Ελληνικά
In Aeternum, formed in 1992 as Behemoth before renaming, returns with …Of Death and Fire, their first full-length since 2005, released February 6, 2026, via Soulseller Records. David “Impious” Larsson, the sole original member on guitars and vocals since 1994, discusses the band’s path in this Metal Invader interview.
In Aeternum formed in 1992 and built a cult following in the late ’90s/early 2000s with albums like Forever Blasphemy (1999) and The Pestilent Plague (2000). What sparked the initial fire for the band back then, and how did early demos shape your raw black/death sound?
David: We were young and hungry and full of energy to just go out and present our music the best we could at the time. There was a massive amount of bands back then making great music and I guess they all inspired us one way or the other. I had the pleasure of seeing Swedish bands such as Entombed, Grave, Merciless, Mezzrow, Dismember in their early days. This was so important back then. Also witnessing Kreator, Vader, Bolt Thrower, Tiamat, Obituary, Death and Deicide and not to forget the mighty Morbid Angel. They all inspired what we would later become and the music we would make. I was trading demos back in those days with people all over the world. Sitting at home just waiting for the mailman to drop off what you had ordered a few weeks earlier. Those were the days. One thing that really shaped my youth was when I was at Blackheims place and got the promo tape of Mayhem and their De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas album on cassette from him. Damn that album is still my favorite black metal album of all time.
David “Impious” Larsson has been the driving force since day one, with ties to bands like Infernal. How has your role as main songwriter and vocalist evolved over the decades?
David: I’ve become a better guitar player but have maintained my style of making music. As a vocalist I guess nowadays I know how to really make the lyrics come out more powerful. Really working on the vocal lines and different voices more than in the past. On the new album I haven’t done that much music, Daniel have been the real driving force behind the music this time. We have worked closely on the whole album.
After Dawn of a New Aeon in 2005, the band went on a 20-year hiatus before reuniting for …Of Death and Fire. What personal or external factors led to that long silence, and what brought you back together with the current lineup?
David: We did release a mcd in 2006 as well as a mcd in 2016 so we have done a few things during those years. Also some compilations and stuff. Back in 2007 after we toured with Root I lost interest in the whole music business and just said fuck it. I just rode my HD for a bunch of years and then in 2014 I think it was I started playing around a bit and eventually we recorded the mcd The Blasphemy Returns and released that one in 2016 and did some touring and one off gigs. As luck would have it I had a serious motorcycle accident in the summer of 2016, that eventually lead to me not being able to play guitar. So in early 2018 the band was put on ice again. Fast forward to October 2024, I met Daniel our old guitar player at a Nordfest festival. We started talking about the fact the 2025 would be 20 years since our last album. We agreed on trying to make some music and see where it would take us and maybe do another album with the line up from 2005. One year later in October 2025 we had the new album done, all recorded mixed and mastered and sent off for pressing. So all this came about on cheer luck more or less. Without me meeting Daniel at that festival this would never have happened.
The 2016 EP The Blasphemy Returns hinted at a revival—did that release reignite the passion, or was it more of a test run before committing to a full album?
David: That was supposed to be our return to the music world. But due to me having that motorcycle accident things went to shit completely. There was nothing I could do about it.
…Of Death and Fire (2026) blends thrashing ’90s black/death with melodic leads and epic closers like “The Hourglass” and “To Those Who Have Rode On.” How did you balance reviving your classic sound with fresh execution after two decades away?
David: This is the style we have been playing all along so it wasn’t that hard at all. Nowadays you could say that we are more inspired by ourselves than other bands. Our influences shines through at times though when it comes to other bands. We did want to have more of the classic sound from the first album on this one. The one song that really stands out is To Those Who Have Rode On, it’s also one of the songs we are most proud of since it means so much to all of us.
Tracks like “Beneath the Darkened Tomb” and “The Day of Wrath (Dies Irae)” evoke occult fury. Can you walk us through the lyrical themes—inspired by Satanism, damnation, and anti-weakness as in past works like “Devil In Me”?
David: I will keep it simple, the whole album is a hymn and celebration to death itself. Each song deals with death in its own special way, some with a little deeper meaning, and some are straight in your face. The closing track is a celebration to all our friends and family who has passed away, this is their song and one day it will be ours as well. The Hourglass pretty much tells you that time is running out and to remember that we are all mortals in this world. Life might continue after death, but no one really knows what awaits after death. Die and come back and tell us if you can.
Production on the new album feels meticulous and merciless. Who handled recording/mixing, and what gear or techniques captured that old-school Swedish blackened death aggression?
David: The recording have been done in both Daniels home studio, doing guitars, bass and vocals there. Then we did all the drums in Studio Cave. Mixing and mastering was done in Canada by Gord Olson. Daniel have been the one taking the sound in the right direction working closely with Gord, Perra have had his say regarding the drums. Last but not least I had my say with the vocals. Concerning technical details I will have to leave that out.
Your sound nods to Immortal tours, Bathory’s epic side, and mid-’90s melodic black metal. Which bands or albums most influenced …Of Death and Fire, and how do you avoid sounding like mere revivalists?
David: We take our influences mostly from ourselves nowadays, so I’ts not that hard at all anymore. We have our sound and that’s it pretty much. We write from our hearts and that’s what creates our sound. The epic sound you mention I’m guessing comes from the closing track on the album. That’s a track we worked very hard with and we weren’t sure if it would turn out satisfactory. Now it’s one of the best songs on the album, a very special one.
From blistering speed on Nuclear Armageddon (2003) to more layered melodies now—what’s your songwriting process like today with members like Erik Kumpulainen on leads and Perra Karlsson on drums?
David: Not sure why you mention EK since he doesn’t play in the band, he had to leave the band already back in 2007 or 2008. Daniel Sahlin is our guitar player and he have always had an influence on our sound, he plays on three of our albums plus one mcd. Perra have been with the band for 23 years and have a very special style when playing drums. So Daniel is the one creating all the melodies, he’s got great skills.
You’ve shared stages with giants like Immortal early on. Any plans for tours or live shows to bring …Of Death and Fire to stages in 2026, perhaps hitting Europe or festivals?
David: We are open to anything as long as we get a good deal. We’d love to go out and play all over the world. So harass your local booking agency and demand they book us. This music was made to be played live. To this day we have never had the pleasure to play in Greece so that would be really cool, maybe play with Lucifers Child or Varathron, two of the greatest bands from your country. Too bad Necromantia is laid to rest, Baron Blood never forgotten, would have loved to see them live.
Soulseller Records is handling the release—how did that partnership come about, and what’s next after closing this “chapter” as some outlets have called it?
David: We started recording the album without having a record deal. Along the way we got word that they wanted to re-release our two first albums and the new one that we were working on. So we struck a deal with them and so far so good. More re-releases are on the way. So expect a lot of In Aeternum stuff to be released in the coming year.
For Greek metal fans via Metal Invader: Any message on the timeless appeal of black/death metal in today’s scene, and how In Aeternum plans to keep crushing the face of God?
David: I’d like to say thanks for the support to each and everyone in Greece and especially to you of course. We hope to be able to come and play in your country, book us and we will come to deliver an intense set of black death metal. Support the scene and Hail the metal of Death!
