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Immortal (band)

From Alfawiki
Immortal
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1991 in Bergen, Norway
FounderAbbath Doom Occulta, Demonaz Doom Occulta
Headquarters
Bergen
,
Norway
ProductsBlack metal music, albums

Immortal is a black metal group hailing from Bergen, Norway, established in 1991 by vocalist and guitarist Abbath Doom Occulta alongside guitarist Demonaz Doom Occulta. Initially, the pair worked with several drummers such as Grim, Armagedda, and Hellhammer, before solidifying their lineup in 1996 by recruiting former drummer Horgh.

In March 2015, following internal disagreements, Abbath departed from Immortal and launched his own project, Abbath. Although early announcements suggested the band might disband, Demonaz and Horgh reassured fans in August 2015 that Immortal would persist without Abbath. Demonaz returned to playing guitar for the first time since 1997 and took over vocal responsibilities. Their album Northern Chaos Gods was subsequently released on 6 July 2018 via Nuclear Blast Records. While Immortal is generally recognized as a trio, several of their records have been produced by the duo of Abbath and Demonaz in various configurations.

Early releases and formation (1991–1996)

Immortal originated from the late 1980s bands Old Funeral and Amputation. Old Funeral, formed by Abbath and Tore Bratseth, included guitarists such as Demonaz, Varg Vikernes, and Jørn Inge Tunsberg before disbanding in 1992. Following this, Demonaz and Jørn established Amputation, which issued two demos prior to dissolving in 1990.

In 1991, members from both groups united to create Immortal,[1] with Abbath handling bass and vocals, Demonaz and Jørn on guitars, and Armagedda on drums. Their initial demos were rooted in death metal, drawing inspiration from bands like Morbid Angel and Possessed.[2] Soon after, they transitioned toward black metal under the influence of figures such as Mayhem’s Euronymous,[3] Bathory, and Celtic Frost.[2] This evolution was showcased in their 1991 self-titled EP, followed by their debut full-length Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism (1992), which established their raw black metal identity.

Their sophomore album Pure Holocaust (1993) featured enhanced production quality combined with rapid tempos and grandiose lyrical themes centered on darkness and evil, earning acclaim within black metal communities. The 1995 release Battles in the North amplified these characteristics with even faster rhythms and motifs inspired by cold climates and wintry landscapes.

In 1995, Immortal produced two music videos for Masters of Nebulah Frost, directed by David Palser through Osmose Productions. These visuals presented stark frozen environments alongside performances atop Norwegian mountain peaks. Featuring Mayhem’s drummer Hellhammer, these videos became seminal influences on the aesthetic style of black metal.

Blizzard Beasts and At the Heart of Winter era (1996–1999)

The 1997 album Blizzard Beasts incorporated technical thrash metal influences with a mix of shorter compositions alongside epic tracks like "Mountains of Might," maintaining lyrical focus on icy themes.

A consistent lineup emerged in 1996 when Horgh joined on drums for the recording of Blizzard Beasts. In 1997, Demonaz was diagnosed with severe tendinitis, forcing him to stop playing guitar; Abbath took over guitar duties while Demonaz remained active as lyricist and band manager, supporting tours and handling communications.

Together, Abbath and Horgh created At the Heart of Winter, which marked a stylistic progression toward a sophisticated blend of black metal combined with German thrash metal influences,[4] laying the foundation for Immortal’s future sound. During this period's touring cycle, Iscariah joined as bassist.

Erik "Grim" Brødreskift—who appeared on the cover of Pure Holocaust and toured as drummer without performing on that album—tragically died by suicide in 1999. Immortal frequently served as headliners at the Hole in the Sky festival held annually in his honor.

Damned in Black and Sons of Northern Darkness (2000–2003)

The release of Damned in Black signified Immortal's revisiting of their earlier musical approach and garnered positive feedback, although it was frequently eclipsed by the highly praised albums At the Heart of Winter and Sons of Northern Darkness. In 2000, the EP titled Immortal was reissued as part of the True Kings of Norway compilation by Spinefarm Records. That same year, the band entered into a contract with the German label Nuclear Blast, a partnership that did not influence their sound, as evidenced by the album Sons of Northern Darkness. Shortly thereafter, bassist Iscariah departed, with Saroth stepping in as a temporary replacement.

Split (2003–2007)

During the summer of 2003, Immortal disbanded owing to personal circumstances. Abbath initiated new ventures, assembling a lineup including Enslaved guitarist Ice Dale, Gorgoroth bassist King ov Hell, and original drummer Armagedda for the group I, with Demonaz contributing lyrics. Their debut record, Between Two Worlds, was released in November 2006.

