Blackened Rose have quietly carved out a unique space in Australia’s heavy underground, one where gothic melancholy, romantic tragedy, and hard rock swagger coexist without compromise. Led by vocalist and songwriter Aleksei Iagunkov, the Sydney-based project has evolved rapidly since its late-2022 inception, growing from a personal creative outlet into a fully realised band with a striking sonic and visual identity.
With the release of “Crimson Red Snow”, Blackened Rose closed one chapter and opened another, reshaping their lineup, refining their sound, and setting a new emotional and musical benchmark for what comes next. We caught up with Aleksei to talk origins, influence, grief, growth, gothic metal in Australia, and what lies beyond the red-stained snowfall.
An in-depth Q&A with Aleksei Iagunkov
1. Aleksei, thank you for taking the time to chat with Crannk! To start off, take us back to late 2022 — what inspired you to create Blackened Rose, and how did the initial concept of blending gothic sensuality with hard rock flair come to life?
● Thank you for having me, Jai! The concept came from the music that was dominating my tastes that year. With late 2022 being quite a tumultuous time for me personally, gothic metal like Type O Negative and HIM provided me with resonating music, while the fun of 80’s hard rock kept my spirits high. This was a completely different route for me as at the time I was playing thrash and groove metal, but leaning more into gothic direction made me come more to terms with my baritone voice.
2. Before Blackened Rose, can you tell us a bit about your own musical beginnings? What first drew you into music, and when did you realise it was something you wanted to pursue seriously?
● I started seriosly studying music in late high school once I arrived from Russia here in Sydney. Of course, my first influences were bands like Metallica, but also power metal giants like Sabaton and Powerwolf. Metal definitely became my biggest passion and soon I found myself jamming with a few other young musicians. There, in high school I also founded my first proper band – Step in Blood. We have jammed for a few years with starting live shows in early 2022, but personal and creative differences led to my exit from the band later that year and me focusing more on what was to become Blackened Rose.
3. Were there any particular bands, albums, or moments growing up that really lit that spark for you — the ones that made you say, “This is what I want to do”?
● Oh, in my childhood my parents and granddad would often play a lot of rock and metal. As a kid I absolutely loved Rammstein, Deep Purple, Scorpions, Kingdom Come, Queen, but my favourite band was a Russian band called Aria, who are very Iron Maiden sounding. But then it all changed around age thirteen and fourteen, when I discovered bands like Sabaton, Powerwolf, Lordi and Gloryhammer. Powerwolf’s 2011 opus ‘Blood of the Saints’ is definitely among my top-liked albums as well as Sabaton’s 2008 album ‘The Art of War’. These bands really pushed the dreamer in me to pursue singing and playing guitar.
4. How did your early experiences as a musician — whether in other projects or just developing your own voice — help shape the sound and emotional identity you bring to Blackened Rose?
● Well, I think one of the biggest pushes was with the first single Blackened Rose released. I have originally written it for Step in Blood, but the song has been discarded and not used by the band, so it pushed me to see other ways of letting my creativity out. Quite a few Blackened Rose songs have been inspired by personal events and feelings, which in turn help me connect with the audiences with similar shared experiences.
5. The early singles — “Ginger Red (Oh, So Bad)” and “Requiem of the Rose” — really helped establish that dark romantic aesthetic that defines your sound. How did those first songs help you discover the band’s identity?
● I think those songs were very much a transitional phase between me in Step in Blood and me truly embracing the identity of Blackened Rose. ‘Ginger Red’ is definitely a fun, simple, upbeat song, while ‘Requiem’ invites that darker side of the music and heavily relies on keys. That song was my first experience of relying on a keyboard melody to structure the song around. And it surely paid off for the future pieces!
6. Blackened Rose’s influences range from Type O Negative and HIM to Whitesnake and Ghost. What is it about that mix of gothic melancholy and 80s swagger that resonates with you personally?
● Well, personally I think it is a bit of an untapped territory. The only band that has successfully explored such blend is The 69 Eyes. And perhaps Ghost, yes. But I think there is huge potential in creating something that is darker, but ultimately still sweet and very much accessible to a general listener. I believe in a good blend of creativity and accessibility, where the new directions and sounds are explored, yet still are ultimately pleasurable for the audience.
