[PRE-ORDER] Ancient - Mad Grandiose Bloodfiends [Colored Vinyl] (Gate) [Limited Edition]

Originally released by Metal Blade Records in 1997, Ancient's Mad Grandiose Bloodfiends remains one of the most distinctive and adventurous albums in the Norwegian band's catalog. Ancient's third full-length pushed the band beyond it's earlier black metal attack into an increasingly melodic, gothic, atmospheric, and experimental direction.The classic lineup features Aphazel on guitars, bass, and keyboards; Kaiaphas on male vocals, drums, and percussion; Jesus Christ! On guitars, bass, keyboards, cello, and piano; and Erichte on female vocals. Together they created an album that could move from extreme metal aggression into atmospheric keyboards, clean and female vocals, cello, piano, slower passages, and sprawling gothic compositions without losing Ancient's black metal foundation.For this deluxe Brutal Planet Records edition, fans get much more than a return to vinyl. Both Aphazel and Kaiaphas have contributed brand-new 2026 retrospective liner notes, giving two members of the classic lineup the opportunity to tell the story of Mad Grandiose Bloodfiends nearly three decades after it's original release.Aphazel's retrospective takes fans behind the scenes of the 1997 recording sessions at Cue Recording Studios in Virginia. He remembers the unusual atmosphere surrounding the sessions and cemetery photo shoots, the pressure of completing the album, and the band's complicated feelings about the original mix and master. Decades later, he reflects on the unexpected and gratifying reality that Mad Grandiose Bloodfiends has endured and become such a highly regarded release among many Ancient fans.Kaiaphas's new retrospective fills in another part of the story. He recalls the fascination with vampire lore and classic horror imagery that helped inspire the album and explains how Mad Grandiose Bloodfiends became a far more collaborative band effort than The Cainian Chronicle. Much of the material was developed together during rehearsals, with the members contributing ideas that pushed Ancient into increasingly adventurous musical territory.Kaiaphas also reflects on the record's journey from an experimental and divisive album into something of a cult favorite. Over the years, listeners came to embrace precisely the qualities that made Mad Grandiose Bloodfiends so unusual: it's gothic atmosphere, musical variety, unconventional arrangements, and complete willingness to take chances.Those qualities are everywhere across the album's 14 tracks. A Mad Blood Scenario, The Draining, Sleeping Princess Of The Arges, Her Northern Majesty, Blackeyes, The Emerald Tablet, Willothewisp, Hecate, My Love And Lust, and Vampirize Natasha explore different corners of Ancient's dark musical world before the record concludes with a cover of the Mercyful Fate classic Black Funeral.Now Brutal Planet Records presents the complete 67-minute album as a deluxe 2LP gatefold edition, mastered specifically for vinyl and pressed on striking Blood Smoke Vinyl.The gatefold presentation gives the artwork room to breathe and includes the album lyrics, credits, archival band photography, and the new retrospectives from both Aphazel and Kaiaphas. A 12 x 18 poster is also included, making this a true collector-focused presentation rather than simply another vinyl repress.Only 300 copies are being pressed on Blood Smoke Vinyl. Two new firsthand retrospectives, a deluxe gatefold, poster, and one of Ancient's most daring Metal Blade-era albums-this is the definitive Brutal Planet Records vinyl edition of Mad Grandiose Bloodfiends.