In June 2006, the German publication Rock Hard revealed plans by Abbath, Demonaz, and Horgh to resurrect Immortal for a tour scheduled in 2007. Abbath commented:

Reunion and All Shall Fall (2007–2014)

Immortal reassembled in 2007 to perform at several prominent festivals such as Inferno Festival, Tuska Open Air, Metal Camp, and Wacken Open Air, alongside shows in the United States. Bass duties were handled by Apollyon from Aura Noir. The band also toured Australia and New Zealand in March 2008.

Following this reunion, Abbath and Horgh reestablished Immortal on a permanent basis with Apollyon replacing Iscariah on bass. Alongside Demonaz, they created material for the album All Shall Fall, which was recorded between April and May 2009 and released on 25 September 2009.

In an interview featured in Decibel magazine, it was disclosed that work had begun on Immortal’s ninth studio album, with "four new songs already underway" intended as a successor to All Shall Fall.

Abbath and Demonaz appeared in the 2009 American documentary directed by Aaron Aites and Audrey Ewell titled Until the Light Takes Us.

Legal battle, Abbath's exit, and Northern Chaos Gods (2014–2020)

While preparing a new album for Nuclear Blast, members of Immortal became involved in a legal dispute concerning the rights to the band’s trademark. Abbath confirmed that the album had been completed with contributions from various musicians.

In March 2015, Abbath departed from Immortal due to ongoing conflicts and an inability to move forward, opting to pursue a solo career.

On 8 January 2018, Immortal announced via Facebook that their ninth studio album was finalized, expressing appreciation for producer Peter Tägtgren’s involvement. The record, named Northern Chaos Gods, was released on 6 July 2018 through Nuclear Blast Records. It features original member Demonaz on vocals and guitar while Tägtgren handled bass duties; the timing of Apollyon’s exit remains unspecified.

Legal battle, Horgh's exit, and War Against All (2020–present)

In August 2020, a legal conflict arose between Demonaz and Horgh concerning the ownership of the band's name. Demonaz had filed for exclusive trademark rights to Immortal with the Norwegian Patent Office in July 2019; however, Horgh contested this claim and was successful in overturning Demonaz's exclusive trademark. Horgh was initially unaware that this registration had taken place.

On 24 October 2022, the group revealed plans for their tenth studio album, War Against All, scheduled for release in 2023. Demonaz was credited as the sole member, suggesting he ultimately obtained the rights to use the band's name. The album's title track was made available in March 2023, preceding the album’s release on 26 May.

Lyrical style

The thematic focus of Immortal's lyrics revolves around Blashyrkh, a mythical domain characterized by "demon-and-battle-filled" motifs intertwined with gothic, Nordic, and heroic influences. Conceived by Demonaz and Abbath to express their sense of seclusion in Bergen, Norway, Blashyrkh draws inspiration from wintry terrains, dense forests, towering mountains, shadows, mist, and icy valleys. Demonaz frequently finds creative stimulus during walks through the Norwegian wilderness near Bergen. Unlike numerous early black metal acts, Immortal steers clear of satanic themes, instead portraying darkness and malevolence within the fantasy context of Blashyrkh. Their debut album contained only minimal satanic references and lacked anti-religious content.

Current members

  • Demonaz Doom Occulta (Harald Nævdal) – lyricist (1991–present), guitarist (1991–1997, 2015–present), vocalist (2015–present)

Former members

  • Abbath Doom Occulta (Olve Eikemo) – vocalist (1991–2003, 2006–2015), guitarist (1998–2003, 2006–2015), bassist (1991–1998), studio drummer (1993–1995)
  • Jørn Inge Tunsberg – guitarist (1991)
  • Armagedda (Gerhard Herfindal) – drummer (1991–1992)
  • Grim (Erik Brødreskift) – drummer (1993–1994; deceased 1999)
  • Horgh (Reidar Horghagen) – drummer (1996–2003, 2006–2022)
  • Iscariah (Stian Smørholm) – bassist (1999–2002)
  • Apollyon (Ole Jørgen Moe) – bassist (2007–2015)

Live members

  • Kolgrim (also known as Padden) (Jan Atle Åserød) – drummer (1992–1993)
  • Hellhammer (Jan Axel Blomberg) – drummer (1995)
  • Ares (Ronny Hovland) – bassist (1998)
  • Saroth (Yngve Liljebäck) – bassist (2002–2003)

Studio albums

Other releases

  • Untitled demo (1991)
  • Immortal (EP, 1991)
  • Masters of Nebulah Frost (VHS, 1995)
  • True Kings of Norway (five-way split, 2000)
  • Live at BB Kings Club New York (DVD, 2003)
  • Valley of the Damned / Hordes of War (two-way split, 2009)
  • The Seventh Date of Blashyrkh (DVD, 2010)
  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Allmusic
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named thebrothersgrim01
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named loc39
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named thrash
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