Por Xyztva
Morgoth Bauglir is a prolific one man band from Schweinfurt, Germany. Today we talk with the man behind this interesting and personal project: Artur Ziabrov. This project started not so long ago in February 2025, but up to this date Morgoth Bauglir has already released a total of 23 self-published records in bandcamp, focusing on metal releases lately. His records include several musical genres like Dungeon Synth, Keller Synth, Noise, Tänzlecore, DSBM & Black Metal. Most of them are mixing several genres and adding some elements from other genres like Folk, Punk, Goth Rock, Industrial, Thrash and Death. The embracement of so many different styles and genres blended with impressive composing skills makes this project very attractive and interesting. Still being a one man band,a few of its records have additional collaborations from an anonymous vocalist, apart from Artur´s vocals. Artur has provided REA the following interview on 02/05/2026 through our reporter Xyztva.
REA: Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to have the interview. Let’s Start! Artur: Yes, let’s start.
REA: We want to begin with some personal questions to know a bit more about you. What do you think of religion? Do you belong to or have one? Artur: I grew up in a very Christian family. Orthodox Christians. Until I was about 12, I was also a believer. Then I found out about atheism, started reading scientific literature, and my faith became atheism. Until I was 24, I was a complete atheist. But then, I became interested in the occult and now I stick to it.
REA: There are several perspectives on what satanism is. From an alternative religious path to a kind of atheist philosophy including rebellion, religious opposition and selfish insights. What does satanism mean to you? Artur: Satanism used to be a form of protest for me. But now, as I wrote above, I am currently immersed in the occult. And now I use Satanism as a tool to attract people to my views. It’s like I’m showing them the door to enter the real darkness.
REA: Then this should be quite straight forward: Would you consider yourself Satanist? Artur: No. I don’t think I’m a Satanist. I don’t believe in Satan or Lucifer. I believe in Sitra Achra, Qlippoth. I can call myself a dark occultist of the Dark Kabbalah branch.
REA: Interesting, we´ll have to investigate a bit on your beliefs later. Are you interested in politics in any way? Artur: Yes. I have been interested in politics, especially for the last 4 years. After the outbreak of the war in Russia and Ukraine.
REA: That leads us to an extra question. What´s your position in the conflict? Artur: I fully support Ukraine. Not the leaders of this country, but its people and their struggle.
REA: That´s great! Do you think art & music should not mix with politics or completely the opposite? Artur: I think art and music can’t help but mix with politics. Because music and art are expressions of human feelings, hopes, emotions, and losses. I think there may be artists who limit themselves from politics. But all music and art can’t.
REA: Do you have any particular affinity for any political party or ideology? Artur: No, I don’t think so. I can call myself a centrist with a bias towards moderate right-wing conservatism. But I don’t think I like any party or ideology.
REA: Ok, enough about politics. Can you tell us about other hobbies or passions you have apart from music creation?Artur: Sure. Besides music, I’m very passionate about the world of the Lord of the Rings. I have all the books including The Silmarillion. Also, the world of the Witcher. I can also call video games my hobby, although I don’t spend much time on them. I’m a big fan of Magic the Gathering, I have a lot of decks and I love playing it with my friends. I also love hiking in the mountains.
REA: Very interesting hobbies! What is your preferred way to relax after an intense task? Artur: Complete peace in a dark room without light. Lie down like this for 30-40 minutes. Think and get rest.
REA: We know you live in Germany, but we´ve seen some of your publications online that we think are in Russian. Is this your native language? Artur: My native language is Ukrainian, but I also know Russian and use it often. I moved to Germany when I was 17 years old.
REA: Now we understand how tough this war must be for you and how you must feel about the Russian invasion. Artur: Yes, it’s really hard, especially because I still have a lot of friends and relatives there.
REA: Last year satanism was illegalized in Russia under Orthodox catholic church pressure. We think your dark occultist perspective would also be affected if you lived there. In fact, we recently seen they have cancelled and persecuted the organizers of a Comic Con event in Russia for this reason. Please, tell us your impressions on this law. Artur: I consider this law to be absolutely unnecessary, completely useless, and only hinders people from expressing themselves. Yes, of course, burning churches or killing people, as was once the case in Norway, should be prohibited. But forbidding people to listen to the music they want and dress the way they like is madness.
REA: Right! We are with you. Complete Russian madness we believe.
REA: We will continue with some questions about your musical development. We know you´ve touched several genres metal or adjacent as Dungeon synth and electronics. When did you start to be interested in music? Artur: I started getting interested in making music back in my school years, between 14 and 16 years old.
REA: How did you get to play and compose? Artur: Everything was taught to me by lessons on YouTube and older friends who knew how to play.
REA: Great! Today YouTube and internet in general are great source of knowledge to develop skills. Which is your preferred instrument? Artur: If we are talking about playing an instrument, then it is an electric guitar. And if it’s for making music, then all the instruments and DAW programs.
