Lachryma Christi

Monday, June 29, 2026

Interview with Thy Sanatorium (UK)

This time, Lachryma Christi had the pleasure of interviewing Aries from Thy Sanatorium. Thy Sanatorium is a Black Metal from London, UK. And I'm sure you'll be surprised to find out, that the band formed only last year, and already have an album out! Yes, that is true! Self titled album Thy Sanatorium came out in April.

Thy Sanatorium are extremely creative, and their ideas revolve a lot around horror themes, both of the collective imagination but also from life in general. Their music is melodic, also aggressive of course, symphonic, with a pinch of gothic elements. It's haunting and beautiful. Now, let's keep on reading, as it is quite interesting!

Thy Sanatorium play quite a different type of metal, since it is a mix of various styles, such as Black Metal and Goth, plus the horror themed songs. How would you describe your music?

We don't know haha! It's been difficult for us to categorize what we do as like you said it's a mix of different styles. We are definitely influenced and fans of Black Metal, Death Metal and alike but we also loves The Cure, Sisters of Mercy, Tribulation and many others that seem to be outside of those genres. So we are leaving up to those who listen to the music to categorize us. So how would you describe our music?

[For Lachryma Christi it sounds very much like Symphonic Black Metal :)]

Is the horror a planned permanent theme for Thy Sanatorium, or are you expecting to explore other realms in the future?

I'm a big horror movie fan, in fact it is a bucket list dream of mine to work on the sound and score for a horror movie one day. In the meantime I wanted Thy Sanatorium to have a horror theme but not limited to what people think horror is. Yes it can be vampires and monsters, but also the horrors of reality and things we deal with daily in everyday life. There is so much to cover and write about. For now I believe Thy Sanatorium will focus on those themes.

The band is relatively recent. How did it happen, for your first album Thy Sanatorium to come out so soon?

That's a testament to our creative chemistry and the talent of all involved. We started recording Torment in September of 2025. All of the instruments were done within a week, then RA delivered his lyrics and vocals in two days haha! At that point it was just one song. No plans to release an album. We released it on October 31st 2025 and went "That was fun! Shall we do another?" and just a month later we released The End Consumes. Both songs were received well which is when the idea of doing a full album started brewing and decided to continue writing and recording. Next thing you know we had another single out and a full album recorded. Not to give anything away but we've already started work on what's next.

How has your journey as a band been so far? Has it been easy? Difficult?

It's been creative, fun and surprising! Everything has just happened naturally and fallen into place. So in a way it seems easy but recording an album like Thy Sanatorium is not an easy thing to do. It felt easy because we are having so much fun with it!

So as mentioned, your debut album Thy Sanatorium came out last April. How has the reception been to it, so far?

The reception has been amazing, rewarding and surprising in many ways. We've been featured in some of the biggest online and print magazines with the overall majority of reviews in the 8/10 to 9/10 rating scale. But also we love hearing that those who have enjoyed connected with it and in a way found it real and relatable.

I've listened to the whole album, of course, and I couldn't stop noticing that Devil's Heart is so different. Almost as if it was from a different release. Why is that? Was it intentional?

Most of the lyrics and vocals were written by RA with Crux providing supporting vocals and backing vocals, but we really wanted a song were she could shine and write something from her perspective. So yes vocally and lyrically it differs for that reason, but I think stylistically it still fits within the Thy Sanatorium realm and flows well with the other songs.

From what I've read, currently Thy Sanatorium are Aries (guitars), Ra (vocals), and Crux (vocals). How does it work with the guest/session musicians? Is this a decision for the long term?

Myself (Aries), Ra and Crux are the core of the band but that doesn't mean Nyx, Remus and Pyxis won't be part of it anymore. We weren't expecting this to grow so quickly as it has and as we released the album and it started getting attention the three of them expressed they would still love to be part of it but not tied to it, which is 100% understandable. With that said I believe all involved with Thy Sanatorium will also be involved with the next album.

Do you guys play live? If so, do you have any shows planned for the near future to promote your album?

As of right now we have no plans on playing live, mostly because we are truly a multinational entity and getting the visas and permits alone to get all of us together would be a nightmare. We are spread across the USA, UK, Sweden, Algeria and Russia. But you never know! it could happen!

Where do you get your inspiration usually, in terms of composition itself, and also lyrics and imagery?

Oh lot's of different sources. Personally I am inspired by my favorite bands which you can obviously hear in the music (Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth, Opeth, Children of Bodom and alike) but I also enjoy Goblin, Death SS, Abysmal Grief and of course horror movie scores. RA has a more death metal background and he adds his own seasoning to it all and we have Crux who doesn't have an extreme metal background but she adds her own unique take on things. Lyrically we usually come up with a loose theme (anxiety, depression, war...) and Ra and Crux write their poetry.

