Today’s Ask The Artist descent leads us into the cold, grim territory of GRAUFAR, a blackened death metal force from Austria sharpening their blades for the release of their second full-length album Via Necropolis, arriving March 20.
Blending black metal frost with death metal muscle, the band has been forging a sound that balances grim atmosphere, crushing groove and flashes of melody — all wrapped in themes that explore the darker edges of human nature, decay and mortality.
But before we march down Via Necropolis, we asked the band one simple question about the very foundations of black metal.
The Question
“Which black metal song has the best black metal riffs for you?”
GRAUFAR answer:
“That‘s a tough question but I’ll just go with the first thing that came to mind and that‘s MAYHEM – Freezing Moon. It might sound a bit cliché, but especially the opening riff is just perfect. It’s incredibly simple, yet completely unforgettable. The riff creates this cold, eerie atmosphere and really captures the essence of black metal in my opinion.”
Sometimes the obvious answer is obvious for a reason. A riff that simple — and that immortal — tends to earn its throne.
GRAUFAR – “Foltertrog”
While Via Necropolis prepares to crawl out of the grave next week, GRAUFAR have already given listeners another taste of the album’s venom through the single “Foltertrog.”
Across seven tracks, the upcoming record builds a melodic yet savage fusion of black and death metal, where razor-edged tremolo riffs collide with crushing rhythmic weight. Traditional black metal shrieks dominate the landscape, but deep, deathly growls rise from below to drag the sound further into the abyss.
Lyrically, the album explores bleak territory — social decay, the darker impulses of the human mind, the inevitability of death and the fleeting nature of existence itself. It’s not exactly cheerful listening, but then again, no one comes to blackened death metal looking for a motivational speech.
Instrumental recordings for Via Necropolis were completed in Austria during 2025, with the sonic architecture — from vocal recording to reamping, mixing and mastering — finalized later that year to give the album its sharp, oppressive punch.
If “Foltertrog” is any indication, GRAUFAR are preparing to unleash a record that balances dark melody, brutality and atmosphere with precision — a blackened death march that moves with both menace and weight.
⚔️ Seven tracks. One road through darkness. Via Necropolis awaits.
