Welcome to the Temple ov Ahriman, and enjoy the debut studio offering of raw, visceral Black Metal by this grim American entity.

Born in 2021 from the creative mind of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Thornicator (of Triacanthos and Vesperian Sorrow) as the culmination of several years of intense songwriting activity, Austin, Texas-based Black Metal outfit Temple ov Ahriman is unleashing upon us mere mortals a caustic blend of raw, visceral Black Metal in the form of its debut opus, entitled Heretics of Consensual Reality. Mixed by Kfir Gov at Evil Snail Studios (who also played drums on the album), mastered by Jack Control at Enormous Door Mastering, and showcasing a grim artwork by Mitchell Nolte, the album combines elements of Second-Wave Black Metal, contemporary Finnish Black Metal, and D-Beat, resulting in a tour de force that is guaranteed to take the listener on a demonic journey. “It was a little Hell seeing this project through to completion,” Thornicator stated. “Several years, thousands of dollars, and three studios later, I finally have a master recording that I feel does the material justice. It was my unwavering belief in the material that pushed me to continue despite innumerable setbacks.”

As Stygian as it is melodic, War In Heaven, featuring guest vocals by Sekt of Brüka, showcases the rumbling drums by Kfir Gov while Thornicator delivers visceral riffs nonstop, followed by Wrath of Iblis, another fast and grim composition by Thornicator where his striking gnarls sound absolutely demonic. Then investing in a more cadenced sonority we face Infernal Imperium, with the classic drumming by Kfir Gov adding a touch of Black N’ Roll to their music; whereas in SPQB, featuring additional vocals by Misery, Val Rozar and Von Hammerblast of Brüka, we face a demolishing Black Metal attack where Thornicator sounds inhumane on vocals while also armed with his bloodthirsty axe.

The second half of the album begins with the mid-tempo Melodic Black Metal tune White Death, keeping the album at a high level of malignancy; and back to a more infuriated, darker sonority we have the title-track Heretics of Consensual Reality, with the demented screams by Thornicator transpiring Black Metal. Then get ready to be kissed by the Black Metal sounds exhaling from all instruments in Baphomet’s Kiss, a multi-layered, vile composition offering fans of the genre a very good reason to succumb to absolute darkness, before we’re treated to Beyond the Veils of Maya, another detailed song presenting several layers, nuances, cryptic passages and the always infernal vociferations by Thornicator to conclude the album majestically.

Clocking in at a little over 42 minutes, Heretics of Consensual Reality proves Temple ov Ahriman is poised to take the underground by storm. “Years ago, my other band was to record an album, but our studio time was delayed due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Never one to sit idle for too long, I took the opportunity to write music for a follow-up release. What followed was a prolific period unlike anything I’d experienced before or since, and it quickly became apparent that I perhaps had too much material for just one band to learn and record. With the encouragement of a few good friends, I eventually decided to start my own spin-off project and thus Temple ov Ahriman was born.” If you want to experience all the obscurity, heaviness and fury blasted by Thornicator and his Temple ov Ahriman, you can find the project on Facebook, Instagram and Spotify, and don’t forget to purchase Heretics of Consensual Reality from BandCamp or by clicking HERE. In other words, as the great Dark Funeral say, welcome to the Temple of Ahriman. The infernal torture chamber no one survives.

Best moments of the album: War In Heaven, SPQB and Baphomet’s Kiss.

Worst moments of the album: White Death.

Released in 2026 Independent

Track listing
1. War In Heaven 4:25
2. Wrath of Iblis 4:53
3. Infernal Imperium 3:50
4. SPQB 5:00
5. White Death 5:45
6. Heretics of Consensual Reality 5:51
7. Baphomet’s Kiss 6:10
8. Beyond the Veils of Maya 6:42

Band members
Thornicator – vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards

Guest musicians
Kfir Gov – drums (session)
Sekt – female vocals on “War In Heaven”
Misery, Val Rozar & Von Hammerblast – additional vocals on “SPQB”