Crimson Coven have quickly emerged as one of the more intriguing new names in the underground, blending traditional Heavy Metal, Doom-laden atmosphere and soaring twin-guitar melodies into what they describe as “Spell-Forged Heavy Metal”. With their debut full-length “I – The Forge” now unleashed through Cruz Del Sur Music, the anonymous Spanish outfit have introduced a sound rooted in epic storytelling, dark mysticism and rich melodic depth, while allowing the music to remain firmly at the forefront.
In this interview, we discuss the origins of the band, the journey from the “0 – The Genesis” demo to “I – The Forge”, the meaning behind their self-styled sound, the themes that shape their lyrics, and what lies ahead as Crimson Coven prepare to bring their spellbinding songs to the stage.
Interview
TheNwothm: Crimson Coven began as a collaboration between M and P before growing into a full band. How did the project first come together, and what was the original idea behind it?
Crimson Coven: The true origin goes back a bit further, to the lockdown during the pandemic. Three musicians from the Spanish metal scene decided to join forces to launch an online project simply as a creative way to cope with the isolation. The initial idea was simple: each member had to write three tracks with a heavy, epic feel. Back then, the initiative was called Cimmerian.
Eventually, that original project was shelved and everyone went back to their respective bands. However, after the pandemic, M and P came into contact, and when M shared those songs with P, they realized P’s vocals were a perfect match for the material written for Cimmerian. Those early tracks became the seed for what would soon evolve into Crimson Coven, building the foundation for the full band and sound we have today.
TheNwothm: The identities of the band’s members are intentionally kept secret. Why was it important for Crimson Coven to be presented in this way?
Crimson Coven: The main reason for maintaining anonymity is very simple: we wanted to put the music above absolutely everything else. It’s something we always repeat in interviews, but for us, the music must always come first. We didn’t want the members’ identities or previous musical backgrounds to bias anyone’s listening experience, either for better or for worse.
On one hand, within our home country, we wanted to avoid the “friend bias”—that common tendency where people praise music simply because it comes from friends or colleagues, even when deep down you know it’s not really their style or they aren’t actually enjoying it. On the other hand, we also wanted to avoid any negative preconceptions internationally. Coming from a country where this style of metal traditionally has very little roots or practice, we didn’t want the music to be pre-judged as lacking quality or production value simply because of where we are from. We wanted the work to speak 100% for itself.
TheNwothm: You’ve described your sound as “Spell-Forged Heavy Metal”. What does that term mean to you, and how does it capture the essence of Crimson Coven?
Crimson Coven: We came up with “Spell-Forged Heavy Metal” because it was actually quite difficult to fit ourselves under a single traditional label. At its core, our music is a meeting point between classic, fist-in-the-air Heavy Metal, the heavier, darker, and more mysterious side of Doom, 80s-style twin guitar harmonies, and a strong emphasis on melody. When people listened to our earliest tracks, they often pointed out that the songs transmitted a very special, almost magical atmosphere. From that feedback, the concept of “Spell-Forged Heavy Metal” gradually took shape. Today, it’s a label we fully identify with, and we feel it perfectly sums up all the essential elements required to make a song sound unmistakably like Crimson Coven.
TheNwothm: Your debut full-length, “I – The Forge”, follows last year’s “0 – The Genesis” demo.How do you think the songwriting evolved between the demo and the album?
Crimson Coven: Honestly, I think the songwriting on the album is simply the natural evolution of what was already there on the demo. It’s just taking those ideas further and letting them grow.
TheNwothm: Atmosphere plays a huge role throughout “I – The Forge”. What are the key ingredients that help create the magical and dark atmosphere that defines the record?
Crimson Coven: That’s a key aspect for us. When writing, we focus heavily on using rich guitar textures and introducing harmonic tension into the notes. For instance, the rhythm section also plays a major role by creating intricate patterns and fills instead of just sticking to the simplest path; they know how to let the song breathe when needed and how to accent those deeply atmospheric parts.
Instead of having all instruments play the exact same thing continuously—although they will hit in unison whenever a song truly demands that impact—we build layers upon layers, which ultimately creates a cohesive and immersive atmosphere. On top of that, we balance those darker, heavier atmospheres with subtle bright accents and catchy hooks to keep the songs engaging.
TheNwothm: Twin-guitar melodies are a prominent feature of the album. How do M and V approach writing and arranging guitar parts together?
