Darkthrone's Ted 'Nocturno Culto' Skjellum Announces Debut Album With AVRAK

Darkthrone guitarist and drummer Ted “Nocturno Culto” Skjellum has joined forces with guitarist Anders Hegna in a new band called AVRAK, which will release its self-titled debut album this October. The band was formed in November 2023 by Hegna and Skjellum, who shared a passion for classic rock and metal.

AVRAK's first compositions came together within just five days. Skjellum decided from the beginning that he would not handle the main vocals, with Hegna taking on the role instead. A few weeks later, Terje Kråbøl joined the band on drums.

The nine-track “Avrak” combines a classic heavy metal and doom rock foundation with additional experimentation, including synth passages and traces of black metal riffing. The band describes the album as a “heavy metal voyage from the peak of the mountains to the depths of the seas.”

“Avrak” is scheduled for release on October 9, 2026 via Peaceville. The album was recorded, mixed and mastered at Mølla Studio by Knut Magne Valle in February 2026. The first single, “Unborn,” is already available to stream.

AVRAK played its debut show in Porsgrunn in late April 2026. The band's lineup was later completed with bassist Steinar Gundersen, with further live performances planned in support of the album's release.