Farewell to Nisse Karlén: The Voice of Sacramentum Has Fallen Silent
The global metal community is mourning the loss of Nisse Karlén, founding member and enduring voice of Sacramentum, who passed away on August 25, 2025. The band confirmed the news in an official statement, clarifying that Karlén’s death was the result of suicide after a long and private struggle with mental health. The message asked for respect for his family and close circle, while underlining a vital reminder: “Suicide should never be glorified.”
For those who walked the dark paths of Scandinavian black metal in the 1990s, Nisse Karlén was not merely a frontman, but a poet of the abyss. He founded the band in 1990 under the name Tumulus, later transformed into Sacramentum, a project that would help define the very architecture of Swedish melodic black metal. His work on Far Away from the Sun (1996), often hailed as a masterpiece, carved Sacramentum’s name alongside Dissection and Dawn in the pantheon of the genre.
Karlén’s contributions were multifaceted: first as a guitarist, then bassist, and ultimately as the commanding voice of Sacramentum. Across their trilogy — Far Away from the Sun (1996), The Coming of Chaos (1997), and Thy Black Destiny (1999) — he crafted narratives of shadow, transcendence, and inner torment. When Sacramentum returned to activity in 2019, fans rejoiced at hearing his voice resonate once more on stage, proof that the fire still burned brightly after decades of silence.
His passing now leaves a deep void in a scene that still holds Sacramentum as one of the purest embodiments of integrity and vision. More than a musician, Karlén was an artist unwilling to compromise, a figure who channeled darkness into beauty and gave shape to emotions that many fear to confront.
The official announcement also included resources for those struggling with similar battles, reminding us that behind the myth of black metal, there are human lives at stake. In the U.S., the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available, while in Europe the 116 123 hotline offers support.
Nisse Karlén’s legacy will endure in every frozen riff, in every haunting lyric, and in the countless musicians and fans he inspired across generations. His voice may be gone, but the echo of Sacramentum’s art will forever remind us that darkness and beauty can coexist.
Rest in power, Nisse.
