USQUAM (blackened metal) : New video available

Since 2018, french band USQUAM has been crafting an intense brand of “blackened metal,” merging the raw power of black, death, doom, and post-metal. In this soundscape where violence meets melancholy, the band weaves a sonic tapestry reminiscent of Behemoth, Naglfar, Dark Funeral, or Anorexia Nervosa. Singing in French, Latin, and English, their lyrics transcend language barriers to delve deep into the human soul. Each word becomes a vessel for emotion, introspection — even existential quest. After their debut EP Reborn, released in 2021 via Wormholedeath Records, USQUAM unveiled their new album Ex Nihilo on January 31, 2025, through Source Atone Records. This release marks a turning point in their musical evolution, with songwriting that is both more diverse and more unsettling. The arrival of Jessy Christ on vocals brings a whole new dimension to the USQUAM universe. His voice — full of nuanced rage and absolute control — takes the listener on a one-way journey into madness and the abyss. Mixed by Frédéric Gervais at Henosis Studio, the album reflects USQUAM’s ambition to broaden its horizons while staying true to its dark essence. The album made a strong impression on the metal press, earning praise from ROLLING STONE FR, ROCK HARD FR, and numerous europeans webzines and radio shows.

Today, USQUAM unveils new music video for the track “ARCANA NOX” from the same album : https://youtu.be/Kkm9Rdgy1I4

Musically, the song lies within the realm of melodic black doom: a heavy, hypnotic atmosphere where every note carries the weight of a threat. Through haunting melodies and saturated soundscapes, “Arcana Nox” plays with contrasts and breaks, pushing the listener to the edge of the abyss... a precarious balance before the fall. The lyrics draw from the myth of Isis and Osiris — not as mere historical reference, but as a contemporary metaphor. The track explores themes of devotion and vengeance. As dark as it is symbolic, the video offers a modern, gothic, and theatrical reimagining of the Osiris myth. A decadent and megalomaniac king is trapped, destroyed, then reconstructed by Isis in an act of occult devotion. Resurrected, he is haunted by the memory of his downfall and consumed by his thirst for vengeance: the final confrontation with Seth is inevitable. The video celebrates both darkness and transformation, extending USQUAM’s universe into powerful imagery: dense, mystical, and deeply personal.