Leading Names from the Global Metal Scene Are Coming to Istanbul for Bosphorus Open Air Metal Fest!
Organised by the BOSSEV Association and Bosphorus Productions, Türkiye’s largest metal music gathering, Bosphorus Open Air Metal Fest, will take place at Maximum UNIQ Open-Air Theatre on 19 and 20 September.
Celebrating its fifth year, the festival is preparing to welcome music fans with a two-day programme. Bosphorus Open Air Metal Fest continues to move steadily towards becoming a global brand. It will also be the only metal music festival held in Türkiye this year. Over the course of two days, Bosphorus Open Air Metal Fest will once again bring legendary names from the global metal scene to Istanbul.
With an impressive lineup, the festival will feature performances by Satyricon (Norway), I Am Morbid (United States), Kataklysm (Canada), Moonspell (Portugal), Rage (Germany), Terrorizer (United States), Tankard (Germany), Sarcófago (Brazil), Kampfar (Norway), Moribund Oblivion (Türkiye), Eleine (Sweden), Fleshless (Czechia), Cutterred Flesh (Czechia), Khepra (Türkiye), Atrox Trauma (Hungary), Nahum (Czechia), Yaşru (Türkiye), and 3000AD (New Zealand).
Since 2021, the festival has become one of the most important fixtures on the metal scene, with the ambition of establishing Istanbul as one of the global centres of metal music. Once again, Bosphorus Open Air Metal Fest awaits you on 19 and 20 September 2026.
📅 Date: 19–20 September 2026
📍 Venue: Maximum UNIQ Open-Air Theatre, Istanbul
🎟 Tickets: Digital tickets are available through Bubilet. Printed tickets can be purchased from Hammer Müzik in Istanbul, Stüdyo Ümit in Izmir, Şenol Heavy Metal Shop in Bursa, and Toxin Müzik and Heavy Craft in Ankara.
The Belgian multi-instrumentalist on 30 years behind the guitar, his new black metal work with The Desolation Process, and why authenticity keeps him going.
INTRODUCTION
Few musicians balance a life in heavy music with a career of service the way Mattias Theuwen does. Best known as the founder, guitarist, and screams vocalist of the Belgian band Thurisaz, he has spent more than three decades shaping one of Belgium's most distinctive names in atmospheric black-doom metal, while also working as a social worker and running the Headache Music Agency booking agency.
With five studio albums, a live acoustic album/DVD, and new projects such as the post-metal act Ka'Una and Mathieu Vanlandtschoote's black metal band The Desolation Process now in motion, Thurisaz continues to explore themes of loss, tragedy, and human suffering through its heavy, melancholic sound. Senem Semiz, on behalf of Black Metal Chronicles, spoke with Mattias Theuwen about his musical beginnings, artistic inspirations, vocal approach, and the future of the band.
Band Profile
Thurisaz is a Belgian band founded in 1997 by guitarist and vocalist Mattias Theuwen. Playing a rare blend of black, doom, and atmospheric metal, the band has released five studio albums and one live acoustic album/DVD, establishing a strong presence within the European metal scene. Their latest album, Re-Incentive (2020), has surpassed 10 million streams, making Thurisaz one of the most-streamed Belgian metal bands.
Hello
Mattias! To start, could you introduce yourself to our readers?
I’m Mattias, best known
as the founder, guitarist, and screams vocalist of the Belgian band Thurisaz.
I’m from Wervik, a border town in West Flanders, right next to France. Away
from music, I work as a social worker, mostly supporting young people going through
a hard time.
How did
your musical journey begin, and which bands or musicians inspired you along the
way?
Music was always a big
part of my life growing up. My father played guitar and taught me my first
chords. He would often put on vinyl records like The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and
Genesis, and that introduced me to the heavier guitar sound. Later, through friends,
I discovered bands like Korn, Metallica, and Life Of Agony, and that pushed us
to start a band of our own. On my 13th birthday, I got my first electric guitar
and amp, which sparked a passion that’s been going strong for over 30 years
now.
Early on, artists like
Devin Townsend (Terria, Deadhead), Empyrium (Songs of Moors
and Misty Fields, Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays), and Opeth (Still
Life, My Arms, Your Hearse) were huge sources of inspiration and
motivation for me. Later I was especially drawn to Anathema, Cult of Luna,
Porcupine Tree, and Sólstafir. And plenty of others, of course.
