Nebelfaust – “When you’re hiking through snowy forests, wandering across misty heathlands, or braving icy winds by the stormy North Sea — what could accompany the Metal heart better than the Scandinavian classics?”

Nebelfaust is the one-man Black Metal project of German musician Zinkruwahn, born from a long-held urge to channel the cold, riff-driven spirit of the ’90s Norwegian scene. After the demo ‘Finsternisse’, the full-length ‘Das kalte Eisen des Mondes’ is both raw and atmospheric with roots in Gorgoroth and Kvist. I caught up with Zinkruwahn to talk about the vision behind Nebelfaust, the process of crafting his debut, and where things might head from here.

The first sketches for Nebelfaust came about three years ago. I had carried the idea of creating my own interpretation of northern Black <etal with me for a long time. At some point, the time had come to awaken the spirits and descend into the black forest.

‘Das kalte Eisen des Mondes’ is lyrically deeply influenced by Expressionist poetry and explores the sense of the individual being at the mercy of a world forsaken by God — cold, unpredictable, and merciless. Nebelfaust can be seen as a synonym for this. Yet perhaps it also embodies the obscured state of consciousness I enter when creating music — a way of confronting the darkness of our times, of expressing it through art, resisting it, or perhaps simply escaping from it.

Nebelfaust is a personal journey with highs and lows, euphoria and doubt. I can’t think of a specific moment to highlight right now. Maybe that’s because Nebelfaust doesn’t perform live, so there are very few external surprises. Let’s see what kind of anecdotes the future will bring.

What inspired you to start Nebelfaust in this particular style?
When you’re hiking through snowy forests, wandering across misty heathlands, or braving icy winds by the stormy North Sea — what could accompany the Metal heart better than the Scandinavian classics? In those moments, the music truly comes alive for me. Everything feels elemental, archaic and removed. That’s a major source of inspiration.

Ideas for Nebelfaust don’t arise from following the sound of any particular band or album. Of course, all the influences I’ve absorbed over the years — across different genres — are always there in the background, like a constant hum. But from that fertile ground, something new emerges when I summon my own spirits and follow their lead.

Of course, there are all the influential albums from the ’90s that everyone knows. For me, I would highlight albums like ‘Antichrist’, ‘Under the Sign of Hell’, ‘Transilvanian Hunger’, ‘Filosofem‘, ‘The Shadowthrone’, or ‘For kunsten maa vi evig vike’.

Earlier this year you released your debut full-length ‘Das kalte Eisen des Mondes‘, after the ‘Finsternisse’ demo in 2024. We have reviewed your debut but more about that later on. First of all, tell us everything you want about the ‘‘Das kalte Eisen des Mondes‘ album, how it came together, the artwork, the response so far… all of it.
Spontaneous, intoxicated intuition plays a major role in the creative process and the birth of new musical ideas. Within this haze of inspiration, the first shadows quickly appear, initially taking on all kinds of shapes until eventually — perhaps days or even weeks later— they take on a definite form. I love the raw power of the moment captured in the spontaneous recordings of these sessions.

The recording and especially the mixing process were still fairly new territory for me on this album, making it a valuable learning experience. A musician friend helped me a lot during this stage, for which I’m very grateful. He’s a guitarist for our amazing local Sludge/Doom veterans, Versus the Stillborn-Minded, and a great audio engineer.

I wanted to keep the cover simple and give it the right old-school feel. At the same time, it needed to be atmospheric and unique in its own way. I think it ended up pretty well. The striking logo in the center also reflects the album’s title pretty well.

So far, the reactions to the finished album have been almost entirely positive.

How do you see the musical differences between ‘Das kalte Eisen des Mondes’ and ‘Finsternisse’, if any?
The material for both releases was created more or less during the same period. I then bundled and combined everything in a way that felt right in terms of flow and atmosphere. First, I recorded the EP, and after some time, the album followed. That also explains some differences in the sound and vocals, which are probably the first things you’ll notice.

In our review, VincentP said the following about your album: “Nebelfaust approaches its Black Metal in a very riff-driven manner. It takes those typical riffs of Gorgoroth with more of Kvist’s melody, and has the slightly more adventurous spirit of Taake.”. What is your thought on it?
I think VincentP really knows his stuff when it comes to the genre, and when he talks about what he hears, I don’t want to argue with his take. Influences from Gorgoroth and Kvist are definitely not to be denied. I also like the older Taake albums and used to listen to them quite a bit. Maybe some of that adventurous spirit still lingers.

As the album has been released digitally only at the moment, but as you mentioned the reactions are positive. Are there labels who have contacted you to release your debut full-length ‘Das kalte Eisen des Mondes‘ on a physical format? And while we are on the subject, do you have a couple of labels on your shortlist who you would like to release your album?
At the moment, there are no concrete prospects or plans, and no shortlist either. There are many great small labels whose output I appreciate, as far as I follow it. However, I’m fairly detached from the scene and have very few contacts. What matters most to me is making music and expressing myself as an artist. Whether that happens with or without a label is secondary for now. Still, it’s always a meaningful form of appreciation and recognition when a label shows interest. I always welcome feedback and resonance — and I’m definitely open to collaborations when the vibe feels right.

Any idea where you wanna take Nebelfaust from here?
The essential foundations for the next Nebelfaust album are already in place. This new work will also breathe the old spirit but will move somewhat beyond purely traditional traits — becoming more layered, open, and perhaps a bit more progressive in its riffing, without losing any of its atmosphere.

Let’s leave Nebelfaust for a bit, are you doing anything else in the underground right now?
I make music with the remaining members of a Nuremberg Death Metal band that might still be familiar to some people. I play drums there. Maybe there will be more to tell about that somewhere in time.

Besides that, I’ll soon release a first EP under the banner of Kreuz. Kreuz is pretty dark Death/Doom, somewhat in the spirit of the first Cathedral album, but with strong blackened vibes. Viscous, atmospheric, melodic, and grim. You’re warmly invited to check it out.

Thanks for the invite! I will definitely check out Kreuz.
We’re almost at the end of the interview, but not before I have asked about the albums, EPs or demo’s you’re spinning lately….
Since I make a lot of music myself, I don’t really listen to or dig into much new stuff these days. But I’m sure there are still plenty of underground gems out there well worth discovering.

Cheers for the answers, and good luck with Nebelfaust, Kreuz, and that still-hidden project, I hope it sees the light soon. Anything else you wanna mention before we call it a day?
Thank you very much for your support, your interest, and above all, for your valuable work within the underground scene. It’s been an honor to have the opportunity to speak here.