Herezjarcha, the upcoming album from black metal outfit PROFANE ELEGY, is a harrowing, philosophical descent into sound and symbolism. Due for independent release on January 30th, 2026, Herezjarcha follows the band’s 2023 debut When All Is Nothing—an album that was praised for its blending of blackened fury and doom-laden atmosphere. With Herezjarcha, PROFANE ELEGY expands every element of their vision: heavier, more dynamic, more refined, and deeply introspective. It is a record built on contrasts—between the cosmic and the personal, defiance and decay, melody and obliteration.
The new album opens with "Exeunt Omnes", Latin for “all go out,” a phrase drawn from Shakespeare’s Richard III. The track sets the tone both musically and thematically: rich in orchestration, shifting between tragedy and violence, it meditates on fate and the cost of holding on to life in a world already retreating from you. From there, the listener is dropped into "Haunted", a tightly wound storm of existential dread. With mournful riffs and oppressive atmospheres, the song captures the terrifying clarity that comes from realizing your own mortality—how ignorance truly is bliss until that moment of awakening.
By contrast, "I AM" is anthemic in its defiance. The title, drawn from the book of Exodus, takes the phrase spoken by God—“I am that I am”—and transforms it into a proclamation of human rebellion. Blistering and furious, it's among the most direct and aggressive moments on the record. It’s followed by "As My Heart Turns to Ash", a doom-laden lament about emotional detachment and personal collapse. The instrumentation slows, opens up, and lets sorrow breathe. Here, the clean vocal passages begin to appear—haunting and human.
On "Immutable", the band turns philosophical. Lyrically, the song explores the inescapable traits and traumas we are born into. There is no comfort here—only a cold recognition of inherited darkness. Musically, it’s dynamic and shifting, a dance between melody and chaos. "And Then We Are Gone" takes this further, slowing to a funeral march and carried almost entirely by clean singing and droning instrumentation. It’s a stark meditation on impermanence—how everything we build can vanish in a heartbeat, and the world will carry on without pause.
The title track, "Herezjarcha", is the centerpiece—a sprawling, conceptual narrative about a man transformed by his own heresy. In visions and madness, he births a new ideology, becoming one with darkness in pursuit of hidden truths. It's as much spiritual journey as musical composition, with cinematic orchestration, shifting movements, and whispered incantations. And then, as the final nail, "The Accuser" closes the album with scorching intensity. Drawing from the Biblical role of Satan as prosecutor, the song is both indictment and rejection—placing judgment not on the damned, but on those who claim righteousness. It’s the moment the band fully embraces symbolic damnation and burns the sacred in fire.
Produced by J Gulick and mastered/mixed by Kevin Antreassian (Backroom Studios), Herezjarcha is more than an album—it’s a statement. It rejects genre purity in favor of vision. It fuses the atmospheric elements of black metal with the weight of doom, the precision of death metal, and the unexpected textures of orchestration and clean vocals. But above all, it is lyrically rich, thematic, and spiritually challenging.
The name Herezjarcha is a neologism meaning “arch-heretic,” and the record embodies this fully—an oath against complacency, a testament of defiance, and a new scripture of darkness. For fans of MAYHEM, WOODS OF YPRES, SWALLOW THE SUN, and EMPEREOR, this is not just an album. This is a new heresy.
About PROFANE ELEGY
PROFANE ELEGY is a black metal band from Bangor, Pennsylvania, formed in late 2021 by guitarist J Gulick and vocalist Mikael L. Originally conceived as a two-man studio project, the band quickly evolved into a full lineup with the addition of bassist David G and drummer Sean M in 2023. What sets PROFANE ELEGY apart is their refusal to remain confined within genre boundaries—while rooted firmly in black metal, their sound incorporates elements of death, doom, and progressive metal, often enhanced by orchestral arrangements and clean vocals.
The band’s debut album When All Is Nothing (2023) was released independently and drew attention for its blend of atmospheric aggression and emotional vulnerability. The release earned praise for its ability to move fluidly between blistering speed and melancholic melody, with Doom Heart calling it “a massive Doom delight.” Following the album’s release, PROFANE ELEGY made their live debut and began performing across the northeastern United States, including a notable support slot for Dark Funeral in late 2024.
Lyrically, the band explores themes of nihilism, mortality, philosophy, and religious symbolism—often invoking figures like Satan not as dogmatic statements, but as metaphors in a broader spiritual and existential dialogue. Their work is poetic, introspective, and often challenges the listener to confront uncomfortable truths about life, death, and belief.
Their upcoming full-length album Herezjarcha, set for release in January 2026, represents the band’s most ambitious and expansive work to date. With a more dynamic sound, deeper orchestration, and a clear conceptual throughline, the record pushes their sonic and thematic boundaries further than ever before. The album title—a made-up word meaning “arch-heretic”—encapsulates the spirit of the band: rebellious, introspective, and unafraid to question the sacred.
PROFANE ELEGY continues to forge a unique path within the underground metal scene. Blending bleak intensity with philosophical weight, they aim not just to be heard—but to be felt.