What
projects have you been involved in so far?
For many years my focus
was solely on Thurisaz. We handled everything ourselves, both musically and
practically, which was already like a full-time job. A few years ago we started
Ka’Una, a post-metal project with Hannes Leroy (also from Thurisaz) on vocals.
The drummer, Stijn Decoene, previously played in bands like The Rg’s and
Scrape. Both are long-time close friends of mine.
More recently, together
with Pepijn De Raeymaecker (Thurisaz drummer), I joined The Desolation Process,
a black metal project by songwriter Mathieu Vanlandtschoote. We’re planning to
release our debut in 2026, so definitely keep an eye out. I also
recorded guest vocals for VroK, the one-man project of Youri Seynaeve, a
multi-talented musician who will soon release his own album. That’s another one
to watch.
Outside
of music, what are some of your hobbies and interests?
Outside of making music,
I volunteer to help organize an annual music festival in my hometown of Wervik,
where I mostly take care of the practical side and logistics. Together with
Stijn Decoene I also run Headache Music Agency, a booking agency mainly focused
on post-metal and stoner bands in Flanders. Stijn handles most of the bookings
and promotion, while I work more on strategy and long-term planning. Every year
we also organize our own Headache Fest and create opportunities for bands by
working with other organizations.
On top of that, I
sometimes restore stained glass projects when they come my way. I find it a
fascinating old craft that deserves much more attention. And to stay in shape,
I make sure to run, swim, or cycle every week. Hopefully that keeps me fit.
THURISAZ Monologue Official Video
How did
your vocal journey start? Do you remember how you first discovered this path?
Back in the early days of
Thurisaz, exploring what my voice could do was a real challenge. We thought it
would be interesting to bring different “characters” into our music, and that
led to experimenting with screams, grunts, and clean vocals. Over the years, as
I refined my technique, I found my own style and really made the screams my
own.
For you
personally, what is the most important aspect of music?
For me the most important
thing is fun. I get energy from the enthusiasm of other musicians, and fun is
at the heart of that. If I ever feel that something is being done just because
“that’s how it’s supposed to be,” without personality or authenticity, I lose
interest.
Finally,
is there a message you’d like to share with your fans? What can they expect
from you in the future?
Making music and living
it will always be a huge part of my life. That will never change. Fans can
definitely expect things to keep moving. But how, when, or in what form? That
stays open for now.
Closing Words
Beyond his work with Thurisaz, Mattias Theuwen has also recently collaborated with the Turkish gothic doom/death metal band The Choir of Agony. He appears as a guest musician on the band’s single, “Enchanted Nocturne,” a song that further strengthens the artistic bridge between the Belgian and Turkish doom metal scenes.
The collaboration brings together musicians who share a passion for atmosphere, melancholy, and emotional depth, showing how the contemporary underground metal community continues to cross geographical borders through creative partnerships.
Listeners familiar with Thurisaz’s dark, melancholic soundscapes will recognize a similar emotional resonance within “Enchanted Nocturne,” making the collaboration a natural artistic meeting point between the two bands.
The Choir of Agony's Enchanted Nocturne lyric video
featuring guest vocals by Mattias Theuwen of Thurisaz
Turkish gothic death/doom metal act The Choir of Agony have officially released their long-awaited debut full-length album, The Burden of Buried Tales, available now on all major digital streaming platforms.
After introducing their musical identity through a series of internationally acclaimed singles, the band now presents a complete artistic statement that unites those compositions with new material into a cohesive journey through grief, spirituality, and gothic melancholy.
Blending crushing death-doom riffs with cinematic atmospheres, ritualistic vocal arrangements, and emotionally charged songwriting, The Burden of Buried Tales showcases a distinctive approach to modern doom metal. At the heart of the band's sound is the commanding extreme vocal performance of Senem Semiz, whose deep growls and expressive delivery redefine the classic "beauty and the beast" dynamic from a fresh perspective.
An International Choir of Voices
Remaining true to its name, The Choir of Agony continues its unique artistic vision by bringing together respected vocalists from across the international doom and gothic metal scene. Rather than presenting guest appearances as isolated collaborations, each vocalist becomes an integral part of the album's emotional and conceptual narrative.
