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Erik Wunder, the driving creative force behind the black metal band Cobalt<\/a> and gothic folk-rock project Man\u2019s Gin<\/a>, has died. Nachtmystium<\/a>\u2019s Blake Judd<\/a> and Abigail Williams\u2019 Ken Sorceron<\/a>\u2014both of whom toured had previously toured alongside Wunder\u2014confirmed the news on social media. \u201cI\u2019m absolutely devastated, Judd wrote in an Instagram post. \u201cErik Wunder, rest easy brother. I am so grateful for our times together.\u201d Wunder was 42.<\/p>\n In 2002, Wunder joined Grimness Enshroud, then the Greeley, Colorado-based solo project of Phil McSorley. They renamed the band to Cobalt shortly thereafter, with Wunder later telling Invisible Oranges<\/em><\/a>, \u201cwe wanted a name that didn’t entail anything. Something basic. Something elemental. The name \u2018Cobalt\u2019 leaves room for any variety of directions.\u201d Cobalt\u2019s debut album, War Metal<\/em>, came out in 2005. Wunder played all of the guitar, bass, and drum parts in the studio while McSorley handled lead vocal duties.<\/p>\n That same year, Wunder founded Man\u2019s Gin with guitarist Clint Kamerzell, serving as the duo\u2019s primary songwriter, guitarist, drummer, and frontman. Their 2005 EP The Rum Demos<\/em> never saw a wide release but made waves in Colorado\u2019s underground scene. Meanwhile, Cobalt signed to Profound Lore and released two more albums: 2006\u2019s Eater of Birds<\/em> and 2009\u2019s Ernest Hemingway-inspired Gin<\/em>, the latter of which dovetailed with Kamerzell\u2019s departure from Man\u2019s Gin.<\/p>\n Throughout 2009 and 2010, Wunder toured with experimental vocalist Jarboe<\/a>. He recruited another member of her band\u2014upright bassist Joshua Lozano\u2014and guitarist Scott Edward to join Man\u2019s Gin. Together, they put out Smiling Dogs<\/em> in 2011 and Rebellion Hymns<\/em><\/a> in 2013. In December of 2014, Wunder kicked McSorely out of Cobalt after the singer posted a misogynistic and homophobic screed to Facebook. He was replaced by Lord Mantis\u2019 Charlie Fell, who Wunder had previously met while on tour with Jarboe.<\/p>\n Cobalt shared their final LP, the double album Slow Forever<\/em><\/a>, in 2016. In a Pitchfork interview<\/a> with Wunder around the time of its release, Grayson Haver Currin wrote that the band had created \u201cblackened metal that felt more dangerous than the work of so many satan-worshipping acts steeped in fantasy and make-believe.\u201d<\/p>\n