Susperia
Encyclopedia
Susperia is a Norwegian
black
/thrash metal
band formed in October 1998 by Tjodalv
and Cyrus.
The band was originally named Seven Sins, but since there was another band with that name they changed it to the title of the horror film Suspiria
, but changed the spelling to avoid copyright issues. Susperia should not be confused with Suspiria
, a band that also took its name from the film, but with the correct spelling.
, Old Man's Child
) and Cyrus (Satyricon
, Old Man's Child
) in October 1998. After Tjodalv left Dimmu Borgir
in the middle of March 1999 he started to concentrate fully on Susperia together with old-time friend Cyrus. At Wacken Open Air Festival
in 1999, Tjodalv met with singer Athera (Vanaheim), who joined the band subsequently, followed by bass player Memnock
(Old Man's Child, Vanaheim) and guitarist Elvorn. They recorded a demo, Illusions of Evil
, in December 1999 at Pitfire Studio outside Oslo
, which was mixed and mastered by L. Argedick. Synthesizer and piano parts were played by Mustis
(Dimmu Borgir).
The demo was sent out to different record companies and gained some positive feedback. They received a few offers from mainly major record labels, and signed in early 2000 with Nuclear Blast
for four records. Susperia played their first live gig at John Dee in Oslo, following Ragnarok and Alsvartr; just a few months later they played at the Scream Magazine
10 year anniversary party.
Susperia are not a Satanic
band but through their lyrics they tend to criticize and question the views and morals of Christianity
.
On March 9, 2009, it was reported that vocalist Athera (real name Pål Mathisen) had suffered a heart attack. It was later confirmed that he had been rushed into hospital in Lørenskog
, Norway, suffering from acute stomach pain and heavy bleeding. He was expected to remain hospitalised for some time. It was later announced that he would undergo a triple bypass operation on March 16, 2009.
Cyrus is currently the touring bassist for Dimmu Borgir. Susperia joined Melodi Grand Prix in 2011, but lost before the final. They are currently recording an EP with Mustis (Ex-Dimmu borgir
) joining them on keyboards. The EP will feature 2 new songs (most likely including the song "Nothing Remains") and 3 re-recordings with orchestral arrangements.
Athera is currently the vocalist for Chrome Division
under the name Shady Blue.
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
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....
/thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band formed in October 1998 by Tjodalv
Tjodalv
Tjodalv is a Norwegian drummer. He is a founding member of both Dimmu Borgir and Old Man's Child. He now plays in Black Comedy and Susperia. Tjodalv played guitar on the first Dimmu Borgir albums Inn I Evighetens Mørke and For All Tid. He then switched to drumming for them on Stormblåst and...
and Cyrus.
The band was originally named Seven Sins, but since there was another band with that name they changed it to the title of the horror film Suspiria
Suspiria
Suspiria is a 1977 Italian horror film directed by Dario Argento and co-written by Argento and Daria Nicolodi. The film follows an American ballet student who transfers to a prestigious dance academy in Germany, only to discover that it is controlled by a coven of witches. The film's score was...
, but changed the spelling to avoid copyright issues. Susperia should not be confused with Suspiria
Suspiria (band)
Suspiria were a Darkwave/gothic rock band from England. Formed in 1993 the line-up consisted of Matthew Carl Lucian and Mark Tansley.-History:Suspiria were a groundbreaking goth/darkwave band from Nottingham England between 1993-1998...
, a band that also took its name from the film, but with the correct spelling.
History
Susperia was started by Tjodalv (Dimmu BorgirDimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir...
, Old Man's Child
Old Man's Child
Old Man's Child is a black metal band from Norway. The band is the brainchild of Galder who is the only permanent member of the band now.-Formation:...
) and Cyrus (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...
, Old Man's Child
Old Man's Child
Old Man's Child is a black metal band from Norway. The band is the brainchild of Galder who is the only permanent member of the band now.-Formation:...
) in October 1998. After Tjodalv left Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir...
in the middle of March 1999 he started to concentrate fully on Susperia together with old-time friend Cyrus. At Wacken Open Air Festival
Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air is a summer open air heavy metal music festival. It takes place annually in the small town of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany...
in 1999, Tjodalv met with singer Athera (Vanaheim), who joined the band subsequently, followed by bass player Memnock
Memnock
Memnock is a bassist best known for playing in the Norwegian Extreme Metal band Susperia. He has been playing bass since early 1990 and started with a cheap Cort. He then bought a Rickenbacker 4001 ATM and had this for many years as his favorite instrument...
(Old Man's Child, Vanaheim) and guitarist Elvorn. They recorded a demo, Illusions of Evil
Illusions of Evil
Illusions of Evil is a demo album by the Norwegian black metal band Susperia. This is the only album on which Susperia uses synthesizers played by Dimmu Borgir's keyboard player Mustis.-Track listing:#"The Hellchild"#"Illusions of Evil"...
, in December 1999 at Pitfire Studio outside 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...
, which was mixed and mastered by L. Argedick. Synthesizer and piano parts were played by Mustis
Mustis
Mustis, the pseudonym of Øyvind Johan Mustaparta, born 10 September 1979, who is a Norwegian keyboardist best known for his work in the symphonic black metal band Dimmu Borgir. Mustis joined Dimmu Borgir in 1998 and contributed to their atmosphere with his melodic keyboard parts...
