Nokturnal Mortum

The Profile

Nokturnal Mortum are a Ukrainian black/pagan metal band from Kharkiv, formed in 1994 and led by Knjaz Varggoth (Yevhen Hapon). Their sound fuses black metal with Slavic folk instrumentation and symphonic elements. The group is known for albums such as Goat Horns, Weltanschauung, The Voice of Steel, and Verity, and has been controversial for nationalist/NSBM associations.

Formed in Kharkiv, Ukraine (1994); key member Knjaz Varggoth (Yevhen Hapon); style blends black metal with folk/symphonic elements; notable releases include Goat Horns (1997), The Voice of Steel (2009), and Verity (2017); subject of political controversy linked to NSBM.

Three DeBaser reviews chart Nokturnal Mortum’s path from the demo era to grand, folk-tinged epics. Lunar Poetry is hailed as a 1996 “black gem,” Goat Horns as melodic and keyboard-forward, and Verity as a sweeping, hour-plus ritual. The band’s Ukrainian roots and symphonic/folk blend are emphasized, along with the ongoing political controversy mentioned by reviewers. Overall sentiment: strongly positive toward the music.