Swedish blackened death metal pioneers Sacramentum have announced the death of their founding member, Nisse Karlén, who took his own life after a prolonged battle with mental health issues.
The band issued the following statement: “With deep sorrow, we share the heartbreaking news that our dear friend, band member, and one of the founders of Sacramentum, Nisse Karlén, has passed away. He chose to leave this world due to struggles with mental health.
“At this time, we kindly ask for privacy for his family, friends, and bandmates as we come to terms with this loss. Thank you for everything, Nisse. You will always be with us. Suicide is never to be glorified.”
Formed in Falköping in 1990 under the name Tumulus, Sacramentum quickly gained recognition for their atmospheric and melodic take on black/death metal. Nisse Karlén, who started as a guitarist before switching to bass and vocals, was a driving force behind the band’s formative years and their iconic 1996 debut, Far Away from the Sun, which is now hailed as a classic of melodic black metal.
Throughout their career, Sacramentum released three full-length albums – “Far Away From The Sun”, “The Coming Of Chaos”, and “Thy Black Destiny” – earning comparisons to Dissection for their blend of dark melodies and ferocious intensity. Their influence remains strong, echoing in countless extreme metal bands across Europe and North America.
In recent years, Sacramentum re-emerged for select festival appearances and album reissues, solidifying their status as one of Sweden’s most respected underground acts.
