Fenriz
Encyclopedia
Leif Gylve Nagell better known as Fenriz, is the drummer and lyricist of the Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...

 black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....

 duo Darkthrone
Darkthrone
Darkthrone is a Norwegian black metal band. They formed in 1987 as a death metal band, but after embracing the black metal style in 1991, they became a driving force in the Norwegian black metal scene. For most of this period Darkthrone has consisted of just two musicians, Nocturno Culto and...

. He has performed solo and been involved with a number of bands spanning a variety of musical genres.

Biography

Nagell's first exposure to metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...

 music came when he was three years old and received Uriah Heep
Uriah Heep (band)
Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969 and regarded as a seminal classic hard rock act of the 1970s. Uriah Heep's progressive/art rock/heavy metal fusion's distinctive features have always been massive keyboards sound, strong vocal harmonies and David Byron's operatic vocals...

's album Sweet Freedom
Sweet Freedom
Sweet Freedom is the sixth studio album released by British rock band Uriah Heep.The original vinyl release was as a gatefold-sleeve, reproducing the lyrics within. There was also a central page with a photograph of each band member...

 from his uncle for his birthday. At the age of five, he would fashion belts for himself out of paper in an imitation of those worn by Mick Box
Mick Box
Michael Frederick Box , better known by his stage name Mick Box, is the lead guitarist of British rock group Uriah Heep, having previously been a member of The Stalkers and Spice, both with original Uriah Heep vocalist David Byron. He is the only member from the band's founding in 1969 who is...

. Other musical interests of his 10 first years included rock and heavy metal groups such as The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...

, Grand Funk, Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf (band)
Steppenwolf are a Canadian-American rock group that was prominent in the late 1960s. The group was formed in 1967 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton after the dissolution of Toronto group The...

, The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...

, Elvis, Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...

, AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...

, Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...

 and Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...



Darkthrone
Darkthrone
Darkthrone is a Norwegian black metal band. They formed in 1987 as a death metal band, but after embracing the black metal style in 1991, they became a driving force in the Norwegian black metal scene. For most of this period Darkthrone has consisted of just two musicians, Nocturno Culto and...

 was created as a primitive punk metal band by the name of Black Death in 1986. Later, in late 1987, Fenriz formed Darkthrone
Darkthrone
Darkthrone is a Norwegian black metal band. They formed in 1987 as a death metal band, but after embracing the black metal style in 1991, they became a driving force in the Norwegian black metal scene. For most of this period Darkthrone has consisted of just two musicians, Nocturno Culto and...

 and got involved in a group called Valhall
Valhall (band)
Valhall is a Norwegian doom metal band.It is somewhat noted for having briefly had Fenriz as a member and ex-Ulver drummer, Erik Lancelot as a member at one point as well.-Studio albums:*1995 – Moonstoned...

, which practiced in his basement. Fenriz has expressed that he had a passive interest in Bathory
Bathory (band)
Bathory was a Swedish heavy metal band, formed by Quorthon in 1983. They are regarded as pioneers of both black metal and viking metal. Quorthon remained the main songwriter and member of Bathory for more than two decades. Bathory was permanently ended after Quorthon's death in 2004...

 by 1986, but claims that he did not understand the "darkness" of black metal until hearing a song by the Hungarian band Tormentor
Tormentor
Tormentor is a black metal band formed in 1986 in Budapest, Hungary. Tormentor was one of the first black metal bands using synthesisers to create a more atmospheric sound. They recorded their first album, Anno Domini, in 1988, but were unable to release it until the end of communism. The album...

 in 1989 (he gives similar credit to Mercyful Fate
Mercyful Fate
Mercyful Fate was a Danish heavy metal band from Copenhagen. Initially active from 1981 to 1985, they reunited in 1992. The band went on hiatus again in 2000, when frontman King Diamond decided to continue his solo career...

). The same year, Fenriz left Valhall in order to concentrate on Darkthrone. He also started a solo death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....

