It’s been a long time since I heard such a return to classic, heart-and-soul stirring post-metal—a magnificent parabola that cuts through the void. Belgian post/extreme metal outfit Amenra have unveiled their second new single, “Forlorn,” drawn from two upcoming EPs, De Toorn and With Fang And Claw, set for release on March 28th via Relapse Records.
Accompanied by a surreal music video directed by Amorphokyria, the track wastes no time: after a brief 48-second introduction, it plunges into harrowing screams, sorrowful melodies, and tectonic grooves before unfolding into an eight-minute epic that occasionally finds space for yearning clean vocals and swirling ambience.
The record marks a deliberate departure from the previous nine‐and‐a‐half-minute ritual “Heden.”
“Forlorn” hits the jugular swiftly, yet its dynamic structure encapsulates both raw aggression and reflective pauses.
Vocalist Colin Van Eeckhout explains, “With Fang And Claw explores our earlier work, and merges with our contemporary being, setting the direction to what will soon become our Mass VII. ‘Forlorn’ made me contemplate our communal past. I reached back and looked at everything we have lived together, how we stayed together through thick and thin. I cherish every single moment we have still. We write it all down, record almost everything that slowly pours out of us. And in due time, we and all will disappear, until there is nothing left of us.”
Guitarist Lennart Bossu adds, “A song often starts as the vision of one person. But with ‘Forlorn,’ Mathieu and I created something that felt equally ours – effortless, natural. Some songs take time to take shape, to find their true form. But this one clicked instantly. Just weeks later, we were already in the studio, capturing what had come to life.”
The accompanying video unfolds as a stark meditation on the cyclic nature of life and death.
Initially conceived as a choreographed study of existence, its narrative centers on a female figure bound to the soil—her hair, interwoven with earth, symbolizing the inescapable suffering etched into our world. The visuals shift from a ritualistic embrace of birth and decay—a graveyard of memories, a womb of sorrow—to fragmented canvases that mirror today’s fractured realities. Charles Baudelaire’s grim observation echoes throughout: “There is no more wretched thing in the world than the endless repetition of suffering. The agony, like a dark companion, lingers, darkens the soul, and wraps itself in the very core of our existence.”
Hermann Nitsch’s reminder that “Pain is the eternal struggle of existence. The catharsis of the spirit is not achieved without first enduring the raw, fleshy torment of the body.”
In an interview with CVLTNation the collaborative origins of the visual narrative are laid bare. CHVE recalls how, drawn by Liza’s evocative sculptural jewelry, a mutual respect blossomed into an extended artistic exchange. “We met in Paris last year, and set the idea in motion to work together in film. As we had already written our new EPs with Amenra, I let her listen to the different songs, and let her pick the one that spoke to her most,” he notes.
Amorphokyria reflects on the magnetic pull of Amenra’s sound: “The sound of Amenra endlessly inspires me, it feels like abstract prayers whispered in a Godless temple… I think of their pieces as rituals or a potential passage through darkness toward catharsis. Absolutely raw and visceral sound that purges the weight we carry in our souls.”
She continues, emphasizing the refusal to dull the raw edges of existence, choosing instead to sit with pain—a force that shapes and confronts, rather than sedates. This shared vision of cyclical transformation, where nothing truly disappears but only transforms, infuses “Forlorn” with its haunting narrative.
Both collaborators acknowledge the grim truth that legacy fades into dust, yet they persist in creating art that confronts the cruelty and impermanence of life. “Most of us creative people are fighting so hard to either spread our views or vent our frustrations, but in a few years time, the legacy you’ve built fades into thin air,” CHVE observes, a sentiment that underscores the ephemeral nature of human endeavor.
Amenra’s new EPs—De Toorn and With Fang And Claw—are available for pre-order, with a deluxe 2LP + Flexi pressing housed in a gatefold jacket featuring an exclusive cover.
Amenra’s forthcoming tour—spanning Europe and the UK in April and May—carries the weight of these themes into live settings. The schedule unfolds methodically:
04/21 Stuttgart, DE @ Im Wizeman
04/22 Köln, DE @ Carlswerk Victoria
04/23 Hamburg, DE @ Uebel & Gefährlich
04/24 Berlin, DE @ Astra
04/25 Warsaw, PL @ Oczki
04/26 Krakow, PL @ Kwadrat
04/27 Dresden, DE @ Beatpol
04/28 Prague, CZ @ Palac Akropolis
04/30 Vienna, AT @ Arena
05/01 Budapest, HU @ A38
05/02 Zagreb, HR @ Boogaloo Club
05/03 Munich, DE @ Backstage Halle
04/04 Bologna, IT @ TPO
05/05 Rome, IT @ Monk Club
05/06 Milano, IT @ Legend Club
05/07 Lausanne, CH @ Les Docks
05/08 Lyon, FR @ CCO
05/09 Marseille, FR @ Espace Julien
05/11 Barcelona, ES @ Apolo
05/12 Toulouse, FR @ Cabane
05/13 Biarritz, FR @ Atabal
05/14 Rennes, FR @ Antipode
05/15 Paris, FR @ Elysee Montmartre
05/17 London, UK @ Desertfest
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