Our imagery is very influenced by the old Italian horror movies from Argento and Bava, but also the classic 80's album covers from Metal Church, King Diamond and alike! That could change in the future though.

[Edit: I don't know if anyone in the band is into Carach Angren, but that was a band that popped in my head today, as I was listening to the album Thy Sanatorium again.]

It might be too soon for this, since your album just came out, but what are your next plans? What can we expect of Thy Sanatorium next?

I can say there will be more music videos. There will be another single being released, possibly in the fall and we have already started writing the next album. So expect a lot more music coming soon!

Would you tell people who are planning on starting a metal band nowadays to go for it? What's your advice?

Do it for the fun and love of it. Not for money, not for sales, not for attention or social media followers. Just write music like an artist paints a painting. You don't do it for an audience or in front of an audience. You do it for the love and passion of doing it. Anything else that happens after that is a bonus.

Thank you very much and all the best to The Sanatorium!

Thank you so much for the interview and amazing zine!

Also, very recently, Thy Santoruym released a cover of A-Ha's 1985 hair Take on Me.

You can now listen to it below. Enjoy!

Thursday, June 4, 2026

Review: Mortgrim's debut album "Blasphemy"

A few weeks ago, a message from Mortgrim about the band's latest album landed in my inbox.

Mortgrim is a one man band from Budapest, Hungary. And Blasphemy came out last February. It is the first album of the band.

I listened to it quite a few times, in different days, before I could actually sit down and review it, and even while doing so.

So, Blasphemy has 6 tracks and a total of around 20 minutes of Black Metal music. It is raw, but clean at the same time. Meaning, no symphonic elements, nothing fancy, but clear and direct to the point. Sometimes you don't need a lot of embellishments, and simplicity works just great, and Blasphemy is a perfect example of that.

Blasphemy is heavy, groovy, somewhat experimental, leading to introspection, nearly to meditation even. It is almost hypnotising. I very much liked it. The more I listened, the more I liked it. Maybe it is one of those albums that takes its time to sink in, for us to understand it fully, to feel it properly. I'm not quite sure I understood it thoroughly yet, but I'll make sure I will. It is addictive after all.

My favourite tracks might be actually the first one In Nomine Satanae and track no 5 Through Broken Gates. But I guarantee the whole album has the same vibe. Obscure, intense, nearly insane. Makes you think. In a loop. Everyone would give it a listen, and see what I'm talking about here. You won't regret, I'm sure of it. It's really really great.

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

News: Lachryma Christi is expanding

Greetings,

After 14 years of Lachryma Christi supporting Black Metal music and everything related, it's time for an upgrade.

From this day on, Lachryma Christi will also be supporting the Folk scene.

Whether it is Medieval Folk, Neo Folk, Folk Metal, Dark Folk or other branches of Folk, you name it.

Regarding Black Metal along all these years, Lachryma Christi shared, promoted and reviewed music, books and other forms of art (such as paintings and drawings). With the Folk scene, it will be the same, or so is the plan.

Thank you, to all the bands, individual artists, labels, PR companies, followers, friends and supporters. Even those who don't like Black Metal, but have been there the whole time.

Also a very special thank you to Kim Holm, the artist responsible for the previous image of Lachryma Christi.

And please, feel welcome to continue collaborating with Lachryma Christi, sending your stuff, following and so on.

Just a reminder that Lachrymal Christi is a blog. The social networks are only a sharing platform of what is done on the blog.

The blog has thousands more visitors than the social networks, daily. So the focus will continue being the actual page/blog:

www.lachrymachristizine.blogspot.com

Cheers!

Saturday, May 23, 2026

Interview with Aurora Borealis (US)

Tonight, Lachryma Christi brings you an interview with Black/Death Metal band from the US, Aurora Borealis. For those who don't know Aurora Borealis, they play a very neat, technical, fast and heavy music. By choice, they don't usually play live, but they have recently released their most recent album called Disillusioned by the Illusion, via Non Serviam Records. It is absolutely awesome.

So, Lachryma Christi had the chance to ask a few questions to Ron Vento, about these and other interesting matters, and you may read all of it below!

Aurora Borealis have a new album out since last April, Disillusioned by the Illusion. What was the main inspiration for it?

I am just inspired to create in general. Of course i have lyrically things that inspire me for individual songs but overall I just must create. It I take too long of a break from writing or recording something just feels wrong.

