This multi-talented Hungarian Black Metal musician is ready to darken the skies with his debut solo offering, following a thorn‑ridden path of struggle, fear, disappointment, madness, resignation, and death.

A Symphonic and Melodic Black Metal one-man project by Hungarian vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Árpád Szenti, best known for his drumming work with bands such as Thy Catafalque, Ahriman, Athame, and Damnation, the obscure Merculistarya is going to darken the skies with its debut offering, titled Áradó Fájdalom a Tűnődés Medrében (or “a flood of pain in the bed of contemplation” from Hungarian). Recorded and mastered by Árpád Szenti himself, with artwork by Attila Petheo, logo by Akos Gera, and layout by Zsolt Benko, Áradó Fájdalom a Tűnődés Medrében is a concept album where each song is connected, each meaning is intertwined, forming a single immersive narrative following a thorn‑ridden path of struggle, fear, disappointment, madness, resignation, and death, contrasted against the vastness of nature, its elemental force, its mysticism, and the unseen dimensions that pulse beneath reality.

Minimalist guitars set the tone in the Atmospheric and Depressive Black Metal aria Merengő (or “pensive” in English), with Árpád’s anguish gnarls giving the song a truly darkened vibe while also presenting multiple layers of melancholy, violence and heaviness. Then a piano intro suddenly exploders into sheer Black Metal madness in A haldoklás csalogat (“dying lures”), with Árpád putting the pedal to the metal with his crushing beats and slashing riffs; and his visceral, melancholic vociferations walk hand in hand with another blast of Melodic and Depressive Black Metal insanity in Kitörve süllyedés (“breaking down”), not to mention the touch of finesse added to the music by his piano.

An ethereal and atmospheric intro once again morphs into Árpád’s Black Metal magic in Rémálomköd (“nightmare mist”), featuring Ivett Dudás as a guest vocalist, flowing like an arrow on fire in pitch black darkness until the very last second. Then guest Gabriel Cold takes care of the intro in Pusztuló kor (“destroying age”) before all hell breaks loose in a lecture in Black Metal by Árpád, who’s ruthless with his Stygian riffs, blast beats, and in special with his devilish roars; followed by Álomország (“dreamland”), another song where Árpád beautifully blends the charming sounds of the piano with the harshness of extreme music. It could have been a little bit heavier, though. And closing the album we face Sóhaj (“sigh”), presenting more of his slab of Hungarian Black Metal, with his phantasmagorical keys bringing even more insanity to the music.

Rooted in the darker currents of old school Black Metal, Áradó Fájdalom a Tűnődés Medrében is a deeply personal statement that has been taking shape for over two decades, reflecting a long and introspective creative journey. “This album is a fragment of my soul. Through Merculistarya, I unearthed emotions and energies that could not have surfaced through any other form of expression,” commented the multi-talented Árpád. You can get in touch with such a hardworking and passionate musician via Facebook, and purchase his awesome debut from Loud Rage Music’s BandCamp or webstore, from Pest Records’ BandCamp or webstore, or from Metal Or Die Records’ BandCamp. Fear, madness, death, nature, and Black Metal. This is what Árpád Szenti and his Merculistarya have to offer you in his first full-length album as a solo artist, and I bet you’ll have an absolute blast feeling all those emotions while listening to his acid yet deeply emotional music.

Best moments of the album: Merengő, Rémálomköd and Pusztuló kor.

Worst moments of the album: Álomország.

Released in 2026 Pest Records/Metal Or Die Records

Track listing
1. Merengő 7:03
2. A haldoklás csalogat 4:59
3. Kitörve süllyedés 5:18
4. Rémálomköd 6:16
5. Pusztuló kor 6:39
6. Álomország 7:17
7. Sóhaj 5:38

Band members
Árpád Szenti – vocals, all instruments

Guest musicians
Gabriel Cold – intro on “Pusztuló kor”
Ivett Dudás – vocals on “Rémálomköd”