7. Over the last couple of years, you’ve also become a staple on the NSW metal circuit — from Metal on the Northside to Metal United Down Under. How important have live shows been in shaping who Blackened Rose is as a band?
● Live shows are always important! First of all, they give you that musician experience that people need. No bedroom musician can walk out on stage and be straight up entertaining, no matter how well they play! So of course, support gigs give us an active local fanbase while also teaching us what works in the actual live setting and what doesn’t, while headliner shows can be a treat for already existing fans with some special features and surprises!
8. There’s been a noticeable evolution in the lineup and sound from your earlier releases to “Crimson Red Snow.” Can you tell us about how that creative growth happened?
● ‘Crimson Red Snow’ is a bit of an epitaph for the old line-up. It was written back in the early 2024 and became sort of the culmination and the swansong to that chapter of the band. So it is quite a bittersweet piece for me as it resembles quite a lot of promise of the old line-up, but I have decided to turn the tables and also attribute it to the beginning of something new. Now we have a new collaborative space within the band and the development of the sound continues! As the final lyrics of the song say: “Let her go!”
9. Blackened Rose has recently returned with a refreshed and powerful new lineup. Can you tell us a bit about the current members, how they came together, and what each of them brings to the creative chemistry of the band?
● For a while after the old line-up’s disbandment I could not find stable and reliable musicians to join, so towards the end of 2024 Blackened Rose has been put in a little bit of backburner, so I could focus on my personal life. But since the start of this year I was on the hunt to revive the band. Through a mutual mate I got in contact with Axel and we sort of clicked together straight up! Finbarr, who I have known from the Sydney scene previously, has agreed to fill in on bass originally, but I guess, I had seduced him into joining the band full-time, haha! Then it came down to just finding a reliable and committed drummer and keyboardist. Josh, who we had jammed with and welcomed into the band, recommended us a keyboardist he has worked with before – Vin. And after him passing the audition with flying colours the line-up was sealed! And we all have our different backgrounds of course! Finbarr brings his experience and a lot of layered progressive influences, Axel jams it all out on guitar like crazy with his youthful passion, Vin brings his theory knowledge to the table, thanks to his studies and Josh, of course, just has that heavy driving punch that a hard rock and metal band needs!
10. “Crimson Red Snow” feels like a statement piece — both closing one chapter and opening another. What does this song represent for you emotionally and artistically?
● It is indeed a closing piece. I wrote this song with Blackened Rose’s ex-guitarist Erick and ex-keyboardist Naomi and so far it has been one of the most musically profound pieces I have had a part in. From all the different chord arrangements and positions to the mixing of orchestral bits, the song was a bit of a mammoth to produce, but also it opens the door for something new and gives us a certain stadard to adhere to in our future songwriting with the new line-up!
11. The song features a guest solo by Jerry Zahija from Carmeria, which is an awesome collaboration. How did that partnership come about, and what did Jerry bring to the track’s atmosphere?
● The original solo for the song was recorded by the old guitarist Erick, but it didn’t land with me and Jack [Haycroft, co-producer] during the mixing stage, so I have contacted Jerry to ask him to write and record a feature solo for the track. I had previously established quite a nice friendship with Carmeria, they are all lovely guys (and a lady), and since they also play their own style of symphonic gothic metal, the choice was a no brainer. Jerry was very professional and recorded a few takes remotely, following my comments and guidelines, and, I think, in the end he achieved a good balance between melody and shred that the song required.
12. The production on “Crimson Red Snow” is incredibly lush — balancing the gothic, symphonic, and doom elements beautifully. What was it like working with Jack Haycroft and Jack Gao through the recording and mixing process?
● Both Jacks are very lovely people! Jack Gao, who runs 3by3 Studios is very professional and he recorded all of the drums in one session and in great sound quality.
On the other hand, I have worked with Jack Haycroft much more closely and we have spent multiple sessions recording and re-recording certain vocals as well as mixing. Jack also helped arrange some of the vocal harmonies and the little bits of Russian scattered through the song as, perhaps, also sort of Easter eggs.
