Words by Jai That Aussie Metal Guy – Crannk.com
On May 9th, depressive black metallers Ghost Bath unleashed their latest full-length album, Rose Thorn Necklace, through long-time label Nuclear Blast. It marks a significant departure from the conceptual trilogy that spanned Moonlover, Starmourner, and Self Loather—and instead, frontman Dennis Mikula (aka Nameless) dives into his darkest, most visceral songwriting yet.
I had the opportunity to sit down for a video interview with Dennis to discuss the intense emotional and creative process behind Rose Thorn Necklace. The conversation was raw, honest, and often disturbing—much like the record itself.
“I wanted to make something depressive with despair, lavish, gothic, grotesque, gross, and visceral,” Mikula explained. “And I didn’t want to hold myself back.”
The result is an album that walks a tightrope between absolute beauty and disturbing despair. Tracks like “Vodka Butterfly” shimmer with dissonant melody, while songs like “Well, I Tried Drowning” and the title track plumb the depths of depression, trauma, and existential collapse.
🎙️ The Creation Process: Isolation & Obsession
Mikula revealed that he created most of the album in complete solitude, recording obsessively in his home office for months on end.
“I became obsessed… 12 hours a day turned into 16. I wanted to die most days, but instead, I channeled every ounce of energy I had into plucking strings and screaming into a microphone alone in my office.”
In a bold move, he chose not to re-record those moments in a studio—preserving the raw honesty of the original takes. The result is something painfully real and emotionally immersive.
Drums on the album were handled by Mike Heller (Malignancy, ex-Fear Factory), adding even more weight and technical brilliance to Mikula’s deeply personal compositions.
🎨 Art Meets Sound: The Haunting Vision of Ksenija Tarasova
Equally powerful is the album’s cover artwork, crafted by Latvian artist Ksenija Tarasova—whose own visual work revolves around trauma and life after it. Her piece wasn’t commissioned specifically for Ghost Bath, but as Mikula puts it, “the emotional connection just felt right.”
“I could feel the emotion and the pain in the pieces,” he says. “Like with all art, if the artist has an aura, most people can tell right away. No need for overthinking.”
The synergy between art and music here is undeniable. Rose Thorn Necklace is not just an album—it’s a multi-sensory experience that invites the listener to confront their own darkness.
🛣️ What Comes Next?
Now back in full touring mode post-pandemic, Ghost Bath is hitting the road hard—joining UADA in Europe, Swallow the Sun/Harakiri for the Sky in the US, and appearing at Black Metal Chaos Festival in Mexico.
Even with Rose Thorn Necklace freshly released, Mikula told me he’s already got multiple new albums written—and each one, he promises, is “very different and each their own thing.”
🔥 Crannk Recommendations:
If you’re a fan of Shining, Deafheaven, Darkthrone, or even emotionally driven post-black metal with a gothic twist—Ghost Bath’s Rose Thorn Necklace is a must-listen.
Now available on all music platforms via: https://ghostbath.bfan.link/rose-thor…. The title track is taken from the band’s new album ‘Rose Thorn Necklace.’ Out on all music platforms and in various physical format via: https://ghostbath.bfan.link/rose-thor… Music video created by blo0m: / permanentblo0m Follow Ghost Bath to stay tuned: https://lnk.bio/ghostbath / ghostbathofficial / ghostbath.official / blackghostbath / @ghostbath
