Ex-Cradle of Filth guitarist Marek ‘Ashok’ Šmerda has announced his new musical project following his departure from the band. He shared details about his latest venture on Instagram.
The guitarist revealed information about his new project called Somnum Foris. He discussed the creative challenges he’s facing in developing the sound.
“As you probably already learned over last few weeks or so I am part of new interesting musical journey – new project called Somnum Foris,” Šmerda said. “I already mentioned facing some challenges during laying down first guitar tracks having just my 6 string guitar axes so I experimented with alternative and quite unusual tunings and of course heavier string gauge.”
The musician explained his evolving approach to the project’s sound development.
“But as I have progressing more and got deeper into the material it was obvious that I have to go even lower(and possibly slower),” he continued. “New horizons ahead!”
This announcement comes after Šmerda’s firing from Cradle of Filth. The departure has led to legal action by former band members against Dani Filth.
The departure marks the end of a significant chapter for both Šmerda and the band. Tensions within Cradle of Filth reached a breaking point during their recent tour activities.
Oreate AI reported that Šmerda’s exit came mid-tour, days after his wife and band keyboardist Zoe Marie Federoff quit, citing low pay and a “toxic” atmosphere. The couple’s simultaneous departure created significant disruption for the band during their touring schedule.
Šmerda had been a key member of Cradle of Filth’s lineup since 2014. He contributed his guitar work alongside the band’s core members. Last.fm noted that the band’s recent lineup included vocalist Dani Filth, drummer Martin ‘Marthus’ Škaroupka, bassist Daniel Firth, guitarist Donny Burbage, and Federoff on keyboards.
The timing of these departures has created additional challenges for the British extreme metal band. The band has maintained a prominent position in the symphonic black metal scene for decades. Music Radar confirmed that Šmerda was fired mid-tour, just days after his wife’s departure, highlighting the escalating tensions within the band’s internal dynamics.
The legal action mentioned by former band members against Dani Filth suggests that the conflicts extend beyond simple creative differences. The disputes potentially involve contractual or financial issues that have yet to be fully resolved in the public domain.
