Nifelheim
Encyclopedia
Nifelheim is a Swedish
black metal
band. The band was formed in 1990 by the twin brothers Erik and Per Gustavsson, under the stage name
s Tyrant and Hellbutcher. The band plays old-school black metal in the vein of bands like Venom
, Bathory
, Hungarian Tormentor
and Czech Master's Hammer
rather than the style made famous by the Norwegian black metal bands of the 1990s.
After a documentary
about heavy metal
fans which aired in Sweden
in 1998, Tyrant and Hellbutcher were given a nickname “Bröderna Hårdrock” which translates to ‘The Heavy Metal Brothers’ in English.
community in December 2008, when members of the band were said to have made inflammatory remarks in Sweden Rock Magazine
about deceased Metallica
bassist Cliff Burton
as well as Dimebag Darrell
; stating “I laughed and pissed on a photo of him” and “Too bad Phil Anselmo
didn't die too; that was probably the only time I wished Pantera
had actually played”, about Burton and Abbott respectively. In an interview published in Metalion’s Slayer fanzine
, Tyrant stated “this ‘Dimebag/Burton’ fuss that was spammed out as some ‘statement’ on the internet” disturbed him “more then [sic!] ever”, and that he is “not hating either of these musicians” nor wants to “put any disgrace upon their memory”. Due to that controversy and people stamping Nifelheim as “non serious”, the band decided not to do any interviews anymore, the interview published in Slayer no. 20 being the band’s last one.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
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....
band. The band was formed in 1990 by the twin brothers Erik and Per Gustavsson, under the stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
s Tyrant and Hellbutcher. The band plays old-school black metal in the vein of bands like Venom
Venom (band)
Venom are an English heavy metal band that formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Coming to prominence towards the end of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Venom's first two albums—Welcome to Hell and Black Metal —are considered a major influence on thrash metal and extreme metal in general...
, 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...
, Hungarian 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...
and Czech Master's Hammer
Master's Hammer
Master's Hammer are a black metal band from the Czech Republic. They were founded in 1987 and produced several demos, before releasing their debut album Ritual in 1990...
rather than the style made famous by the Norwegian black metal bands of the 1990s.
After a documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
about heavy 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...
fans which aired in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in 1998, Tyrant and Hellbutcher were given a nickname “Bröderna Hårdrock” which translates to ‘The Heavy Metal Brothers’ in English.
Controversy
The band was involved in controversy within the heavy metal musicHeavy 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...
community in December 2008, when members of the band were said to have made inflammatory remarks in Sweden Rock Magazine
Sweden Rock Festival
Sweden Rock Festival is an annual rock/metal festival held in Sweden since 6 June 1992. While having a clear rock/metal focus, the festival is noted for its diversity across these genres, having featured southern rock bands such as Molly Hatchet to death metal legends like Obituary.The first...
about deceased Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
bassist Cliff Burton
Cliff Burton
Clifford Lee "Cliff" Burton was an American musician, best known as the bass guitarist for the American heavy metal band Metallica....
as well as Dimebag Darrell
Dimebag Darrell
Darrell Lance Abbott , also known as Diamond Darrell and Dimebag Darrell, was an American guitarist. He was best known as a founding member of the heavy metal bands Pantera and Damageplan. Abbott also contributed to the album Rebel Meets Rebel, a collaboration between Pantera and David Allan Coe...
; stating “I laughed and pissed on a photo of him” and “Too bad Phil Anselmo
Phil Anselmo
Philip Hansen "Phil" Anselmo is an American musician who is best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Pantera. He is currently the frontman for the Louisiana-based metal act Down. He is also the owner of Housecore Records....
didn't die too; that was probably the only time I wished 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...
had actually played”, about Burton and Abbott respectively. In an interview published in Metalion’s Slayer fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
, Tyrant stated “this ‘Dimebag/Burton’ fuss that was spammed out as some ‘statement’ on the internet” disturbed him “more then [sic!] ever”, and that he is “not hating either of these musicians” nor wants to “put any disgrace upon their memory”. Due to that controversy and people stamping Nifelheim as “non serious”, the band decided not to do any interviews anymore, the interview published in Slayer no. 20 being the band’s last one.
Members
- Hellbutcher (Per “Pelle” Gustavsson) - vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Tyrant (Erik Gustavsson) - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Apocalyptic Desolator (Johan Bergebäck) - guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
- Vengeance from Beyond (Sebastian Ramstedt) - guitar
- Insulter of Jesus Christ! (Peter StjärnvindPeter StjärnvindPeter Stjärnvind, born 11 August 1973, is a Swedish drummer. His current position is the drummer of the bands Unanimated and Nifelheim. Before that he also played in Loud Pipes, Merciless, Regurgitate, Entombed, and Face Down. He also appeared in several side-projects, including Krux, Born of Fire...
) - drums
Discography
- 1993 - Unholy Death (demo)
- 1994 - Nifelheim
- 1997 - Devil's ForceDevil's ForceDevil's Force is the second album of Swedish metal band Nifelheim. It was released in 1997 on CD and LP-Track listing:#"Deathstrike from Hell" – 3:48#"The Final Slaughter" – 4:45#"Desecration of the Dead – 4:48#"Demonic Evil" – 3:16...
- 1997 - Headbangers Against Disco Vol. 2 (split EP with Usurper and Unpure)
- 1998 - Die in Fire on In Conspiracy with Satan – A Tribute to Bathory
- 2000 - Servants of DarknessServants of DarknessServants of Darkness is third album of Swedish metal band Nifelheim. It was released in 2000 on CD , LP and on cassette by Rockor Disc in Romania.-Track listing:#"Evil Blasphemies" 3:17...
- 2000 - Unholy DeathUnholy DeathUnholy Death is a 7" Vinyl EP by Swedish metal band Nifelheim. It was released in 2000 as 7 inch EP limited to 666 copies of which 13 were in blue vinyl....
(EP) - 2003 - 13 Years13 Years13 Years is the fifth album of the Swedish metal band Nifelheim. It was released in 2003 on vinyl with limited 1000 copies. 13 Years contains Nifelheim's live and demo recordings.-Track listing:Side A1. "Intro" - 01:072. "Unholy Death" - 02:02...
(Compilation) - 2006 - Tribute to Slayer Magazine (split EP with Sadistik ExekutionSadistik ExekutionSadistik Exekution is an Australian Death Metal band that formed in 1985 and has existed somewhat sporadically ever since. While last playing live in 1999, the band recorded two more albums and while they have publicly declared to have disbanded several times since, the group reunited for a single...
) - 2006 - Thunder Metal (split EP with Vulcano)
- 2007 - Envoy of LuciferEnvoy of LuciferEnvoy of Lucifer is the fourth full-length studio album from Swedish black metal/speed metal band Nifelheim. Released in 2007, it is their first album for Regain Records after they jumped ship from Black Sun following the release of Servants of Darkness in 2000.For the recording, the band...