Over the years, I have had several musical projects and played in several bands, ranging from soft acoustics and jazz/lounge to the deepest pits of extreme metal. I have always had a fascination for the latter, the primal aspect of aggression and frustration, combined with speed and raw energy, that creates that ominous and harsh atmosphere that is extreme metal. Add my interest for horror and there’s really no question as to why this genre fascinates me.
Here’s a selection of releases I have participated on:
Setherial
In 1996, I was asked to join the black metal band Setherial, right after they had released their debut album. I stayed with the band for 11 years, made a few larger tours and festival gigs, releasing 4 full length albums and a compilation album during that time, before I departed in 2007.
In 1996, I was asked to join the black metal band Setherial, right after they had released their debut album. I stayed with the band for 11 years, made a few larger tours and festival gigs, releasing 4 full length albums and a compilation album during that time, before I departed in 2007.
In 1998, I started a black metal project with a Lovecraftian theme, with a few friends of mine. The aim was never to play any live shows, but merely to write, record and release some songs. Unfortunately, time and opportunity only led to a few recordings and a few years ago, after having tried to revive the project several times, we decided to call it quits. We gathered all recorded material we could find and made a digital release.
The death metal act, Torchbearer, was kind of a “mix n’ match” experiment, initiated by a record label. I was asked to join, merely because of my merits from other bands and so were also the other members. Some of them, I knew, others were new to me. It was an interesting concept that I had to try out, which resulted in one release for my part.
One day, just after the turn of the new millennium, I was idly playing the guitar and accidentally wrote a jazz-influenced riff. Not knowing what to do with it, I, naturally, recorded it and decided to write some lyrics in the style of black metal. Thus, Slightly Satanic was born. This little pet project of mine was never a high priority, but a few years ago, I put together a band and recorded an album of lounge music with a twist, full of dark humour and moody, catchy tunes. Unfortunately, one member decided to leave and this person had made a huge impact on the sound of the music, so the decision was made to put the band on ice.
Eerie melodies, extended range instruments and inspiration from 80’s and 90’s gothic rock bands, the first (and probably last) album was released in october 2020.
Symphonic Black Metal, inspired by the 90’s era, but with a modern touch. Debut album, “Perdition”, was released digitally, on CD and LP, in November 2020.
There are, of course, more projects I have been involved in, although much of it was never properly released, or is very hard to find digital replications of.