songs. Only one of these songs was actually recorded in 1999 in a studio and used as a promotional demo mainly for record companies, but it was also dubbed for those who sent a blank tape and postage. Despite the interest of some labels, STOERMFLOOD split up about a year later, leaving only their “Promo Tape 1999” as their small legacy. And that’s a shame, as the quite long ‘…Op ‘E Jiske Fan De Fijan’ really shows some potential. Inspired by the early Pagan Black Metal bands of the 1990s, STOERMFLOOD added a Frisian touch and atmosphere to this sound, thus having a pretty unique sound. The Frisian lyrics added up to this special sound, as well as the variable vocals of Bernlef, who used both clear and (not too) harsh styles of singing. And the diversified song writing did one more thing. Of course STOERMFLOOD had some room for improvement, especially a real drummer would have been a huge step into the right direction. But that’s only guesswork. Why am I writing about a band that was buried by time and dust? Just because “Promo 1999” is available again, as Millennial Visions re-released this piece of Pagan Metal history for all interested genre lovers to hear. And it’s not only available in a digital format. We also have a very limited vinyl edition in form of a single-sided 10” vinyl with the carefully restored original artwork of the tape that includes an inlay and a poster. But be quick, as there are only 187 copies made. So, look out for it at the usual mailorders, especially Ván (www.van-records.de) or visit https://millennialvisions.bandcamp.com. You might also contact the label directly: millennial.visions@web.de