The German band Heretoir has announced that its fourth full-length album, titled ‘Solastalgia’, is scheduled for release on September 19, 2025. The album will be issued by the record label AOP Records. This new work follows the band’s 2023 full-length release, ‘Nightsphere.’ The announcement has been preceded by the release of several singles from the forthcoming album. The most recent is the album’s third single, ‘You Are the Night,’ which was released with an accompanying music video directed by Oliver König.

In a statement, the band described the song as “straightforward, uncompromising and melancholic,” embodying the facets for which the group has been known for over 15 years. Prior singles include the lead track, ‘The Ashen Falls,’ and the second single, ‘Season of Grief,’ which was also accompanied by a video. Pre-orders for ‘Solastalgia’ in various formats are currently available through the AOP Records online store.

The release of ‘Solastalgia’ just two years after ‘Nightsphere’ marks a notable increase in the band’s rate of output, compared to the six-year period between their second album, ‘The Circle’ (2017), and ‘Nightsphere’ (2023). This acceleration coincides with a shift in the band’s creative process.

Originally formed as a solo project by founder David Conrad, Heretoir now operates as a trio. The joint songwriting of David, Matthias, and Nils is a key element of the new album’s sound. This collaborative structure is credited with shaping the band’s current musical direction and is reflected in a structured, multi-single promotional campaign for the new record. The established communication and division of roles within the trio has proven to be a significant benefit to the band.

Heretoir: A Brief History and Sonic Evolution

Heretoir was formed in Augsburg, Germany, in 2006. The band’s name is a fictional word created to mean “going your own way.” The music is most frequently classified within the genres of post-black metal, blackgaze, post-rock, and shoegaze.

‘Solastalgia’ represents a sonic shift for the band, moving away from the darker and grimmer sound of their previous album. The new record is considered their most vulnerable and accessible to date. It incorporates a wide range of musical styles, from modern metal and black metal to post-rock and even screamo.

The album’s accessibility is further highlighted by the inclusion of a cover of ‘Metaphor’ by the Swedish melodic death metal band In Flames. The opening track, ‘The Ashen Falls,’ was inspired by the loneliness of modern society and features a voice sample from Michael Douglas of the bands Morrow and Fall Of Efrafa.

‘Solastalgia’ is the fourth full-length studio album from Heretoir. The band’s previous studio albums are ‘Heretoir’ (2011), ‘The Circle’ (2017), and ‘Nightsphere’ (2023).

The Concept of ‘Solastalgia’: Grief and Environmental Change

The album’s title, ‘Solastalgia,’ refers to a specific philosophical concept concerning the grief over the loss of the natural world, the environment, and a sense of home. The term is further defined as a form of emotional or existential distress caused by negatively perceived environmental change, which the band feels exposes a profound alienation from the planet.

While the album addresses ecological issues in songs like the title track, its thematic focus extends to more personal themes, such as the challenges of human existence in a rapidly changing world.

The album is imbued with a sense of loss, with most songs conveying feelings of grief, despair, or loneliness. Heretoir’s music is an expression of pure emotion and the pain of modern life, yet the desperate beauty of ‘Solastalgia’ can also be an unlikely source of comfort.

Confirmed 2025 Tour Dates

In support of the album’s release, Heretoir will embark on an extensive European tour through September and October 2025. For a majority of the performances, the band will be supporting fellow German band Der Weg einer Freiheit, a highly-regarded group known for expanding the boundaries of post-black metal with their atmospheric and introspective sound.

The tour will kick off in Germany with stops in Dresden, Berlin, Munich, Leipzig, Ludwigsburg, Wiesbaden, Hamburg, and Bochum. The tour will also visit Prague, Czech Republic; Salzburg and Vienna in Austria; Zurich and Geneva in Switzerland; Grenoble and Paris in France; and Tilburg and Haarlem in the Netherlands.

In addition to the tour, Heretoir is scheduled to appear at several German festivals, including Burgbrand Open Air and Break Out Open Air, as well as Samhain Fest and Brainstorm Fest in the Netherlands.

Conclusion

With the release of ‘Solastalgia,’ Heretoir presents a new chapter in their musical journey, marked by a collaborative creative process and an emotionally resonant theme. The upcoming album and extensive European tour signal a period of renewed activity for the band, offering fans a vulnerable and accessible work that confronts contemporary anxieties through a unique blend of post-black metal and shoegaze.