Best Norwegian Metal

Oslo, Norway (1993 – present)

Symphonic black metal. "Dimmu Borgir" means "Dark Cities" or "Dark Fortresses" in Icelandic and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir.

Three best albums in my opinion:

Notodden, Norway (1992 – 2001)

Influential Norwegian black metal that represents a synth laden, progressive yet brutally aggressive and chaotic part of the genre, something quite different from the minimalism of other originators of the Norwegian black metal sound (e.g. Darkthrone).

Three best albums in my opinion:

Kristiansand, Norway (1990 – on hold)

Formed as a death-metal act, but did not release their first album until 2000. This is because shortly after having formed as Green Carnation, main composer Tchort left the band to join Emperor. The rest of the band continued/restarted under a new name: In the Woods... Tchort decided to restart the band after In the Woods... disbanded, including some old In the Woods... members back into the band.

Three best albums in my opinion:

Notodden, Norway (1975 – present)

Ihsahn (born 1975), born Vegard Sverre Tveitan, is a Norwegian guitar, bass and keyboard player and vocalist. He is best known for his work with Norwegian black metal band Emperor. He played in Peccatum with his wife Ihriel (real name Heidi S. Tveitan) until 2006 and has appeared in Thou Shalt Suffer, Zyklon-B and Hardingrock, and now devotes himself to his solo project, Ihsahn. In very early releases he went by the name Ygg.

Three best albums in my opinion:



(that was easy, he has released 3 albums thus far)

Hamar, Norway (1992 – present)

From symphonic black metal to industrial/electronic metal on more recent albums, shaping the style that Lex Icon (aka Nagash ex-Dimmu Borgir) and Psy Coma (in those days known as Blackheart) coined after the release of Nexus Polaris: Progressive Space Metal. Originally the band was called Covenant, but due to a dispute with the Swedish Futurepop/Industrial band with the same name, it was later changed to The Kovenant.

Three best albums in my opinion:



(that was easy, they have released 3 albums thus far)

Oslo, Norway (1993 – present)

Melodic Black Metal. Guitarist/vocalist Galder (originally known as Grusom), guitarist Jardar and drummer Tjodalv decided to form a band dedicated to classic death metal. They soon discovered their mutual love for extreme black metal and when ex-Dimmu Borgir bassist Brynjard Tristan joined their new musical direction was clear... a combination of classic thrash mixed with death metal and melodic black metal. Their earlier albums are viking metal orientated, continuing through to symphonic black metal, whilst their later albums have a more groovier sound to them.

Three best albums in my opinion:

Oslo, Norway (1997-2008)

Though their debut album Arrows was first released in Scandinavia in January 2005, the four guys in Stonegard have been hard at work on their music for a long time. They first met in 1997 when three of them were enrolled at “Trøndertunet” a boarding school which in the last 15-20 years has been a breeding ground for many of Norway’s most successful “pop musicians” of all genres.

Three best albums in my opinion:



(That was easy, they have released only these two albums and are split-up nowadays. That's a big loss for a genre of stoner metal)

Oslo, Norway (1991 – present)

Influential black metal band, whose line-up over the years has constantly revolved around a stable core of multi-instrumentalist Sigurd “Satyr” Wongraven and drum powerhouse Kjetil Vidar “Frost” Haraldstad.

Three best albums in my opinion:

Kristiansand, Norway (1998 – present)

Blood Red Throne started when Død and Tchort (while playing in Satyricon at that time), decided to form their own band and show their passion for death metal. Tchort had been playing death metal since 1989 with his band Green Carnation, which was one of the first death metal bands in norway, and Død had been a huge fan and of the genre since 1992 . Tchort was also the bass player in Emperor in the early 90’s and has been involved with bands like Carpathian Forest and Einherjer. The band soon got in touch with a very skilled drummer living in their hometown by the name of Freddy Bolsø, and BRT was born.

Kristiansand, Norway (1993 – 2003)

Avant-garde/progressive metal band. They started out as a death metal band called Green Carnation, but with the departure of main composer/guitarist Tchort to the band Emperor, they started the project called In the Woods... releasing a demo in 1993, “The Isle of Men”, and a full-length album, “Heart of the Ages”, in 1995 (it is unknown if the uppercase “E” was a deliberate typographic error or not). This album was unique to the time since the band expanded the limits of their black metal style into the soothing of keyboards and female vocals, combined with eerie distorted vocals and clean singing as well. The following, “Omnio”, is often regarded as their best album, featuring even more experimental music, 11 minute songs with more female vocals and reflective lyrics, together with magical instrumental overtures. The third album “Strange in Stereo” brought an enigmatic change in style, since music got far more depressive and changing.

Three best albums in my opinion:

(1998 - Present)

They may have their roots in Norway’s black metal scene, but that is merely a starting point for a band that describes their music as “extreme metal with melodic twists”. Their simple philosophy of “no boundaries” – as reflected on the album ‘Unlimited’ – demonstrates how Susperia have no hesitation in embracing and exploring a variety of musical avenues with ease. They feel that originality is the essence of surviving the music industry today and their willingness to experiment has seen development and progression over their three-album career, to a point where they are managing to carve out their own identity within the metal genre.

Three best albums in my opinion:

(2004 - Present)

After many years of involvement on different ends of the Norwegian rock and metal scene, four hard rock devotees teamed up under the name Sahg, in the late summer of 2004. The members had gained long and wide experience – together and each on their end – from bands like Gorgoroth, Audrey Horne and Manngard, in which they were and still are engaged. Still, they had a craving to form this new band, and when it finally came together, the ball started rolling pretty quickly.

Three best albums in my opinion:

Lillestrøm, Oslo, Norway (1998 – present)

Stoner rock band from Lillestrøm, Norway. The members, Øyvind Osa (vocals and bass guitar), Thomas Fredriksen (drums) and Anders Gjersti (guitar), began working together in 1998. Fredrik Wallumrød joined the band in 2008.

Three best albums in my opinion:

Kristiansand, Norway (1994 – present)

Trail of Tears is a symphonic gothic metal/black metal band (with death metal and industrial metal influences) from Kristiansand, Norway. The band was formed in 1994 under the name of Natt (Norwegian for “Night”), but later changed its name to Trail of Tears in 1997, to reflect changes in sound and line-up.

Three best albums in my opinion:

(1998–present)

Progressive metal band with symphonic touches. Its members are vocalist Lars Eric Si (Jack In A Box, Before the Dawn, Khold), guitarist Carl August Tidemann (Arcturus, Tritonus), drummer Hellhammer (Jan Axel von Blomberg) (Mayhem, Arcturus, The Kovenant) and keyboardist Andy Winter (Age of Silence). A key feature of their music is the tight integration of the traditional components of a metal band with a string quartet

Three best albums in my opinion: