Dutch black metallers Duister Maanlicht have been active since 2000, but not always as a faith-forward entity. The project started as a secular black metal project, until lone member Heidendoder found faith in Christ and pursued a different direction. The band name in their native tongue means “dark moonlight.”
The band plays traditional/raw/primitive black metal with a distinctly European feel, and yet there is sometimes a hardcore punk influence as well. While that may seem strange, it isn’t as uncommon as you might think. Even secular mainstays Darkthrone have dabbled in the influence, particularly in their later years.
What excites me about Duister Maanlicht is just how good they are at what they do. There is an absolute plethora of Christian bands attempting to play black metal, but few are as good at is as Duister Maanlicht. While not as well known, they deserve to be mentioned in the same leagues as Horde, Crimson Moonlight, Antestor, and so forth.
“Ketterjacht” (Dutch for “Heresy Hunter”) comes from their sixth studio album, Influisteringen Van De Duivel (“Influence of the Devil”). That was the first album I heard from the band, and that was all it took for me to I instantly fall in love with their sound, their creativity, and their passion for what they do.
