Origin: Lithuania
Formed: 2010
Genre: Depressive Black Metal
Status: Active
Label: Rigorism Production
Themes: Depression, Suicide, Emotions
Cheerful Depression is a one‑man depressive black metal project from Vilnius, founded in 2010 by Martynas, who remains the sole composer, instrumentalist, and vocalist. The project embodies the bleak, introspective core of DSBM, channeling emotional collapse, suicidal ideation, and psychological numbness through raw production, minimalist arrangements, and anguished vocal expression. Its aesthetic is intentionally unpolished, emphasizing authenticity and emotional vulnerability over technical refinement.
The debut Cheerful Depression demo (2010) introduced the project’s defining traits: repetitive, sorrow‑laden guitar lines, distant screams drenched in reverb, and a suffocating atmosphere of hopelessness. The demo was well‑received within the underground, praised for its sincerity and its ability to evoke a sense of emotional paralysis without resorting to melodramatic excess. Its stark, lo‑fi sound aligned it with the early traditions of the genre while maintaining a personal, introspective tone.
In 2014, Cheerful Depression appeared on a four‑way split with Psychonaut 4, Культура Курения, and Hovert—three prominent names in the post‑Soviet DSBM scene. This release significantly expanded the project’s visibility, placing it alongside acts known for pushing the genre’s emotional and conceptual boundaries. Martynas’ contribution stood out for its bleak atmosphere and its focus on internal suffering rather than external narrative.
The project also contributed the track “Suicide (The Happy End)” to the Jericho Vol. 5 compilation in 2012, further cementing its place within the depressive black metal underground. While Cheerful Depression has maintained a low profile, its output reflects a consistent dedication to the genre’s core themes: emotional collapse, existential fatigue, and the quiet violence of depression.
Cheerful Depression remains active under Rigorism Production, continuing to operate as a deeply personal outlet for psychological expression and raw emotional catharsis.
Martynas – All instruments, vocals (2010–present)
Cheerful Depression – Demo (2010)
Psychonaut 4 / Cheerful Depression / Культура Курения / Hovert – Split (2014)