Immortal

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Immortal
Immortal.png
Origin: Bergen, Norway
Genre: Black Metal
Label(s): Nuclear Blast
Associated Acts: Mayhem
Old Funeral
Members: Abbath Doom Occulta
Demonaz Doom Occulta
Horgh
Apollyon
Former Members: Hellhammer
Armagedda
Erik Brødreskift
Saroth
Iscariah
Influences: Gorgoroth
Enslaved
Number of Releases(es): 12


Immortal is a black metal band from Bergen, Norway. The band was formed from the ashes of "Amputation," a death metal band from 1989.[1]

Contents

Biography

Immortal's early full-length releases were of a traditional black metal style, but their acclaimed album At the Heart of Winter saw the band begin to experiment with a complex fusion of black metal and German thrash metal. The resulting sound was a style which characterized Immortal's later works. Immortal has been influential to many modern metal artists. Out of these many bands Immortal has arguably maintained the most occult-mysticism image and way of life traditionally credited to black metal. Their peculiar musical style of technical black metal has guaranteed them a spot on the list of the best bands in the history of the genre, and with recent (2006) mid-price reissues of their classic back catalogue in major markets (i.e. North America), their music is now much more widely available.

"Amputation" recorded their first two demos in 1989 with Demonaz Doom Occulta on guitar and vocals, Jorn Inge Tunsberg on guitars, and Padden on drums.[2] The group later reformed as "Immortal" around 1990-1991. Their third demo, Unholy Forces of Evil, saw a stylistic change to black metal and earned them a record contract. Tunsberg played many of the guitar parts of Immortal's first album Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism, but is not officially credited.Template:Cn

Gradually, Immortal gained immense popularity in the underground, releasing several highly-acclaimed records on the French label Osmose. Their highly acclaimed album from this period, Pure Holocaust, served as a genre-defining milestone.

In 1995, the band released two video clips directed by British artist David Palser entitled Masters of Nebulah Frost through Osmose Productions. They featured many bizarrely-shot images of frozen landscapes and vast forests. These clips have become the template for many other bands producing such works.

Apart from the two core members Abbath and Demonaz, Immortal didn't find a stable lineup until 1996, when drummer Horgh joined the band. In 1997, main lyricist and guitarist Demonaz suffered an arm injury (acute tendinitis) and was unable to continue playing. Still, he continued writing new material and managed the band, while bassist Abbath took over the guitar duty. In 2000, Immortal signed a record contract with German label Nuclear Blast; this change to a more prominent record company didn't affect their style, something which they proved on their latest record, Sons of Northern Darkness.

Immortal decided to split during the summer of 2003 for personal reasons of the band members. However, in mid-October 2005, Abbath, Demonaz and original Immortal drummer Armagedda reunited, and along with Ex-Gorgoroth bassist King ov Hell and Enslaved guitarist Arve Isdal, they began work on a new project, dubbed "I". This new band entered the studio at the end of April 2006 to record their debut album and was released november of 2006. Demonaz will primarily be the lyricist for the band.

In early June 2006 came word via a German Rock Hard magazine that Abbath and Horgh would resurrect Immortal once more. Abbath is quoted as saying:

“I didn’t really want to say it, but I don’t give a shit. We will come back, stronger than ever. I’ve met with Horgh for the first time in over a year. He’s built his new house here, right around the corner. In the next few days we will begin to rehearse our old ‘Blizzard Beasts’ classics. I’m already really hot on the idea. Immortal are timeless frost. One year more or less doesn’t make a difference. We have all the time in the world.”

In July 2006 it was announced that Immortal would reunite for a string of summer shows in 2007. They will headline the Inferno Festival in April, the Tuska Open Air festival in June/July and Wacken Open Air festival in August. They will also make two concerts in the United States in July 2007. Filling in as bassist for these dates will be Aura Noir bassist, Apollyon.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Discography

File:Immortal Sons of Northern Darkness.jpg
Cover of Immortal's Sons of Northern Darkness.

Albums (Studio)

Demos/Promos

Bootlegs

Videography

Band members

Current members

  • Abbath Doom Occulta (Olve Eikemo) - Vocals, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards & Drums - (1989-2003, 2006-)
  • Demonaz Doom Occulta (Harald Nævdal) - Guitar & Lyrics (Switched to Lyricist & Band Manager after his injury) - (1989-2003, 2006-)
  • Horgh (Reidar Horghagen) - Drums - (1996-2003, 2006-)
  • Apollyon - Bass - (2006-)

Past members

Related Artists

Involvement of Immortal

General

Notes

  • Pure Holocaust & Battles in the North were recorded with Demonaz on Guitar and Abbath on Bass guitar, Vocals, and Drums (despite Grim being credited on drums on Pure Holocaust).
  • Abbath and Demonaz offered Hellhammer (of Mayhem fame) to join the group in 1995 but he declined, although he did play some live dates and appears in the video for the song "Grim and Frostbitten Kingdoms."
  • Drummer Grim (Erik Brødreskift), who toured with the band for 'Pure Holocaust' (see above) committed suicide on October 14, 1999.
  • Immortal are well-known for their publicity photos, two of which are featured on Ruthless Reviews' Top Ten Most Ridiculous Black Metal Pics of All Time, with a third appearing on The Other Top Ten Most Ridiculous Black Metal Pics of All Time. In the second list, while Immortal are only featured at number eight, they are dubbed the "undisputed champions of ridiculous BM pics." On the original list, they are ranked numbers three and two. A supplemental photo of Abbath was added to the list after the original publication.
  • Euronymous of Mayhem was said to have been a main influence on the band in changing their death metal sound to the black metal they became known for.[3] However, Immortal tended to distance themselves from the chaotic "behind-the-scenes" of the black metal underground,
  • 80's metal band Manowar have taken Immortal on tour with them, and band member Joey DeMaio claims that Immortal play "true metal."
  • Unlike many black metal bands, Immortal rarely focus on Satanism or anti-Christian themes, but rather focus on themes involving winter, darkness and the like. The band's own fictional world of "Blashyrkh," where the God of Frost Mighty Ravendark rules, is the basis for most of their music.

External links

See Also

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