Blackthorn were formed in 2004, by the
Sakha-born singer Aina. A year later the original line-up, featuring Aina, Verbena (bass guitar), Max (a blind from birth drummer), Lydia (guitars) and Olga (keyboards), entered the studio to record their 3-track demo,
The Prologue of Eschaton. Mixed by the
Israeli black metal band Arafel, it was released in February 2007. Two of its tracks later appeared in the "Metal World Compilation Vol.3". Lydia left Blackthorn in 2007 after giving birth to a baby, to be replaced by Elvira Alchemida (guitars, keyboards, growling). With a new drummer Alexander Karpukhin and Freya on keyboards, the band recorded a 10-track debut album
Gossamer Witchcraft, released by Ravenheart Music Records on 30 November 2009. In February 2010 its Russian version
Araneum (Аранеум) came out via the Moscow-based Musica Production label. The record's digital version was released internationally by Hunter's Moon. In the course of the next two years the band toured Russia,
Ukraine,
Belarus and
Estonia, and played at the Metal Heads Mission X and Metal Crowd festivals, in 2009 and 2011, respectively. In 2010 the band, now with Varaska (Alexandra Archangelskaya) on drums, Greta (Tatyana Grevizirskaya) on bass and Less (Elena Lesnykh, ex-Shallow Rivers) on violin, {{external media
Witch Cult Ternion, a concept album, telling the "story of ancient triple goddesses, but interpret[ing] it in its own way, enfleshing the vision as three evil witch-sisters, reigning over the world with their dark powers," came out in December 2015. It drew comparisons with the early works of
Cradle of Filth, as well as
Epica,
Dimmu Borgir and
Lacrimosa, and "has finally brought the band into the Premiere league of Russian heavy music scene," according to one reviewer. After the release Varaska left the band to concentrate on her work with the Polish band Minetaur. She was replaced by Acotath (ex-Instorm, Khaos Labyrinth), who first appeared on the December 31, "Death of Love" single release. More concerts followed, including an appearance at the
Metal Female Voices Fest in Belgium. ==Band members==