Satyricon

Biography/History

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Satyricon (1991-present): a Black Metal band from Oslo, Norway.

he band that would become Satyricon evolved when frontman vocalist Satyr along with guitarist Kveldulv and drummer Frost in 1991. Joining the act early on were Exhurtum (Real Name: Carl-Michael Eide) and Wargod who were previously playing death metal influenced by Cadaver, Carcass and Napalm Death. Contrary to popular belief, Satyricon was never named Omnipotence but were originally named Eczema; when Lemarchand (Real Name: Håvard Jørgensen) the name was changed to Satyricon. Soon after the first demo, Exhurtum was given the boot, while Wargod left the music scene and became a UN soldier. Lemarchand was kicked out after the second demo.

Published by Satyr's own new defunct 'Moonfog' label, they launched their black metal battles with Dark Medieval Times and The Shadowthrone (featuring Samoth of Emperor) both in 1994. The Forest followed in 1996, along with their third album, Nemesis Divina by which time the membership had morphed into Frost (Real Name: Kjetil-Vidar Haraldstad; drums), Satyr (Real Name: Sigurd Wongraven; vocals/guitars (lead)/bass/songwriting/lyrics) and Kveldulv (Real Name: Ted Arvid Skjellum; guitars (rhythm)).

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Also in 1996, Satyricon toured with Gorgoroth and Dissection. It was becoming more and more clear, however, that corpse-painted Satyr was becoming tired of the genre's strict rules and trappings, so he engaged in more experimental work for the follow-ups, Megiddo EP (1996), Intermezzo II EP (1999), and Rebel Extravaganza (1999), the band's first release for 'Nuclear Blast' and the first to see them play as a duo for Kveldulv had recently left the fold. Now alone with himself and Frost, Satyr still under the band name would release Ten Horns - Ten Diadems (2002) and Volcano (2002) featuring only he and Frost.

But Satyr was also busy with a side project as a member of the black metal all-star group Eibon, alongside Fenirz (of Darkthrone), Maniac (of Mayhem) and Phil Anselmo (of Pantera); an unlikely membership, perhaps, but one that worked on Mirror Soul Jesus, a track featured on the latest 'Moontog' compilation. While the plans were ongoing for the super group's full-length album, Anselmo invited Satyricon to open tor Pantera on their UK tour.

In December 2004, live guitarists Steinar Gundersen and Obsidian Claw were arrested in Canada for allegedly drugging and raping a woman in their tour bus after a show in Toronto. The legal hassles forced the band to cancel the remainder of the tour with 3 Inches of Blood was canceled; those charges were later dropped.

Satyr and Frost, as a duet, were back together again in 2006 with Now, Diabolical (2006). My Skin Is Cold EP (2008), The Age of Nero (2008), Satyricon (2013) and the live effort Live at the Opera (2015) followed.

Deep Calleth upon Deep would be released in 2017.

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