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AOP Records proudly announces the new full-length album of German horde FINSTERFORST, entitled "Still", set for release on July 31st 2026.
A music video for the album's leadoff single "Stille Nacht" is premiered below:
For more than two decades, FINSTERFORST have been shaping their own distinctive voice within extreme metal, continuously evolving both musically and lyrically without ever losing their core identity. Their sound merges elements from a wide spectrum of heavy music — from black and folk-inspired roots to epic, atmospheric and post-metal influences — forming a style they refer to as “Black Forest Metal”: a blend that feels both deeply rooted and entirely its own.
Rather than fitting into a single label, their music thrives on contrast and fusion: crushing heaviness meets vast, cinematic atmospheres; raw aggression unfolds into melancholic, emotional depth; and monumental arrangements carry a sense of both intimacy and scale. While often described in broader terms as epic, atmospheric or post-influenced extreme metal, FINSTERFORST deliberately transcend genre boundaries.
The result is a sound that is brutally powerful yet richly layered, where sadness, rage, triumph and grandeur coexist within expansive compositions. Driven by constant progression and a refusal to stand still, FINSTERFORST continue to refine a vision that is as immersive as it is unmistakable.

Tracklist:
1. Obduktion
2. Herbstwanderung
3. Knie nieder
4. Im Wind
5. Stille Nacht
6. Fels
7. Leere
8. Beyond the north waves (Immortal cover)
9. Another brick in the wall Pt. II (Pink Floyd cover)
Produced at Iguana Studios with Christoph Brandes. Cover artwork by Yaroslav Gerzhedovich.
ONLINE
LINEUP
Olli Berlin – dirty and clean vocals
Johannes Joseph – clean solo vocals, accordion, additional choir vocals
Simon Käflein – lead, rhythm & acoustic guitars, additional clean vocals, synth & orchestral arrangements
David Schuldis – lead & rhythm guitars
Tobias Weinreich – bass
Cornelius Heck – drums
Sebastian Scherrer – keyboards
BIOGRAPHY/LOGO

Finsterforst is a German folk/pagan metal band from the Black Forest region (Schwarzwald) of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Formed in 2004, the band became known for combining epic folk melodies, atmospheric black metal elements, and powerful pagan metal influences into a distinctive sound often referred to as “Black Forest Metal.” Their name literally means “Dark Forest,” a direct reference to their homeland and the mystical atmosphere that shapes much of their music and lyrical themes.
The band was founded by Tobias Weinreich, Sebastian “AlleyJazz” Scherrer, Simon Schillinger, and Marco Schomas. Shortly afterward, accordion player Johannes Joseph and guitarist David Schuldis joined the lineup, helping define the band’s signature sound with heavy use of accordion melodies, folk instrumentation, and long, cinematic compositions. Their music often explores themes of nature, mythology, philosophy, fantasy, and human emotion, blending harsh black metal vocals with orchestral arrangements and acoustic passages.
Finsterforst released their debut EP Wiege der Finsternis in 2006, followed by their first full-length album Weltenkraft in 2007. The band gained wider recognition with albums such as ...zum Tode hin (2009), Rastlos (2012), Mach dich frei (2015), and Zerfall (2019). Their compositions are often unusually long for the genre, sometimes exceeding 20 or even 30 minutes, creating a highly atmospheric and immersive listening experience.
In 2012, Finsterforst signed with Napalm Records, which helped expand their international audience through major tours and festival appearances across Europe and beyond. The band is also closely connected to the black metal project Cryptic Forest, with several members participating in both groups.
Today, Finsterforst remains one of Germany’s most recognizable folk/pagan metal acts, praised for their massive soundscapes, emotional depth, and unique mixture of aggressive metal and traditional folk influences. Their later releases, including the EP Jenseits (2023), continue to push their epic and atmospheric style even further.
DISCOGRAPHY
Wiege der Finsternis (EP, 2006)
Weltenkraft (2007)
...zum Tode hin (2009)
Rastlos (2012)
Mach dich frei (2015)
#YØLØ (EP, 2016)
Zerfall (2019)
Jenseits (EP, 2023)
Still (2026)
GENRE/COUNTRY
Folk Metal/Viking Metal
Germany

