Beyond the Doom: Darvaza – We Are Him (2025)
The shared history of multi-instrumentalist Omega and vocalist Wraath makes it clear that Darvaza was always destined to be more than just a side project. Both figures stand as absolute pillars of the underground; Omega (Gionata Potenti) has spent years driving the ship for acts like Nubivagant and Chaos Invocation, while Wraath (Björn Erik Holmedahl) remains one of the most vital voices in the scene through his work with Behexen and Mare. Since their formation in 2015, this Italian-Norwegian duo has carved out a path of pure, uncompromised black metal that avoids the typical trappings of the genre. After a string of devastating EPs and their massive 2022 full-length debut, Ascending Into Perdition, they have returned with We Are Him, a record that stands as a definitive statement from a duo at the peak of their creative powers.
Released in December 2025 through Terratur Possessions, We Are Him is a visceral reminder of what happens when black metal is played with genuine, predatory intent. Omega handles every instrument with a level of focused aggression that bypasses the typical lo-fi murk, opting instead for a production style that is punchy and massive. This clarity does not strip away the darkness; rather, it makes the sharp, thrashing riffs and the ritualistic, mid-tempo grooves hit with a physical force that is often missing from the genre’s more atmospheric corners. The songwriting has matured into something both sophisticated and primitive, where the pulsing swing of the bass and the relentless battery of the drums create a hypnotic energy that stays rooted in the skull for a good, overwhelming while.
Wraath continues to prove why he is one of the most dangerous vocalists in the extreme metal landscape. He moves between piercing, high-pitched shrieks and cavernous, deep barks with an animalistic intensity, making the adversarial themes of the album feel like a lived experience rather than just lyrical theater. Tracks like the opener “Holy Blood” and the mid-paced crawl of “Slaying Heaven” showcase a band that understands how to use tension as a weapon, building a sense of impending revelation before tearing the veil open with a sudden, blistering attack.
As impressive as the studio material is, it only tells half the story because Darvaza is a band that truly thrives in the heat of a live performance. They have earned a reputation as one of the most unhinged and violent acts on the circuit, bringing a level of pure, physical chaos to the stage that mirrors the unholy conviction of the record. Wraath is a lightning rod for the audience’s energy, prowling the stage like a predator while the live lineup translates the intricate studio layers into a wall of sound that is loud, dirty, and completely unforgiving. There is no posing or artifice here; it is a raw, blood-soaked ritual that proves black metal still has the power to be intimidating and highly entertaining at the same time.
*
