Origin: Latvia
Formed: 2003
Location: Riga
Genre: Black Metal
Status: Split‑up (2007)
Label: Independent
Themes: World War II, Aryanism, National Socialism
Agares was a controversial and short‑lived Latvian black metal band active between 2003 and 2007, known for its raw sound, militant aesthetic, and ideological extremity. Emerging from Riga’s underground, the band operated within the harsher, more primitive wing of Eastern European black metal, combining lo‑fi aggression with themes centered on World War II, Aryan mysticism, and National Socialist ideology. Their music reflected the uncompromising ethos of early 2000s Baltic black metal: abrasive guitars, harsh vocals, minimal production, and a cold, hostile atmosphere.
The band’s earliest material, The White Demo (2003), established their sonic identity—raw, unfiltered, and steeped in ideological provocation. The same year, they released Live in Kabata, a rough and chaotic live recording that captured the band’s unpolished energy and confrontational presence. Their only full‑length, Hymns of Freedom (2004), is the release most associated with Agares. It expanded their sound with more structured compositions, martial undertones, and a clearer articulation of their thematic direction. The album is often described by underground listeners as harsh, primitive, and ideologically charged, aligning the band with the NSBM fringe of the scene.
Agares’ history is marked by tragedy. In June 2004, drummer Frostmourn was found dead, having hung himself in a forest. His death deeply affected the band and the surrounding scene. An unreleased EP titled In Memory of Frostmourn was recorded the same year, featuring two lengthy tracks—“Nave” and “The Essence of Separation (Pt. III)”—but it never saw official release. This material is regarded as the band’s most atmospheric and mournful work, reflecting the emotional aftermath of the loss.
Following internal instability, shifting lineups, and the weight of Frostmourn’s death, Agares dissolved in 2007. Several members later appeared in other Latvian underground acts, particularly those connected to the harsher and more ideologically extreme corners of the scene. Despite their brief existence, Agares remains a notable—if obscure and controversial—name within Latvia’s early 2000s black metal landscape, remembered for their uncompromising stance, tragic history, and raw musical output.
Sad – Bass
Slayer – Guitars, Vocals, Samples (also ex‑A.N.T.I.)
Atapeya – Keyboards (ex‑A.N.T.I., ex‑Heaven Grey)
Sigh – Vocals
Past members:
Voltz – Bass (ex‑Nightwing, ex‑Nycticorax)
Iscariot – Guitars
Shmitz – Unknown (ex‑Nannarh, ex‑Ohrwurm, ex‑Last Decline)
Cokpat – Unknown (ex‑Nannarh)
Suffering – Unknown (ex‑Nannarh)
Evgenija – Vocals
Frostmourn – Drums (2003–2004) (R.I.P. 2004, ex‑Dark Domination)
The White Demo – Demo, 2003
Live in Kabata – Live album, 2003
Hymns of Freedom – Full‑length, 2004
Unreleased:
In Memory of Frostmourn – EP, 2004