Shrouded in Darkness is a Doom/Death metal from Sweden formed in 2021. Renowned for their pure, Heavy Darkness! With two full-length albums already to their name, the band unleashed their third studio album, “11:11,” on May 30th, 2025. Released under Downfall Records and its parent label Black Vulture Records.

Shrouded In Darkness, 11:11 Review: This review will evaluate every aspect of the album, from its intricate musical composition to its production. Our analysis will provide valuable insights to help you determine if this album is worth adding to your collection.

The First Three Sins, The Summary

The First Sin, The Strings/Keys: Heavy crushing riffs intertwine with haunting melodies, forging a relentless sonic landscape. Haunting and eerie organ sections and ambient textures heighten the atmosphere, while the bass carves out a dark, thunderous foundation—a force that drives the weight of the music. The Second Sin, The Vocals: “The voice of the abyss,” deep, guttural growls resonate like echoes from the void. The Third Sin—The Percussions: Slow, pounding rhythms create a primal cadence, each beat reinforcing the album’s weight and depth, the drums set the pulse for the darkness that unfolds within…

The Fourth Sin, Overall Discussion

A Haunting Introduction

As soon as the listener presses that play button, the opening piece, 11:11 Intordutio, greets the listener with a haunting instrumental intro, setting the tone with eerie organ melodies and distant whispers.

A Dark, Introspective Journey

As the listener continues their journey with the second piece, No Escape, and the remaining five compositions — a dark fruit of art, spanning thirty-six minutes, pulling the listener into deep introspective themes, lending elements of spirituality, awakening, and existential reflection. The title itself is tied to numerology and astrology, symbolizing a moment of self-discovery and connection to the universe.

Lyrical Depth & Haunting Poetry

Lyrically, the album delves into sadness, pain, love, death, goodness, and evil, with occasional touches of horror. One of the notable tracks, “My Every Step,” captures the struggle of searching for hope in darkness, with lines like: “I search for a glimmer of hope / But it feels like I’m standing on slippery slopes / I’m suffocating in this endless night / I long for the warmth of the morning light.”

An Immersive Experience Beyond Music

11:11 isn’t just about making music. It’s a dark, immersive experience that pulls listeners into a world far beyond the usual. The sound feels intense and heavy, more powerful than their earlier album, Be None of You. It’s as if the music is taking shape as the soundtrack to an ancient, long-forgotten ritual. The kind of ritual that’s full of mystery and has a weight of history behind it, yet is strangely still alive in the music. The feeling is foreboding, almost like a warning or a shadow hanging over every note.

Precision and Sonic Richness

The richness of the sound plays a crucial role here. Every instrument and layer is captured with precision, making the listener feel as if they are right there in the room with the band. The recording quality enhances this sensation, turning the music into something far more than just sound. The music’s aura of darkness is not accidental. It’s crafted intentionally to evoke emotion and evoke a sense of unease. The soundscape feels deliberate, designed to envelop the listener in an atmosphere that is both haunting and captivating.

A Perfectly Balanced Sound

While the 11:11 feels like a soundtrack, its defining strength lies in how each song is distinct yet seamlessly connected; the carefully balanced mix ensures the music hits hard and wears heavy. It accentuates the depth of each sound, making it feel rawer and visceral. Whether it’s the rumbling bass, distorted guitar, bells, chimes, eerie ambient effects, or dark, echoing vocals, everything is pushed to the limits to evoke a primal response; all this breathes life into the music. And this life is captured in this powerful production; help bring this all to life.

Artistic Instrumentation & Composition

11:11’s instrumental and music composition and arraignment are dark artistic creations, including the devilmanship. The instrumental composition and arrangement consist of guitar work by Reese, who delivers upon the music with heavy crushing, chugging riffs—layered with haunting melodies, dark-melancholic tones and flowing solos. The drums and bass are handled by Mike, who creates a thunderous foundation with slow, pounding rhythms and ritualistic drum patterns. Daniel T, the keyboardist and vocalist, adds haunting and eerie organ and ambient sections, enhancing the ritualistic feel of the music. For his vocals, which deliver deep growls, while Camilla Tjernberg makes a guest appearance on Cruel Winds.

The Ritual Lives On

In the end, 11:11 is about more than just music. It’s about creating an experience that transports listeners to another place and time. A place where dark rituals, ancient echoes, and powerful emotion collide in a flood of sound. The pristine sound quality and intense mix serve as the vessel to carry these feelings. This isn’t just listening; it’s stepping into a ritual that stays with you long after the music stops.

Closing: The Final Whisper

Concluding the album, Shrouded in Darkness and the closing track, 11:11 – tying together the album’s themes with a slow, funeral-like progression, ending in a fade-out of distant whispers. We want to give a shoutout to Shrouded in Darkness for letting us review their album 11:11. Now, we are going to conclude the review by talking about the final three sins and concluding the review.

The Fifth Sin, The Memorabilia

For me, Shrouded in Darkness, and their album 11:11, is not just music; it is a rite of passage — an initiation into shadow rituals in which old vibrations and gut feelings converge in a whirlpool of sound. If this is their current vision, I hope the ritual continues in their next chapter.

I fully embraced the darkness and depth that reverberated through my speakers, enveloping me in sound. Then comes the third track, Cruel Winds, whose guest singer is Camilla Tjernberg, whose haunting vocals added an extra layer of depth and darkness to the track. The timing and placement of her voice within the composition were simply perfect. Among the album’s offerings, two tracks stand out to me: Cruel Winds and My Every Step. Each carries its ‘own’ weight, weaving depth and emotion into the fabric of 11:11.

Shrouded In Darkness — 11:11 Review

The Sixth Sin, The Artwork

The image evokes a haunting and mysterious atmosphere, featuring three ghostly figures draped in flowing robes standing before a gnarled, leafless tree. The sepia-toned colour scheme gives the image a vintage, almost timeless quality, complementing the dark themes likely explored in the album’s music.

The Seventh Sin, Disrelish

In the realm of darkness that 11:11 conjures, there is nothing to fault—no discord, no misstep, only the weight of pure sonic ritual and the perfect soundtrack of doom. From its eerie melodies to its crushing intensity, Shrouded in Darkness has woven an experience that lingers long after the final note fades. Thus, we conclude our review of 11:11, leaving behind echoes of something unforgettable. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for your time in reading this article. I encourage you to delve into the work of Shrouded in Darkness and their new album, 11:11, and the depths of their back catalogue. Each release offers a unique passage into their pure, heavy darkness.

The Hymns

01. 11:11 Introductio
02. No Escape
03. Cruel Winds
04. Dreams
05. My Every Step
06. The Lucking Devil
07. 11:11

Shrouded In Darkness

Daniel T — Vocals, Keyboards
Reese — Guitar
Mike — Bass, Drums

Hear The Music