July 6, 2016 — As the years go by, the original torch bearers of the legendary Norwegian black metal scene travel further down their own unique music journeys. While the spirit, soul, and creativity will always remain intact, the darkness, extremity, and sheer sonic force has often been left in the past.
March 22, 2016 — After four long years, Scandinavian supergroup THE WRETCHED END, featuring Samoth (EMPEROR, ZYKLON, SCUM), Cosmo (MINDGRINDER, SCUM, SOURCE OF TIDE), and Nils Fjellström (DARK FUNERAL, IN BATTLE), have announced the April 22, 2016 release of In These Woods, From These Mountains.
December 9, 2015 — The good folks at Raven Music have dedicated themselves to releasing sheet music for alternative and black metal and have now released sheet music for EMPEROR’s In the Nightside Eclipse and ULVER’s Shadows of the Sun and Kveldssanger.
September 30, 2014 — THE WRETCHED END are currently working on their third album, which is set for a 2015 release. They just posted a video of Nils “Dominator” Fjellström laying down some of his drum tracks.
August 4, 2014 — This past weekend, the biggest metal fest in the world, Wacken Open Air, went down with another amazing line up of bands. None of us, APESHIT goons, were able to make the trip over to Germany but let’s check out some great footage.
June 8, 2014 — Black metal kings, EMPEROR, played their first show performing In the Nightside Eclipse as part of the album’s 20th anniversary at the Sweden Rock Festival this past Saturday.
April 24, 2014 — The kings of black metal, EMPEROR, have announced that they will be visiting Japan for the first time this July. They will be performing the classic, In the Nightside Eclipse, in its entirety for the two shows in Tokyo and Osaka.
April 9, 2014 — Notodden, Norway’s STAROFASH, featuring Heidi S. Tveitan (ex-PECCATUM), has just released their fourth album entitled Ghouleh. The album is available for free streaming and purchase on Bandcamp (http://starofash-official.
March 12, 2014 — The month of January brings excitement to the City of Anaheim every year, and the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) 2014 show is no exception!
November 10, 2013 — It’s been a long time since MINDGRINDER’s last album, Riot Detonator, was released (eight years to be exact). The wait is over as the band’s third album, Prop Agenda, is available now on iTunes and Spotify.
September 19, 2013 — Despite the fact that “Zoo Human Syndrome” is taken off THE WRETCHED END’s 2010 record, Ominous, the band have posted the official video for it. Check it out below.
August 27, 2013 — Candlelight Records today confirms October 22 as the North American release date for Das Seelenbrechen, the fifth solo album from IHSAHN. Das Seelenbrechen will be available on compact disc, a limited edition digibook (with expanded graphics and liner notes), and double 180-gram clear vinyl.
August 16, 2013 — With the recent news that EMPEROR will reunite for Wacken Open Air next year (as well as Bloodstock 2014), it got me in the EMPEROR/EMPEROR-related mood.
August 7, 2013 — As reported earlier, EMPEROR have announced that they will reunite to perform In the Nightside Eclipse at Wacken Open Air festival 2014 with drummer Faust. However, what was not clear was whether the band would be reuniting for good or simply for more reunion shows.
August 4, 2013 — This past Friday, August 2, 2013, EMPEROR announced that they will reunite once again to perform at Wacken 2014. To add to that, former drummer Faust will be joining the band to perform In the Nightside Eclipse in its entirety.
April 18, 2013 — After being totally immersed in music for a decade or two (or three), it’s easy to grow desensitized to the untainted joy and fresh excitement that music can bring.
December 6, 2012 — After spending a very eventful and busy year promoting their latest album release, Bilateral, acclaimed Norwegian progsters LEPROUS have now started their recording sessions for their upcoming, currently untitled studio album, set to be released before summer 2013 worldwide via InsideOut Music.
July 26, 2012 — For today’s Song of the Day, let us revisit one of the greatest underground metal bands of all time, ARCTURUS. Back in 1994, the band released the Constellation EP via guitarist Samoth’s Nocturnal Art Productions.
July 6, 2012 — After making a strong debut with Ominous, Norway’s THE WRETCHED END easily proved their worth. Now, with Inroads, the band have honed and focused their sophisticated, multi-dimensional style of extreme metal to a blacker, more desolate place.
April 5, 2012 — Candlelight Records has announced that Ihsahn’s new album, Eremita, will be released in North America on June 19, 2012. Alongside Ihsahn, the album features performances from drummer Tobias Ornes Andersen (LEPROUS), saxophonist Jorgen Munkeby (SHINING (Norway)), guitarist Jeff Loomis (ex-NEVERMORE), and vocalists Devin Townsend, Einar Solberg (LEPROUS), and Heidi S.
