DØDSRIT TALK CATHARSIS, CHAOS AND CREATIVE FREEDOM

With their signature blend of blackened, icily visceral hostility and sleekly entwined, Gothenburg-tinged riffery, Dødsrit have carved out a reputation as one of the most electrifying forces in modern extreme metal. Having unleashed the intensely cathartic ‘Irjala’ to riotous acclaim earlier this year, summer 2025 finds the Danish/Netherlands-based collective deep in an international touring cycle. Fresh from a rapturously received debut at Fortress Festival, founding duo Georgios Maxouris and Christoffer Öster discuss defying genre norms, DIY ethics and the life-saving power of creative self-expression.

DM: First off, I really enjoyed your set this afternoon — such a powerful and unique performance. From your perspective, what was it like to play?

GM: Thanks so much. For me, every show is a cathartic experience. Performing music with such a dark message is hard to describe — once it starts, you’re in your own world. It doesn’t matter where you are. It’s hypnotic, almost psychedelic, from the adrenaline rush that hits the second you play that first note.

DM: Did you have a specific concept or intent behind this particular set?

GM: Definitely. We always think about how much time we have and which songs best represent us. But we also approach things as a single, continuous story rather than separate tracks. A big influence for that is Godspeed You! Black Emperor— you don’t listen to individual songs, you experience the whole narrative. We do the same with our setlists: we want an obvious beginning, journey and end.

DM: There’s a huge range of influences in your music — from frostbitten black metal to punk and melodic elements. Can you talk a bit about your musical backgrounds and how that’s shaped your sound?

CÖ: It’s hard to pin down because the genre is so vast. What matters most is energy and honesty — following your heart. If a riff doesn’t resonate, it’s gone.

GM: Yeah, exactly. Both of us come more from a hardcore punk background. Even though over time our sound’s leaned more toward traditional black metal, that punk influence is still vital — especially in how we work and perform. We value primal energy over technical perfection. Sure, we could sit still and play flawlessly, but that’s when the music loses its humanity.

Growing up on bands like Anti Cimex, Black Flag, Misfits, and newer acts like Warthog, I always loved their raw, uncompromising energy. They didn’t care about mistakes — just about channeling their message with pure, fucking energy. We try to bring that same spirit into metal. And really, these genres are two sides of the same coin. Bathory is basically an evil version of Discharge or GBH. Blasphemy sounds like a darker Napalm Death. It’s all interconnected — and at the end of the day, it’s all rock ’n’ roll.

DM: I read that you released ‘Nocturnal Will’ on your own label — that DIY ethic really sums up what you’re about.

GM: Absolutely. We’ve had both big and small labels reach out, but the advantage of doing it ourselves is zero compromise. I run Wolves of Hades, which released ‘Mortal Coil’ and ’Nocturnal Will’. It’s grown a lot — bands like Lamp of Murmuur and Gudsforladt are on the roster now, and there’s this real sense of camaraderie.

Honestly, most bands don’t need labels anymore unless it’s for promotion or distribution. Look at Blackbraid — they could have signed anywhere but chose to stay independent, and they’re now one of the fastest-growing black metal bands.

CÖ: The only downside is you can’t blame anyone else when things go wrong!

GM: [Laughs] Yeah, exactly. You can only blame yourself. But that’s fine — we’ve been on labels before and it didn’t work out. We realised we could do it ourselves, so why bother fixing what isn’t broken?

CÖ: Plus, from a fan’s perspective, it’s great knowing your support goes directly to the band — no middleman.

GM: Definitely. And I love that more musicians are running labels themselves. That’s how I was inspired to start Wolves of Hades — seeing people like Greg from Sunn O))) do the same.

DM: You’ve spoken before about music as a form of catharsis. How central is that to what you do?

GM: It’s everything. I’d never say music replaces therapy — please, if you need it, go to therapy — but I can’t deny how much it’s helped me. Without it, I honestly don’t know if I’d still be here. Music gives me solace from the things I struggle with every day.

CÖ: People might see black metal as dark or menacing, but for fans, it’s incredibly healing. It’s a way to externalise pain and find connection.

GM: Totally. Before we’re musicians, we’re fans. One of the bands that really bonded Christoffer and me was Pg.99. Their music is so uncompromisingly dark that it actually makes you feel less alone. The same goes for their side project Pygmy Lush — one of my all-time favourites. I remember seeing them at Roadburn and just crying through the whole set — it was that powerful. Music is a universal language. It brings people together and lets them release emotions they can’t always put into words.

DM: That’s beautifully put. So, looking ahead, what’s next for Dødsrit?

GM: Right now, we’re just going with the flow. Writing never really stops. Some of the material on ‘Nocturnal Will’ actually came from the ‘Mortal Coil’ sessions — we just refined it later. We don’t set deadlines anymore. We’d rather take five years to make something we’re proud of than rush out a record every year just for the sake of it.

Tour-wise, it’s been a big year already. We’ve got a European run with Gudsforladt in August, then a U.S. tour in September and October with Lamp of Murmuur and Like Rats. Next year, we’d love to finally do a proper UK run — especially in smaller, more intimate venues.

CÖ: Yeah, we’re really fond of the UK scene — those smaller spaces have such a special vibe. It’s always more personal.

GM: Exactly. Coming from punk backgrounds, those venues hold a special place in our hearts. A couple of years ago, we played Northern Punk Fest in Iceland — literally in the middle of nowhere — and it was incredible. No matter how far this band goes, we’ll always want to play DIY shows whenever possible. That’s where the real energy lives.

For more on  Dødsrit, check out their official Bandcamp page HERE