Crimson Coven: Twin-guitar harmonies are absolutely fundamental to our sound. It’s the music we’ve listened to all our lives, so writing in that style comes entirely naturally. We approach twin guitars the classic way, taking inspiration from iconic guitar duos like Iron Maiden, Thin Lizzy, or Wishbone Ash. Arranging these parts isn’t something forced; it flows organically as we shape the melodies, always looking to give the songs that timeless, epic dual-guitar drive.
TheNwothm: Mythology, legends and historical stories feature heavily in your lyrics. What draws you to these themes, and how do you decide which stories to explore?
Crimson Coven: We explore these themes primarily because the majority of injustices, abuses of power, and social struggles are still fully relevant today. When we tackle stories like the myth of Medusa or themes connected to feminism, we notice a current tendency to discredit these movements as if they were just recent trends, modern inventions, or a contemporary fad. However, the reality is that the fight for women’s rights, for example, stretches back centuries upon centuries. Turning to the past, mythology, and history allows us to show that these problems are by no means new. In fact, heavy metal itself has historically had great reference bands with a very strong background of social justice, even though in the dark times we live in today, fewer and fewer bands address this or actively distance themselves from it. For us, using these historical allegories is crucial to point out inequalities that unfortunately remain fully present today.
TheNwothm: The album revisits these stories through a lens of social justice. What inspired you to approach the material from that perspective?
Crimson Coven: It comes down to understanding that throughout human history, the fight against injustice and, ultimately, class struggle have always been the true driving force behind the evolution of society.. We don’t view historical and mythological stories as detached folklore; we see them as timeless mirrors of class conflict, power dynamics, and the ongoing struggle of ordinary people standing up against systemic tyranny.
TheNwothm: The album artwork by Misanthropic Art is said to symbolise corrupt worldly power. How closely was the visual concept tied to the themes explored in the music?
Crimson Coven: We believe the work has been wonderful; Misanthropic Art captured the core concept perfectly and managed to translate it into a stunning piece of artwork.
TheNwothm: What has it been like working with Cruz Del Sur Music on the release of “I – The Forge”?
Crimson Coven: Working with a label like Cruz Del Sur is, first of all, a massive point of pride for us, mainly because we are consumers of their records ourselves. It’s something we’ve often said among ourselves: you can buy blindly from a label like Cruz Del Sur because virtually everything in their catalog is top quality. So for us, it’s a true honor. And well, dealing with Enrico has been nothing short of excellent—we couldn’t have imagined it any other way, and we are eternally grateful to them.
TheNwothm: Now that the album is unleashed, what are your hopes and expectations for this next chapter of Crimson Coven?
Crimson Coven: In the immediate future, our main focus will be bringing the album to the stage, but we already have new songs fully composed. We’ll likely start recording them in pre-demo format very soon. Beyond that, we have quite a few surprises coming up that will be revealed in just a few months, so stay tuned!
TheNwothm: Are there any plans for live performances, festival appearances, or future releases that you can share with our readers?
Crimson Coven: Among our upcoming plans, we are about to start a short Iberian tour alongside Atlantean Kodex and Triumpher, and we also have a festival confirmed here in Spain—MetalMaurel in Granada. On top of that, we are currently working on securing more dates, especially across Europe, which we hope to announce very soon. However, our strategy is definitely to move forward step by step and do things right: playing carefully selected venues and festivals where there is genuine interest in seeing the band, and where we can deliver a top-tier show both in terms of sound and overall production.
TheNwothm: Where can fans grab your music, merch and follow you online?
Crimson Coven: You can purchase our physical music and merch through Bandcamp and directly via the Cruz Del Sur Music webstore. Our album is also available across all major digital streaming platforms. You can follow us and stay up to date with news on our official website as well as on Instagram and Facebook.
TheNwothm: Any last thoughts?
Crimson Coven: First of all, we want to express our sincere gratitude to platforms like yours for supporting the band—it is truly essential. We are not a band that is going to run over-the-top promotional campaigns or use social media 24/7 to shove content down people’s throats or seek attention at any cost. We firmly believe in the power of underground word-of-mouth, in well-crafted reviews, and in thoughtful interviews by specialized webzines like this one. So thank you very much for this interview, we hope to see you all live as soon as possible, and… listen to Spell-Forged Heavy Metal!
