MARGANTHA, Black Metal trio from Finland and Italy, mix two of my favorite things with their debut EP, Blood Moon Sacrifice—Black Metal and horror. What’s more, the story they weave across these four tracks is based on an oral tale “passed down through generations” . . . you know, like a bane curse that only activates when you hear it uttered in its entirety.

Who is MARGANTHA? Nocturnus x 3. That is, three individuals all going by the name Nocturnus only differentiated by their numeration, I, II, III. And the fact that they occupy different space and, indeed, are three separate entities altogether, but other than that the same. The name “Nocturnus” is inspired by the drummer’s experiences with sleep paralysis. Yeah, not creepy at all. And to take the vibe one step further, the name of the band itself comes from the vocalist’s grandmother who would invoke the warning of “Behave yourself, or Margantha will come and eat you!" to keep him in line. Yeah, lots of dark tradition running in this band.  

So, four tracks spanning exactly 21 minutes and 21 seconds. Probably a coincidence. Probably. With only four tracks, it’s difficult to pin down standout tracks. My go to track is “Mariam and the Endless Night” which is at times brooding and menacing and at others positively primeval and relentless. I also enjoy the haunting lead solo. “Wolves at the Door” is another memorable track. It comes on strong with massive tremolo riffs and then downshifts to Doom proportions before leveling out again to melodic ravings.   

Blood Moon Sacrifice dropped on June 27, 2025 via Rockshots Records. Similar to the cover art by artwork by Fabio Rossi, their music is sinister and atmospheric, reflecting perfectly the dark narratives they unravel. Solid debut, this one. Looking forward to seeing how they sustain across a full-length in the future.