Following his departure from The Moth Gatherer, Alex Stjernfeldt founded Novarupta as a musical outlet focused on slow, heavy, and emotionally intense works. The project began informally during a visit to Stockholm where Stjernfeldt attended a concert by
Ulver, evolving into a broader collaboration with Claudio Marino (Tid), who helped shape the concept of using different guest vocalists for each track. The project name is derived from the
Novarupta (meaning "newly erupted")
volcano in
Alaska, which erupted in 1912, leaving a prominent geological scar on the landscape, and it reflects the rebirth of Stjernfeldt's creative endeavours.
Disillusioned Fire (2019) Novarupta's debut album,
Disillusioned Fire, represents the element of fire. The record emerged from a difficult period in Stjernfeldt's life, and its intense and chaotic sound reflects those struggles. Guest vocalists on the album included members from bands such as
Dark Tranquillity and
Entombed. The album was released through Suicide Records, who picked up the project after hearing an early mix of the first song created for the album, "Urang Medan".
Marine Snow (2020) The second album,
Marine Snow, continued the elemental theme, this time focusing on water. As Stjernfeldt began composing the early tracks, he was drawn to the imagery of the deep ocean, and the music’s slow, immersive quality evoked a descent into the abyssal sea. The album transitions from the fire of the debut into a "sea of blackened sludge,
progressive metal, and monochromatic psychedelia," being described as cohesive and atmospheric.
Marine Snow received acclaim for its fluid and coherent sound, which Stjernfeldt described as feeling like a journey from the shoreline to the ocean's depths.
Marine Snow was nominated and won a Manifesgalan award. While the album differed from earlier releases and might have lacked strong commercial appeal, it was supported by Suicide Records and released. The album was released on 10 September 2024, is the fourth and final installment in Novarupta's elemental tetralogy, representing the element of earth. The album features nine tracks, each with a different guest vocalist, continuing the project's collaborative approach. Musically, it blends elements of post-metal,
gothic rock, and progressive metal, characterized by atmospheric arrangements and a melancholic tone. Critics noted the album's emotional depth and cohesive sound, highlighting tracks like "Seven Collides" and "Endless Joy" for their dynamic compositions, and described the album as concluding the series on a high note. Reviewers described the release as a culmination of Novarupta's conceptual journey through the classical elements.
Astral Sands was nominated and won at the Manifestgalan awards 2026.
Novarupta legacy Stjernfeldt has stated that the completion of the fourth album will mark the conclusion of Novarupta's discography. While no further albums are planned, he noted that "the band will not be anymore but it will exist," suggesting that the project may continue in some other form. "Wear You Down" (2020), and "Satanic Volcanic" (2021). Originally created as a lighthearted experiment, "The Colour Void" began as a spontaneous recording session, which Stjernfeldt later decided to release as an
April Fool’s Day joke. The tradition continued in subsequent years, with each track serving as a form of experimental release outside the main discography. While the songs are not humorous in content, Stjernfeldt has described them as a "
meta-joke"—an extension of the Novarupta universe that does not affect the core conceptual narrative. == Musical Style and Themes ==