PROFANE ELEGY is:
Connect with PROFANE ELEGY:
The new album opens with "Exeunt Omnes", Latin for “all go out,” a phrase drawn from Shakespeare’s Richard III. The track sets the tone both musically and thematically: rich in orchestration, shifting between tragedy and violence, it meditates on fate and the cost of holding on to life in a world already retreating from you. From there, the listener is dropped into "Haunted", a tightly wound storm of existential dread. With mournful riffs and oppressive atmospheres, the song captures the terrifying clarity that comes from realizing your own mortality—how ignorance truly is bliss until that moment of awakening.
By contrast, "I AM" is anthemic in its defiance. The title, drawn from the book of Exodus, takes the phrase spoken by God—“I am that I am”—and transforms it into a proclamation of human rebellion. Blistering and furious, it's among the most direct and aggressive moments on the record. It’s followed by "As My Heart Turns to Ash", a doom-laden lament about emotional detachment and personal collapse. The instrumentation slows, opens up, and lets sorrow breathe. Here, the clean vocal passages begin to appear—haunting and human.
On "Immutable", the band turns philosophical. Lyrically, the song explores the inescapable traits and traumas we are born into. There is no comfort here—only a cold recognition of inherited darkness. Musically, it’s dynamic and shifting, a dance between melody and chaos. "And Then We Are Gone" takes this further, slowing to a funeral march and carried almost entirely by clean singing and droning instrumentation. It’s a stark meditation on impermanence—how everything we build can vanish in a heartbeat, and the world will carry on without pause.
The title track, "Herezjarcha", is the centerpiece—a sprawling, conceptual narrative about a man transformed by his own heresy. In visions and madness, he births a new ideology, becoming one with darkness in pursuit of hidden truths. It's as much spiritual journey as musical composition, with cinematic orchestration, shifting movements, and whispered incantations. And then, as the final nail, "The Accuser" closes the album with scorching intensity. Drawing from the Biblical role of Satan as prosecutor, the song is both indictment and rejection—placing judgment not on the damned, but on those who claim righteousness. It’s the moment the band fully embraces symbolic damnation and burns the sacred in fire.
Produced by J Gulick and mastered/mixed by Kevin Antreassian (Backroom Studios), Herezjarcha is more than an album—it’s a statement. It rejects genre purity in favor of vision. It fuses the atmospheric elements of black metal with the weight of doom, the precision of death metal, and the unexpected textures of orchestration and clean vocals. But above all, it is lyrically rich, thematic, and spiritually challenging.
The name Herezjarcha is a neologism meaning “arch-heretic,” and the record embodies this fully—an oath against complacency, a testament of defiance, and a new scripture of darkness. For fans of MAYHEM, WOODS OF YPRES, SWALLOW THE SUN, and EMPEREOR, this is not just an album. This is a new heresy.
About PROFANE ELEGY
PROFANE ELEGY is a black metal band from Bangor, Pennsylvania, formed in late 2021 by guitarist J Gulick and vocalist Mikael L. Originally conceived as a two-man studio project, the band quickly evolved into a full lineup with the addition of bassist David G and drummer Sean M in 2023. What sets PROFANE ELEGY apart is their refusal to remain confined within genre boundaries—while rooted firmly in black metal, their sound incorporates elements of death, doom, and progressive metal, often enhanced by orchestral arrangements and clean vocals.
The band’s debut album When All Is Nothing (2023) was released independently and drew attention for its blend of atmospheric aggression and emotional vulnerability. The release earned praise for its ability to move fluidly between blistering speed and melancholic melody, with Doom Heart calling it “a massive Doom delight.” Following the album’s release, PROFANE ELEGY made their live debut and began performing across the northeastern United States, including a notable support slot for Dark Funeral in late 2024.
Lyrically, the band explores themes of nihilism, mortality, philosophy, and religious symbolism—often invoking figures like Satan not as dogmatic statements, but as metaphors in a broader spiritual and existential dialogue. Their work is poetic, introspective, and often challenges the listener to confront uncomfortable truths about life, death, and belief.
Their upcoming full-length album Herezjarcha, set for release in January 2026, represents the band’s most ambitious and expansive work to date. With a more dynamic sound, deeper orchestration, and a clear conceptual throughline, the record pushes their sonic and thematic boundaries further than ever before. The album title—a made-up word meaning “arch-heretic”—encapsulates the spirit of the band: rebellious, introspective, and unafraid to question the sacred.
PROFANE ELEGY continues to forge a unique path within the underground metal scene. Blending bleak intensity with philosophical weight, they aim not just to be heard—but to be felt.
PROFANE ELEGY is:
- Mikael L – Vocals, Orchestration
- J Gulick – Guitars, Orchestration
- David G – Bass, Orchestration
- Sean M – Drums
Connect with PROFANE ELEGY:
- Bandcamp: https://profaneelegy.bandcamp.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Profane-Elegy/100092367915270/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/profane_elegy/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/profaneelegy666
- YouTube: https://youtube.com/@profaneelegy-23?si=OGKGak-ibt4gl7vK
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/68ATD5yRmlH8jtbdZQzVFy?si=4THaO3qZRQaWLZUCvS4N1Q
- Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/profane-elegy/1687009599
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@profaneelegy