St. Louis, Missouri-based black metal duo STORMRULER have released their latest single, “Chapter I: The Sword, The Scepter & The Seal,” accompanied by a new music video. The track comes from their forthcoming third studio album, Morning Nautical Twilight, scheduled for release on December 4, 2026, through Distortion Music Group (DMG), powered by Reigning Phoenix Music.
The new single expands on the fantasy-driven narrative at the heart of Morning Nautical Twilight, introducing listeners to the fictional world of Aurelia and the historical events that shape the album’s overarching storyline.
According to STORMRULER, the song explores events occurring more than two millennia before the album’s central narrative.
“The Sword, The Scepter and The Seal is a historical account told to the young wanderer by a scraggly old patron during the prologue of Morning Nautical Twilight. Beginning in the year 1142 F.A. TS3 takes place 2150 years before the rest of the record setting the course for the troubles that will come to haunt Aurelia and to give the listener a brief history on the origins of the Imperial Scepter.”
Musically, the track combines elements of black metal, death metal, folk, and power metal, incorporating melodic guitar leads, atmospheric passages, and aggressive rhythmic arrangements.
The band elaborates on the composition:
“The piece itself weaves in a sonic assault of folk, power, black and death. Equipped with soaring leads, mountainous melodies and a blistering rhythmic attack it takes the listener on a journey through the early ages of Umbria and the forging of the Imperial Scepter in the glowing embers of the Lunar Pyre.”
Formed in St. Louis, STORMRULER consists of guitarist, vocalist, and bassist Jason Asberry and drummer Jesse Schobel, who also contributes mouth harp and samples. The duo draws inspiration from fantasy literature and historical themes, incorporating elaborate storytelling into their atmospheric black metal compositions.
The band released their debut album, Under The Burning Eclipse, in 2021 through Napalm Records, followed by Sacred Rites & Black Magick in 2022.
Earlier in 2026, STORMRULER signed with Distortion Music Group and released the standalone single “Dark Age Of Deception.” The band subsequently introduced the upcoming album’s narrative with “Chapter II: In The Eye Of Umbria.”
Morning Nautical Twilight continues the duo’s exploration of fantasy-inspired storytelling through a concept album structured around a prologue, twelve chapters, and an epilogue.
Morning Nautical Twilight Tracklist
- Prologue: The Weary Traveler
- Chapter I: The Sword, The Scepter & The Seal
- Chapter II: In The Eye Of Umbria
- Chapter III: Council Of The Nations
- Chapter IV: Subterranean Sorcery
- Chapter V: Lanuthor’s Lamentations
- Chapter VI: Open The Gates!
- Chapter VII: Morning Nautical Twilight
- Chapter VIII: The Siege Of Belgorath
- Chapter IX: Shadows Of The Starcrest
- Chapter X: Winds Of War
- Chapter XI: When The White Horn Sounds
- Chapter XII: Engulfed In The Flames Of Oaken Pyre
- Epilogue: The Imperial Chronicles ver. 74
STORMRULER lineup
Jason Asberry: Guitars, Vocals, Bass
Jesse Schobel: Drums, Mouth Harp, Samples
Morning Nautical Twilight arrives December 4, 2026, via Distortion Music Group, powered by Reigning Phoenix Music.
Pre-order/pre-save Morning Nautical Twilight