Oslo, Norway 
Those Who Caress the Pale (2021)
Original demo from 1994. Reissued in 2021 by Soulseller Records. Those Who Caress the Pale captures Ved Buens Ende at their formative stage, already pushing Norwegian black metal into strange and progressive territory. The music is colder and more overtly black-metal-driven than Written in Waters, but the band's signature ingredients are already present: dissonant and angular guitar work, unusually active bass lines, complex drumming, mournful melodies, and Carl-Michael Eide's eerie clean vocals contrasted with Vicotnik's harsh, nihilistic delivery. The relatively raw and fuzzy production gives the recording an unstable, underground character that actually complements its unsettling atmosphere. Two of the demo's compositions, “The Carrier of Wounds” and “You That May Wither,” were later re-recorded for Written in Waters, while “A Mask in the Mirror,” “The Plunderer,” and the title track make the demo particularly valuable for listeners wanting material unavailable on the full-length.
Tracklist
- 01. A Mask in the Mirror 5:26 lyrics
- 02. The Carrier of Wounds 8:10 lyrics
- 03. You That May Wither 4:42 lyrics
- 04. The Plunderer 5:14 lyrics
- 05. Those Who Caress the Pale 6:22 lyrics
- 06. Insects, Pt. I 1:55
- 07. Strange Calm 7:32 lyrics
- 08. You That May Wither - Rehearsal 1994 4:43
- 09. Den Såkaldte - Live 1995 8:34
Line-up
- Carl-Michael Eide «Aggressor» also in Aura Noir Drums, Vocals (clean)
- Yusaf Parvez «Vicotnik» also in Dødheimsgard Guitars, Vocals (harsh)
- Hugh Stephen James Mingay «Skoll» Bass, Keyboards
