It is no secret that the Netherlands have been having a ridiculous post-Covid run of excellent black metal projects dropping their first releases, and today, again, is no exception. The only exception today is this debut was 13 years in the making.
From the depths of the Dutch marshes emerges Embraced By Darkness as a convocation of shadow and sound, channeling the esoteric ferocity of old-world black metal through a distinctly melodic dread. Hailing from Groningen, Embraced By Darkness have just released their excellent full-length debut, Ex Inferis, and if you’re into old school melodic black metal, you’re going to want to pay attention. This debut album stands as both an invocation and as reckoning: part summoning, and part descent into the infernal abyss, where melodic and blasphemous riffs writhe like serpents, and vocals howl as liturgies to desecration and decay.
Today I sit down with Schmerz to talk about the band’s origins, a debut 12 years in the making, and what the future holds now that Embraced By Darkness has finally landed.
Appreciate your time today, Schmerz!
I usually like to start these things by asking, in your own words, what is Embraced By Darkness, and how did this project all begin back in 2013?
Embraced By Darkness is the vessel through which we give shape to the shadows that have always followed us. The project was born in 2013, not from a grand plan, but from a need to carve our own space within the darker spectrum of extreme music. What started as a raw, personal outlet slowly grew into a defined sonic identity — a means to channel the colder emotions, the spiritual void, and the fascination with the unseen that has fuelled us from the beginning.
Over the years the sound has sharpened, the vision has become clearer, but the core remains the same: Embraced By Darkness exists to illuminate the darkness that lies within and around us.
You guys have just released Ex Inferis in the last couple weeks, how has the reception been so far? Outside of home, which countries have been showing Ex Inferis the most appreciation? And has there been any interesting or unexpected opportunities or events arise as a result of the release so far?
The response to Ex Inferis has been overwhelming far stronger than we dared to expect. The album has already crawled past 36,000 streams on Spotify, and every week more than 7,000 listeners return to immerse themselves in the darkness we’ve forged. It feels as if the record has taken on a life of its own, spreading through the underground with a force we didn’t anticipate.
Our supporters come from all over the world. Europe remains a solid stronghold, but the echoes of Ex Inferis reach far beyond our home soil from distant continents where people connect with the same bleak atmosphere and intensity that fuels us. Seeing that global rise has been both humbling and invigorating.
The release has also opened several new paths before us. We’ve already received show offers, and more possibilities continue to appear in the shadows. We are eager hungry to push this album further, to bring its energy to the stage, and to reveal even more of what Embraced By Darkness truly is. This is only the beginning; the fire still grows.
I usually like to ask about the recording process, but I can’t seem to find much online about where this album was recorded, mixed, or mastered. So I’ll just ask, where did you guys do the recording, and how was the experience overall? Were there any challenges during the recording of the album?
The creation of Ex Inferis was very much a process rooted in solitude, discipline, and absolute focus. The guitars were recorded in our own space away from any outside interference allowing us to shape the riffs and layers exactly as we envisioned them. Working in isolation gave us the freedom to dive deeper into the atmosphere we wanted to summon, without compromise and without distraction.
From there, the work spread across several locations, each adding its own character to the album. The drums were recorded in Sweden, in the drummer’s own studio, where the cold precision of his performance was captured perfectly. Bass was also tracked in Sweden at Armageddon Studio, where Anders Backelin who produced the entire album not only oversaw the production but also recorded the bass lines himself, adding his unmistakable presence to the foundation of the record. Vocals were recorded in Spain, bringing another layer of distance and isolation that fit the spirit of Ex Inferis.
For the recordings, we were joined by musicians who truly understood the spirit of the project:
• Throllv (Rimfrost) on drums relentless and razor-tight.
• Ngldogma (Perennial Isolation) on vocals adding a new layer of venom and depth.
• Bloodlord (Lord Belial / Trident) on bass grounding the album with a cold, crushing low end.
The challenge throughout this process wasn’t the geography it was staying fully immersed in the mindset the album demanded. Ex Inferis pulls from a darker place, and maintaining that intensity across different locations and sessions took its toll. But in the end, that struggle sharpened the final result. The album sounds exactly as it should: cold, relentless, and born from total commitment.
Let’s talk about the composition process and the early years, because you guys have been playing together since 2013, but it wasn’t until 2022 when we first got to hear you on record. How does the composition process look like for you, is there a main songwriter, or is it more a collaborative effort? And what did between 2013 and 2022 look like for the band?
From the very beginning, the core of Embraced By Darkness has always been formed by Schrat and myself, Schmerz. We are responsible for all the music, i am responsible for the lyrics, artwork, and the visual presentation of the band as well. Our collaboration stretches back to 1998, and over the years we’ve developed a method that works: when a composition is complete, we present it to the band to be honed and brought to life.
