1914
Viribus Unitis
Trench Warfare Meets Blackened Death-Doom: 1914 Unleash Their Fourth Onslaught of War-Torn Fury!
Ukrainian blackened death/doom metal formation 1914 return with unrelenting force on their fourth studio album, Viribus Unitis, Latin for "With United Forces." Far more than a historical reference to the personal motto of Franz Joseph I of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the title reflects the band’s resilience through war, loss, and upheaval – a powerful symbol of survival and solidarity. Releasing on November 14, 2025 via Napalm Records, Viribus Unitis builds on the band’s acclaimed conceptual approach, pushing even deeper into emotional and musical intensity. Continuing their chronicle of World War I, 1914 shift their focus slightly, from the raw portrayal of death and destruction to themes of camaraderie, endurance, and the emotional landscapes of those who endured the horrors. While previous releases like The Blind Leading the Blind (2018) and Where Fear and Weapons Meet (2021) centered on the futility and finality of war, Viribus Unitis explores the human bonds forged under fire and the strength of those who returned: broken, changed, yet still alive. Musically, 1914 remain true to their identity – brutal mixture of blackened death metal, slow-burning doom, and ambient war soundscapes. This time, however, their sound gains a broader dynamic range, with soaring melodic leads, orchestral textures, and haunting clean vocals that provide dramatic contrast to the crushing heaviness. One of the album’s highlights is a collaboration with Aaron Stainthorpe of My Dying Bride and High Parasite on “1918 Pt. 3: ADE (A Duty to Escape),” whose mournful voice adds a solemn, almost liturgical quality to this elegy of grief and brotherhood on the front lines. Viribus Unitis deepens 1914’s commitment to historical authenticity, both lyrically and conceptually. Told through real events and personal accounts of a Ukrainian soldier in the K.u.K. army, the album traces a timeline from 1914 to 1919, painting a grim journey through the war’s ...
Lineup:
9. Westpreußisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 176, Hptm. Ditmar Kumarberg - vocalsThe 51st Highland Division, 1/9th Bn. 2Lt. Liam Fessen - guitar
307th Infantry Regiment, Capt. Walter Wyhovsky - guitar
Le 151e regiment d'infanterie, Cne. Armin d'Harcourt - bass
K.K. Landwehr-Infanterieregiment Lemberg Nr.19, Obltn. Rostislaw Potoplacht - drums
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Shows 2024:
06.08.24 AT - Vienna / Viper Room *
07.08.24 DE - Nuremberg / Hirsch *
08.08.24 CZ – Jaromer / Brutal Assault
09.08.24 DE – Dresden / Puschkin
10.08.24 DE - Aschaffenburg /Colos-Saal *
12.08.24 CH - Aarburg / Musigburg *
14.08.24 BE – Gent / Asgaard Jeugdhuis
16.08.24 FR – Carhaix / Motocultor Festival
17.08.24 DE – Hannover / Subkultur
18.08.24 DE – Herford / KulturWerk
19.08.24 DE - Hamburg / Knust *
20.08.24 DE – Essen / Don’t Panic
21.08.24 NL – Haarlem / Patronaat
22.08.24 NL – Arnhem / Willemeen
24.08.24 DK - Albertslund / Dødsgangen
* w/ Left To Die