Track By Tracks: SHROUD - Pax Nocturna (2026)

About the album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

The overall concept of the album is Satanic Gnosticism. It’s the rejection of order and the corruption inflicted upon earth and its people by organized religions and corrupt leaders. It’s embracing the chaos that we naturally come from and acknowledging that we are sons and daughters of the black flame and born from the abyss to which we long to return. A higher form of consciousness and what lies beyond this place. It’s a fuck you to the enemies of the planet and acknowledges we are our own gods and masters, and to embrace that power for ourselves

It’s the fascination and worship of death and the beyond while rejecting what is acceptably taught to most of the world's population.

It is peace within the night.

It is Pax Nocturna.

Track by Track:

1. Pax Nocturna:

The instrumental opening of the album. It features piano and uses the two minor chords heard most often throughout the rest of the album. Meant to be thematic and draws an influence from the intro of Metallica's 'Blackened'.

2. The Eternal Void:

We used to call this one "The Punk Song" before it was given its official title. It has an element of Punk Rock but presented in a Blackened Thrash fashion. Lyrically, it deals with existentialism and a consistent feeling of emptiness that calls to a presence referred to as 'The Eternal Void'.

3. The Zealot:

The first song Matteo and Zack wrote together. Musically, it was the birth of what would follow as Shroud's sound. The lyrics' subject matter is based on the Spanish Inquisition of the Medieval and Renaissance ages, and how terrifying they were towards Christians and Non-Christians alike. There were no rights and no fair trials. Basically, a witch-hunt for anyone who didn't conform to what the Church at that time believed was the appropriate way to behave as a true Christian. 'The Zealot' represents one of its heads, Tomas De Torquemada, who was responsible for sending 10,000. People are unjustly sent to their deaths.

4. Merciless Tyrants:

This song's lyrics are about a Warhammer 40000 faction known as "The Necrons". They're an ancient, terrifying race of undead androids driven by their goal to conquer the galaxy. Known for brutal tactics and unending hordes, they are actual merciless tyrants. They have an Egyptian-like theme to them, and the song's music represents that being heavily based on the Phrygian Scale.

5. Darkest Night:

This song's subject matter deals with the abandonment of one's faith. Although scary to realize in oneself that there is no higher power or afterlife, there is a sense of relief and liberty in attaining true enlightenment.

6. Diablivion:

A song that deals with Religious crusades conquering and colonizing lands to spread the word and faith of their god. It is done in a way that paints the crusaders as the true terrifying oppressors and is told from the perspective of those being subjected to their will.

7. Death Blows Over:

A song we used to call "Fasty Thrashy" before its official title. It's a super fast-paced, all-out assault of Thrash Metal with darker elements that give it a Black Metal vibe. It features lots of guitar solos as well. The subject matter deals with having the worst hangover you can possibly imagine.

8. All Creation:

A song that's about the formation of the Earth. Not the one in the biblical sense, but in the more scientific reality-based version of the Planet forming from dust and debris, being constantly pummeled by asteroids that would eventually form its shape and would cool to have Oceans and Continents.

9. Abaddon:

A song about mortality, its subject is about how all things are destined to die, and we do it in a symbolic way through the perspective of one of the lords of Hell, Abaddon. It's the slowest and longest song on the record, and makes its way to an outro we felt fitting to tie the finale together for Pax Nocturna.

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