Featured guest musicians include:
Gogo Melone (Aeonian Sorrow) – Forsaken Lament
Nikos Vlachakis (Ocean of Grief) – Ashes on the Ground
Frederic Simon (Lying Figures, ex-Inborn Suffering) – Night I Pass Through the Egypt
Sonia Hernandez (Scandelion) – Fallen Is Babylon the Great
Berk Öner (Yaşru) – Where Only Shadows Go
Terezza Rohelova (Opia) – The Distance Between Us
Lucia Amelia (Ghostheart Nebula) – When the Stars Fade
Each collaboration was carefully selected to complement the atmosphere of its respective composition, creating what the band describes as a "choir" of voices united by darkness, melancholy, and emotional depth.
A Journey Through Darkness
Across ten compositions, The Burden of Buried Tales explores themes of existential despair, biblical symbolism, spiritual abandonment, divine wrath, inner collapse, and gothic romance. Slow, crushing riffs intertwine with haunting melodies and ritualistic vocal arrangements, resulting in an immersive listening experience that unfolds like a continuous dark liturgy.
Rather than functioning as a simple collection of songs, the album presents a unified narrative where sorrow, transcendence, and cinematic storytelling coexist within an oppressive yet beautiful sonic landscape.
A New Chapter
Since its formation in İzmir, Türkiye, The Choir of Agony has steadily gained international recognition through collaborations with prominent musicians from the doom and gothic metal community. With The Burden of Buried Tales, the band establishes itself as more than a traditional doom metal act—it presents a collaborative artistic platform where different voices converge under a singular creative vision.
As the band's debut full-length release, The Burden of Buried Tales marks the beginning of a new chapter, inviting listeners into a world where crushing heaviness, ritualistic atmosphere, and profound emotional expression become one.
Genre: Gothic Death/Doom Metal
FFO (For Fans Of): Draconian, Swallow the Sun, Trees of Eternity, Saturnus
Release Date: June 26, 2026
Recommended Tracks:Enchanted Nocturne, Ashes on the Ground, When the Stars Fade, Where Only Shadows Go
The Burden of Buried Tales is available now on all major digital streaming platforms.
As Aeonian Sorrow prepares to celebrate its tenth anniversary, founder Gogo Melone discusses the band's origins, songwriting process, artistic influences, visual design career, and plans for a new album and European tour.
INTRODUCTION
Few artists manage to balance music and visual art as successfully as Gogo Melone. Best known as the founder, vocalist, keyboardist, and creative force behind Aeonian Sorrow, she has spent the last decade shaping one of the most distinctive names in the modern doom metal scene while simultaneously building a respected career as a graphic designer for bands, festivals, and record labels.
With two acclaimed albums, two EPs, and a third full-length currently in development, Aeonian Sorrow continues to explore the emotional depths of doom and gothic metal. Senem Semiz, on behalf of Black Metal Chronicles spoke with Gogo Melone about her musical beginnings, artistic inspirations, songwriting philosophy, and the future of the band.
Band Profile
Aeonian Sorrow is a Finnish-Greek doom
metal band founded in 2015 by vocalist and keyboardist Gogo Melone. Combining
elements of doom metal, gothic metal, and atmospheric melancholy, the band has
released two full-length albums and two EPs, establishing a strong presence
within the European doom metal scene.
Black
Metal Chronicles: Thank you so much for doing this interview with us. To begin,
could you introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Gogo Melone and I'm the founder member/singer of the Finnish - Greek Doom Metal band Aeonian Sorrow. Some people know me from my other job in graphic design as I work for the music industry, other artists and labels.
Black
Metal Chronicles: How did your journey with music first begin? What was that
process like?
Well, you know I was the typical kid who was going to school and accidentally ended up singing for the school's choir because of natural talent. Then I went through that phase to where all the kids of my school were listening to pop music and I was the only one listening to Metal and being different so I guess that intrigued my interest to explore music even more and practice my artistic side through singing. This was the first experience but of course the most serious experimentation came after high school when I joined my first band and I started to record songs with other people, play concerts across the country and share nice memories.
"Sometimes sorrow leads to catharsis, reflection, and even inner peace."
