Austere was a prominent black metal band that hails from Australia, known for their raw, melancholic sound and emotionally charged lyrics. The precise date of the band's formation remains obscured, much like the enigmatic nature of their music, but they were active in the late 2000s. Consisting of members who typically used pseudonyms, the most well-known being Desolate (also known as Sorrow) and Mitchell Keepin (also known as Forge), Austere managed to create a profound impact in the atmospheric black metal scene with a relatively small discography.

Austere's music is characterized by its bleak and sorrowful atmosphere, enveloping a sense of despair and longing in their haunting melodies. Their 2009 full-length album "To Lay Like Old Ashes" is seen as a pinnacle of their creative work, delivering an immersive listening experience that takes fans on a poignant, introspective journey. Although the band's life was short-lived, with their dissolution announced in 2010, Austere left a lasting legacy. Releases like "Withering Illusions and Desolation" (2007) and "Only the Wind Remembers" (2008) continue to resonate with fans of the genre. Their posthumous collection, "Corrosion of Hearts," which surfaced after their split, served as a melancholic farewell to their audience, encapsulating the essence of their somber artistry.