Türkiye’s underground metal acts Illusions Play and Cursed In Eternity released two-track collaborative EP »Doomed«

Türkiye’s underground metal acts Illusions Play and Cursed In Eternity joined forces for a two-track collaborative EP, »Doomed«, which was just released on September 4th, 2026.

»Doomed« is now available on all major streaming platforms!

Tracklist:
01. Ashen Sky
02. Ash Beneath The Sun

Courtesy of Metal Devastation PR:

Istanbul and Ankara’s dark metal forces trade musical and vocal roles across a haunting collaboration of doom, death, black metal and DSBM!

Two of Türkiye’s underground metal acts, Istanbul-based Illusions Play and Ankara-based Cursed In Eternity, have joined forces for »Doomed«, a two-track split EP that brings together atmospheric doom/death, black metal, melodic death metal and depressive suicidal black metal in a deliberately unconventional collaboration.

Released September 4, 2026, »Doomed« features two tracks, »Ashen Sky« and »Ash Beneath The Sun«, with each band contributing equally to the project. Rather than simply appearing alongside one another on a traditional split, Illusions Play and Cursed In Eternity created an intentional exchange of roles, with one band providing the music while the other takes on the lyrical and vocal performance. The roles are then reversed for the second track.

The result is a release where two distinct identities become intertwined, creating a bleak and immersive journey through despair, isolation, melancholy and inner decay.

ILLUSIONS PLAY

Formed in Istanbul in 2011, Illusions Play has developed a sound rooted in atmospheric doom/death metal while incorporating elements of black metal, haunting melodies and crushing heaviness. The band’s music shifts between deep growls, piercing screams and ethereal vocal passages, creating an atmosphere steeped in darkness and emotional weight.

Following their second full-length album, »Empire Of Desolation«, released in 2024, Illusions Play continued to push toward an increasingly dark and atmospheric direction.

The band has shared stages with acts including Shape Of Despair, October Tide and Psychonaut 4, while also appearing at Portals Metal Fest and Doom Over Tbilisi.

For »Doomed«, Illusions Play enters into a creative exchange with Cursed In Eternity, contributing one half of a collaboration built around musical and vocal role reversal.

CURSED IN ETERNITY

Formed in Ankara in 2019, Cursed In Eternity is a doom-based DSBM project blending bleak atmospheres and melancholic songwriting with lyrics performed in both Turkish and English.

After a period of silence, the band returned with their latest studio album, »Rise Of Silence«, released in February 2026. The album marked a new chapter for Cursed In Eternity, leading directly into the band’s collaboration with Illusions Play on »Doomed«.

The split features »Ashen Sky« and »Ash Beneath The Sun«, continuing Cursed In Eternity’s exploration of darkness, despair and emotional isolation while introducing a new collaborative dimension to their sound.

The band is also scheduled to return to the stage on October 3, 2026, alongside October Tide and Illusions Play.

A TRUE 50/50 COLLABORATION

At its core, »Doomed« is a genuine 50/50 collaboration between Illusions Play and Cursed In Eternity, not a conventional guest feature.

Each band contributed equally, with the project’s defining concept built around an exchange of creative roles. One band creates the music while the other handles the lyrics and vocals, before the process is reversed on the second track.

That exchange allows both groups to step outside their familiar boundaries while retaining the character of their respective sounds. The result is a two-song release that feels connected by atmosphere and intent while giving each band a distinct presence.

From the crushing weight of doom/death to the bleak atmosphere of black metal and DSBM, »Doomed« brings together two sides of Türkiye’s underground metal landscape for a release built around darkness, collaboration and creative reciprocity.

FFO: Swallow The Sun, Shining, Thy Light, Paradise Lost, Psychonaut 4

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