MALUM / DIZMAL at Kulturkirken Jakob (Oslo, Norway)
March 7th, 2026
by Jorge Patacas
It’s definitely a rare opportunity to witness a black metal show in a Norwegian church. Wait, what? Yes, you read that right. We’re talking about Kulturkirken Jakob, a church in Oslo that has served as a venue since 2000, after closing fifteen years earlier due to a declining congregation. The Høstsabbat festival, dedicated to genres like doom and stoner, is held here annually. On this occasion, the event called “The Void Beckons” featured two bands from a new generation of black metal acts determined to keep the spirit of the genre alive and ensure its darkness never fades. The winter night on Saturday began with Dizmal, who took to the stage in traditional corpse paint, spikes and studs. Formed in 2017, this band has so far released a demo and an EP (“Nether”), and in recent months has been working on their upcoming debut album. We were fortunate enough to hear the live version before its release, as they decided to play mostly new songs on this special evening.
Their sound is rooted in the second wave of black metal, yet infused with subtle psychedelic elements, which could serve as the soundtrack for a post-apocalyptic world. This came across powerfully in their intense and raw performance, which left a strong impression on the crowd. We’re now eager to hear the studio version of the new songs!
After a little more than half an hour’s wait, the scent of incense began drifting from the stage as the lights shifted between shades of blue and violet. Everything was ready for the second and final band of the day to take the stage. Keeping their identities hidden with their faces covered, Malum (not to be confused with the Finnish band of the same name) unleashed their powerful sound on stage, presenting material from their second album, the brand-new “From the Voids” released via Dark Essence Records. Songs like “Stare Into Darkness”, which opened the set, “Ignorance Made Bliss” and “Hollow” were featured, always remaining true to the classic sound of Norwegian black metal. In the approximately 70-minute performance, there was also room to revisit material from their debut album, “In Nauseam” (2023), with tracks like “To Live Is To Suffer” and “Emptiness”, and their EP “Towards Nothingness” released last year. The venue’s acoustics, combined with carefully chosen lighting, undoubtedly enhanced the sinister and oppressive atmosphere created by their raw yet melodic music. As expected, there was no chatting with the audience. There was no need for that. The music spoke for itself.
This event made one thing clear: the future of black metal in Norway is in good hands.