Aeonian Sorrow - Harbinger of Ruin (Official Video)
Black
Metal Chronicles: Alongside clean vocals, we’ve also seen you perform harsh and
scream vocals. When and how did you learn this vocal style?
I initially learned harsh vocals through
self-practice and experimentation. Later, I took professional lessons to refine
my technique and ensure I could perform them properly both in the studio and on
stage.
Black
Metal Chronicles: Which bands or artists have inspired you the most?
Bands such as Theatre of Tragedy, Anathema,
Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, Katatonia, and Type O Negative have all
influenced me in different ways. Beyond metal, artists like Dead Can Dance,
Sisters of Mercy, The Cure, Portishead, and The Gathering have also had a
significant impact on my musical perspective.
Black
Metal Chronicles: Beyond music, you also have a strong background in graphic
design. How did that creative path begin?
It is not just a hobby or interest, this is my job for the last 18 years. I do CD and Vinyl artwork, layouts, T-shirt designs, logos and everything a band needs to release an album or go on a tour. I finished college and then I started to work with small underground bands and through the years, I got customers such as Kamelot, Wolfheart, Xandria, Before The Dawn, Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum and more. Today I continue to provide the same services to artists, labels, festivals, and even a booking agency now called Dark Moon Events.
Black
Metal Chronicles: Can you tell us about the origins of Aeonian Sorrow?
The band was formed by me in 2015 when I was still living in Greece. I've been a fan of Doom Metal and Gothic Metal music since years so it was somehow a personal preference to create a project that follows this line. At first it was more like a solo band to where I was writing songs and exploring the sound that I wanted to create and then some of my Finnish friends heard about this project and they offered to help me record it in the studio. We ended up recording an entire album together named "Into The Eternity A Moment We Are" which it was so good that there was no way we could let the band stay as a studio project only. So later on we found extra musicians to complete the line up and we started travelling across Europe, playing shows and having a couple of tours and festivals. 10 years later we are counting two albums, two EPs and now we are working on the 3rd album and the next tour production for 2026. Our current line up is Joel Notkonen (vocals), Taneli Jämsä (guitars), Jukka Jauhiainen (guitars), Achilles Papagrigoriou (drums), Jani Mikkänen (session bass) and me in vocals and keyboards.
Black
Metal Chronicles: How does your songwriting process work?
I'm not sure if there is anything interesting or mysterious about the songwriting process. We mainly write individually in our houses through our computers and then we share demo tracks with each other. Once the main peace is done and the lyrics are done, we meet at the studio and we start recording everything. I think the recordings is one the most challenging things to do and the most exciting process at the same time. You have to keep a creative line, to change things if needed and make choices while you are trying to put all the pieces together. It's a difficult process but also very enlightening in an artistic level as you're always learning something new from it. But to be able to do all that, you need a motivation or to create a goal and in most cases ours is to sit down and compose something new that it won't take many years to complete. If you are in a semi-professional band or in a full professional band then targets and goals are vital for your continuation so we are trying to keep a balance with all that.
Black
Metal Chronicles: We love your band’s name. What does 'Aeonian Sorrow' mean to
you?
Our name is highly influenced from the Greek word "Aionios" which means Eternal. Of course this has a connection to my place of origin but with the word "Sorrow" next to it, it also describes a state of mind which is linked to grief and pain. The topics might be sad and depressing but it's also an experience to go through. Sometimes they provide you a catharsis or an inner peace so it doesn't always end badly.
Black
Metal Chronicles: Finally, what can fans expect from Aeonian Sorrow in the near
future?
Thank you for the invitation and this interview. This autumn, the band will be celebrating its 10th years anniversary so we are preparing something special for the occasion. The songwriting for our 3rd album has started too but it is at a very early stages yet. For sure the fans should expect more shows and another EU tour in 2026.
Closing Words
Beyond her work with Aeonian Sorrow, Gogo Melone has also recently collaborated with Turkish gothic doom/death metal band The Choir of Agony. She appears as a guest musician on the band's single, Forsaken Lament, a song that further strengthens the artistic bridge between the European and Turkish doom metal scenes.
The collaboration brings together musicians who share a passion for atmosphere, melancholy, and emotional depth, demonstrating how the contemporary underground metal community continues to transcend geographical borders through creative partnerships.
