Origin: Serbia
Formed: 2005 (as Franconian Frost in 2004)
Location: Belgrade
Genre: Epic / Atmospheric Black Metal
Themes: History, Cosmology, Epic Fiction
Status: Changed name (active as NĂşmenor since 2009)
Label: Independent
Esgaroth was an early incarnation of what would later become one of Serbia’s most recognizable epic/atmospheric black metal projects: NĂşmenor. Active between 2005 and 2009, Esgaroth explored a blend of melodic black metal, epic fantasy themes, and atmospheric keyboard‑driven arrangements. The project’s name—taken from the city of Men in The Hobbit—signals its deep connection to Tolkien’s legendarium, a thematic thread that would become even more pronounced after the transition to NĂşmenor.
Musically, Esgaroth operated in the space between early symphonic black metal and epic metal, with soaring keyboard lines, melodic guitar work, and a strong narrative sensibility. Their demos Gates of the Kings (2005) and Promo 2006 (2006) capture the formative stage of this sound: raw yet ambitious, steeped in fantasy lore, and driven by a desire to merge black metal aggression with heroic, mythic atmosphere. These recordings circulated in the underground and helped establish the foundation for the more polished and expansive direction the band would take under the NĂşmenor name.
The lineup during the Esgaroth era included musicians who would later become central to NĂşmenor’s identity, particularly vocalist Despot Marko Miranović, whose commanding delivery and affinity for epic storytelling shaped the project’s evolution. Frequent lineup changes—common in the Serbian underground of the mid‑2000s—brought in various guitarists, keyboardists, and drummers, each contributing to the project’s developing sound.
By 2009, the band underwent a full conceptual and stylistic transformation, adopting the name Númenor and embracing a more power‑metal‑infused approach while retaining blackened elements. This shift marked the end of Esgaroth but preserved its spirit in a more refined and ambitious form.
Today, Esgaroth stands as the embryonic stage of NĂşmenor’s mythic journey—a brief but important chapter in the development of one of Serbia’s most distinctive fantasy‑driven metal acts.
Last known lineup
Andrej Mišić – Drums (2005–2009)
Also associated with: ex‑Acid Rain, ex‑Hetera, ex‑Númenor, ex‑NightFall, ex‑Decontrolled
Despot Marko Miranović – Lead Vocals (2005–2009)
Also associated with: Númenor, ex‑Bethor
Ivan Vukosaljević – Guitars, Bass, Keyboards (2006–2009)
Also associated with: ex‑Númenor
Past members
Live member
Demos