Newfoundland, Canada’s black metal duo ARTACH recently released their latest album “Morrigan…Goddess of War” on March 21st, 2025 via Depressive Illusions Records. This third full length represents the band’s strongest material yet. It’s a relentless assault of blackened thrash metal that captures the intensity and fury the duo have always strived for. From crushing riffs to searing melodies, every track on this release is forged with raw passion.
Today, we dive into the dark and rugged realm of Canadian blackened thrash metal with Artach, a duo hailing from St. John’s, Newfoundland. Formed in 2019, Artach blends raw black metal aggression with epic atmospheres, thrash metal energy, and eclectic influences that span traditional metal, death metal, punk, and even glam. Their unique sound captures the harsh, untamed spirit of their northern homeland, and their latest release, Morrigan: Goddess of War, showcases their most evocative work yet.
In this conversation, we unravel the genesis of Artach’s music, explore the inspirations drawn from the Canadian North, and delve deep into their creative process. For the uninitiated, prepare to discover the relentless fury of Newfoundland’s own epic blackened thrash sound, as we unveil the story behind Artach’s mythological odyssey and artistic evolution.
First Off for the uninitiated who are ARTACH and how would you describe your sound and style?
We consider ourselves some form of an epic black metal band, maybe blackened thrash metal. While the predominant elements are black and thrash metal, you can find elements of traditional metal, death metal, and maybe a hint of punk or even glam metal here and there (we did a cover of a Cinderella song lol).
Artach was formed in the spring of 2019. How did the two of you come together, and what sparked the decision to create music as a duo?
We knew each other from the local scene and we were also in a thrash band together. We both talked about doing a black metal-style thing and gave it a go and recorded our first song “Eternal Black Winter” at our first session. This led to the recording of a bunch more songs and eventually the first album.
Being based in St. John’s, Newfoundland, what unique challenges or advantages have you experienced as a black metal band from this region?
No challenges, as our goals are to create music – period. The advantages are the place we are from inspires our style, mostly in terms of the history and nature…not as much in terms of the sound of the music as traditional NL music is terrible. lol
Your music draws inspiration from the land and nature of the Canadian North. Can you share how living in such an extreme climate has shaped your identity as artists.
I believe, like other Nordic areas, that having snow in the ground for about 6 months of the year, and rain/drizzle/fog/winds for 4 months, for a brief 2ish months of summer can make you a bit mad. Angry weather produces angry music.
What were your musical influences individually before forming Artach, and how have those influences converged to shape the band’s sound?
Speaking just for myself, my influences are all over the metal genres with the exception of anything nu or core which has no place in the broader realm of “heavy metal” for me. With a broad range of influences, it makes Artach not be so one-dimensional. The overall style is a black metal / epic black metal with elements from across the metal realm mixed in here and there.
“Morrigan…Goddess of War” represents your strongest material to date. What aspects of your creative process or influences evolved to bring this album to life?
Maybe this is best answered by a listener. We make songs the same way we did when we started – the song begins with a riff or maybe a conversation about a feel and it takes off from there into a song structure that I map out at home, and then bring to the studio to review and decide on what works etc.
The Morrígan trilogy—”Macha,” “Badb,” and “Nemain”—delves deep into Celtic mythology. What drew you to explore these goddesses, and how do their stories resonate within your music?
Well, our band name is an Irish Gaelic word, as we always embraced our own history as many people from Newfoundland can trace their origins to places like Ireland and other places in the UK. So with the new album one of us suggested linking together the triple goddesses that represent the Morrigan which fits perfectly.
“Macha” is the lead single and embodies themes of war and sovereignty. How do the sonic elements of the track reflect her fierce nature and prophetic visions?
“Macha” channels the mythic power of its namesake through relentless sonic aggression and ominous atmospherics. The track’s music evokes the chaos of battle, mirroring her warlike presence, while shifts in tempo and haunting melodies hint at her prophetic foresight. Dissonant harmonies and layered guitars create an aura of tension, reinforcing the idea of fate and sovereignty intertwined. Vocally, raw, commanding delivery enhances the sense of Macha as a figure of both wrath and wisdom. The combination of speed and eerie, foreboding passages paints a vivid picture of her dual nature—both a harbinger of doom and a symbol of unyielding strength.
The bleak, tumultuous weather of Newfoundland has always been a creative catalyst for Artach. How did it shape the atmosphere of this album?