, later viking metal
Viking metal
Viking metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its galloping pace, keyboard-rich anthemic sound, bleakness and dramatic emphasis on lyrical themes of Norse mythology, Norse paganism, and the Viking Age...

 project entitled Isengard
Isengard (Norwegian band)
Isengard is a solo project of Fenriz, famous for being the drummer of Darkthrone, created in 1989.It is rooted on Norwegian black/Viking metal and avant-garde rock on some tracks, and named after the Tolkienian locale Isengard.-Career:...

, for Darkthrone was at the time a band that opposed stylistic progression and change. Fenriz's solo ambient project Neptune Towers
Neptune Towers
Neptune Towers is a dark ambient side-project formed in 1993 by Fenriz of Darkthrone.-Background:Neptune Towers' stated goal is "To enable the listeners to keep both feet off the ground." Fenriz credits Klaus Schulze of Tangerine Dream as a big inspiration...

 served as an example of his varied musical tastes. It was followed by another quintessential contribution to the folk metal scene with Storm.

Fenriz now claims to be apolitical
Apolitical
The state or quality of being apolitical can be the apathy and/or the antipathy towards all political affiliations. Being apolitical can also refer to situations in which people take an unbiased position in regard to political matters.-References:...

, remaining non-partisan towards the events of early Norwegian black metal. In one interview, Fenriz stated that he was against the book Lords of Chaos, comparing its hype to Oprah. Fenriz prefers to keep Darkthrone out of the spotlight; in late 2004 he turned down a nomination for a Norwegian Alarm Award. He claimed that Darkthrone had "no interest in being part of the glitter and showbiz side of the music industry". Fenriz is known for his refusal to play live, his obsessiveness about music listening, supporting other underground bands and his lack of interest in the mainstream music business in general. Fenriz is one of the focal characters in the 2009 documentary film Until The Light Takes Us
Until The Light Takes Us
Until the Light Takes Us is a 2009 feature documentary about Norwegian black metal, from directors Aaron Aites and Audrey Ewell.-Featured interviewees:* Gylve "Fenriz" Nagell...

 (filmed in early 00s).

Fenriz currently lives in the outskirts of Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...

, and had a record label with Nocturno Culto
Nocturno Culto
Nocturno Culto is a Norwegian musician, best known as the vocalist, lead guitarist and partial bassist of the influential black metal band Darkthrone. He has been with the band since 1988. He currently works in Norway as a school teacher, and has a son and a daughter...

 called Tyrant Syndicate Productions, which was a sub-label of Peaceville Records
Peaceville Records
Peaceville Records is a British independent metal-oriented record label. The label was founded by Paul "Hammy" Halmshaw in 1987, in Dewsbury, England...

 (to which Darkthrone is signed). In late 2004, Fenriz released a compilation album through Peaceville entitled Fenriz Presents... The Best of Old-School Black Metal
Fenriz Presents... The Best of Old-School Black Metal
Fenriz Presents... The Best of Old-School Black Metal is a compilation album by Fenriz featuring bands that have been highly influential for, and pioneers of the black metal genre; Nattefrost and Aura Noir being the only newer bands...

, which included selected tracks from such influential artists as Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost was a metal band from Zürich, Switzerland. They are known for their heavy influence on the extreme metal genres. The group was first active from 1984 to 1993, and re-formed in 2001. Following Tom Gabriel Fischer's departure in 2008, Celtic Frost decided to break up again...

, Hellhammer
Hellhammer
Hellhammer was an influential extreme metal band from Switzerland, active during 1982–1984. They are regarded as being one of the first extreme metal bands and are a key influence on later black metal and death metal bands.-Biography:...

, Burzum
Burzum
Burzum is a musical project by Varg Vikernes . It began during 1991 in Bergen, Norway and quickly became prominent within the early Norwegian black metal scene...

, and Bathory
Bathory (band)
Bathory was a Swedish heavy metal band, formed by Quorthon in 1983. They are regarded as pioneers of both black metal and viking metal. Quorthon remained the main songwriter and member of Bathory for more than two decades. Bathory was permanently ended after Quorthon's death in 2004...

. He is a Dj and has made several online music compilations.

