Black metal veterans Enthroned aren’t exactly newcomers to the occult fire pit. With over 30 years behind them, these Belgians have weathered tragedies, lineup shifts, and more than a few ritual candles to arrive at their twelfth full-length record, Ashspawn, out December 5 via Season of Mist.
The band is calling it their most ferocious and personal release yet, and for once, that press-release line might not be hyperbole. Ashspawn has been six years in the making, written in collaboration with occult author Gilles de Laval. The album doesn’t just talk about death and rebirth—it was basically built to soundtrack the process.
First Taste: “Raviasamin”
Enthroned dropped the lead single, “Raviasamin,” along with a video that looks like the fever dream of someone who spent too much time in Unreal Engine. No AI shortcuts here—robes, carvings, and statues were all designed by hand before being digitized. Think less “gamer mod” and more “digital summoning ritual.”
Musically, “Raviasamin” ticks all the Enthroned boxes: frostbitten riffs, violent blasts, eerie mid-tempos, and lyrics invoking serpents, shattered silence, and backwards trees (because, obviously, regular trees weren’t creepy enough).
Formats for the Devout
If you’re ready to burn your wallet in ritual fire, Ashspawn is available in digital, CD, and three different vinyl editions—black, red, and gold with black splatters (perfect if you like your music to match your altar décor).
The Band’s Legacy
Formed back in 1993, Enthroned made their mark with Prophecies of Pagan Fire and never really slowed down, even after the loss of founding drummer Cernunnos in 1997. Over the decades, they’ve pushed through every black metal era, from raw aggression to ritual atmospheres, always staying true to their own vision rather than chasing trends.
With Ashspawn, they’re aiming for total transformation: not just an album, but a ritual passage designed to “infect and transform.” Whether you’re here for the riffs, the esoteric metaphysics, or just because your record collection was lacking a qlippothic tree, Enthroned have you covered.
Tracklist Highlights
Crawling Temples
Basilisk Triumphant
Stillborn Litany
Ashspawn
Raviasamin [watch above]
Ashen Advocacy
Full runtime: just over 50 minutes of spiritual annihilation.
So, are Enthroned reborn? That’s for the flames to decide. But one thing’s clear: they’re not fading into black metal nostalgia—they’re dragging the genre into whatever strange new dimension they’ve been conjuring for the past six years.
Pre-order & pre-save: Enthroned – Ashspawn
