Welcome to the Sanctum Sanctorum of Bal-Sagoth

 

Welcome to the Sanctum Sanctorum of Bal-Sagoth. Here you’ll find information on the various projects of Byron Roberts, vocalist/lyricist/founder of the symphonic black metal band Bal-Sagoth and author of pulp sword & sorcery stories. This will include band news as well as updates on Byron’s short stories, novels, etc. Browse the various pages of this site via the buttons to the right, and return to this welcome page by clicking the banner at the top. Thanks for visiting!

“Bal-Sagoth the band is just one facet of the vast and far-reaching world of these stories. The lyrics of the six albums are reflections of a much larger and more intricate body of work, and only a relatively small part of that has thus far been revealed in the lyric booklets. As I originally intended, the chronicles of this baroque fantasy world now encompass other forms of media such as prose short stories and novellas. Additionally, the canon will also ultimately include graphic novels, illustrated books, role-playing games and more. The forthcoming revised and expanded edition of my Glossary (entitled “The Lexicon”) will also provide readers with unprecedented information on all aspects of the lyrical mythos.”      

Byron Roberts

Story Anthologies & Novellas

 

“Bal-Sagoth the band is just one facet of the vast and far-reaching world of these stories. The lyrics of the six albums are reflections of a much larger and more intricate body of work, and only a relatively small part of that has thus far been revealed in the lyric booklets. As I originally intended, the chronicles of this baroque fantasy world now encompass other forms of media such as prose short stories and novellas. Additionally, the canon will also ultimately include graphic novels, illustrated books, role-playing games and more. The forthcoming revised and expanded edition of my Glossary (entitled “The Lexicon”) will also provide readers with unprecedented information on all aspects of the lyrical mythos.”      

Byron Roberts

THE CHRONICLES OF CAYLEN-TOR (VOLUME I)

All hail Caylen-Tor, the Wolf of the North!

An ancient fortress besieged by a vast and unrelenting empire...

A mighty legion intent upon the conquest of the antediluvian world...

A tyrannical Serpent King ruling from his sinister Black Pyramid... 

These are the chronicles of Caylen-Tor, the indomitable barbarian warrior whose cold steel carves a searing, bloody swath through the time-lost kingdoms of legend! A mercenary, a reaver, a king by his own hand... the saga of Caylen-Tor is one of pitiless carnage, dark sorcery and epic battle!

Bleed for the gods of war!

By Byron A. Roberts. Illustrated by Martin Hanford and Samuel Santos. Published by DMR Books. Order HERE.

THE CHRONICLES OF CAYLEN-TOR (VOLUME II)

The Wolf of the North Returns!

Caylen-Tor, the mightiest warrior of a savage, time-lost age surges back into the fray, carving an ensanguined path to his grim destiny in a new collection of thrilling sword & sorcery tales by famed Bal-Sagoth vocalist/lyricist Byron A. Roberts. 

From the desolate deserts of a war-torn empire to the shadow-haunted forests of the northern clans, join the legendary Lord of Wolves as he pits his strength, his courage and his cold, hard steel against a legion of fearsome foes, ultimately facing the malefic avatars of the Elder Darkness at the ersatz heart of the Hollow Earth!

All hail Caylen-Tor… 

Mercenary, corsair, warlord, king!

By Byron A. Roberts. Illustrated by Bebeto Daroz, Aleksandar Kostic and Andrej Bartulovic. Published by DMR Books. Order HERE.

THE CHRONICLES OF CAYLEN-TOR (VOLUME III)

The Wolf of the North Unleashed!

From a time-lost age of arcane legendry, the barbaric warrior-king Caylen-Tor rises once more to hack and hew his way to blood-spattered glory! In this, the third pulse-pounding volume of sword & sorcery tales by renowned Bal-Sagoth vocalist/lyricist Byron A. Roberts, the iron-thewed Lord of Wolves voyages across pirate-thronged seas in search of an ancient treasure, leads a warband of ferocious clansmen into battle against malefic sorcery, and ultimately faces his vengeful nemesis in the blighted depths of the netherworld itself!

All hail Caylen-Tor... the mightiest monarch of a savage, antediluvian epoch! 

By Byron A. Roberts. Cover artwork by Bebeto Daroz. Interior Illustrations by Andrej Bartulovic.

Published by DMR Books. Order HERE.

 

 

SWORDS OF STEEL OMNIBUS

An anthology series of sword & sorcery paperbacks featuring stories by notable metal musicians. "Swords of Steel" was published by DMR Books, initially as three separate volumes and later as a grand omnibus edition. My trilogy of stories featuring the Elizabethan privateer Captain Caleb Blackthorne appear in the "Swords of Steel" publications.