Musical projects

  • Darkthrone
    Darkthrone
    Darkthrone is a Norwegian black metal band. They formed in 1987 as a death metal band, but after embracing the black metal style in 1991, they became a driving force in the Norwegian black metal scene. For most of this period Darkthrone has consisted of just two musicians, Nocturno Culto and...

     – drums, bass, rhythm guitar, vocals, lyrics (1986–present)
  • Valhall
    Valhall (band)
    Valhall is a Norwegian doom metal band.It is somewhat noted for having briefly had Fenriz as a member and ex-Ulver drummer, Erik Lancelot as a member at one point as well.-Studio albums:*1995 – Moonstoned...

     – drums (1987–1989, 2007–present)
  • Fenriz' Red Planet - guitar, bass, drums, vocals, lyrics (1993–present) - solo project
  • Isengard
    Isengard (Norwegian band)
    Isengard is a solo project of Fenriz, famous for being the drummer of Darkthrone, created in 1989.It is rooted on Norwegian black/Viking metal and avant-garde rock on some tracks, and named after the Tolkienian locale Isengard.-Career:...

     – drums, guitar, bass, vocals, lyrics (1989–1995) – solo project
  • Neptune Towers
    Neptune Towers
    Neptune Towers is a dark ambient side-project formed in 1993 by Fenriz of Darkthrone.-Background:Neptune Towers' stated goal is "To enable the listeners to keep both feet off the ground." Fenriz credits Klaus Schulze of Tangerine Dream as a big inspiration...

     – keyboard, farfisa organ, synthesizers (1993–1995) – solo project
  • Dødheimsgard
    Dødheimsgard
    Dødheimsgard is a Norwegian heavy metal band formed in 1994. Dødheimsgard was originally a black metal band, but 1999's 666 International saw them change into an experimental and avant-garde / industrial metal band. In 2000, they shortened their name to DHG...

     – bass and synthesizer on Kronet Til Konge
    Kronet Til Konge
    Kronet til konge is the debut album by the Norwegian black metal band Dødheimsgard. The album was originally released in 1995 on Malicious Records and re-released in 1999 on Century Media Records.-Track listing:#"Intro" – 1:00...

     (1995)
  • Storm – drums, vocals (1995)
  • Eibon - drums, 1999 (with Satyr from Satyricon
    Satyricon (band)
    Satyricon is a Norwegian black metal band, and the first one in the genre to join a multi-national record label .-Biography:Satyricon was formed in 1990 by Czral and Wargod. Ulver and Satyr soon joined them...

    , Killjoy from Necrophagia
    Necrophagia
    Necrophagia is an American death metal band. The group was assembled in Wellsville, Ohio in 1983 and are credited as being one of the very first musical groups to be classified within the death metal genre. The group was founded by Frank Pucci...

    , Phil Anselmo from Pantera
    Pantera
    Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...

    )
  • Fuck You All – bass (2000–2001)

Discography

Note: All albums are with Darkthrone
Darkthrone
Darkthrone is a Norwegian black metal band. They formed in 1987 as a death metal band, but after embracing the black metal style in 1991, they became a driving force in the Norwegian black metal scene. For most of this period Darkthrone has consisted of just two musicians, Nocturno Culto and...

, unless noted otherwise. This does not include minor guest appearances.
  • 1988 – Land of Frost
  • 1988 – A New Dimension
  • 1989 – Thulcandra
  • 1989 – Cromlech
  • 1989 – Spectres Over Gorgoroth (as Isengard)
  • 1990 – Soulside Journey
    Soulside Journey
    -Credits:* Gylve Nagell – Drums* Ted Skjellum – Lead guitar, vocals* Dag Nilsen – Bass guitar* Ivar Enger – Rhythm guitar...

  • 1991 – Goatlord
    Goatlord (album)
    Goatlord is a demo album by Norwegian band Darkthrone.The songs on Goatlord are from an instrumental demo tape recorded in 1990–1991, between the band's first and second albums . These songs were scrapped when the band changed style from death metal to black metal...

  • 1991 – Horizons (as Isengard)
  • 1992 – A Blaze in the Northern Sky
    A Blaze in the Northern Sky
    A Blaze in the Northern Sky is the second album by the Norwegian black metal band, Darkthrone. It contains the band's first black metal recordings. The album was recorded in August 1991 and released in February 1992.-Recording and release:...

