The Ineffable Kings of Black Metal have returned to claim their throne. Following atriumphant global run, Sweden’s Dark Funeral have just announced their monumental new live album, A Beast To Praise, capturing their fierce live ritual in its absolute prime. As they prepare to unleash this live document this August and hit the road this October for the
massive In League With Satan tour alongside Behemoth and Dimmu Borgir, we catch up with the band. Today, at Sound Stories by Jo and metalwar.gr , we peer into the abyss to discuss their new live release, the writing of their next studio album, and 30+ years of unrelenting darkness.
12+1 QUESTIONS
Jo: Welcome to Sound Stories by Jo and Metal War! It is an unholy privilege to have you. You just announced your brand new live album, A Beast To Praise, coming out on August 21st. Lord Ahriman, you mentioned this captures the raw energy of your post- pandemic returns to the stage. How does it feel to immortalize that specific Stockholm ritual
for the world?
Lord Ahriman: It feels fantastic. That concert was much more than just another show. It marked our return after one of the strangest periods any of us have ever experienced. The pandemic affected everyone in different ways, but for touring musicians, being separated from the stage and our audience for so long was something completely unprecedented.
When we finally walked on stage in Stockholm, there was an intensity in the room that is difficult to describe. You could feel how much both we and the fans had missed that connection. It wasn’t just another concert. It felt like a celebration, almost like a ritual of rebirth. To have captured that moment and preserve it forever on a live album makes it incredibly special.
Jo: This is your first official live album since De Profundis Clamavi Ad Te Domine in 2004. Why did it take more than two decades to drop another live record, and what makes the current line-ups live sound worthy of this celebration?
Lord Ahriman: It had actually been in the plans for quite a while, but we never felt we had the right recording until now. We’ve evolved a lot as a live band over the years, and I think the current lineup is performing better than ever. When we heard the Stockholm recordings, it was an easy decision to finally say, Let’s do it.
Jo: You introduced the live album with The Arrival of Satan’s Empire. Even after so many years, that track carries an unmatched velocity. What is it about this specific anthem that makes it the perfect opening statement
for the new live era?
Lord Ahriman: It’s one of those songs that hits like a fist to the face. No matter where we play it in the world, the reaction is immediate. The audience instantly recognizes those opening notes, and the energy in the room explodes. Very few songs have that effect. Over the years I’ve heard many fans describe it as our equivalent of Slayers Reign In Blood. Not because the songs are similar, but because it has become one of those defining anthems
that people instantly associate with the band. It felt like the perfect first taste of the live album because it represents exactly what Dark Funeral is about: speed, aggression and absolute intensity.
Jo: This October, you are joining forces with Behemoth and Dimmu Borgir for one of the biggest black metal tours of the decade. How did this unholy trinity package come together, and what kind of dark chemistry should
the fans expect on stage?
Lord Ahriman: Many years ago I shared an idea with Nergal. I said it would be amazing to create our own version of the Big Four, but based on the three major black metal bands that emerged during the early 90s. In my mind those bands were Behemoth, Dimmu Borgir and Dark Funeral. His response was immediately “I’d love to do that.” We never continued the
discussion back then, but apparently the idea never completely disappeared. Over the years I also had several conversations with Dimmu Borgir about touring together again (last time was 1999), and the interest was always there. How everything finally came together behind the scenes I honestly don’t know, but when the offer arrived the answer was a yes of course. Since we were the opening band, we’ll have less production than on our own headline shows, but that won’t change our mindset. Our job is to ignite the evening from the very first second. Well come out full force, fast, intense and uncompromising. So my advice is simple: get to the venue early, because you definitely don’t want to miss our set. And while you’re there, don’t forget to stop by the merch stand!
Jo: You’ve stated that A Beast To Praise officially closes the chapter on your 2022 studio record. Looking back, how do you feel We Are The Apocalypse shifted the sonic landscape of Dark Funeral, and are you satisfied with how it was received globally?
Lord Ahriman: Overall, I’m incredibly proud of the album. The response from both fans and the media has been fantastic, and many of the songs have become instant live favorites. That said, Im also very self-critical, and I actually agree with some of the comments regarding the mix. I love the overall organic sound and atmosphere of the album, but I feel the guitars sometimes blend together a little too much, and some of the drum patterns sit a bit too low in the mix. Daniel Bergstrand and I had different ideas about certain aspects of the mix. Looking back, I should have pushed harder for the direction I originally envisioned. I wanted the riffs and melodies to really grab hold of the listener, and I dont always feel they come across as strongly as they could have. Every album is a learning experience, and that’s something I’ve definitely taken with me into the next one. Im determined to make sure the new album delivers even greater clarity, power and impact, while still keeping the atmosphere Dark Funeral is known for.
