Borknagar
Like Arcturus a Norwegian black metal supergroup, but unlike that unit in that the band is constantly active, Borknagar initially comprised Oystein Garnes Brun (b. 14 April 1975, Norway; guitar, ex-Molested), Garm (b. Kristoffer Rygg, 18 June 1972, Norway; vocals, also Ulver and Arcturus), Ivar Bjornson (guitar, also Enslaved), Grim (b. Erik Brodreskift, 23 December 1969, Norway, d. 4 October 1999; drums, also Immortal and Gorgoroth), and Infernus (bass, also Gorgoroth). Formed in 1995, Borknagar released a self-titled first album on the Malicious label: it appeared just in time to catch the metal-buying public's growing interest in melodic, symphonic music, characterized by sweeping keyboards, layered guitars and a generally lofty, progressive aura. The metal major Century Media then signed them up for a series of albums, all of which have maintained the band's commitment to epic grandeur to a warm reception on the Scandinavian scene. Personnel shuffles have been frequent, with Kai Lie replacing Infernus on the band's second album The Olden Domain, while sometime Dimmu Borgir member Simen Hest‘s, aka I.C.S. Vortex, took over on vocals from 1998's The Archaic Course to 2000's Quintessence, Jens Fredrik Ryland (b. 5 May 1974, Norway) played guitar from The Archaic Curse to 2001's Empiricism, and Asgeir Mickelson replaced Grim, who died of a sleeping-pill overdose in 1999. Keyboard player Lars Nedland was also added to the line-up on 2000's Quintessence. Borknagar's best long-player is widely thought to be Empiricism, on which the band showed signs of returning to their rawer roots. The line-up for this album also featured new members in the shape of vocalist Vintersorg (b. Andreas Hedlund, 4 March 1974, Sweden) and bass player Tyr (b. Jan Erik Torgesen). Ryland and Tyr were gone by the time of Borknagar's next recording , Epic. The group changed style for Origin in 2006 with a much lighter sound using acoustic guitars and even violins and flutes.

Listen to Borknagar at Finetune.

Albums
Top Tracks
  • A Tale Of Pagan Tongue
  • Ad Noctum
  • Ascension Of Our Fathers
  • Colossus
  • Four Element Synchronicity
Related Artists
Fans
[ Finetune | About Us | Terms | Privacy ][ Redirects: Off | On ][ Sitemap ]