Peccatum

The Profile

Norwegian avant‑garde project formed by Ihsahn and Ihriel with Lord PZ, blending black metal with classical, electronic and experimental elements; active from 1998 to 2006.

Founded by Ihsahn (of Emperor) and Ihriel (Star of Ash). The music fuses black metal, classical instrumentation (piano, violin, cello, harp), electronics, and layered vocals by multiple members. Releases include Strangling from Within (1999), Lost in Reverie (2004), and The Moribund People (2005), which features a cover of Bathory’s For All Those Who Died. The group disbanded in 2006.

Three reviews celebrate Peccatum’s genre-bending streak: black metal outbursts meet classical, piano-and-strings, and industrial textures. Ihsahn’s screams, Ihriel’s operatic tone, and layered vocals are praised, alongside meticulous instrumentation. Strangling from Within is dense and enigmatic; Lost in Reverie is complex and experimental; The Moribund People EP is stark and powerful. Overall verdict: challenging but rewarding.