REA: What are your preferred metal genres? Artur: Black metal, war metal, DSBM, funeral doom metal and raw black.
REA: What bands are you inspired by? Which ones you admire or like more? Artur: Right now, I’m inspired by bands like Xasthur, Blood Cult, and Forgjord. But initially, I was inspired to start making metal music by Venom and Mayhem. I probably love the Blood Cult the most.
Black Circle of Lower Franconia: Zarakia, Morgoth Bauglir, Ravngaldr & lufern
REA: All of them are great bands to admire and be inspired by, definitely. Other than metal, which music genres are you interested in? Artur: Dungeon Synth and its subgenres like keller synth and tänzelcore, trap metal like Ghostemane, noise, hardcore techno and probably also grunge.
REA: We will continue with some questions about your musical project Morgoth Bauglir. What are the main themes reflected in your music? Artur: The main themes are the Middle Ages, magic, dark fantasy and death.
REA: Some of your releases are focused in Keller Synth. We hadn´t heard of this before knowing your work. What is Keller synth for you and which artists inspired you to create music in this genre? Artur: For me, keller synth is about going beyond metal music. An opportunity to indulge a little, so to speak. This music is still around the themes and concepts that I use and like in metal, but more fun, with some irony and mockery. Although, keller synth’s music is still quite dark. I was inspired by artists like Warlock Corpse, Sigfrid and Tenebris.
REA: We need to check some of those. I only know Sigfrid from those. Artur: I highly recommend Warlock Corpse.
REA: How does keller synth differentiate from dungeon synth or should it just be considered a subgenre of dungeon synth? Artur: It’s really not easy. Keller Synth is probably more lively. If Dungeon Synth is about evil spirits suffering in ancient catacombs or fantasy characters on a trip, then Keller Synth is about the witches’ sabbath on Bald Mountain. And at the same time, these two genres are constantly mixing. For me personally, Keller Synth is a subgenre of Dungeon Synth.
REA: We were fascinated by your recent releases focused in a blend of dungeon synth and raw black metal: Burg, Isengard and Nacht. We think your style is very personal and we can´t think of many projects that we could directly compare your releases with. Night of the Vampire is the only one we´ve seen do something similar to your style. Less similar but with some similarities Old Nick, Fugitive Wizard, Trhä, Solvein, Moenen Of Xezbeth. Can you explain us a bit more how you got into this genre? Artur: I’ve been listening to a lot of music from Old Nick. Especially his Curta’n Wall project. And I wanted to do something similar, but in my own way. Darker, add a little desperation to his world. By trying and searching for a sound, I came to what you hear in Nacht, Burg and Isengard releases. The sound was also heavily influenced by Blood Cult.
REA: I can assure you those 3 are pure fire for us! Which are the instruments played in this type of releases? Artur: On Burg and Nacht releases, I have used an electric guitar, a drum kit, and a DAW. Isengard was written entirely in DAW.
REA: So, the drums and vocals in Isengard? Aren´t they also there apart from DAW or you did it all only in DAW? Artur: The drums on Isengard are written in DAW from samples that I once recorded from live drums. The vocals are always real.
REA: How do you focus your work to release so often? Artur: Actually, this is a question for me too. If inspiration comes to me, I work until it runs out. Even on several releases in parallel. But if it’s not there, then I can do nothing for many months. But where the inspiration comes from, I do not know, it just comes.
REA: Once you are inspired. Can you explain a bit what your composition process consists on? Artur: First, I choose the general theme of the release. For example, in Isengard, this is the Lord of the Rings. In Nacht, these are reflections on what happens at night in the Middle Ages. In Burg, it’s the horrors of siege war. Then I write the lyrics for each song and record a demo version of the vocals. Then see which melody fits the vocals, choose the drums to match the atmosphere of the song. After the melody and the drums, I layer other sounds and instruments.
REA: Of all your work. Which are your preferred creations? The ones you will recommend anyone to hear. Artur: Definitely Burg, completely. If the listener knows Russian, then Holodomor.
REA: Finally, before reaching the end. We want to ask you some questions about what can we expect in the future from Artur and Morgoth Bauglir.Do you have plans actually for next releases? Artur: I am currently working on the second part of Isengard – The Mordor. I am also involved in several other musical projects, such as Skotomogilnik and SitraAchra, but we make completely different music there.
REA: Wow! Those projects need to be checked. It´s great you are working on a second part for Isengard. Are you planning to do live shows or you feel more comfortable only at studio creation? Artur: No, maybe unfortunately, but I’m not planning any live shows. I prefer the closed and niche atmosphere of bandcamp and its metal community.
REA: Do you want to focus in a specific genre or you will continue releasing creations of several types of music styles?Artur: I will continue to make releases in several styles that Morgoth Bauglir currently has.
REA: That was our last question. Thank you for your patience and we hope you feeled comfortable during this interview! Artur: Yes, I was very comfortable. Thank you too, it’s a pleasure for me to talk about my work.
https://morgothbauglir.bandcamp.com/
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