Colombian melodic black/death metal outfit ESHTADUR has officially announced its new studio album, In Darkness All Shadows Gone, scheduled for release on October 2, 2026 through Rockshots Records. To mark the beginning of this new chapter, the band has unveiled "Into The Woods," the album's first single, accompanied by an official music video introducing the record's conceptual and musical direction.
The album will be released one day after ESHTADUR performs in Mexico City as the opening act for Finnish metal legends Amorphis on October 1 at Circo Volador, where the band is expected to debut part of its new material live.
Developed over the course of four years, In Darkness All Shadows Gone features 12 tracks blending the aggression of Gothenburg-style melodic death metal with the darkness of black metal, enriched by large-scale orchestral arrangements, layered vocal performances, Tuvan throat singing, and expansive atmospheric passages.
A defining element of the record is its collaboration with the Caldas Symphony Orchestra, whose performances were recorded at Teatro Batuta in Manizales, adding a new orchestral dimension without sacrificing the band's extreme metal intensity.
Frontman Jorg August reflected on the creative process behind the album:
"We worked on this material for four years. It's a dense album with twelve songs, symphonic arrangements, a real orchestra, multiple vocal layers and Tuvan throat singing. At times it felt like assembling a giant puzzle, but in the end everything came together. We are deeply proud of the result and grateful to everyone who helped build it. The Raven is calling."
Conceptually, the album follows "The Raven's Journey," a mystical narrative centered on spiritual awakening, inner transformation, and confronting darkness as an essential step toward self-discovery. The Raven serves as both mentor and apprentice, guiding the listener through symbolic realms between life, death, and the unknown.
Within that storyline, "Into The Woods" represents the initiation of the journey. The song invites listeners to leave external distractions behind and face their fears, memories, and personal illusions. Musically, it combines rapid-fire riffs, pizzicato passages, dissonant orchestration, and ancestral vocal techniques.
The album was entirely produced by Jorg August, who also handled the songwriting, lyrics, and symphonic arrangements. Instrumental sessions took place at RockStar Studios in Colombia, while orchestral recordings were completed at Teatro Batuta. Mixing and mastering were handled by Tomasz "Zed" Zalewski, with additional production by Chris Clancy on "Fire Above Mountain Below" and "Umbra." The cover artwork was created by Valesia Obscura.
Founded in 2007, ESHTADUR has established itself as one of Colombia's leading extreme metal bands, sharing the stage with acts including Behemoth, Deicide, Vader, Hate, and Exodus, while appearing at internationally recognized festivals such as 70000 Tons of Metal, Rock al Parque, and Grita Fest.
