A micro-genre/movement/what have you that I’ve been doing my hardest to champion this year at Nine Circles is “castle metal”; melodic black metal rooted in the sound and aesthetic of Obsequiae while incorporating a multitude of other influences. There is an ever-growing roster of bands that have taken up the banner in similar yet distinct ways, and three released full-length albums this year: Morke with To Carry On, Veytik with Carmina Aerea in Aetate Ferrea, and Weald + Woe with Far From the Light of Heaven.
The incredible musicians behind these three acts were kind enough to sit down with me to have an extended discussion on their main influences, lyrical and thematic inspirations, albums of year, and more. Don your chain mail, sharpen your sword, pour a chalice of your desired beverage, and enjoy!
—
—
—
—
Exhaustive list of influences and recommendations for the real heads (in discussion order)
- Obsequiae – Aria of Vernal Tombs | The Palms of Sorrowed Kings (duh)
Veytik influences:
- Morgoth
- Disincarnate
- Insanity
- Vio-lence
- Coroner
- Mystras
- Spectral Lore
Morke influences:
- Dark Tranquillity – Skydancer | A Moonclad Reflection | Trail of Life Decayed
- At the Gates (early)
- In Flames (early)
- Ablaze My Sorrow
- Fall of the Leafe
- Night in Gales – Towards the Twilight
- Opeth – Orchid
- Sacrilege – Lost in the Beauty You Slay
- The Morningside – The Wind, the Trees and the Shadows of the Past
- Katatonia – Jhva Elohim Meth through Brave Murder Day
- Empyrium – A Wintersunset…
- Dornenreich
- Autumnblaze
- October Tide – Rain Without End
- Rotting Christ – Triarchy of the Lost Lovers
- The Elysian Fields – Adelain | We… The Enlightened
- Rush
- Panopticon
- Agalloch
- Falls of Rauros
Weald + Woe doom influences:
- Pallbearer – Sorrow and Extinction
- Candlemass – Nightfall
- Pilgrim – Misery Wizard
The wider net of “castle metal”:
- Kaikkavaltias
- Darkenhöld – Le fléau du rocher
- Majesties
- Autumnfall – The Archaic Shadows
- Theoden’s Reign
- Blencathra
- Gudsforladt
- Keys of Orthanc
- Forlorn – The Crystal Palace
- Sorrowmoon
- Havukruunu – Tavastland
- Marsh Dweller – The Weight of Sunlight
Jeff’s 2025 recs:
- Warlocks of Morgul – Empire of Puritanical Sorrow
- Nibiridis – Night’s Heart
- Bleed – s/t
Sam’s 2025 recs:
- Caustic Wound – Grinding Mechanism of Torment
- Malefic Torment – The Conquering Darkness
- Yellow Eyes – Confusion Gate
- Blut aus Nord – Ethereal Horizons
- One of Nine – Dawn of the Iron Shadow
- Lamp of Murmuur – The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy
- Rotbeef – The Grilldozer’s Humano-Glizzy Pulverization Meatshovel
Eric’s 2025 recs:
- Weft – The Splintered Oar
- Silent Millenia – Celestial Twilight: Beyond the Scarlet Veil
- Skjolden – Insouciant Metaphysical Grandeur
- Autumn Nostalgie – Metanoia
- Ogień Astralny – Forgotten Hymns of Erdőelve
- Returning – Numinous
- Panopticon – Laurentian Blue | Songs of Hiraeth
- Tómarúm – Beyond Obsidian Euphoria
- Lust Hag – Irrevocably Drubbed
- Kostnatění – Přílišnost (Excess)
- Eudaemon – Spiritual Anguish
- Fell Omen – Caelid Dog Summer
- Blackbraid – Blackbraid III
- Obsidian Tongue – Eclipsing Worlds of Scorn
- Herzklave – Anti-romantic Black Metal
- Lone Sentinel – Vampyric Obsolescence
- Earthen Shield – Endless Melancholia
- Bruxa –îngheţat
- Mélancolie du Dhampir – Amor
- Aduanten – Apocryphal Verse
- Suffering Hour – Impelling Rebirth
- Nechochwen – Spelewithiipi
- Rhûn – Burial Pact
Gentle hails to Eric, Sam, and Jeff for their time!
— Colin
To Carry On is available now through True Cult Records. Carmina Aerea in Aetate Ferrea and Far from the Light of Heaven are also available now through Fiadh Productions. For more information on each of these bands, check out their Instagram pages: Morke | Veytik | Weald & Woe.