Published by DMR Books. Order HERE.

A number of other stories and poems have also been published in fantasy and horror anthology volumes over the years, including "Barbarian Crowns" (published by Barbwire Butterfly Books/Horrified Press), "Devil's Armory" (published by Barbwire Butterfly Books/Horrified Press), "Dreams of Fire and Steel" (published by Nocturnicorn Books), "Beyond the Cosmic Veil" (published by Barbwire Butterfly Books/Horrified Press), "The Infernal Bargain and Other Stories" (published by |DMR Books), "The Hyborian Gazette: Issue 2" (published by Carnelian Press), and "Karnov: Phantom Clad Rider of the Cosmic Ice" (published by DMR Books).

The Universe of Bal-Sagoth

 

“Bal-Sagoth the band is just one facet of the vast and far-reaching world of these stories. The lyrics of the six albums are reflections of a much larger and more intricate body of work, and only a relatively small part of that has thus far been revealed in the lyric booklets. As I originally intended, the chronicles of this baroque fantasy world now encompass other forms of media such as prose short stories and novellas. Additionally, the canon will also ultimately include graphic novels, illustrated books, role-playing games and more. The forthcoming revised and expanded edition of my Glossary (entitled “The Lexicon”) will also provide readers with unprecedented information on all aspects of the lyrical mythos.”      

Byron Roberts

The Antediluvian Map

This is the antediluvian map which I first drew back around 1989, or thereabouts. This is a colourized version of my original map illustration, which has appeared in several of the Bal-Sagoth albums over the years. The map shows most of the major territories in which my sword & sorcery lyrics, short stories and novellas take place. There's also an expanded version of the map which will be uploaded soon, showing more countries, cities and major rivers. 

CHARACTERS

Many fantastic characters populate the Bal-Sagoth lyrics and the short stories & novellas, from mighty warrior-kings and fearless rogues to nefarious witch-queens, merciless warlords, villainous sorcerers and malefic demigods. Here is a selection of concept artwork showcasing some of those characters.

Caylen-Tor

The barbarian warrior-king CAYLEN-TOR first appeared in the lyrics of the second BAL-SAGOTH album. This character has proven to be a fan favourite over the years and his epic adventures continue in the novels “The Chronicles of Caylen-Tor” Volumes I and II published by DMR Books. (Volume III will be released soon.) Caylen-Tor was also immortalized as a set of two metal gaming miniatures from Barbaric Splendor Miniatures. Here's an assortment of Caylen-Tor concept artwork, character illustrations, book covers, and more.

Zurra: Hound of the Z'xulth

Zurra is the villainous central character from the lyrics of the fourth Bal-Sagoth album, and he also features in several forthcoming comic strips and short stories. Here’s a selection of concept artwork and illustrations featuring the malevolent Hound of the Z'xulth, including a thumbnail preview of a four page comic strip:

The King of Hyperborea and Lord Angsaar the Dark Liege of Chaos

The malefic chaos sorcerer Lord Angsaar features in several songs on the Bal-Sagoth albums, most notably the epic "Hyperborean Empire" trilogy, which recounts Angsaar's cataclysmic battle against his nemesis, the noble King of Hyperborea. Lord Angsaar is also referenced in several of the Caylen-Tor and Captain Blackthorne stories published by DMR Books. There follows an assortment of concept artwork, character illustrations and paintings depicting these two characters.

The Obsidian Crown Saga

The epic battle between the Imperium and the Vyrgothian Alliance began in the lyrics of the second Bal-Sagoth album and continued on the sixth. The ancient conflict has also featured in several of my stories published by DMR Books, including two volumes of "The Chronicles of Caylen-Tor". Here is an array of character illustrations and concept artwork inspired by that fantastic confrontation between the mightiest armies of the antediluvian age.

Captain Blackthorne, Joachim Blokk and Bright-Anya Ophidia

The adventures of the Elizabethan privateer Captain Caleb Blackthorne began in the lyrics of the third Bal-Sagoth album. They continued in a trilogy of short stories appearing in the "Swords of Steel" paperback anthology series and the omnibus edition published by DMR Books.

The vampyre hunter Joachim Blokk began his quest in the lyrics of the third Bal-Sagoth album. The first of a trilogy of short stories featuring the character appeared in the sword & sorcery anthology volume "Devil's Armory", published by Barbwire Butterfly Books/Horrified Press. The character will also appear in a comic strip at some point.

The dragon rider Bright-Anya Ophidia from "Draconis Albionensis" will soon continue her adventures in short stories and comics.