Jo: You’ve spent a part of 2025 and early 2026 writing new material in a relatively low- profile phase. Can you give us a small glimpse into the abyss? Is the new material leaning towards the massive atmospheric layers of Fredrik Thordendal’s Studio 33, or are you returning to a faster, more traditional violence?
Lord Ahriman: I’d rather not reveal too much yet. What I can say is that were recording this album at Fascination Street Studios, and musically it feels like a natural evolution rather than a dramatic change. When I wrote “We Are The Apocalypse”, the word that constantly came to mind was “cinematic”. This time another word keeps returning, “storytelling”. Many of the melodies almost feel like they’re telling a story on their own. Once the lyrics and Heljarmadrs vocals are added, everything comes together in a way that feels more connected than ever before. I’ve also continued to challenge myself creatively by introducing a few new songwriting approaches. Nothing that changes the identity of Dark Funeral, but enough to push the band forward while remaining true to the sound we’ve built over the last three decades. Most importantly, it has kept me inspired as a songwriter. And that was very important to me.
Jo: Heljarmadr, your vocal phrasing on the last few records has been praised for perfectly following the complex guitar melodies instead of just being straightforward. How has your creative connection with Ahriman evolved now that you are working on new material together?
Heljarmadr: Well it is a constant struggle we have when we write, as I personally think vocal melodies and guitar melodies shouldnt necessarily be too similar. Ahriman prefers them much more aligned than I do, but I guess we’re finding a good balance in the end. I’m more of a poet, looking for the weight of the words, and he’s a guitarist, looking for the melodies.
Jo: Dark Funeral has been a pillar of the scene since 1993. While many of your 90s peers changed their style or softened their approach, you remained fiercely extreme. What is the secret to keeping that anti-religious and satanic fire burning with the exact same intensity for over three decades?
Lord Ahriman: Dark Funeral was founded around a genuine vision, and that vision has not changed. Authenticity is probably the secret. When you genuinely believe in what you’re creating, there’s no reason to compromise.
Jo: Swedish black metal always carried a very specific melodic dark edge compared to the raw Norwegian scene. In 2026, do you still feel that the environment in Sweden shapes your signature sound, or has black metal become completely globalized?
Lord Ahriman: Black metal has absolutely become a global movement, and there are fantastic bands emerging from every corner of the world. That said, I still believe there’s something uniquely Scandinavian, and especially Swedish, about the melodic language that shaped bands like Dark Funeral. Growing up in northern Sweden leaves its mark on you.
The endless forests, the long dark winters, the silence, the isolation… All of that creates a certain melancholy that naturally finds its way into the music. You can imitate the riffs or the production, but capturing that underlying feeling is much harder. I think that’s why the Swedish sound still has its own identity.
Jo: From leather and spikes to modern cinematic stage production, your live image has always been high-end. How important is the live visual aesthetics for Dark Funeral today, especially when sharing the arena stages with massive productions like those of Dimmu Borgir and Behemoth?
Lord Ahriman: Black metal has always been far more than just music. It’s about creating an atmosphere, where the music and the visual expression go hand in hand to form one complete artistic vision. I’ve always been fascinated by creating an atmosphere, not only through the music, but also through lighting, stage design, costumes and the overall
presentation. Everything should feel like one coherent experience. With every touring cycle we try to raise the bar, and the next album will be no exception. We’re already working on something much bigger and far more ambitious than anything we’ve done before. I’ll leave it at that for now.
Jo: With A Beast To Praise featuring 13 tracks spanning your history—from The Secrets of the Black Arts to the new era—how hard is it to compress 30 years of blasphemy into a festival or support setlist?
Lord Ahriman: It’s definitely becoming more difficult. Every new album means more songs to choose from, but the length of the set rarely changes. We always try to represent every era of the band, but sometimes there just isn’t enough stage time.
Jo: After the In League With Satan tour ends later this year, what is the main objective for Dark Funeral going into 2027? Can we expect the 8th studio album to drop sometime next year?
Lord Ahriman: Once the tour is over, we will officially close the “We Are The Apocalypse” chapter and fully enter the next era of Dark Funeral. The new album is already well underway, and the end of 2026 and early 2027 will be focused on finishing the writing, recording, and preparing for its release. I can’t reveal any dates just yet, but I can promise it’ll be worth the wait. More will be revealed when the time is right.
Jo: If Dark Funerals entire discography was a book of shadows, which lyric line or riff from your history do you think represents the ultimate, unholy soul of the band?
Lord Ahriman: That would be a line from Diabolis Interium “For I am Satan…” Through line-up changes, pandemics, and shifts in the music industry, Dark Funeral remains an unyielding fortress of extreme metal. A Beast To Praise is set to be an immortal document of their current live ferocity. We thank the band for this cold, honest insight and we
look forward to witnessing their unholy ritual live this autumn. Make sure to pre-order the live album on August 21st and plunge into the shadows.
Interview – Text: Joanna Gkonas
