Montreal blackened thrashers, Shroud, are carving a path to the release of their  debut album, Pax Nocturna, on June 4th. The band has already shared the singles, “All Creation” and “The Eternal Void.” Keep reading below for more.

Pre-order Pax Nocturna on CD / Vinyl here: https://shroudmtl.bandcamp.com/

The band expects the album to resonate strongly with extreme‑metal listeners:
“Black and Thrash are the driving forces, but we pull from Death and Melodic Metal too. It’s meant to be a ride, fast, punishing, sometimes slowing down, but always taking you somewhere while staying true to the sound of Shroud,” says guitarist/vocalist Matteo Conti.

Formed during the isolation of the COVID‑19 pandemic, Shroud began when  Conti approached drummer Zack Osiris with the idea of starting a new project while the world was locked down. Despite restrictions and the stigma of even leaving the house, the pair began writing in Montreal, crafting songs week by week and discovering a shared foundation of influences and vision. By 2022, as the world reopened, the lineup solidified with Justin Cournoyer on bass and Jordan Barillaro on guitar, a chemistry that immediately felt inevitable.

“Once Jordan joined after our first show, it was clear this was the real beginning of Shroud. Everything since has been a train of reckoning, writing, performing, and bonding. The four of us feel truly united in what Shroud has become,” adds Conti.

Shroud describes their sound in five words: blackened thrash metal, but Pax Nocturna expands that foundation with elements of death metal, melodic metal, and atmospheric extremity. Fans of Watain, Dissection, Hellripper, Skeletonwitch, and Necrophobic will find themselves right at home.

Lyrically, Pax Nocturna explores Satanic Gnosticism, existential dread, anti‑religious critique, and the darker corners of human nature. Each track dives into a different facet of the void.

“It’s the rejection of imposed order and the corruption of organized religion. It’s embracing the chaos we come from, acknowledging we are our own gods and masters. It is peace within the night. It is Pax Nocturna,” adds Conti.

The album was primarily written by Conti and Osiris, with Cournoyer and Barillaro shaping and refining the final structures. Newer material has become fully collaborative as the band continues to evolve.

The album artwork reflects Shroud’s fascination with the occult and surrealism, drawing inspiration from Yoshitaka Amano, Zdzisław Beksiński, and dark fantasy imagery. Depicting the four band members in ritualistic worship of the demonic Archduke Murmur, the piece symbolizes philosophy, music, and the band’s unified creative force.

Shroud has already carved a reputation in the Quebec metal scene for their tightness, intensity, and unrelenting stage presence, sharing stages with Exciter, Midnight, Wraith, Goatwhore, Vitriol, Necrofier, Wormwitch, Spiter, Tomarumvoid, Angelus Apatrida, and Sorguinazia.

“We play with vigour and hate, but also love and determination. Our presence and delivery stand out. It’s all or nothing.”

The band is set to support Atlanta’s Tómarúm and LA’s Gudsforladt alongside locals Black Market Fossil on June 28th at Piranha Bar in Montreal. Info at https://www.facebook.com/events/2763370517331518/

Pax Nocturna tracklisting:
01 Pax Nocturna
02 The Eternal Void
03 The Zealot
04 Merciless Tyrants
05 Darkest Night
06 Diablivion
07 Death Blows Over
08 All Creation
09 Abaddon

Emerging from the depths below, Shroud formed in 2022 when Conti and Osiris began writing together during the pandemic. With the later addition of Barillaro and Cournoyer, the band’s lineup solidified into a unit defined by technical skill, raw aggression, and a shared vision of darkness. Their sound, blistering riffs, thunderous drums, and vocals echoing through the void, has quickly earned them recognition as one of Montreal’s most promising extreme‑metal acts. Now, with Pax Nocturna, Shroud is ready to unleash its full power.

Lineup:
Matteo Conti – Guitar and vocals
Jordan Barillaro – Guitar
Zack Osiris – Drums
Justin Cournoyer – Bass

Follow Shroud:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086688022343
https://www.instagram.com/shroud.mtl