Ecuador’s atmospheric black/doom metal band Niphredil released new two-track EP »Fractures In The Crystal Vault«

Quito, Ecuador based atmospheric black/doom metal band Niphredil is streaming their new two-track EP, »Fractures In The Crystal Vault«, which was just released on September 9th, 2025.

Listen to »Fractures In The Crystal Vault« on Spotify and other streaming platforms!

Tracklist:
01. The Masked Seer
02. Death By Dreaming

Courtesy of Against PR:

Niphredil was formed with the intention of creating dark and heavy atmospheres in elaborately composed songs, without sounding pretentious or boring, so that the listener can listen to long songs without feeling their length. Lyrics, influenced by classical literature, deal with mystical and introspective themes – which also help in accentuating the musical atmosphere.

The band started out as a 5 piece, out of which only Lucas Serrano and José Miguel remain as founding pillars. The self-titled EP was already completed just months after the band’s inception, but delays with the local label forced the band to release it digitally only in 2017. The project was held on standby, and just lately fully reactivated in order to complete the debut full-length »The Final Star« in late 2023.

This full-length was released in a jewel case CD through Prophetical Productions in January 2024, and then in December a digipack version saw the light through Concreto Records (México). Also, the self-titled EP was also released as a cassette version thanks to Ecuadorian label Insane Asylum in December 2024.

Photo by José Miguel Santelices

Since 2024, the band now has a full line up, and a new 2 song EP that while short, is full of inspiration and details and is ready to be released in September 2025. »Fractures In The Crystal Vault« features two tracks spanning a total of 13 minutes: »The Masked Seer« and »Death By Dreaming«. Though different in tempo and approach, from slow, cavernous doom laden with synths and programmed elements to faster tremolo-picked melodies – the songs together capture the band’s full creative scope.

Recording info:
Drums recorded at Danial Devost’s studio.
Guitar reamping done at Rockon Studios, Quito, Ecuador.
Vocals and synths engineered by Felipe Andino at Andino Sounds.

Line-up:
Jose Miguel Santelices – Vocals, Guitars, Synths
Jaime Murgueytio – Guitars
Lucas Serrano – Bass
Danial Devost – Session Drums

FFO: Triptykon, Blut aus Nord, Celtic Frost, Oranssi Pazuzu, At The Gates, Emperor, Altar Of Plagues

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well