Back to our own business:
We are delighted to represent another of our neighbouring countries alongside Denmark and Poland.
The Austrian band was formed in 2018 and is dedicated to post-black metal.
Melancholic, deeply emotional sounds, whose black metal nuances often meet light-footed post-metal elements, are the order of the day here.
To date, they have released two highly acclaimed albums, and we are very pleased that Weltenbrandt will be gracing us with their presence next year!

Here is a song from their current album ‘Transzendenz Schatten Romantik’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=0u_s2glz5Ro

The following band is actually a repeat performer at this year's event. The response was tremendous, and both you and us celebrated the Falkenbach Tribute Band enthusiastically. The guys are also absolutely great people and more than just pleasant companions.
For this reason, we decided that we would like to enjoy the whole thing in the dark as well, and without further ado, we decided to invite the band once again.
We hope you are as excited as we are to listen to the sounds of Gjallar in a gloomy atmosphere!

Here is a live recording of this year's performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC43TVrCKjo

There is still some space left in the line-up, and we are very excited to give you the next update.
Formed in 2023, the duo, consisting of talented members from Horn and Halphas, creates a distinctive sound. Their minimalistic, powerful, and profound black metal, enriched with influences from doom and heavy metal, is difficult to compare with other bands.
After their debut album, they have taken a step further and developed their style towards a more synthesizer-driven sound. This transformation allows the band to weave unusual rhythmic elements from electronic music into their unique black metal cosmos.
Join us in welcoming Spere to our ancient walls!

Here's a song from the upcoming album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfFRuuxW62M

We continue with good friends and long-time companions. Next year, they will have been active for an incredible 28 years, and at the beginning of December, they will release their fifth album, entitled ‘Aus uralter Zeit’!
Thematically, this time it will be more mystical than ever before. They are among the founding fathers of German pagan metal, and we are very happy to have them with us for our 15th anniversary. We are, of course, talking about XIV Dark Centuries (Official)!

If you would like a preview of the upcoming album, take a look here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ggyrmho9FG4

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