Collier d’Ombre is a Black Metal act formed in Portland, Oregon, United States, emerging as a distinctive presence in the contemporary American extreme Metal underground. The act, whose name translates to “necklace of shadow”, a morbid reference to the mark left on a neck after hanging, was established in 2022.
From its inception, the project has steered clear of overt self-promotion, choosing instead to cultivate an enigmatic aura, often letting its music and striking visual aesthetic set the tone for its identity and public engagement. The formation of Collier d’Ombre is inextricably linked to the collapse of the Vrasubatlat collective/label, a major force in the Pacific Northwest Black/Death underground, with which founding member Rory Flay (aka Necklace of Shadow) was deeply involved.
They started out as a duo, but added a drummer in 2023 and now consist of Necklace of Shadow [Rory Flay]: vocals, electric/acoustic guitars, bass, synthesizers, songwriting, and mixing/production duties; Root of Ichor: guitars, additional arrangements and Incubare: Drums, synthesizer, mixing.
The group quickly positioned themselves within a lineage of raw, atmospheric, and at times doomy Black Metal projects rooted in bleak experimentalism.
Their approach, fiercely uncompromising in both style and ethos, draws inspiration not only from the local scene but also from foundational Norwegian and Hellenic Black Metal, as evident from both musical and visual cues.
Collier d’Ombre seeks to evoke “barbarity, war, evil, [and] darkness” through their music, with cover imagery and lyrics consistently signposting these preocupations.
Since its formation, Collier d’Ombre has issued a rapid succession of 3 demos, 2 splits, and a full-length in a very short time frame. These outputs reflect not only the focus and drive of the core songwriting duo but also the collaborative beliefs/ideas carried forward from their previous affiliations.