  • 1993 – Under a Funeral Moon
    Under a Funeral Moon
    Under a Funeral Moon is the third album by the Norwegian black metal band, Darkthrone. It was recorded in June 1992 and released in June 1993 by Peaceville Records. Bandmember Fenriz described it as an attempt to create an album that was "100% black metal"....

  • 1993 – Vanderen (as Isengard)
  • 1994 – Transilvanian Hunger
    Transilvanian Hunger
    Transilvanian Hunger is the fourth studio album by Norwegian black metal band Darkthrone, released in 1994 through Peaceville Records. It was the band's first album to be recorded with just two members, Nocturno Culto and Fenriz, following the departure of Zephyrous...

  • 1994 – Caravans to Empire Algol
    Caravans to Empire Algol
    Caravans To Empire Algol is the first album by the ambient project Neptune Towers. It was released on December 12, 1994 by Moonfog. Fenriz considers this to be the first of the two chapters of the "Empire Algol" saga, the second being the next Neptune Towers album, "Transmissions From Empire...

     (as Neptune Towers)
  • 1995 – Panzerfaust
    Panzerfaust (album)
    Panzerfaust is the fifth album by Norwegian black metal band, Darkthrone. It was released in 1995 and was their first album with record label Moonfog Productions. It was released in North American under The End Records...

  • 1995 – Høstmørke
    Høstmørke
    Høstmørke is the Norwegian black metal band Isengard's second and final album which was released in 1995. The title 'Høstmørke' means "Autumn Darkness" in English.-Track listing:...

     (as Isengard)
  • 1995 – Transmissions From Empire Algol
    Transmissions from Empire Algol
    Transmissions from Empire Algol is the second album by the ambient project Neptune Towers, a follow up to 1994's Caravans to Empire Algol expanding on the same conception and similar sound. It was released in 1995 by Moonfog Records.- Track listing :...

     (as Neptune Towers)
  • 1995 – Nordavind (with Storm)
  • 1995 – Kronet Til Konge
    Kronet Til Konge
    Kronet til konge is the debut album by the Norwegian black metal band Dødheimsgard. The album was originally released in 1995 on Malicious Records and re-released in 1999 on Century Media Records.-Track listing:#"Intro" – 1:00...

     (with Dødheimsgard)
  • 1996 – Total Death
    Total Death
    Total Death is the sixth album by Norwegian black metal band Darkthrone. It was recorded in 1995 and released in 1996. All of the album's lyrics were written either by members of other black metal bands or Nocturno Culto .The album was released on CD and LP by Moonfog...

  • 1999 – Ravishing Grimness
    Ravishing Grimness
    Ravishing Grimness is the seventh studio album by Norwegian black metal band Darkthrone. It was released through Moonfog Productions in 1999.This album marked a noticeable shift in the band's musical and lyrical scope...

  • 2001 – Plaguewielder
    Plaguewielder
    Plague Wielder is the eighth album by Norwegian black metal band Darkthrone. It was released through Moonfog Productions in 2001.-Track listing:*All Songs Written By Nocturno Culto, except where noted....

  • 2003 – Hate Them
    Hate Them
    -Credits:*Fenriz – drums, bass, rhythm guitar, lyrics*Nocturno Culto – lead guitar, bass, vocals...

  • 2004 – Sardonic Wrath
    Sardonic Wrath
    Sardonic Wrath is the tenth album by the Norwegian black metal band, Darkthrone. It was released through Moonfog Productions in 2004, and was the band's last album with that record label. Though punk influences are already apparent, it would be Darkthrone's last album recorded solely in the black...

  • 2004 – Fenriz Presents... The Best of Old-School Black Metal
    Fenriz Presents... The Best of Old-School Black Metal
    Fenriz Presents... The Best of Old-School Black Metal is a compilation album by Fenriz featuring bands that have been highly influential for, and pioneers of the black metal genre; Nattefrost and Aura Noir being the only newer bands...

