Most of you know that we have many long-standing companions and that loyalty and faithfulness are very important to us. But we also love to venture into new, unknown territory. Today's band announcement offers us both.
On the one hand, we can once again mention the following catchphrase: ‘Crew love is true love,’ because our drum technician plays the drums in the following band. On the other hand, they are just getting started, having formed exactly one year ago. This month, their debut EP ‘Cryptic Saturnalia’ will finally be released, featuring five songs plus an intro.
Please join us in welcoming the occult black metal band Saturnebula.

If you'd like a sneak preview, you can watch and listen to the live version of their song 'Bloodred Sky' here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Opc5kn33Cg

One of the two headlining bands from our Rites Of The Blood Moon Tour will also be honouring us this year at the 15th anniversary of Dark Troll!

Anyone who wants to experience 30 years of Latvian pagan metal heritage, not only indoors but also open air among our castle ruins, is warmly invited to join us.

Known for their unique mix of thunderous metal and traditional Latvian heritage, Skyforger take their listeners on a journey where ancient myths, strong melodies and historical themes come to life. With lyrics deeply rooted in the culture and stories of the Baltic lands, the band keeps the spirit and identity of their homeland alive through their music.

Here is a song from their eighth album ‘Teikas’, released this May:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yRaNQBeIUM

If you're looking for exciting bands that you don't see everywhere, you've come to the right place. Everyone who has been with us from the beginning knows that every year we bring in at least one band from abroad that has never played in Germany before. We want to continue this tradition and are delighted to welcome the Polish post-black metal band ZØRZA to our line-up!
Through hypnotic haunted melodies along with melancholy and raw emotion, the band, founded in 2022, crafts a oneiric journey to a forgotten realm where the line between the real world and the mystical blurs.

Here is a song from their album “Hellven”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xjyru4cYx9o

Their band name alone shows that they fit the Dark Troll theme perfectly.
Deep in the dark forest, where the trees whisper and the forest floor hums with legends, they live – the trolls of TROLD!
Musically, they also fit perfectly with us. The Danish folk metal band was formed in 2019 and has since released a demo and two albums. With their current album "I skovens rige," which was released last March, they are currently the buzz of the folk metal scene, and we are excited that they will bring their songs, forged from bark, blood, and thunderous sounds, to our stage.

For anyone who wants to listen to it, feel free to check it out here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bquh8L5bfyM

We are thrilled to present the first headliner of our event!
A Dream Comes True.
This is more than just an announcement – it’s the moment we have all been waiting for. We are excited to announce that none other than the legendary Vinterland from Sweden will take the stage. In celebration of the 30th anniversary of their iconic album "Welcome My Last Chapter," they will shake the castle walls and transport us back to the golden era of melodic black metal with their icy sound.
An Album That Shaped the Music Landscape.
This album has left a significant mark on the music world. With its unique blend of melody and darkness, it has captivated generations of fans and remains an essential classic in the genre.

To give you a taste of what to expect, you can enjoy the masterpiece in its entirety here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JF2dXLBpDM

We are pleased to present the first band that has not yet been announced in this year's programme booklet. Founded during the second wave of black metal in the early 1990s, the band was one of the pioneers from our beautiful neighbouring country, Poland! To date, they have released two demos, eight albums, one EP, and five splits. Their music mainly deals with themes such as paganism, anti-Christianity, transience, and death. We are delighted to welcome the band Arkona (PL) to our 15th anniversary celebrations!

Here is a song from their latest album, "Stella Pandora", which absolutely blew us away: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWFLCU0irEE

Raw energy, epic stories, and musical depth—that's what this band is all about. They're no strangers to us, having already played at our Fimbul Festival at the castle during the pandemic. They are bringing two albums, forged in their hometown of Solingen, the city of blades, to Dark Troll. With their current, self-titled album, they prove once again that they are among the most up-and-coming pagan metal bands. Join us in welcoming Helgrindur!

Here is a song from their current album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_aqqu9NgE4

We are pleased to present the next band for our 15th anniversary.
The Swedish melodic death folk metal band HAVAMAL was formed in 2016 and has released two albums and an EP till now. However, their third album, entitled “Age Of The Gods,” is about to be released. It will be released on November 21, 2025, via Art Gates Records .
Get ready for an energetic show!

Be sure to check out the following song/video from the new album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDHwpStFK98

If you like raw but innovative black metal, you'll be delighted by the following announcement.
Founded in 2013 in the deep forests of Finland, the band has already released five albums and two EPs.
Their sound is characterized by aggressive guitar riffs, pounding drums, and haunting vocals that reflect the deepest abysses of human emotion. Their music combines traditional black metal elements with modern influences to create an authentic sound.
Welcome Ondfødt to the Castle!

Here is a song from their current album “Dimsvall”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M16x9hAAvUc

We are delighted that our loyal companions from Obscurity, who have been with us since the very beginning, will be joining us for our 15th anniversary. We are thrilled to announce that the band from the Bergisch Land region, founded in 1997, will be releasing their tenth album this year, which means that it will also be presented at Dark Troll.

Here is a song from their current album “Skogarmaors”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUxChA90SlM&ab_channel=TrollZornRecords