DARKTHRONE co-founder TED "NOCTURNO CULTO" SKJELLUM has confirmed that his new band AVRAK will release its debut album in autumn 2026, marking a notable new chapter for one of black metal's most revered figures.
Speaking with interviewer Dev Gohil, Skjellum detailed the project, which pairs him with Anders Hegna of NØD, alongside El Kayenne and Svidd Grevling. For live performances, the group is rounded out by drummer Terje Kråbøl and bassist Stian Kråbøl.
Skjellum explained that he and Hegna had known each other for around 12 years before deciding to make music together. To build their creative chemistry, the pair holed up in a mountain cabin for five days with their equipment. "We were on to something quite early," Skjellum noted, describing a writing process driven by "a lot of coincidences" and spontaneous discovery.
Musically, AVRAK fuses Skjellum's metal instincts with Hegna's rock sensibilities. The guitarist characterized the sound as "classic heavy metal, hard rock" laced with elements of doom and black metal, crediting his lifelong love of 1980s heavy metal as a key creative influence. The band recorded the debut in February, and Skjellum stressed that AVRAK's fully collaborative songwriting approach differs significantly from his work in DARKTHRONE, with both guitarists crafting material together at their shared rehearsal space.
AVRAK played their first concert in late April in Norway and intend to expand their live presence as the album cycle ramps up. The debut is slated for an autumn 2026 release.
For Skjellum, the project represents a return to the traditional metal that first inspired him. Alongside Fenriz, he has steered DARKTHRONE through more than three decades and a catalogue of genre-defining records — from 1992's A Blaze In The Northern Sky to Transilvanian Hunger — while never shying away from the heavy metal and crust-punk roots that have increasingly colored the band's later work. AVRAK now gives one half of that legendary duo a fresh outlet all its own.