13. Lyrically, “Crimson Red Snow” seems to leave a lot open to listener interpretation. Without giving too much away, what themes or imagery inspired the song’s creation?
● Well, the song obviously deals with a lot of grief and loss of a loved one. Yet there are quite a few hints sprinkled along the song for personal interpretation as things might not be as straightforward as they might appear.
14. Your music walks a fine line between the romantic and the tragic — a signature trait in gothic metal. Where do you personally draw that emotion from as a songwriter and performer?
● I think it has been an interesting journey. Inspiration often strikes when you don’t expect it. Yes, for some songs you know the topic straight up, yet for some the ideas brew for quite a long time until something is born. It’s hard to answer, but for some songs I can take inspiration from my personal experiences, while some like ‘Crimson Red Snow’ are purely fictitious.
15. As a vocalist, you’ve got a tone that really channels both power and vulnerability. How did you develop your vocal approach, and are there any singers that influenced your style?
● It has certainly been an interesting journey. I have originally started by singing some of my power metal songs at home. Later I played in a thrash band, so of course, I wanted to channel James Hetfield with my voice. But as my voice changed and got lower, I have looked more at singers like Peter Steele and Ville Valo with their sometimes thunderous and sometimes more personal and vulnerable vocal styles. Now of course I am trying to balance power with some lower tones, as my baritone permits, and more intimate moments of vulnerability to create emotion that is so important in the gothic metal genre.
16. Australia’s heavy music scene is vibrant but doesn’t have many bands fully embracing the gothic aesthetic. How do you feel Blackened Rose fits into or stands apart from the broader Australian metal landscape?
● Well, it is true. Australia has a pretty strong gothic subculture, yet few gothic bands, especially gothic metal bands. But goth is quite an umbrella term and the bands can sound fairly different from each other, like Sydney-based Department of Gloom preach their goth ‘n roll style, while Blue Mountains residents Carmeria take inspiration from the symphonic grandiosity of bands like The Dark Element and Serenity. While dark romanticism binds all of us, there is plenty of space and opportunity for the new original sounding bands and music. So, in my opinion, Blackened Rose, while adheres to the genre, still stands apart from the other gothic bands in Australia.
17. You’ve mentioned “Crimson Red Snow” marks the end of Chapter 1 and the start of Chapter 2. Can you give us a glimpse into what this next chapter might hold musically or conceptually?
● This is a very good question! I think the new line-up is still adjusting and we are still looking for the new ways to expand our sound, however I can promise that the new music sounds more detailed, heavier and exciting!
18. Has there been any talk of a full-length release or EP to continue the narrative introduced through your singles so far?
● Not yet, I don’t think so. Maybe in 2027? That would be a great idea!
19. The visual side of Blackened Rose — from your photography to artwork and performance — feels deliberately stylized and cinematic. How important is the visual world of the band in expressing your vision?
● I think the visual aspect should be important for any band. Yes, our product is music, however people care about the “packaging” too. So a consistent fairly unique image and presentation can help a band stand out in the crowd. I am not saying that every band nowadays has to have a gimmick to get noticed, however something simple like a synchronised theme can go a long way. It’s simple: if you want to be treated professionally, you have to behave and present yourself also professionally.
20. Finally, Aleksei, as you look ahead — what’s next for Blackened Rose? More live shows, new recordings, maybe even a tour? What should fans be watching for in 2026 and beyond?
● Thank you for having me, Jai! We are currently in the studio recording some new tracks for all of you, so some announcements are going to be coming pretty soon! And of course, more live shows! We have a few shows coming up, including a headliner at the MoshPit Bar on Friday 13th, organised by Metal Evilution for the New Zealanders Death Chemist on their first Australian tour. We will also be supporting our good mates Department of Gloom for their single release show on Saturday 21st at Darling Nikki’s. So make sure to say hi and have a drink with us! Blackened Rose loves you all! 🖤🥀
BLACKENED ROSE LINKS: https://linktr.ee/blackenedroseofficial
Credit Courtney Stark Imagery for all images used in this article
Having the inside track on what Crimson Red Snow is about, I would encourage listeners to see if they can work out exactly what is happening. Someone has died……but who killed them? The hint is in the Russian at the beginning 😉
So massively proud of this comeback!