March 26, 2012 — THE WRETCHED END’s new video for “Death By Nature” has been posted online. The song comes off the band’s new album, Inroads, which is scheduled for an April 23, 2012 release via Nocturnal Art Productions/Candlelight Records.
November 26, 2011 — THE WRETCHED END, featuring guitarist Samoth (ZYKLON, EMPEROR), have posted a video of the guitar recording sessions for their upcoming album, Inroads. Check it out:
September 6, 2011 — THE WRETCHED END are currently in the studio recording their sophomore record, which is set for a 2012 release (read more details here). The band has posted the following video showing drummer Nils Fjellström laying down the drum tracks:
September 2, 2011 — There are two things that come to mind after listening to Bilateral: (1) Wow, this is very impressive; and (2) why haven’t I heard of this band earlier?
August 25, 2011 — In 2011, the world knows and reveres legendary Norwegian black metal bands such as EMPEROR, MAYHEM, IMMORTAL, and SATYRICON. But where’s the love for the seminal Norwegian band that helped to spur the creative explosion of the 90’s black metal scene?
August 23, 2011 — For those familiar with STAROFASH’s back catalogue, it’s a fact that the band’s releases are all precious gems of art. The beautiful new record, Lakhesis, is no different.
August 15, 2011 — ** THE WRETCHED END**, formed in 2008 as a creative collaboration between Samoth (EMPEROR/ZYKLON) and Cosmo (MINDGRINDER), are currently heading into Strand Studio, Oslo, to record the drum tracks for the follow up to last years debut album Ominous.
June 24, 2011 — Back in 2003, Norwegian supergroup, ZYKLON, composed of members of EMPEROR and MYRKSKOG, released their second album, Aeon. And on that album, they dished out this excellent album closer, “An Eclectic Manner.
May 20, 2011 — Norwegian extreme metal super group, THE WRETCHED END, have just posted a video of the 2009 recording sessions for the band’s debut album, Ominous [read our review here].
October 26, 2010 — It’s been a long four years since we last heard new music from ZYKLON leader/guitarist Samoth. Regrouping anew with MINDGRINDER/SCUM vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Cosmo and Swedish drum beast Nils Fjellström (IN BATTLE, AEON, DARK FUNERAL), THE WRETCHED END prove to be cutting edge extreme metal.
October 9, 2010 — Samoth (THE WRETCHED END, ZYKLON, EMPEROR) will guest DJ The Bunker at Hard Luck Bar in Toronto, Canada on October 9th. On his playlist for the night will be THE WRETCHED END’s upcoming debut album, Ominous.
October 4, 2010 — If you’re a tried and true Norwegian black metal fan, then you know that the best of the best came out of Notodden, Norway. This is really cool Norwegian TV segment co-hosted by the Ihsahn (EMPEROR, PECCATUM, IHSAHN) and Ihriel (PECCATUM, STAR OF ASH) was supposedly first aired on January 28, 2004.
September 3, 2010 — THE WRETCHED END, the new Scandinavian group comprised of Samoth (ZYKLON, EMPEROR, SCUM), Cosmo (MINDGRINDER, SCUM, SOURCE OF TIDE), and Nils Fjellström (IN BATTLE, AEON), have posted an e-card promoting their debut album, Ominous.
June 15, 2010 — By having both guitarist Jens Ryland and bassist Tyr rejoin the group, BORKNAGAR mastermind Øystein Brun was refreshed and inspired enough to write the newest progressive work of art, entitled Universal.
May 26, 2010 — THE WRETCHED END, the new band featuring Samoth (ZYKLON, EMPEROR, SCUM), Cosmo (MINDGRINDER, SCUM), and Nils Fjellström (IN BATTLE, DARK FUNERAL, AEON), have announced their signing to Nocturnal Art Productions/Candlelight Records.
May 5, 2010 — The arrival of a new IHSAHN invokes curiosity and anticipation as this metal god never fails to stimulate. After concludes the trilogy of IHSAHN albums released to date.
January 29, 2010 — The following interview with Ihsahn was conducted and gracefully provided by MetalGeorge for Examiner.com__, as the site’s Cape Cod Rock Music Examiner (original article). Having first acquired a copy of After-the third solo effort from former EMPEROR frontman Ihsahn-in late 2009, it was clear from the get-go that this truly was going to be the first great album of 2010.
November 25, 2009 — EMPEROR/ZYKLON guitarist, Samoth, has assembled a new extreme metal project, dubbed THE WRETCHED END, with Cosmo of MINDGRINDER. Two have previously worked together in SCUM and Cosmo has toured with ZYKLON as their bass player.