I've seen quite interesting and valuable comments to Disillusioned by the Illusion. How has the public been reacting to it, from your perspective?

It’s been doing very well from what I can see. Lots of great reviews so far and play counts are looking strong on all platforms. I never really try to focus on how the album is being received because it was created for me. I never really focus on what i think people will say about it. It’s fortunate however that so many people have seemed to enjoy it over the years and so many labels have liked it enough to release it.

Your music is usually described as Black/Death Metal. For me it is a lot more Black Metal. How would you describe it yourselves?

I always say we are semi technical Black Death Metal haha. I am influenced musically by so many bands from all genres. So it naturally comes out in the music I write. I especially enjoy European Black Metal, so you’re probably right in assuming that’s what you’re hearing most of. I enjoy the melody. They fuse with the pure raw aggressive, and Speed. We have a lot of thrash metal riffs also and some Death Metal here and there are mixed in, also vocally. It’s mostly Black Metal I would say.

I've read somewhere that Aurora Borealis doesn't play live. Why is that? Do you ever regret that decision?

Yes that’s correct we haven’t played live in a very very long time. I treat Aurora as my studio project mainly. If we were offered a festival or something I may consider it. I don’t regret it really but every now and then I wish we did here and there. My other black metal band Imperial Crystalline Entombment plays live quite often. As I am typing this I am on a plane to Finland to play Steelfest. After that we have some Spain gigs lined up. We have also play some really great fests like Hellfest and Maryland Deathfest and even done small headlining tours so I stay pretty busy with that band and the shows we do.

How does the process of writing work for Aurora Borealis? What comes first?

The writing process is pretty much always the same. I start with riff writing. I write hundreds of riffs and the ones that really stick with me make it onto the albums. It’s very important that they flow together and the rights riffs are paired with one another. After I get the song structures down I send them to my drummer who then creates his parts. We then go back and forth refining them until we feel they are perfect. Then we record those elements. After that the bass player adds his parts and it’s sort of the same with him. He writes and then we refine together.

Lastly is lyrics and that is the part that takes the most time. I take my time and make sure every word means something. I never cut any corners.

Aurora Borealis have been around for over 30 years. How do you see the evolution of this industry along the years?

I just see more and more bands really. With the advent of things like pro tools or whatever platform people are using it seems like everyone has a band or album. 9 out of 10 times it’s just a guy sitting in his bedroom trying none albums with no drum machine. It makes it hard to find good music. Labels used to release stuff and you generally knew it was going to be decent because they weren’t signing garbage bands now you have to go through 50 albums to find one decent one. When it cost real money to record bands were usually pretty good before spending that type of money to make a record. It’s good and bad because it gives people a platform to release stuff and be creative but it just seems like there is so much nonsense out there now.

Even worse are the AI bars that are popping up where you speak a song into existence and say you wrote it. Musicianship was already on the decline due to digital recording and the ease or editing and copy paste and building any part you want in the computer now it’s literally talk a song into existence. It’s one of the main reasons I am getting out of the studio business.

Some of you have parallel music projects. How easy is it to reconcile all of it?

We have all been doing this a long time so nothing ever really conflicts with another thing. Sometimes my guys say that I work too fast and overload them haha. I like to stay busy and active. Also some of the other projects have the same members well as well so it makes it really easy.

Why Aurora Borealis as a name for the band? Where did that idea come from?

Way back in the early 90s there were two main types of things happening. Satanic and gore. I wasn’t into either of them and I didn’t want to portray either of them in my name. I think the northern lights are a very chaotic thing if you look at them but at the same time beautiful. I feel the same way about the music I create. It can appear chaotic, but I me it’s Beautiful. It makes a statement that we are different.

What's in store for Aurora Borealis in the near future? What can we expect?

Well we have added yet another new drummer and he will take Aurora over the top. We had already written about half of a new album so there won’t be as long of a gap between records this time. Jack Blackburn. He has played for bands that I personally enjoy very much like inferi, Enfold Darkness, and Vital Remains so it’s really great that we are working together and the music is really elevated.

What advice would you give to anyone staying a metal band right now?

I would say practice practice practice. Get with other musicians and create. Refine your sound. Sitting alone in a bedroom creating all by yourself only will take you so far. Write what you feel and have a passion for it. Don’t ever write to please anyone but you and your band. You can always tell someone chasing a trend.

Is there anything you'd like to add to people reading this interview?

Yes we would encourage all readers to check out the latest album if you enjoy it get your copy from Non Serviam Records. We also tell everyone to get in touch. We live hearing from fans of the band. And lastly thank you for the interview. We aren’t that big of a band so people like you help us get recognized and we appreciate it.