2025 Retro – ANFAUGLIR

Our 2025 retrospective series now turns to ANFAUGLIR and their monumentally epic second album "Akallabêth". In earlier entries we've covered "Black Noise" by BONG-RA (here), "I I" by BLOOD ABSCISSION (here), and "Amidst the Flames, May Our Organs Resound" by MÜTTERLEIN (here).

Nearly twenty years after their debut, ANFAUGLIR returned in 2025 to unleash a dramatic and conceptual symphonic Black Metal album inspired by Tolkien's account of the rise and fall of Númenor. Over seventy tempestuous minutes, Akallabêth" unfolds a highly atmospheric dreamworld of layered orchestration, spiky guitars, and commanding vocals which evolve with skilful purpose.

ANFAUGLIR reflect on "Akallabêth":

""Akallabêth" was the culmination of intense work, and we are honoured to have it released under the DMP banner. Breathing new life into ANFAUGLIR almost 20 years after our debut has been a deeply rewarding moment for us. As we turn the page to 2026, the fires of creation have been kindled deep within Utumno and the skeleton of our follow up is beginning to take form. This we know for sure: it won't take 20 years to hear from us again!"

The media highlighted the immersive nature of ANFAUGLIR's second full-length:

"Like the extended editions of the LOTR franchise of films, there is a lot of world building and exposition here. There is some absolutely magnificent stuff…ANFAUGLIR has the potential to be one of the premier Tolkien-themed bands out there - they are already one of the deepest." (Teeth Of The Divine)

"Based on the chapter of Tolkien's "The Silmarillion" chronicling the 3,000-year rise and fall of the island of Númenor, "Akallabêth" is as epic in sound as it is in scope…this is my idea of a great symphonic Black Metal album." (Angry Metal Guy)

""Akallabêth" towers over all at every given turn. No compromise. No shortcuts. Nothing but raw, unfettered, and unbound mastery for an over-hour-long performance that's damn near tear-inducing in its magnitude." (Headbanger Reviews)

While ANFAUGLIR's conceptual universe is firmly anchored in Tolkien's mythology, the listening habits shared by the band members in 2025 point to a broader range of influences.

Griss – most played albums of 2025:

01. VINTERSORG - "Vattenkrafternas spel"
02. YELLOW EYES "Confusion Gate"
03. GJENDØD - "Svekkelse"
04. ARAPHEL - "The Endchanter"
05. MESSA "The Spin"

Lord Bauglir – most played albums of 2025:

01. AN ABSTRACT ILLUSION - "The Sleeping City"
02. ONE OF NINE - "Dawn Of The Iron Shadow"
03. RETROMORPHOSIS - "Psalmus Mortis"
04. 1914 - "Viribus Unitis"
05. ASTRONOID - "Stargod"

"Akallabêth" is available on CD and vinyl – including merch designed by Luciana Nedelea – through our EU, US and Bandcamp shops. Listen via Bandcamp and our YouTube channel:

And as always, while all Debemur Morti releases are available across streaming platforms, nothing compares to the experience of owning the physical edition. These tangible objects preserve the work beyond algorithms and sustain the Art -and the artists - who bring it into being.