Totenkvlt

Totenkvlt formed in Sweden around 2005 as a duo, with Sverker Widgren handling vocals and lyrics while Preben S. Madsen played guitars, bass, and drums. Their music falls into the depressive suicidal black metal category, a style they helped define early on with songs like "Misanthropy Suicidal Depression (DSBM)" and "Get Out Of Abyss."

Their debut album, also called "Misanthropy Suicidal Depression," came out in 2008. They followed it with records like "Funeral Doom" in 2010 and "I Will Die in Misery" in 2013. The lyrics often deal with depression and suicidal thoughts, which has drawn criticism from some listeners who see it as glorifying mental illness. The band has said the music reflects their own experiences.

Totenkvlt's sound is built around bleak, repetitive guitar lines and raw production. Tracks such as "A Dream Of Complete Darkness" and "Eternal Extasis" stretch out with minimal changes, creating a heavy, immersive atmosphere. They've influenced other bands in the extreme metal underground without moving far from that initial approach.