Atmospheric black metaller Këkht Aräkh has unveiled the haunting new single and video “Castle”, the final preview of his upcoming album Morning Star, set for release on March 27 via Sacred Bones Records.
A Glimpse Into a More Personal Era
Recorded between Berlin and Stockholm, Morning Star captures a period of deep artistic and personal evolution for the project’s mastermind, Dmitry. Known for balancing raw black metal aggression with fragile, introspective passages, Këkht Aräkh pushes that contrast even further here, blending ferocity with intimate, melancholic textures.
“Castle” embodies that duality. Built around a vulnerable core, the track explores themes of escapism and emotional isolation, using the metaphor of a “castle” as a refuge from a hostile reality.
“The song is about escapism… the desire to hide from a hostile reality while waiting for some kind of release,” Dmitry explains.
Lo-Fi Atmosphere Meets Black Metal Tradition
A defining element of Morning Star is its analog warmth, achieved through recording on a Portastudio tape system. The result is a lo-fi, textured sound that enhances both the rawness and emotional depth of the material, allowing melodies to linger with a ghostly presence.
While rooted in the spirit of 90s Norwegian black metal, the album also draws influence from experimental and ambient sources, including Current 93, whose imprint can be felt in the song’s outro and the record’s more meditative moments.
Expanding the Sonic World
Morning Star also features a diverse range of collaborators, further expanding its sonic palette:
- Bladee appears on “Eternal Martyr,” blending his introspective style with black metal textures
- Varg2™ and Spöke contribute atmospheric elements
- James Ginzburg (Emptyset) handles mastering
These collaborations enhance the album’s immersive quality while maintaining the project’s deeply personal core.
Morning Star Track Listing
- Wänderer
- Castle
- Lament
- Genom sorgen (ft. VS–55)
- Angest
- Mörker över mörker
- Three winters away
- Drömsång
- Raven king
- Vigil
- Eternal martyr (ft. Bladee)
- Trollsång (ft. Spöke)
- Land av evig natt I
- Land av evig natt II
- Gates
- Morning star
- Outro (ft. Varg2™)
With Morning Star, Këkht Aräkh delivers his most refined and emotionally exposed work to date—an album that bridges tradition and experimentation, and beauty. “Castle” stands as a key moment in that journey, offering a glimpse into a record shaped by vulnerability, growth, and a relentless pursuit of artistic truth.