Following the fierce comeback statement "Black Matter Manifesto", Samael now present "Hidden Empire", the second track featured on their forthcoming limited 12" maxi single vinyl, due for release on 24 April via Napalm Records.
The new song delves into the unseen frameworks shaping modern existence, channelling its dark themes into a tense and weighty sonic landscape. Opening with echoes of Samael's classic era before shifting into a crushing fusion of heavy riffs and mechanical intensity, "Hidden Empire" highlights the band's ability to balance oppressive atmosphere with hypnotic melody. Together with "Black Matter Manifesto", it forms a powerful two‑track statement proving that the Swiss pioneers remain as uncompromising and forward‑thinking as ever.
Samael on "Hidden Empire": "Hidden in plain sight, right in front of us, everywhere and at all times. We no longer see what we are used to seeing; it is our reality, a reality to which we willingly submit in order to lead a painless but meaningless existence. Musically, the beginning of the song is somewhat reminiscent of Samael's classic track 'My Saviour', but it quickly evolves into something more unusual for the band. It is a heavy song with an industrial touch that maintains high tension from start to finish".
"Black Matter Manifesto" (click HERE for the lyric video) marks Samael's long‑awaited return — raw, forceful, and unmistakably theirs. With "Hidden Empire", the legendary Swiss innovators reaffirm their enduring presence, delivering a track that commands through sheer intensity while retaining the band's trademark melodies and haunting riffs. Together, these songs underscore Samael's relentless drive to expand a genre they helped shape — as vital, uncompromising, and imposing as ever. Link
* Samael live:
28.03.26 DE – Hirschaid / Braincrusher In Hell Festival
04.04.26 NO – Oslo / Inferno Festival
25.06.26 LT – Ukmerge / Kilkim Zaibu
05.08.26 CZ – Jaromer / Brutal Assault
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"We go searching for sounds and ideas within ourselves and there in our dreams, in the moments when 'we are not here'." - Elena Alice Fossi
"We try to support our army as much as possible since we also have friends on the frontline." - Helle Bohdanova
"Goth people want to have fun sometimes too. I guess if your listening time is 99% dark, sad songs or evil black metal songs, sometimes you want 1% joy, and here I come." - Franck Hueso
"I think it's basically a mutation of a lot of different things — like a hybrid creature nobody quite knows how to categorise. A heretic, I guess." - Håvard Ellefsen (Mortiis)
