Post-metal artist Shuggah releases her powerful and long-awaited debut album Her Chrysalis today via Mongrel Records. A genre-blurring, deeply emotional body of work that invites listeners on a sonic journey through tension, release, and catharsis.
 
Blending the raw energy of metal with the atmospheric depth of post-rock, the record showcases Shuggah’s unique sonic voice—shaped by years of evolution from her early days in Cape Town’s underground techno scene to her current life in the tranquil art village of Riebeek Kasteel.
 
Inspired by artists such as Russian Circles, Chelsea Wolfe, Psychonaut, Cult of Luna, and Tool, Shuggah crafts expansive soundscapes using dreamy yet aggressive guitar layers and wide, thunderous drums—delivering an experience both ethereal and visceral.

The journey toward this debut began in 2019, when Shuggah relocated from Cape Town to the mountains and vineyards of Riebeek Kasteel. There, surrounded by nature and immersed in a new daily rhythm of ritual and introspection, she began building the emotional and sonic foundation of the album.
 
“I had moved out to the mountains to start creating it—into this gorgeous valley, on a vineyard. Everything in my routine was new, from the dirt I was exploring to the yoga practice I had started. It was a very spiritual and deep experience for me, and I think it came through on the album.”

Buy and stream the album at https://orcd.co/her-chrysalis

Entirely instrumental, the record is designed to be felt rather than simply heard. It unfolds like a cinematic arc—with emotional highs and lows, tension and release—drawing the listener inward for an experience of emotive release and internal reflection.
 
Shuggah’s creative process was meticulous and sacred. She used violin bows on guitars, environmental recordings from her surroundings, and even the crackle of fire from ceremonial burns, giving the album a ritualistic intensity that resonates from start to finish.
 
“I wanted to pay my respects to the music through ritual and keep the process special. If I cared a lot, it would come through in the songs.”

Despite completing the album after a focused, two-year recording process, Shuggah faced a major setback when her home studio was broken into and ransacked, leaving her without equipment and shaken. Miraculously, the finished album survived.
 
“All I could think was how glad I was the album was finished.”
 
Shuggah is a multi-disciplinary artist, known for her work in photography, dance, and film—elements that inform her visual storytelling and self-directed music videos. Today’s release marks a defining moment in her creative evolution and a bold entrance into the post-metal landscape.

More information at https://www.facebook.com/Shuggah.sa

Post-rock and metal artist Shuggah emerges from the depths of South Africa’s underground music scene with her debut single and music video, Amas Veritas, the first release from her upcoming conceptual album, Her Chrysalis, out on the May 2nd, via Mongrel Records.
 
Shuggah’s sound is a unique fusion of aggressive walls of guitars, punchy drums, and dreamlike textures, rooted in her background as a producer and DJ in the underground techno community. Influenced by Russian Circles, Chelsea Wolfe, Psychonaut, and Cult of Luna, she has crafted a dark, etheric, and ritualistic sonic experience that transcends conventional genre boundaries.
 
“Amas Veritas was inspired by ancient love stories of the Greek gods—tales of tragedy, war, and the fight against death,” says Shuggah. “The title means ‘the truth of love,’ which often inspires chaos and ends unhappily, but the love itself is all-consuming and passionate. There’s always a deep struggle, facing war and even death.”

The single was born from a deeply immersive creative process. “I would sit for hours, experimenting with guitar sounds, using tons of found samples for inspiration,” she explains. “Back then, I was meditating in the bathtub a lot—my house had an enormous reverb, and it felt like floating in an ancient hall while guitars bounced off the walls.” The recording process spanned an extended period, meticulously layering sounds and featuring multiple guitars, including a deeply personal instrument: “I used an axe from my brother after he passed away, called Axecalibar—fitting that the video should feature me wielding a sword.”

Buy and stream the single at https://orcd.co/amas-veritas

The music video for Amas Veritas is equally cinematic and symbolic. Inspired by the gritty, monochrome aesthetics of artists like Amenra and Chelsea Wolfe, Shuggah envisioned a spiritual and battle-like visual. “I wanted the video to feel like an epic battle had taken place—something raw, ritualistic, and deeply personal.” Shot on location at Remhoogte Farm in Riebeek Kasteel, the video captures the vast landscapes and primal energy of the track. “We climbed a mountain and set the earth on fire for the circle shot,” she recalls. “Unfortunately, the wind didn’t allow the flames to hold, but we still captured the essence—fire, smoke, and raw emotion. It felt like a war had gone on within myself. I had the sword on fire too—I felt like a warrior on that mountain.”

The video was directed by Shuggah herself, with aerial cinematography by Werner Botha, whose expertise in film added depth to the visuals. “He was really excited to see the pyro effects and gave amazing advice,” she adds.
 
Amas Veritas marks the beginning of an era for Shuggah, an artist unafraid to push the boundaries of heavy music and visual storytelling. With Her Chrysalis set to be a deeply spiritual, visceral journey, this debut single is only the first glimpse into the dark and immersive world she has created.