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Few bands are capable of conjuring up such vivid cinematic vision as Blackbriar. The band’s lavish history of evocative dark fairytale storytelling and compelling gothic soundscapes continues to expand as we move further into 2025 and their upcoming third full length album, A Thousand Little Deaths. Tackling themes of love, loss, and death, Blackbriar seek to take all willing Thorns on a passionate and resounding journey filled once more with mesmerizing imagery, masterful lyricism, and dark symphonic metal power.
Formed in 2012 by Zora Cock, René Boxem, Bart Winters, and Frank Akkerman, Blackbriar crafted their first single in 2014 with “Ready to Kill,” but it was 2015’s second single “Until Eternity” that truly propelled them into the scene. A sweeping track with an equally compelling and beautiful video, it continues to draw many to the act with over 20 million views since its debut. Taking advantage of the growing buzz surrounding the band, they independently recorded and released their first EP, Fractured Fairytales, as well as acquiring a second guitarist in Robin Koezen. This EP layed down an impressive foundation for the band’s ethereal and breathtaking sound and brought about new opportunities for the act, including tour dates in The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary, and more, where the band played alongside Epica, Halestorm, In This Moment, Delain and MaYan.
In Blackbriar’s efforts to truly reach the global metal marketplace, they reached a number of firsts in 2024. In the spring, they took a maiden voyage across the Atlantic for a fruitful North American tour supporting Battle Beast as their special guest. They also took to the famous Wacken Open Air festival for the first time, in addition to also performing at Summer Breeze and Rock Imperium Festival Spain. In addition, they launched a potent standalone single in “Moonflower” with guest Marjana Semkina (Iamthemorning). They capped off the year supporting Kamelot on their European tour, which brought them to some new locales as well as familiar ones over the 17 date trek.
During this busy time, they returned to the studio to record what would become their third full-length, A Thousand Little Deaths, once more with Joost van den Broek at the helm for production. To set some appropriate inspiration and a change of pace, the band ventured back to the ‘mansion’ featured in their “Until Eternity Ends” video and stayed a few days while working on the album. Their first time back since recording that moving video, it allowed them to tap into their roots while still keeping their eyes ever-forward. Set to release this summer through Nuclear Blast Records, expect Blackbriar to once again raise the stakes in all aspects of their revered sound. In keeping the band’s tradition of direct connection to fans alive, they launched another triumphant pre-order campaign at the end of February. To celebrate the release of A Thousand Little Deaths, the band will be departing on their first full headline tour of Europe this fall with Danish act Forever Still as their special guest, beginning in October 2025.
Expect even more big things for Blackbriar as 2025 continues along. With YouTube streams now reaching 71 million views and over 253,000 subscribers, and equally massive Spotify stats including a total of over 65 million streams, with over 190,000 monthly listeners who contribute to 1 million streams a month and 12 million streams per year, the world has taken notice of their distinctively macabre yet whimsical sense of metallic storytelling. Prepare to wrap yourself up in their seductive siren songs, and expect to be swept away on an unforgettable journey.