Listeners familiar with Aeonian Sorrow's mournful soundscapes will undoubtedly recognize a similar emotional resonance within Forsaken Lament, making the collaboration a natural artistic meeting point between the two bands.
The Choir of Agony's Forsaken Lament lyric video
featuring guest vocals by Gogo Melone of Aeonian Sorrow
Turkish gothic death/doom metal act The Choir of Agony has unveiled the official video for its new single “The Forever People II”, featuring legendary My Dying Bride vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe alongside Eduardo P. "Harbinger of Doom" Mota (The Cross) and Daniel Fauaze (The Cross).
Turkish Death/Gothic Doom Metal band The Choir of Agony has officially released its new international collaborative single and video, “The Forever People II”, now available on YouTube and digital streaming platforms.
Bringing together musicians from Türkiye, Brazil, and the United Kingdom, the release further strengthens the band's growing international presence within the gothic and death doom metal scene while continuing its collaborative artistic vision.
The song features legendary guest vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe, widely known as the iconic voice of My Dying Bride and current frontman of High Parasite. As one of the most influential figures in gothic doom metal history, Stainthorpe's unmistakable vocal style and lyrical legacy have helped shape the genre for more than three decades. His participation marks one of the most significant collaborations in The Choir of Agony's career to date.
Joining him is Eduardo P. of Brazilian gothic doom metal band The Cross. Known for his dark, melancholic approach and powerful vocal presence, Eduardo adds another layer of emotional depth to the composition. The track also includes contributions from Daniel Fauaze, further emphasizing the project's international character.
Founded in İzmir, Türkiye, The Choir of Agony has steadily gained attention through its combination of death doom heaviness, gothic atmosphere, and ritualistic songwriting. The band's music is characterized by cinematic arrangements, oppressive emotional weight, and an evolving network of collaborations with respected musicians from across the global doom metal community.
At the center of the band's identity stands vocalist Senem Semiz, whose deep and commanding extreme vocals have become one of The Choir of Agony's defining trademarks. Her performance on “The Forever People II” creates a powerful contrast against the song's melancholic atmosphere, reinforcing the band's distinctive interpretation of gothic doom metal.
Accompanied by an official video, “The Forever People II” presents a dark and emotionally charged meeting between established figures of the classic doom metal scene and a new generation of international gothic death doom musicians. The result is a work that bridges the heritage of traditional doom metal with The Choir of Agony's contemporary and collaborative vision.
Listen to "The Forever People II" on streaming platforms and watch the official video on YouTube.
Turkish Death/Gothic Doom Metal band The Choir of Agony is preparing to release its new collaborative single, “The Forever People II”, on May 22 across all digital platforms.
The release brings together musicians from Türkiye, Brazil, and the United Kingdom, further strengthening the band’s international gothic doom metal identity and collaborative artistic vision.
The single features legendary guest vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe, best known as the iconic voice of My Dying Bride and current member of High Parasite. Considered one of the defining figures of gothic doom metal, Stainthorpe’s poetic and mournful vocal approach has shaped the genre for decades. His appearance on “The Forever People II” marks a significant milestone for the band.
The song also includes contributions from Eduardo P. of the Brazilian gothic/doom metal band The Cross. Eduardo is recognized for combining gothic melancholy with heavy doom-oriented songwriting, making The Cross an important name within the South American dark metal underground.
Another guest musician appearing on the release is Daniel Fauaze, whose participation further expands the song’s international character.
Founded in İzmir, Türkiye, The Choir of Agony has been attracting attention with its ritualistic atmosphere, emotionally oppressive structures, and dark cinematic aesthetic. Blending gothic doom, death doom, and atmospheric metal influences, the band continues to build a distinctive identity through international collaborations and multilayered compositions.
One of the most striking elements of The Choir of Agony is the vocal performance of frontwoman Senem Semiz, whose deep brutal vocals stand at the center of the band’s sound. Semiz draws attention with a vocal style that merges the darkness of death doom with the emotional intensity of gothic metal, while also representing the growing presence of female extreme vocalists within the global metal scene. Her harsh vocal delivery creates a powerful contrast against the melancholic and atmospheric structures of the band’s compositions.
With “The Forever People II”, the band is expected to deliver a deeply melancholic and emotionally intense work that unites veteran figures of the doom metal scene with modern gothic extremity.
.png)