Between 2013 and 2022, much of our focus was tied up in other projects particularly Winter of Sin, with which we released an album in 2014. That period, combined with lineup changes and personal circumstances, naturally slowed our progress with Embraced By Darkness. It wasn’t a lack of intent, but simply a matter of timing, commitment, and life pulling us in different directions.
Even so, through all the years, the essence of the band remained intact. Every song, every riff, was forged in patience, emerging only when it felt complete and unyielding. The result is the sound you hear on Ex Inferis a culmination of years of dedication, refinement, and the vision that I have always pursued.
I love the old school melodic black metal sound Ex Inferis has, it’s an echo of the genre’s golden age. So I wanted to ask, who or what would you say have been the influences or inspiration for your sound? Especially back in the beginning, were there any bands that you took inspiration from? And if so, how have these inspirations changed since 2013 and releasing the debut in 2025?
The essence of Embraced By Darkness is entwined with the frostbitten spirit of Scandinavian black metal. From the very beginning, we drew from the shadows cast by Dissection, Enslaved, Satyricon, Lord Belial, Marduk, and Dark Funeral not merely as influences, but as guides in summoning a sound that could echo through the void. These bands taught us the alchemy of darkness: how melody and ferocity can coexist, how atmosphere can become a weapon, and how music can serve as a vessel for the unseen.
Since 2013, the shadow has only grown deeper. Those early sparks of inspiration remain, but through other projects, life’s trials, and the relentless pursuit of our own vision, the way we channel the darkness has matured. Ex Inferis is the result of that ritual twelve tracks forged in solitude, isolation, and unwavering intent. It is a record that venerates the old powers of the genre, yet exists solely in the dominion of Embraced By Darkness, a testament to our devotion to the shadowed path.
I always like to know what equipment everyone is using on their albums. What equipment (i.e. brands) did you guys use to record Ex Inferis, and is there any equipment you’d still like to add to your arsenal moving forward?
For guitars, we summon our tones through ENGL amplifiers. I wield the Powerball, while Schrat unleashes the Savage, each note forged with precision and malice. Mort commands his TAMA drumkit, hammering rhythms that echo like war drums in the void. The bass remains a shadowy force, anchoring the darkness, its weapon chosen by fate itself.
Schrat and I also call upon Solar guitars with Evertune bridges, ensuring that every riff remains sharp and unyielding, perfectly in tune no matter the intensity of the assault. We are always drawn to new instruments and tools anything that can enhance the ritual, amplify the shadows, and deepen the sonic blasphemy of Embraced By Darkness. Every piece of gear is a vessel, every note a chant, every performance a ceremony in devotion to the dark path.
Let’s talk lyrics on the album, as they’re only the good stuff. Was there anything that got you motivated or inspired when writing the lyrics to the album?
The lyrics of Ex Inferis are forged in the void, born from the obsessions, visions, and whispers that dwell in shadow. They speak of destruction, the collapse of false prophets, and unwavering devotion to the path that leads deeper into darkness. Inspiration was drawn not from the world of men, but from the unseen forces that linger at the edges of perception from silence, solitude, and the relentless hunger to give voice to what cannot be named.
Every line was shaped as a ritual, every verse a summoning. These words exist to conjure atmosphere, to pierce the veil, and to pull the listener into the same cold, merciless space that we inhabit while creating Embraced By Darkness. There is no compromise, no dilution only the raw essence of the shadow, manifested in song.
We also like the arcane, the esoteric, the ancient, and the occult over here at Mithraic Magazine. With those keywords in mind, is there any literature you can recommend? Either for your fans to learn more about the themes behind your music, or just in general for our readers because you find it interesting.
We are drawn to the arcane, the esoteric, and the ancient the forces that lie beyond ordinary perception. For those who wish to explore the shadows that inspire our music, we suggest seeking out writings on mythology, occult symbolism, and esoteric traditions in a general sense. The goal is not to follow instructions, but to open the mind to the hidden and the unseen, to contemplate the forces that shape the world in silence.
True understanding comes not from mere reading, but from reflection, observation, and the willingness to confront the unknown. The music of Embraced By Darkness is only a shadow of these deeper currents an invitation to venture into realms that are waiting to be discovered.
Outside of anything we’ve already mentioned, is there anything else Embraced By Darkness recommends we check out?
Outside of music, we are drawn to objects, places, and experiences that carry an air of mystery and antiquity. Ancient ruins, old cemeteries, forgotten temples, and sites steeped in legend all hold a power that resonates with the shadowed themes we explore. Books on mythology, ritual, and the esoteric not as instruction, but as gateways to the unseen are always worth a look.
