5 Albums I Want To Be Buried With #19: Duisternis!

The third chapter of the 2026 incarnation of our infamous “5 Albums I Want To Be Buried With” feature finds us joined by Duisternis mastermind Chris Howell to count down his choices ahead of his projects sophomore record “Leichen des Krieges”. That will be released on 23rd January with “Sin” the first advanced listen and if his previous works “Relapse Into Submission” and “Unity Unto None” are anything to go by, it’s going to be an album soaked in Industrially tinged atmospheric Black Metal with eerie synths. Curiously enough while it’s not a concept record in the convensional sense, the new album is based on how the depression and unstable mental minds of people have caused immense suffering and war across the world. As Chris explains: “We are all vulnerable creatures however when the blackness consumes us, it turns us into monsters that has a chain reaction on the people around us“.

The premise is simple: “Back in ancient Egypt they believed that the items their Kings were buried with would travel with them into the afterlife and so part of the burial ritual would see the mummified bodies surrounded by chariots, gold and more. Fast forward to now. If there were five albums that you’d want buried in the coffin with you to take to the afterlife, what would you choose?”

1. ‘The Downward Spiral‘ by Nine Inch Nails

“This has to be my favourite record of all time. It’s a masterpiece! The mechanical sounds, the white noise, mixing harsh environments with melody. Its a perfect breed of metal and industrial low-fi mixed together. The story itself is an immense journey of self-destruction, loathing, and addiction. Everytime I listen to this album, I always discover something new which is a rare thing these days“

2. ‘Korn‘ by Korn

“This band was the reason why I got into heavy metal and listened to them religiously when growing up. This album stands out to me the most. The raw energy and emotional breakdowns were something I had not heard on a record before and boy did it blow me away when I 1st heard it. A unique blend of hip-hop inspired beats, 7-string guitars which were rare at the time, all mixed together into some deep disturbing territory“

3. ‘Vile‘ by Cannibal Corpse

“During my teen years, I was always itching to find something heavier and my discovery of this band scratched that itch perfectly. This is one hell of a death metal record. George Fisher’s immense vocals and the fast paced catchy riffs hits you like a sledgehammer from start to finish. To me, ‘Vile’ is a pure definition of brutal death metal“

4. ‘Dirt‘ by Alice In Chains

“I think everyone knows how much of a classic this album is. What else can I say? I’m an avid fan of grunge and this album defines that genre brilliantly. Layne Staley’s haunting vocals are a key point that is followed by some brilliant riffing by Jerry Cantrel. Layne had some of the best vocals of all time and can never be replaced.“

5. ‘The Mix’ by Kraftwerk

“This band is a huge influence on my electronic sounds for ‘Duisternis’. They are the pioneers of electronic music and have inspired so many musicians today. This album is a remodeled version of their classic tracks which gives them a more modern and techno feel. Each track has so much attention to detail and their synths sound massive!“