Some men go into silence. Johnny Hagel is one of them – and he doesn't return empty-handed. For years, as bassist and co-songwriter for Tiamat and Sundown, he stood in the shadow of the big names, amidst the rumble of the amplifiers, the collective riff. Now he's closed the door, turned off the lights – and built Ashen Sun. Alone. From the remnants of everything that once shone.

The project was created in 2024 in complete isolation, and it shows: this music doesn't sound like it was made in a studio – it sounds like it was recorded in closed rooms, like it was internal decay, like a world dimming in real time. Gothic rock with an ice-cold electronic backbone. 90s melancholy meets cold wave synths meets Cinemascope apocalypse – without ever trying to sound "modern" for a single second. Hagel himself calls it a requiem for dying empires and extinguished stars. A mission statement couldn't be more aptly formulated.

Following the debut single “Faith’s Funeral” in December 2025 – which instantly landed on playlists like a sledgehammer in marble – comes the six-track EP “Velarium,” released on March 27, 2026. Six tracks. Six death sentences. Cynicism as a survival strategy. Devotion turning to acid. Cities in smoke. A wheel that never stops. And in the end: fog, sleep, and the dead who simply refuse to leave. Welcome back to the darkness, Johnny. It's been waiting for you…

ASHEN SUN - ASHES OF THE WORLD (OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO)
ASHEN SUN - ASHES OF THE WORLD (OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO)

Transparency note: Illustrations were created digitally and are for illustrative purposes only. This article has been editorially reviewed and approved.

More for you:

Support Dravens Tales from the Crypt

Dravan flag NEW square 300 2"Dravens Tales from the Crypt" has been enchanting for over 15 years with a tasteless mixture of humor, serious journalism - for current events and unbalanced reporting in the press politics - and zombies, garnished with lots of art, entertainment and punk rock. Draven has turned his hobby into a popular brand that cannot be classified.

My blog was never designed to spread news, let alone get political, but with current affairs I just can't help but capture information here that is otherwise censored on all other channels. I am aware that the design page may not seem "serious" to many in this regard, but I will not change this to please the "mainstream". Anyone who is open to non-state-compliant information sees the content and not the packaging. I've tried enough to provide people with information over the last 2 years, but quickly noticed that it never matters how it's "packaged", but what the other person's attitude towards it is. I don't want to put honey on anyone's mouth to meet expectations in any way, so I'll keep this design because hopefully at some point I'll be able to stop making these political statements, because it's not my goal to go on like this forever ;) I leave it up to everyone how they deal with it. However, you are welcome to simply copy and distribute the content, my blog has always been under the WTFPL license.

It's hard for me to describe what I'm actually doing here, DravensTales has become a culture blog, music blog, shock blog, tech blog, horror blog, fun blog, a blog about found items on the internet, internet bizarre, trash blog, art blog, water heater, zeitgeist blog over the years , Scrap blog and grab bag blog called. Everything that is right ... - and yet not. The main focus of the blog is contemporary art, in the broadest sense of the word.

To ensure the continued operation of this site, you are welcome to make a donation via credit card, PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay, or direct debit/bank account . Many thanks to all readers and supporters of this blog!


We are being censored!

Our content is now being completely censored. The major search engines have been asked to remove our articles from their results. Stay connected with us via Telegram , donate to support our independence , or subscribe to our newsletter.

Newsletter

No thanks!