Folk metal duo FORGOTTEN SHRINE are preparing to unveil their forthcoming concept album Nox Aeterna. The narrative centers around two guardians who protect an ancient shrine dedicated to art, creativity, and freedom. It is inspired by the need to keep one’s childlike sense of wonder alive; as the darkness dampens the peoples' spirits, the shrine begins to lose its power. Nox Aeterna is scheduled to arrive on November 6, 2026, the new single "Dearly Departed" is released today.
In "Dearly Departed", the lyrics explore the journey of newfound power. Following this discovery, the protagonist chooses to utilize their abilities to inflict revenge on those who have wronged them. The song reveals the wider themes of the album as individuals begin to fall victim to the darkness and advance the destruction of their world instead of preserving it.
"My vocal performance was strongly inspired by 'The Violation' by Fleshgod Apocalypse, relying predominantly on cavernous, mournful, death metal-inspired harsh vocals as opposed to black metal highs." Shares Sofia Frasz. "Josh took the demo I sent and reworked it into the final version, adding a ton of detail and instrumental flourishes that bring the song to life beautifully."
"'Dearly Departed' is a more emotionally charged and dark song than what we are used to, which after the release of our song 'Halo' will come as a relief to our more heavy/symphonic metal fans". Josh Alexander adds. "It's structurally frantic, each section building on the last until it can't anymore, and rounds itself off with quite possibly the prettiest piece of music on the album in the piano outro. Sofia demoed out the entire song first, and the thing I built upon the most was the piano, which makes for a great juxtaposition to the black metal inspired guitars. I think the power of a song like this is that the listener can interject their own experience of heartbreak and resentment, ultimately culminating in a 'let the past die' moment at the end which is communicated in the strained softness of the outro."
"Dearly Departed" follows the previously released original singles, "Halo" (2026), "Terror! At The Ballroom" (2025), "Where Shadows Lie" (2024) , "Hero" (2024) and "The Parting Glass" (2024), along with their recent enchanting take on BREAKING BENJAMIN's "Crawl" (2026).
Nox Aeterna was produced, mixed and mastered by Joshua Dalviken. The album artwork was created by Josh Alexander and Joshua Dalviken, with the cover art for "Dearly Departed" created by Josh Alexander and Tricia Alexander.
About FORGOTTEN SHRINE:
Created by Josh Alexander (Pennsylvania, USA) and Sofia Frasz (Maryland, USA), FORGOTTEN SHRINE fuses the sounds and textures of folk instruments with the power and darkness of metal. Through their genre-crossing arrangements FORGOTTEN SHRINE delve into fantasy realms creating both upbeat songs perfect for embarking on an adventure and heavier offerings for battling shadowy forces.
Alexander and Frasz combine their compositional styles, instruments and vocal textures to produce dynamic and emotive music. The upcoming full-length sees the duo each take the reins across the track list while ensuring FORGOTTEN SHRINE's core identity remains cohesive.
FORGOTTEN SHRINE is:
Josh Alexander - Guitar, Bass, Hurdy Gurdy, Irish Bouzouki, Additional Instruments, Backing Vocals, Composition.
Sofia Frasz - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Lyrics, Composition.
Connect With FORGOTTEN SHRINE:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555238025771&mibextid=ZbWKwL
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forgottenshrineband
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ForgottenShrineBand
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0q7rFp0yxvWoxGWqIt21nI?si=p5jz0YOOROOHFy5jxHAW6A
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/forgotten-shrine/1734698132
