One of Australia’s longest-running and most respected black metal bands, Pestilential Shadows have been plying their trade since 2003. The band is unleashing its eighth album Wretch, and founding vocalist/guitarist Balam discussed the new material, touring plans, the essence of black metal and more.
Brendan Crabb: The band is set to release its eighth album. What keeps you motivated to continue creating extreme music after more than 20 years?
Balam: I’ve never wavered from playing black metal, never been bored with the genre or subject matter. I can’t think of why you would stop with so much death, war and general misery in
this world. It’s a constant source of inspiration.
You’ve quickly followed-up 2024’s Devil’s Hammer with this new full-length. What’s inspired this burst of creativity?
I write music constantly so once Devil’s Hammer was finished, I kept writing and working on lyrics for a new album. Some of the gaps between the releases was due mostly to lineup issues, which is always a stumbling block for writing.
“Where Sunlight Goes To Die” is a standout cut on the new record. Tell us about the creation of this track.
It started the same as how I write all my tracks, with long drawn-out music passages, much like classical music; all the riffs must flow together, but be dynamic to complement each other. When writing the second half I experimented with guitar effects pedals to create a bombastic synth-type sound rather than using keyboards to get the epic undertones. I reached out to Dis Pater from Midnight Odyssey to see if he would be interested to add to the song and he agreed, making the song even more emotional and epic sounding.
Can you tell us about the inspiration for the new album’s striking cover art?
I’ve always admired the artist Greallach, doing the last two album covers for us. So, I asked him if he would be interested to tackle the cover for Wretch. I gave him the lyrics to the
album and gave him a rough outline of the themes behind the album. With almost all my lyrical themes, it rotates around death, suffering, loss, mental anguish, witchcraft and medieval folk tales and religion. I took the inspiration from the idea of ‘waking the dead’ in a religious way; Seraphic fiery trumpets heralding a new age of doom; waking death and pushing it forward from the spirit realm.
In 2025, Australian heavy music continues to succeed on a global stage. But playing an uncompromising genre like black metal while hailing from Down Under must have presented some obstacles while trying to make inroads internationally. Has it been a long path for the band in this regard?
It has always been difficult to be recognized as a black metal band outside northern Europe/Scandinavia. People are always expecting black/thrash or war metal from Australia. I think it stems back from some of the first Aussie bands to push into Europe (Sadistik Exekution, Destroyer 666, Bestial Warlust) moulding people’s perception of what Aussie extreme metal should sound like. The black metal scene in Australia did start at a similar time to when it kicked off in Scandinavia, but the scene here was very small and insular. Also, the distance and cost has always been a factor in stopping many bands from getting to Europe. It’s logistically very hard and expensive, and if a band manages to make it over there, unless you know the right people it’s hard to get back.
The band has a series of shows planned in Australia and New Zealand during the remainder of 2025. What can fans expect from a Pestilential Shadows live show?
Intensity and conviction. I think that black metal is not fun music and I think to play it live is quite punishing. I have never enjoyed it and I think that intensity shows through the live
performance. There’s no stage banter, no smiles or fun, no selfies with the crowd at the end; that stuff makes me sick. The show must be pure hatred, for either like-minded individuals or
to turn people away from us. No in-between.
What does the group have planned for 2026 and beyond?
We have been continuing to write material after the completion of Wretch, so we will take the time to continue writing and flesh out new compositions. Perhaps a return to Europe or further [afield].
Pestilential Shadows enlisted a couple of new members last year. How have they slotted into the ranks?
I’ve known both Drekavac [guitars] and Lithuz [bass] for some time, and always knew they had the right attitude for black metal and were very talented musicians. Writing the album was made easier with having a similar writing style and work ethic towards new material.
On a personal note, which new releases have you been enjoying lately?
As far as black metal, there is some new releases coming out of Poland (Manbryne, Piolun, Odium Humani Generis), always good music coming out of France (Suhnopher, Glaciation), Canada (Sorcier Des Glaces, Spectral Wound). Also, Barshasketh, Dantalion, Shape of Despair. There’s also many Australian and New Zealand bands (Midnight Odyssey, Graveir, Hebephrenique, Order Of Orias, Vicissitude). And there’s always modern classical like Greg Haines or Luke Howard. Too many to mention.
Any famous last words?
Black metal is not about fun and games. It should be dangerous, out of reach and despised by normal people. It is about conviction and a life path, hand in hand with darkness and evil. Thank you for the interview.
(interview published September 4, 2025)
Listen To Pestilential Shadows – “Where Sunlight Goes To Die”
