FORGOTTEN SHRINE have detailed the three-act narrative of Nox Aeterna, their concept album scheduled for independent release on November 6, 2026. The folk metal duo of Sofia Frasz and Josh Alexander follow two guardians tasked with protecting an ancient shrine dedicated to art, creativity and freedom.
According to the announcement, the story draws on the need to preserve a childlike sense of wonder. As darkness diminishes people's spirits and offerings to the shrine decline, its power weakens. The guardians set out to locate and destroy the source of that darkness.
The first act comprises “Where Shadows Lie (Reforged)”, “Terror! At The Ballroom” and “Loch Lomond”, introducing the guardians' preparations through the album's more upbeat material. The second act moves into conflict across “Gods Of War”, “Wander So Far”, “Nox Aeterna” and “Dearly Departed”. “Halo”, “The Parting Glass (Reforged)” and “End Of The Dream” form the third act, addressing the aftermath of the journey.
The opening song revisits material from FORGOTTEN SHRINE's first releases in 2024, with a revised sound reflecting the duo's subsequent musical and production development. Their interpretation of “Loch Lomond” has a separate personal connection: Frasz recorded it as a tribute to a school friend who had previously covered the song. Within the album's narrative, its melancholy reflects the guardians' awareness that their mission could end in their deaths.
Frasz originally wrote “Gods Of War” in 2021 for another project, drawing on the style of a bard's song in Skyrim. Alexander later contributed to the version used here, which accompanies the guardians' search. The announcement describes “Wander So Far” as an atmospheric passage into the title track, where a servant of the darkness attempts to persuade the guardians to abandon their mission.
“Nox Aeterna” combines the duo's folk metal, power metal, southern gothic and cinematic soundtrack influences, with Kevino contributing its guitar solo. “Dearly Departed” approaches the album's destructive themes through a protagonist who uses newfound power to take revenge on those who have wronged them. The song ends with a piano outro.
Both Frasz and Alexander perform clean vocals on “Halo”. Its country and pop elements accompany lyrics about wanting to see the best in someone despite evidence of a darker reality. On “The Parting Glass (Reforged)”, FORGOTTEN SHRINE return to their folk metal arrangement of the Scottish traditional song, adding a new instrumental arrangement, vocals from Alexander and flute from Ember Belladonna.
“End Of The Dream” developed from a riff Alexander wrote several years earlier. It closes the central story with the guardians successful but missing the adventure, now responsible for determining their own futures. The bonus track, “Where Shadows Lie (Reforged Instrumental)”, returns to the album's opening material.
Alexander, based in Pennsylvania, contributes guitar, bass, hurdy gurdy, Irish bouzouki, additional instruments, backing vocals and composition. Maryland-based Frasz handles lead vocals, guitar, lyrics and composition. Their arrangements bring folk instrumentation into metal while sharing writing and vocal responsibilities across the album.
Joshua Dalviken produced, mixed and mastered Nox Aeterna. He also supplies spoken-word passages on “Where Shadows Lie (Reforged)”, “Nox Aeterna” and “End Of The Dream”. Alexander and Dalviken created the cover artwork.
- Where Shadows Lie (Reforged)
- Terror! At The Ballroom
- Loch Lomond
- Gods Of War
- Wander So Far
- Nox Aeterna
- Dearly Departed
- Halo
- The Parting Glass (Reforged)
- End Of The Dream
- Where Shadows Lie (Reforged Instrumental)
