Draugrhanaz is a German Black Metal band formed in 2022, known for its occult, death-cult themes and soundscapes. They are signed to Vama Marga Productions and have so far released the debut full-length ‘Svartigaldur’ (2023). The second album ‘The Codex Universam’ has now seen the light.
Emerging from Germany’s underground, Draugrhanaz quickly established themselves as a force within the contemporary Black Metal scene. Their name evokes the draugr, undead figures from Norse mythology, combined with an esoteric suffix that suggests hidden knowledge and ritual invocation. This linguistic construction reflects their aesthetic: a fusion of occultism, darkness, and the cult of the dead as central lyrical and thematic pillars.
Founded in 2022, Draugrhanaz entered the scene with a fully formed vision rather than a tentative demo stage. Their music is rooted in Pagan and occult Black Metal, drawing on both traditional second-wave influences and a more atmospheric, ritualistic approach.
The band’s sound emphasizes dense riff layering, cavernous vocal deliveries, and a production style that balances between raw aggression and an immersive atmosphere.
Draugrhanaz’s lyrics and imagery revolve around occult practices, necromantic rites, and the veneration of death as a transformative force.
Their visual presentation: album artwork, typography, and packaging: leans heavily into esoteric symbolism and ritual iconography, aligning them with the underground’s more arcane traditions. The band’s association with Vama Marga Productions, a label known for its dedication to occult and ritual Black Metal, situates them firmly within a network of like-minded artists.
The second album by Draugrhanaz stands as a true hymn to darkness.
These Germans have delivered a formidable opus: six compositions spanning thirty-seven minutes that vanish in what feels like an instant. ‘The Codex Universam’ is so entrancing and addictive that time itself seems to dissolve in thin air while listening. This record is a precious jewel of occult Black Metal. Its hypnotic, ritualistic aura plunges the listener into a realm of deep shadow, where the atmosphere is cold, hostile, and menacing. The deranged vocal delivery, interwoven with distant whispers and choirs echoing from the void, conjures a sense of sheer panic.
The omnipresent delirious voices intensify the demonic procession, while the imposing guitar riffs, mid-tempo yet impregnated with sublime elegance, cast a spell of their own. There is a hidden, elusive sorcery in these compositions that grips the listener and refuses to release them until the final chord fades.
A prime example is ‘Antimatter’, one of the album’s standout tracks, where a deceptively simple melody envelops and ensnares. In fact, there isn’t a filler nor a weak track on the album and everything has been crafted with detail and meticulously placed, thus obtaining a solid whole entity.
For devotees of harsh acts such as Ofermod, Cultes des Ghoules, or Acherontas, ‘The Codex Universam’ is a highly recommended experience, as well as a killer album. You’ll be hooked and addicted to Draugrhanaz’ realm from the first notes; I know I was; and play this gem over and over again.