November 6, 2009 — A track from IHSAHN’s forthcoming album, After, has been premiered by Guitar World Magazine. The song, “Frozen Lakes on Mars,” is the fourth song from the former EMPEROR vocalist/guitarist’s new album, which is scheduled for a January 26th American release.
October 30, 2009 — Former EMPEROR vocalist/guitarist IHSAHN will be releasing his new album, After, on January 26th (North America) through Candlelight Records. The follow-up to angL was recorded during the first half of 2009 at his own Symphonique Studio with some additional work at Toproom Studio.
April 7, 2009 — EMPEROR/ZYKLON guitarist Samoth recently filled in for MINDGRINDER guitarist Håkon during the band’s performance in Oslo, Norway. Samoth is also continuing work on his new solo album with MINDGRINDER’s Cosmocrator.
January 5, 2009 — ZYKLON/ex-EMPEROR guitarist Samoth has posted a recap of 2008 and offered a glimpse into 2009, including the announcement of a new project. “New year, new challenges… and man, does time go fast!
December 12, 2008 — Candlelight Records confirms the completion of the final recordings from black metal legends EMPEROR. Titled Live Inferno, the special live series features various releases recorded/filmed during the band’s sold out 2005-2007 reunion performances.
September 25, 2008 — Becoming an unquestionable underground legend as a member of EMPEROR in your teens can be a hard act to follow. However, Ihsahn has taken on the task of continuing his musical legacy with his solo albums in addition to his work in PECCATUM and HARDINGROCK.
June 6, 2008 — Anyone familiar with Ihsahn’s body of work knows that his focus has always been about progressing as an artist. His new album, AngL (pronounced like “angel”), is no exception as he explores new musical realms.
March 21, 2008 — Candlelight Records today confirms May 27 as the American release date for strong>angL, the second solo album from former EMPEROR vocalist/guitarist Ihsahn. The album features nine new songs all written and performed by the highly respected musician.
January 30, 2008 — The resurrected LIMBONIC ART originally made its name in the late 90’s back when black metal was starting to gain traction. Legacy of Evil, harkens back to that glorious time of dark, evil, musical mystique; a time where all black metal output was largely influenced by EMPEROR’s In the Nightside Eclipse.
October 22, 2007 — ZYKLON bandleader/guitarist Samoth has announced that the band will be going on hiatus. All of the band’s members will focus on their individual projects and priorities for the time being.
April 8, 2007 — Often times, you never know what you’re gonna get when you buy an album from a band you really don’t know much about. However, BLOOD TSUNAMI clearly make their intentions known via their band name, album title, and cover artwork.
March 29, 2007 — Los Angeles’ ABYSMAL DAWN have announced Mike Cosio as their new bassist as well as their opening slot for EMPEROR’s show in LA. Here is more from the band:
January 17, 2007 — Norway’s EMPEROR have announced a return to the United States for three encore performances this spring. The band reunited last year for four reunion performances in the U.
November 14, 2006 — Candlelight Records has confirmed January 23 as the North American release date for EMPEROR’s Scattered Ashes: A Decade of Emperial Wrath tab book. The 132-page oversized book will include guitar tablature, transcribed by vocalist/guitarist Ihsahn himself, for 13 EMPEROR classes as contained on the band’s 2003 compilation of the same name.
August 14, 2006 — BLOOD TSUNAMI, the Oslo, Norway-based thrash metal band featuring drummer Bård G. Eithun (a.k.a. Faust; SCUM, ABORYM, ex-EMPEROR), has signed a three-album deal with Nocturnal Art Productions/Candlelight Records.
August 10, 2006 — Notodden, Norway: After triumphantly headlining the annual Wacken Open Air Festival and completing recent capacity performances in America, EMPEROR have announced two additional performances for 2006.
July 16, 2006 — Blabbermouth.net has reported that no progress has been made to get EMPEROR guitarist, Samoth, the clearance to enter the US; therefore, he will not be joining the band for their final two shows in Los Angeles.
July 13, 2006 — According to Blabbermouth.net, EMPEROR guitarist Samoth will miss tonight’s performance at B.B. King’s Blues Club in New York due to problems getting clearance to enter the United States.
October 30, 2003 — Originally formed out of two thirds of Norwegian black metal gods, EMPEROR, ZYKLON grew to become a formidable yet distinct beast on its own. ZYKLON’s debut album, World ov Worms, was an impressive record that combined death metal and black metal along with some industrial/electronic influences into a violent machine.
February 7, 2003 — The artist formerly known as Ihriel (a.k.a. Heidi S. Tveitan) resurfaces anew in the form of STAR OF ASH and convincingly shatters her ho-hum PECCATUM efforts.