For the first time in 10 years, Drew Daniel is releasing an album under the name The Soft Pink Truth, instead of Matmos. But this time, he’s doing something a little different. Daniel is putting out an album all his own that features cover versions of black metal songs.

Putting his own spin on material by bands like Venom, Darkthrone and Mayhem, Daniel has subtitled Why Do the Heathen Rage? with the subtitle phrase, “Electronic Profanations of Black Metal Classics.” That’s because Daniel’s covers don’t sound much like the originals. He’s taking the essence of the black metal tracks and turned them into rave/house music with lots of electronic influences and trippy beats. Yet the black metal-style vocals remain, turning the product into an interesting juxtaposition of dance music and death metal.

Daniel had some help with the cover album, too. Antony, Jenn Wasner from Wye Oak, M.C. Schmidt of Matmos and Locrian’s Terence Hannum all make an appearance on the collection of black metal cover tracks. The project also comes with some interesting ideological statements; Daniel has included a paragraph-long disclaimer that talks about politics, racism and the philosphy behind black metal. And the first track on the album isn’t a musical track; it’s Daniel and Antony reading a Radical Faerie poem once used in a book by gay activist Arthur Evans. It’s a unique project from an artist who’s gone back to an old identity to try something completely new. You can catch the first release from the album, the Venom cover “Black Metal,” below.

Why Do the Heathen Rage? Track Listing

1. Invocation for Strength
2. Black Metal (Venom)
3. Sadomatic Rites (Beherit)
4. Ready to Fuck (Sarcofago)
5. Stanic Black Devotion (Sargeist)
6. Beholding the Throne of Might (Darkthrone)
7. Let There Be Ebola Frost (AN)
8. Buried by Time and Dust (Mayhem)
9. Maniac (Hellhammer)
10. Grim and Frostbitten Gay Bar (Impaled Northern Moonforest)