When a year comes to an end, sometimes only silence remains – and that’s exactly where MAHNWACHE begins.
The atmospheric black metal formation from the Netherlands started their journey at the beginning of 2024 and delivers in November 2025 their debut EP „Himmelsfahrt Kommando“ that black metal doesn’t always have to convince through pure ferocity.
Music as a Watchfire in the Darkness
Instead of relying on breathless speed, the project deliberately positions itself as a counterpoint: reduced, focused, with an eye on atmosphere and reverberation.
The EP, released on November 6, 2025, comprises three songs – „Himmelsfahrt Kommando“, „Totentanz“ and „Memoria“ – which conceptually describe a journey through states after death: from departure towards „eternal life“ through ritual transcendence to lasting memory.
As the closing track, „Memoria“ feels like the moment after the last chord of a concert, when no one wants to applaud immediately because the feeling still hangs too heavy in the room. The song captivates through its slow build-up, piano-like accents and surprisingly clear, almost lullaby-like clean vocals – a melancholic conclusion instead of a classic black metal exit.
The accompanying music video consistently follows the same logic: less show, more atmosphere. It feels like a visual extension of the EP’s concept, where memory doesn’t need to be narrated but settles in by itself.
Year-End Recommendation
MAHNWACHE doesn’t deliver feel-good darkness, but rather a form of intimate coldness. Their music doesn’t constantly push, but pulls. „Memoria“ is the strongest proof that atmospheric black metal hits hardest when it’s quiet enough to make room for thoughts – a perfect soundtrack for the quiet days between the years.
„Himmelsfahrt Kommando“ is available on Bandcamp and Spotify:
Watch the video for „Memoria“ on YouTube:
For fans of: atmospheric black metal, introspective soundscapes and music that leaves space instead of filling it up.
All pictures are screenshots from the video „Memoria“