It’s nice to hear something genuinely different sometimes, and Tabernis are about as unique as it gets. This Belgian folk duo, armed with nothing more than bagpipes and davul, have just dropped ‘Tenebrae’ as the first single from their upcoming debut album, Seasons of the Dark Hive, arriving April 24, 2026 via Napalm Records.
Named after the Latin word for “darkness,” ‘Tenebrae’ is a moody, rhythmic piece that pulls you into what the duo call “the heart of the Dark Hive.” There’s a steady pulse to it, a balance between slowness and urgency that the band say will let you “close your eyes and let yourself be carried into your inner journey.” It buzzes with an almost hypnotic energy, and if this is the gateway track, the rest of the album promises something truly immersive.
Tabernis have built their entire world around the ancient art of beekeeping, intertwining medieval tradition with dark mysticism. It sounds niche, and it is, but that’s exactly what makes it work. Already turning heads at major festivals like Wacken Open Air and Summer Breeze off the back of just an EP, the duo clearly have something that connects with people on a primal level.
Seasons of the Dark Hive spans fifteen tracks, weaving sacred tradition through compositions that range from the buoyantly buzzing (‘Tenebrae’, ‘Sylvanot’) to the pensively droning (‘Noctilis’). There’s real historical depth here too. ‘Mel Obscurum (Palästinalied)’ is the duo’s rendition of Walther von der Vogelweide’s celebrated 13th century ‘Palestine Song’, while ‘Hive Dance (Bransle du maître de la maison)’ draws from a late medieval French dance tune. The core sound of just two instruments is subtly enriched by a mysterious “Dark Monk” on strings, with occasional distorted whispers and the soothing hum of bees weaving through the mix.
The band describe the album as something that “came to life naturally, without ever forcing anything,” drawing from cultures and musical styles across the ages while keeping their foundation of drum and bagpipe. This is only the beginning, they say. Welcome to the Dark Hive.
