Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Carach Angren release first-ever Dutch single “Ik Kom Uit Het Graf” (I Emerge From The Grave)
Carach Angren release “Ik Kom Uit Het Graf”, the lead single from their upcoming EP “The Cult of Kariba”. Marking a milestone in the band’s career, it is the first song in their extensive catalogue to be written entirely in Dutch. The track’s narrative is rooted in the continuation of the Lammendam mythos, following the spectral return of a man poisoned by Kariba the Witch. Awakened by a secret cult’s misguided ritual, he rises from the grave to exact his revenge in an act of violence centuries in the making.
The accompanying official music video, produced and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Zoran Bihac (renowned for his striking collaborations with Rammstein & Lindemann) translates the song’s menace and horror into a stark visual language.
Watch the official music video on the Season of Mist YouTube channel:
“Ik Kom Uit Het Graf” serves as a pivotal chapter in “The Cult of Kariba”‘s five-part narrative: a tightly woven journey through historical legend, occult lore, and gothic horror.
The Cult of Kariba EP is out October 17th via Season of Mist.
Tracklist:
1. A Malevolent Force Stirs (1:16)
2. Draw Blood (5:18)
3. The Resurrection of Kariba (4:45)
4. Ik Kom Uit Het Graf (4:51)
5. Venomous 1666 (4:37)
Full runtime: 20:48
Origin: Netherlands
Genre: Horror (Black) Metal
FFO: Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth, Septicflesh
With the upcoming EP “The Cult of Kariba”, Carach Angren return to the story that first defined their identity. Drawing from historical legends and obscure regional folklore, the band revisits the myth of the White Lady from Schinveld, this time expanding it with a new, sinister figure: Kariba. Inspired by real poems, forgotten theatre plays, and occult symbolism, this EP introduces a hidden cult intent on resurrecting Kariba—a poisoner and alleged witch whose spirit carries a legacy of vengeance. “The Cult of Kariba” explores this narrative with a blend of haunting atmosphere, cinematic scope, and blackened aggression.
Formed in 2003 in the southern province of Limburg in the Netherlands, Carach Angren began as a collaboration between keyboardist Clemens “Ardek” Wijers and vocalist/guitarist Dennis “Seregor” Droomers, both of whom played together previously in the band Vaultage. Inspired by the power of narrative in metal and the theatricality of classical music and film scores, the duo decided to forge their own path, infusing black metal with symphonic arrangements and elaborate storytelling. The name “Carach Angren,” drawn from Tolkien’s Middle-earth mythology, reflects their fascination with language, lore, and dark fantasy.
Their 2008 debut “Lammendam” introduced the band’s signature narrative style and conceptua ldepth. Based on a regional ghost story, the album tells of a woman whose tragic death in a burning castle gave rise to a haunting figure—the White Lady—seen roaming the forests of Schinveld. This story became the thematic foundation for the band’s identity. It was followed by “Death Came Through a Phantom Ship” (2010), inspired by maritime legends and ghost vessels, and “Where the Corpses Sink Forever” (2012), which addressed the horrors of war and its psychological aftermath.
By 2015, Carach Angren further pushed their boundaries with “This Is No Fairytale”, offering a raw, unfiltered look into domestic abuse and trauma through the lens of twisted fairy tale tropes. In 2017, “Dance and Laugh Amongst the Rotten” centered around a haunted girl and her cursed music box, with each track unraveling the lives of characters who meet tragic ends. Their sixth album, “Franckensteina Strataemontanus” (2020), drew from the life of controversial alchemist Johann Conrad Dippel, blending science, superstition, and historical horror into one of their most layered works to date.
Now, with “The Cult of Kariba”, Carach Angren reconnect with their original concept while expanding its narrative universe. The EP draws inspiration from archival poems and lesser-known local legends, particularly the figure of Kariba: a mysterious woman remembered as both a poisoner and a sorceress. The songs unfold as a sequence of events involving an underground cult in Schinveld, beginning with “A Malevolent Force Stirs,” where villagers secretly gather for ritual. “Draw Blood” follows the first act of violence, revealing the cult’s sacrifice. “The Resurrection of Kariba” explores both the ceremony to awaken her and the backstory of her grief and execution. With “Ik Kom Uit Het Graf,” the victim of her past betrayal returns from the grave in a violent act of revenge. The EP concludes with “Venomous 1666,” where Kariba’s spirit is fully reborn,consuming the living and sealing the fate of those who called her back.
Produced with precision and narrative cohesion, “The Cult of Kariba” ties together myth, horror, and folklore in a tightly crafted five-part journey. Rather than simply revisiting the setting of “Lammendam”, Carach Angren expand the story with additional historical context, new characters, and an even darker tone.