Urisk is a black metal duo from Bonn, founded in 2023 by Benedikt Brixius (instruments, composition) and Marleen Bügener (vocals, lyrics). What started as a spontaneous idea quickly gained momentum – driven by a shared fascination with melodic depth, bleak soundscapes, and narrative expression.

Musically, Urisk moves between atmospheric coldness, raw black metal, and progressive elements. Influenced by bands like Ulver, Urfaust, and Ragana, they create dense layers of guitar work and emotional shifts within fractured song structures. Marleen’s distinctive vocals range from anguished screams and deep growls to clear, ghostlike passages – lending the music a unique dynamic. Each song stands on its own, telling a story that often drifts between personal despair and ancient myth.

Shrivelling Lights (2025)

Their debut album Shrivelling Lights will be released on May 10, 2025 on CD, following an earlier digital release. The six tracks explore themes of fading light, death, and mystery – reflecting on the loss of myth and nature as sacred refuge in a world that seeks to expose everything. The Urisk becomes a figure of the outcast, searching for shelter in the depths. This lyrical depth is mirrored in the sound itself. The drums were recorded by Filip Gäddnäs from Finland, whom the band connected with via Instagram. The detailed cover artwork was created by illustrator Joan Llopis Doménech, whose work has also been featured by underground acts such as Lustre, Sojourner, and Wardruna.