Origin: North Macedonia
Formed: 2013
Disbanded: 2022
Genre: Black Metal
Status: Split-up
Label: Independent
Themes: Nature, Death, Freedom, Misanthropy, Devil’s works
Groaned Cold was a black metal band formed between Skopje and Kriva Palanka in 2013, emerging as one of the more distinctive voices in the Macedonian underground. Their sound fused raw, traditional black metal with atmospheric undertones, often channeling themes of nature, spiritual decay, and existential liberation. The band maintained a fiercely independent identity throughout their existence, releasing material sporadically and operating largely outside the formal label system.
Their earliest known recording, the demo version of On My Own, appeared in 2014 on the Macedonian underground compilation Печат, released by Мрак. This early track already showcased the band’s characteristic approach: cold, mid‑tempo riffing, harsh vocals drenched in reverb, and a sense of isolation that aligned them with the Eastern European raw black metal tradition.
In 2018, Groaned Cold released both the On My Own demo and EP, refining the material into a more cohesive statement. The EP embraced a bleak, introspective tone, with lyrics centered on solitude, inner struggle, and the rejection of societal constraints. The band’s sound remained deliberately unpolished, emphasizing atmosphere over technicality.
Their final release, the 2021 single Сениште (Shadow-being), marked a darker and more mature phase. The track leaned into occult and misanthropic themes, with a denser guitar tone and more aggressive drumming. It hinted at a possible evolution toward a harsher, more ritualistic black metal direction, but the band dissolved the following year.
Across their nearly decade-long existence, Groaned Cold remained a quiet but persistent presence in the Macedonian scene. Members were active in numerous other extreme metal projects, contributing to the cross-pollination that characterizes the region’s underground. Though their discography is small, the band is remembered for its sincerity, its raw emotional weight, and its commitment to the uncompromising spirit of black metal.
Zlath – Vocals (2013–2022)
Insignus – Guitars (2013–2022) — also in Fusnota
Axius – Guitars (2013–2022) — also in Eclectic
Kitchi Machk – Bass (2013–2022) — Demency, Saidon, Zol Jad, ex‑Beyond the Horizon, ex‑Carnage Dominion, ex‑Gears, ex‑Ambroz, ex‑Nympholilith, ex‑Arlegion, ex‑Seed
Blastphemer – Drums (2013–2022) — ex‑Beyond the Horizon, ex‑Carnage Dominion, ex‑Formless Terror, ex‑Seed, ex‑Southern Discomfort
On My Own – Demo (2018)
On My Own – EP (2018)
Сениште – Single (2021)