Barcelona-based atmospheric black metal outfit SOTABOSC unveil "Freyja", the second single from their forthcoming debut full-length "El Batec dels Maquis", set for release on April 17 via Dunk!Records. Following the sprawling intensity of their first single, the band delivers a track that fuses mythological symbolism with historical memory into a deeply evocative composition.
"Freyja" started life as an instrumental piece for Ulmus, the solo project of SOTABOSC’s Xavi Forné, inspired by the Norse goddess. In its reinterpretation, the concept shifts into the context of the Maquis, where Freyja becomes a metaphor for the women of the resistance. Like the goddess - associated with war, death, and fertility - these women embody strength, care, and determination amidst conflict. Not as a distant myth, but as a real, silenced, and essential presence.
Listen to "Freyja" here:
Stream the single HERE
Founded in 2023 in Barcelona by Oscar Linares and Manel Song (Syberia) alongside Xavi Forné (Ulmus, Error! Design), the band solidified in 2025 with vocalist David Rodríguez and bassist Gerard Serrano, completing a lineup deeply connected to the Catalan underground. Firmly rooted in an anti-fascist ethos, SOTABOSC convey their message entirely in Catalan, pairing lyrics with a carefully crafted visual identity spanning artwork, logos, and stage aesthetics.
Tracklist:
01. Nerthus
02. Heimdall
03. Freyja
04. El batec dels Maquis / Records vius en la foscor
"El Batec dels Maquis" unfolds in two halves - The first reimagines three compositions from Ulmus, originally instrumental and written for acoustic instruments, now transformed into a sound shaped by atmospheric black metal with strong post-rock influences. The new lyrics focus on animals, forests and the natural environment, forming a narrative arc that connects with the second half of the album.
The second part consists of a single track exceeding 15 minutes, where SOTABOSC expresses its purest musical identity: raw black metal roots, expansive instrumental passages and experimental structures inspired by post-rock. The vocals - harsh and evocative - pay tribute to the Maquis and their anti-Francoist resistance in Catalonia during and after the Civil War.
With this debut, SOTABOSC establishes a project in which identity, narrative intent and sonic depth merge into an artistic statement that is both musical and political.
"El Batec dels Maquis" was recorded, mixed and mastered at Siete Barbas Studio in Barcelona by Daniel Gil, with layout design handled by Error! Design and symbology created by Woodcvtter Illustration.
Line-up:
Xavi Forné (Error! Design, Malämmar, Ulmus)
Òscar Linares (Syberia)
Manel Song (Amargor, Syberia)
David Rodríguez (Arna)
Gerard Serrano (Hurricäde, Llacuna, Leavs)
Links:
https://www.instagram.com/sotabosc_official/
https://www.facebook.com/sotaboscofficial/
https://sotaboscband.bandcamp.com/
