Isengard (band)
| Company type | Solo music project |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder | Fenriz |
Area served | Norway |
| Products | Black metal, Viking metal, experimental rock music |
Isengard represents a solo endeavor initiated by Fenriz, the drummer of Darkthrone, beginning in 1989. The project is deeply influenced by Norwegian black and Viking metal genres, incorporating elements of experimental rock, and derives its name from the Isengard fortress featured in The Lord of the Rings.
History
The emblem for Isengard depicts Thuringwethil, a vampire character from Tolkien's The Silmarillion, adapted from the Middle-earth Role Playing tabletop game. Fenriz established Isengard as an outlet to experiment with musical concepts that were incompatible with Darkthrone’s sound, handling all instrumental and vocal parts solo. The release Vinterskugge compiles three early demos that preceded the debut full album Høstmørke.
During a 2007 interview, Fenriz conveyed his astonishment regarding the project's reception, notably expressing his dislike for the folk metal components despite their popularity among listeners.
In 2016, Peaceville Records issued a 7" vinyl titled "Traditional Doom Cult," containing two tracks: "The Light" (recorded in 1989) and "The Fright" (from the early 1990s). Later, in October 2020, a third album named Vårjevndøgn was released, featuring previously unreleased material recorded between 1989 and 1993.
Discography
- Spectres over Gorgoroth (demo, 1989)
- Horizons (demo, 1991)
- Vandreren (demo, 1993)
- Vinterskugge (compilation, 1994)
- Høstmørke (1995)
- Traditional Doom Cult (2016)
- Vårjevndøgn (2020)