Even a simple artifact, a ritual object, or a place where time feels suspended can ignite the imagination and inspire reflection. For us, these tangible encounters with the hidden world are as vital as the music itself, providing a link between the listener and the forces that dwell just beyond the veil.
I also like to know, are there any underground or lesser known bands that you believe deserve more recognition for their contributions to the craft? And, are there any Dutch bands you recommend we check out after we’re finished listening to Ex Inferis?
There’s a vast undercurrent in the underground that rarely gets the attention it deserves. While our roots are firmly planted in the old Scandinavian currents, we always keep an eye on the creators who still craft their music far from the spotlight the ones who value authenticity over reach, and intensity over polish.
Internationally, there are countless bands working in the shadows who embody that raw, unfiltered spirit we respect. Naming just a few always feels like an injustice to the rest, but the underground has always rewarded those who truly search for it.
As for the Netherlands, the scene here has always had a strong and relentless backbone. There are several bands carving their own path with the same uncompromising fire we admire. Groups like Funeral Winds, Sammath, Cirith Gorgor, Asgrauw, and Laster are worth exploring if you want to dig deeper into the Dutch underbelly of extreme music. But ultimately, that’s the beauty of the underground:
If you walk off the beaten path, you’ll always find the most interesting creations.
[Editor’s Note: Make sure to check out our interview with Asgrauw next!]
If you could organise the perfect gig for Embraced By Darkness, who would be joining you for the event?
If we could shape the perfect Embraced By Darkness gig, the first thing we’d do is bring the musicians who stood with us in the studio onto the stage. Throllv, Ngldogma, and Bloodlord played a vital role in capturing the essence of Ex Inferis, and having them with us live would make the performance feel complete the same energy, the same fire, brought to life in front of an audience.
When it comes to the bands we’d share the stage with, we always prefer playing alongside those we consider brothers in spirit. The atmosphere around a show matters just as much as the performance itself, and nothing strengthens that more than performing with friends from the black metal underground.
We have many allies and kindred bands too many to name without forgetting someone so it’s better to keep it general. A perfect night for us is one built on genuine connections, shared intent, and a stage filled with the people who have walked beside us in one form or another.
Lastly, I know you’ve just dropped the debut, but what does the rest of 2025 look like? Any shows to celebrate the release? And what about 2026, what does next year’s campaign look like for Embraced By Darkness?
We kicked things off with a release show hosted by a local organisation we’ve been close to for years the kind of place where the atmosphere is raw, familiar, and honest. It was the perfect way to unleash Ex Inferis.
For 2025 transitioning into 2026, things are already moving. Early 2026 will take us to Germany for a series of shows, and we’re currently in contact with several bookers and organisers to expand that further. The hunger is there both from us and from the people reaching out so the plan is to bring this album to as many stages as possible.
If fans want to see us in their city, the best thing they can do is contact their local venues or promoters directly and tell them to book Embraced By Darkness. That kind of support makes a real difference, especially for a project as rooted in the underground as ours. Beyond the stage, we are also in discussions with several companies regarding potential endorsements, so 2026 may bring new opportunities on that front as well.
In short: more shows, more fire, and a relentless push forward.
And then finally, before we close out today, is there anything you want to say or add before we end?
In the end, all we really want to say is this: Ex Inferis is only the beginning.
To everyone who has supported us, shared our music, or stood with us in the shadows we see you, and we appreciate it more than words can express. This album took years of struggle, discipline, and fire, and knowing it resonates with people around the world fuels us to push even further.
Stay vigilant. More shows are coming, more creation is underway, and the path ahead grows darker exactly as it should.
We’ll meet you on the road.
Schmerz, on behalf of Embraced by Darkness
Appreciate it!
HTBLOF
And there we go, direct from the source itself.
Embraced By Darkness have taken their time conjuring their debut creation, but its release arrives perfectly timed to stand as further testament to the vitality of the Dutch black metal scene in recent years. If you’ve been sleeping, the Netherlands has been on a formidable tear for the last half decade and Ex Inferis will have thrown Embraced By Darkness right into that tornado of incoming top tier Dutch projects that you definitely want to check out.
Ex Inferis is an aggressive, melodic, and chaotic offering with plenty of tracks that will likely end up in whatever melodic black metal playlists you’re following. If you’ve not been tempted to click one of the links around the page and listen to the album already, I highly recommend you reconsider your life choices and fix that error immediately.
And remember, as always, if you like it and can afford to do so – you should buy it!
Mithraic Magazine 
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