(Dimmu Borgir).
The demo was sent out to different record companies and gained some positive feedback. They received a few offers from mainly major record labels, and signed in early 2000 with Nuclear Blast
Nuclear Blast
Nuclear Blast is an independent record label and mail order record distributor with subsidiaries in Germany, the United States and Brazil. The record label was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Germany. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label moved on to releasing albums by melodic...
for four records. Susperia played their first live gig at John Dee in Oslo, following Ragnarok and Alsvartr; just a few months later they played at the Scream Magazine
Scream Magazine
Scream Magazine is a Norwegian magazine established in 1990 which pertains to heavy metal and hard rock music. The editor of the magazine since 1990 has been Frode Øien. In October 2005, the magazine celebrated its 100th issue and its 15th anniversary....
10 year anniversary party.
Susperia are not a Satanic
Satanism
Satanism is a group of religions that is composed of a diverse number of ideological and philosophical beliefs and social phenomena. Their shared feature include symbolic association with, admiration for the character of, and even veneration of Satan or similar rebellious, promethean, and...
band but through their lyrics they tend to criticize and question the views and morals of Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
.
On March 9, 2009, it was reported that vocalist Athera (real name Pål Mathisen) had suffered a heart attack. It was later confirmed that he had been rushed into hospital in Lørenskog
Lørenskog
is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Romerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Lørenskog. Lørenskog was separated from the municipality of Skedsmo on 1 January 1908.-Name:...
, Norway, suffering from acute stomach pain and heavy bleeding. He was expected to remain hospitalised for some time. It was later announced that he would undergo a triple bypass operation on March 16, 2009.
Cyrus is currently the touring bassist for Dimmu Borgir. Susperia joined Melodi Grand Prix in 2011, but lost before the final. They are currently recording an EP with Mustis (Ex-Dimmu borgir
Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir...
) joining them on keyboards. The EP will feature 2 new songs (most likely including the song "Nothing Remains") and 3 re-recordings with orchestral arrangements.
Athera is currently the vocalist for Chrome Division
Chrome Division
Chrome Division is a heavy metal band from Norway formed in 2004 by Shagrath, the lead vocalist of symphonic black metal band Dimmu Borgir, and Lex Icon, founder of The Kovenant...
under the name Shady Blue.
Current members
- AtheraPaul MathiesenAthera is a Norwegian musician best known as the vocalist of Susperia and Chrome Division.- Susperia :*Illusions of Evil *Predominance...
(Pål Mathiesen) - Vocals - Cyrus (Terje Andersen) - Guitar
- Elvorn (Christian Hagen) - Guitar
- MemnockMemnockMemnock is a bassist best known for playing in the Norwegian Extreme Metal band Susperia. He has been playing bass since early 1990 and started with a cheap Cort. He then bought a Rickenbacker 4001 ATM and had this for many years as his favorite instrument...
(Håkon Didriksen) - Bass - TjodalvTjodalvTjodalv is a Norwegian drummer. He is a founding member of both Dimmu Borgir and Old Man's Child. He now plays in Black Comedy and Susperia. Tjodalv played guitar on the first Dimmu Borgir albums Inn I Evighetens Mørke and For All Tid. He then switched to drumming for them on Stormblåst and...
(Ian Kenneth Åkesson) - Drums - MustisMustisMustis, the pseudonym of Øyvind Johan Mustaparta, born 10 September 1979, who is a Norwegian keyboardist best known for his work in the symphonic black metal band Dimmu Borgir. Mustis joined Dimmu Borgir in 1998 and contributed to their atmosphere with his melodic keyboard parts...
(Øyvind Mustaparta) - Keyboards
Studio albums
- PredominancePredominancePredominance is the debut album by the Norwegian black metal band Susperia.-Track listing:#"I Am Pain" – 4:34#"Vainglory" – 4:35#"Illusions of Evil" – 5:44#"Specimen" – 3:57#"Journey Into Black" – 3:50#"Of Hate We Breed" – 4:57...
(Nuclear Blast, 2001) - Vindication (Nuclear Blast, 2002)
- Unlimited (TabuTabu RecordingsTabu Recordings is an independent Norwegian record label founded in 2003 in Oslo. It is owned by Tuba Records, a major Scandinavian independent music distributor...
, 2004) - Cut From StoneCut from StoneCut from Stone is the fourth studio album by the Norwegian thrash metal band Susperia.-Track listing:# "More" – 3:33# "Lackluster Day" – 3:22# "The Clone" – 4:14# "Distant Memory" – 6:55# "Release" – 4:44# "Life Deprived" – 4:23...
(Tabu, 2007) - AttitudeAttitude (Susperia album)Attitude is the fifth studio album by the Norwegian thrash metal band Susperia.- Track listing :* All Songs Written By Susperia.# "The Urge" – 3:58# "Live My Dreams" – 3:30# "Attitude" – 3:41# "Elegy And Suffering" – 3:58# "Sick Bastard" – 4:06...
(Candlelight Records, 2009)
EPs/Singles
- Devil May Care (EP, Tabu, 2005)
- Nothing Remains (Single, NRK/MGP, 2011)