     (a compilation of mostly early black metal songs)
  • 2006 – The Cult Is Alive
    The Cult is Alive
    The Cult is Alive is the eleventh album by the Norwegian black metal band, Darkthrone. Released in 2006, this album represents a great shift in the band's style, as they incorporate more punk and crust punk traits than before. While the band's black metal roots are still evident, their shift from...

  • 2007 – F.O.A.D.
    F.O.A.D.
    F.O.A.D. is the twelfth album by the Norwegian band Darkthrone. Released in September 2007, the album is a further shift from Darkthrone's black metal roots, expanding on the punk-oriented style introduced on their previous album, The Cult is Alive. It also features some parts that are similar to...

  • 2008 – Dark Thrones and Black Flags
    Dark Thrones and Black Flags
    Dark Thrones and Black Flags is the thirteenth album by the Norwegian band Darkthrone. Released in October 2008, the music largely follows in the style of their previous album, F.O.A.D....

  • 2009 – Engangsgrill (as Fenriz' Red Planet – released as a split with Nattefrost)
  • 2010 – Circle the Wagons
    Circle the Wagons
    Circle the Wagons is the fourteenth album by the Norwegian band Darkthrone. The album was released on 5 April 2010. Fenriz, the band's drummer, describes the music as Darkthrone's "own brand of heavy metal/speed metal-punk" and declares it a further shift from their old black metal style...


Guest appearances

  • Ulver
    Ulver
    Ulver is a musical group from Norway. Since their first, folklore-influenced black metal release entitled Bergtatt – Et eeventyr i 5 capitler , Ulver’s musical style has been fluid and increasingly eclectic, blending genres such as rock, electronica, symphonic and chamber traditions, noise and...

     – vocals on the song "A Song Of Liberty Plates 25-27" from the album Themes from William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
    Themes from William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
    Themes from William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell is the fourth album by Norwegian experimental band Ulver. It is a musical setting of William Blake's book The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, featuring guest vocals...

     (1998)
  • Aura Noir
    Aura Noir
    Aura Noir is a black metal/thrash metal band from Oslo, Norway. Aura Noir is heavily influenced by early thrash bands such as Slayer, Sodom and Kreator, to the latter they have also dedicated some of their songs...

     – additional vocals on Increased Damnation
    Increased Damnation
    Increased Damnation is a compilation album by the Norwegian black metal band Aura Noir. It includes their first mini-album Dreams Like Deserts . Released Damnation and Broth of Oblivion also appear on Deep Tracts of Hell but are different recordings than on the album. The tracks 5 to 8 are songs...

     (2000) and The Merciless
    The Merciless
    The Merciless is an album by the Norwegian black/thrash metal band Aura Noir. It features guest appearances by members of Darkthrone and Carpathian Forest...

     (2004)
  • Red Harvest
    Red Harvest (band)
    Red Harvest was a Norwegian industrial metal band from Oslo. Their 2002 album Sick Transit Gloria Mundi was nominated for a Norwegian Grammy and an alternative Grammy in the "Best Metal Album" category...

     – additional vocals on "Absolut Dunkel:heit" from the album Cold Dark Matter (2000)
  • Cadaver Inc.
    Cadaver (band)
    Cadaver was a death metal band from Råde, Norway. The band had a brief venture in the early 1990s before splitting in 1993. Cadaver would eventually re-emerge as Cadaver Inc. in 1999 which consisted of only one founding member...

     – additional vocals on Discipline
    Discipline (Cadaver Inc. album)
    Discipline is the third album by the Norwegian death metal band Cadaver, but was released under the moniker Cadaver Inc. It is particularly notable for the vocal contributions of two Norwegian extreme metal figures - Bard "Faust" Eithun and Fenriz...

     (2001)
  • Audiopain – additional lyrics on Revel in Desecration (2002)
  • Trashcan Darlings
    Trashcan Darlings
    Trashcan Darlings was a band from Oslo. They described themselves as the pioneers of Glam-Punk and a mix of Ramones, Kiss,Sex Pistols and New York Dolls.-Band history:The band was founded by Doll and Gentle in 1995....

     – additional vocals on "Dehumanizer" from the album Episode 1: The Lipstick Menace (2002)

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK