Out from the ashes and memories of the dark, conflicted history of the land arose Fellwarden (founded by the vocalist of Fen), a black metal project that embodies everything we love about fantasy and legend.

Hesychast, a black metal band based in the U.S., has been lost in silence the past 8 years after their sole album was released titled ‘Ageless’. Blacforje was able to catch up with the band to ask about their hiatus and what lies ahead.

From New Jersey to the Netherlands and back, Dawnbreaker is a black metal act that has been incredibly consistent. With ‘Banisher of Unlight’, their 6th album releasing on May 17th of this year, it will make 6 albums in 6 years. Brilliant.

After an 8-year hiatus, Slechtvalk is back! We had the honor of interviewing Shamgar of Slechtvalk, where we dove into the band’s 8-year break, what’s on the horizon, and who the guys are outside of music.

One of the best new projects of 2024, Xaphon blew my mind when I first heard them. It was like finding a black metal band that drank way too much coffee one evening, and then they started slamming down some mad breakdowns.

Weress, a dungeon synth artist out of France, has the knack of incorporating enigmatic elements and contemplative melodies that enrapture the listening mind. We got to talk with them about their music and so much more.

Sometimes, a band will come along that you have a hard time describing, both melodically and rhythmically. Blatant/Unashamed, an artist out of North Carolina, is such an artist who embodies so many different elements.

The first album from Oscillation of Void titled ‘In Night’s Embrace, The Woods We Shun’ is a masterful instrumental work. The album emphasizes storytelling while leaving lyrical content absent from the sonic picture being painted.

Tales Under The Oak is a dungeon/fantasy synth project out of Germany. There’s depth to this artist and the project, which is always more appealing than “just music”. It’s something that goes beyond music and into the unknown. 

No introduction is needed for Erang within the dungeon synth community, as anyone remotely close to dungeon synth will be aware of his impact on the genre. This interview is a slight glimpse of the man behind the mask.

Hailing from the ancient lands of Italia, Torchlight is a dungeon synth artist with a rich embrace of Medieval-inspired melodies. The spiritual aspects of life also permeate the artist’s music, inspiring the atmosphere and composition.

Epic black metal with mystery, fantasy, and heroism befits the French artist Belore, a black metal act that embodies those characteristics in a way that surpasses most striving for such recognition.

For Landstrykar, a dungeon synth artist out of the Netherlands, the reliance upon the elements of mystery and wonder permeates throughout the sonic landscape. There’s something pleasantly uplifting, all while keeping to a haunting atmosphere.

The Pacific Northwest is one of the most beautiful parts of the U.S., filled with mountains and forests that embody a magic unto themselves. It’s a fitting setting for an atmospheric black metal band that is centered around the natural world.

Castlesiege has a method to incorporating Medieval atmosphere all while keeping it from being cheesy. Instead, it has a modern yet ancient feel that is just right. Blacforje caught up with the artist to talk all things Castlesiege.

What do black metal, Finland, weightlifting, and prose have in common? Well, the mind behind Apodictia is one such common denominator. The Finnish artist is quite an enigmatic character, as you will see here.

I heard Rutile’s first release titled Virtuous Season shortly after its release. Despite the black metal influences, there is quite a bit of post-black/blackgaze mixed in to the three-song EP, slowing the pace with a serenity and beauty.

Have you ever listened to a black metal band and thought, “This would be so much better without the vocals?” Well, Podvizhnik has provided such a beautiful outlet for metalheads who sometimes want music sans vox.

Following their Summer 2023 release Synaxis of the Frostbitten, Troparion has received attention for their ability to make brutal and uplifting black metal that is balm for a weary soul. Black metal is evolving. We’re here for it and so is Troparion.

It’s really hard to label Eternal Gaze in a one-dimensional sense. There are so many different stylistic approaches in this album that you simply have to stop guessing and just enjoy the experience.