Newfoundland’s harsh, and at times unforgiving landscapes and relentless weather have always been central to Artach’s sound, and Morrigan: Goddess of War fully embraces that raw, elemental force. The album’s atmosphere is steeped in the cold desolation of the North. The bleakness of isolation seeps into the melodies, creating an overarching sense of foreboding and inevitability, much like the Morrígan’s prophetic visions of doom. Even in moments of slower, more atmospheric passages, there’s a biting chill, a reflection of the land’s stark beauty and its ability to both inspire and devastate.
Your previous EP, “Sgrios,” ventured into industrial metal territory. How did that experimental phase inform or contrast with the raw blackened thrash energy of “Morrigan…Goddess of War”?
Artach’s Sgrios explored industrialized metal, introducing some electronic textures and slower, more methodical grooves that added a dystopian feel. With Morrigan: Goddess of War, we fully return to our blackened thrash roots, channeling raw, unrelenting energy. We may incorporate something like the Sgrios feel again, but it was not used at all on the new album.
With each track forged with raw passion, what were some of the emotional highs and challenges you encountered during the album’s creation?
It was a long wait between albums for a number of reasons which was a bit of a low, but the end result is our best album yet making the release the high point!
The visual identity of the album is striking, with cover art by Awinita Alm. How does the artwork tie into the themes of war, fate, and destruction explored in the music?
She did an amazing job on the artwork hey? It’s nice to see REAL art and not more AI junk. The album art for Morrigan: Goddess of War is a powerful representation of Morrigan herself, evoking themes of war, fate, and destruction. The central figure, draped in gold and dark tones, exudes authority, while the ravens, symbolic of death and prophecy, swirl around her. The fiery elements and skulls beneath her feet emphasize the destructive force she embodies. The dark, dramatic style complements the album’s themes of war and death, creating a vivid visual of the Morrigan’s wrath and sovereignty.
Depressive Illusions Records has supported you across several releases. How has this partnership impacted your growth as a band?
Artach’s collaboration with Depressive Illusions Records has bolstered our development as a band. The partnership has provided Artach with a platform to reach a broader audience within the black metal community. This collaboration has allowed us to focus on the creative process, leading to continuous growth and recognition in the underground metal scene. It’s critical to us to have releases available on physical mediums as streaming isn’t for everyone.
As a duo, how do you balance responsibilities like songwriting, performing, and managing other creative aspects of the band?
In our collaborative process, I (Sruthán) typically initiate songwriting by crafting riffs and song structures. We then refine these compositions together in the studio, adjusting tempos, structures, and occasionally adding new sections spontaneously. This dynamic approach allows us to blend our individual strengths and influences, resulting in a distinctive blackened thrash sound that draws inspiration from our Newfoundland roots and broader mythological, or even science fiction themes.
Looking at your discography, from “Chronicles of a Black Winter” to “Morrigan…Goddess of War,” how would you describe the evolution of Artach’s sound and vision?
I feel that Artach’s evolution from the debut Chronicles of a Black Winter (2020) to Morrigan…Goddess of War (2025) showcases a dynamic and experimental journey within the blackened thrash genre.
Chronicles of a Black Winter (2020): This debut album introduced Artach’s raw and relentless black metal sound, drawing inspiration from Newfoundland roots and nature. The tracks laid the foundation for our signature style, characterized by aggressive riffs and atmospheric compositions.
Sworn to Avenge (2021): Building upon the initial sound, this album presented a more refined approach, blending traditional black metal elements with thrash influences. The result was a powerful release that expanded the range while maintaining the intensity of the debut.
Sgrios (EP, 2024): Demonstrating a willingness to experiment, we infused industrial metal elements into a blackened thrash framework. Drawing inspiration from bands like Rammstein and Fear Factory tracks like “Frozen Factory” exemplify this fusion, offering a fresh perspective while retaining our core essence.
Morrigan…Goddess of War (2025): the new album represents a culmination of experimental endeavors. The “Morrigan trilogy”—comprising “Macha,” “Badb,” and “Nemain”—delves into themes of war, fate, and destruction, blending crushing riffs with searing melodies. This release captures the intensity and fury Artach has consistently strived for, reflecting both growth and our ability to push musical boundaries.
Throughout our discography, Artach has demonstrated a commitment to evolving sounds, seamlessly integrating diverse influences while staying true to blackened thrash roots. This progression highlights the dedication to musical exploration and an ability to adapt and innovate within a genre that some distractors consider to be restrictive.
Released March 21, 2025, CD and Cassette for “Morrigan…Goddess of War” will be available from Depressive Illusions at https://depressiveillusions.com/search/node/Artach
Follow Artach:
https://www.facebook.com/ArtachBlackMetal
https://www.instagram.com/ArtachBlackMetal/
https://www.youtube.com/@artachband709
https://artach.bandcamp.com/
