Graufar are a black/death metal band from Linz, Austria, formed in 2020. I first came across them through their debut album Scordalus, released in 2024, which I really enjoyed. The band returned last March with a new album entitled Via Necropolis, which I consider to be one of the best releases of the first quarter of 2026. This second album was released independently, in digital and CD formats.
Via Necropolis is an album featuring seven tracks with a total running time of 41:34. From the very first notes, the dark and sinister tone is established. The band delivers a very violent and intense brand of black metal, blended with a death metal texture. The instruments race along at full speed, fast and sharp, with a few moments of respite that help create a darker atmosphere, as on Blizzard & Blaze from 3:33 onwards. What also stands out to me is that the band presents a very nuanced form of black/death metal, with frequent tempo changes. All this violence isn’t constant, the band offers more melodramatic moments, such as on the solo in Via Necropolis from 2:30 and at the start of the track Foltertrog. Other passages are more thrash-oriented, such as at the start of Buried in Flames.
The vocals perfectly illustrate the album’s intensity, combining piercing high-pitched screams with well-placed growls. This vocal energy is particularly evident in the striking screams, such as on Heralds Of Doom from 4:27 onwards and on Foltertrog from 1:29 onwards. The vocals also reveal a darker side through whispers, such as on Charon from 2:43 onwards. As for the production, I find it irreproachable: it is well-balanced and allows every instrument, as well as every vocal nuance, to be clearly audible.
The track Charon is on my annuaL black metal playlist
Among the standout moments I particularly enjoyed whilst listening, the first is the structure of the track Heralds Of Doom. The section starting at 2:37 really grabs my attention: the guitar compositions flow into one another in a true display of skill, backed by some truly striking drumming. The track I’ve listened to most is Charon, which exudes boundless energy, with the instruments giving no respite. I particularly enjoyed the chilling composition from 1:57 onwards; the drumming on this track is also excellent. Another standout moment is the introduction to the title track, Via Necropolis, where an eerie atmosphere gradually sets in, giving the track an almost ceremonial feel.
Via Necropolis is an intense black/death metal album, featuring a raw, aggressive sound that blends harsh, aggressive passages with more atmospheric, melodic and catchy sections. It’s an album I’m becoming more and more hooked on with every listen and to think I only discovered it for the first time a week ago.
