Urgehal

Urgehal
Urgehal
	Urgehal in 2009
Background information
Origin	Hønefoss, Norway
Genres	Black metal
Years active	1992–2016, 2022–present
Labels	Season of Mist
Members	(see below)

Urgehal (/ˈjʊərɡəˌhæl/) is a Norwegian black metal band formed in Hønefoss in 1992 by lead guitarist/vocalist Trond Bråthen ('Trondr Nefas') and rhythm guitarist 'Enzifer'. Before their split up in 2016,^[1] they released seven full-length albums, four EPs and two demos. The band has since reformed in 2022, in honor of former members.

Style and sound

Their style and sound is strongly influenced by the Norwegian black metal scene of the early 1990s,^[2] and Enzifer has called Norwegian band Darkthrone their biggest inspiration.^[3] Other influences include "old-school heavy, thrash, speed, death and black metal [...] and the old South American extreme metal scene".^[4] Onstage, Urgehal wear traditional black metal attire, such as spiked wristbands, inverted crosses and corpse paint. Enzifer is also known for wearing a face mask with spikes protruding from it, which he says is used "to mirror my inner darkness".^[3] Urgehal define themselves as a "Satanic" band, explaining that they "use Satan as a biblical and metaphorical expression of the inner evil of Man".^[3] They explained their name as "an expression in old Norse mythology", describing it as "an endless deep and dark forest where all the evil dwells".^[5]

History

Urgehal was formed by Trondr Nefas and Enzifer in 1992. They released two demos in 1994 and 1995. Early in 1996 they got a record deal with the German label No Colours and recorded their debut album Arma Christi the same year. The follow-up, Massive Terrestrial Strike, was released in 1997. The band then switched to the label Flesh For Beast. The album Atomkinder was released in 2001 and the next, Through Thick Fog 'till Death, was released in 2003. Flesh For Beast then retired and their fifth album, Goatcraft Torment, was released in 2006 through its sister label Agonia Records. Shortly after, a 15-year anniversary album called The Eternal Eclipse was released, containing rarities and a large photo booklet which traces the band's history. In 2007, the band signed to Season of Mist. Most of the songs for the next album were written that year. However, due to internal problems, the recording was stalled. The album, Ikonoklast, was finally released in early 2009.^[4]

Guitarist/vocalist Trondr Nefas died in May 2012, aged 34. According to a statement from the band, the death was sudden but said that he "died a peaceful and natural death" in the woods "at one of his favorite places".^[6] Nefas was involved with a number of other bands. Most notably, he was the guitarist and bassist of black metal bands Beastcraft, Angst Skvadron, Vulture Lord and Bloodsworn.

Discography

Studio albums

Arma Christi (1997)
Massive Terrestrial Strike (1998)
Atomkinder (2001)
Through Thick Fog Till Death (2003)
Goatcraft Torment (2006)
Ikonoklast (2009)
Aeons in Sodom (2016)

EPs

Demonrape (2005)
Satanisk Norsk Black Metal (2007) – split with Beastcraft
Death Is Complete (2011)
Maatte Blodet Flomme (2012) – split with Sarkom

Compilations and tribute albums

A Norwegian Hail To VON (2005) – VON tribute split with Norwegian Evil, Amok and Taake
The Eternal Eclipse: 15 Years of Satanic Black Metal (2007) – an anniversary album

Demos

Ferd (1994)
Rise of the Monument (1995)

Band members

Lineup

Enzifer – guitar (1992–2016, 2022–present), drums (1992–1997), keyboards (1995–2016), bass (2016)
Mannevond – bass (2007–2012, 2022–present)
Uruz – drums (1998–2008, 2011–2016, 2022-present)

Former members

Nefas – vocals, guitar (1992–2012; died 2012), drums (1995, 2010), bass (2008)
Chiron – bass (1992–1997; died 2019)
Aradia – keyboards (1992–1995)
Shregoth (Tomas Torgersbråten) – bass (2003–2006)
Renton (Eirik Renton) – drums (2008–2010)

Timeline

<timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = left:65 bottom:80 top:0 right:15 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1992 till:01/01/2023 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1992 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1992 Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4

Colors =

id:vocals  value:red       legend:Vocals
id:guitar    value:green     legend:Guitar
id:bass    value:blue      legend:Bass
id:keys     value:purple   legend:Keyboards
id:drums   value:orange    legend:Drums
id:bars    value:gray(0.95)
id:studio   value:black     legend:Studio_Album
id:other   value:gray(0.5) legend:Demos/EPs

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

LineData =

at:12/01/1994 color:other layer:back
at:03/01/1995 color:other layer:back
at:06/01/1997 color:black layer:back
at:06/01/1998 color:black layer:back
at:06/01/2001 color:black layer:back
at:06/01/2003 color:black layer:back
at:08/22/2005 color:other layer:back
at:07/10/2006 color:black layer:back
at:11/16/2009 color:black layer:back
at:01/24/2011 color:other layer:back
at:02/12/2016 color:black layer:back

BarData =

bar:Nefas       text:"Nefas"
bar:Chiron      text:"Chiron"
bar:Shregoth  text:"Shregoth"
bar:Mannevond text:"Mannevond"
bar:Aradia       text:"Aradia"
bar:Enzifer     text:"Enzifer"
bar:Uruz          text:"Uruz"
bar:Renton      text:"Renton"

PlotData =

width:11
bar:Nefas       from:01/01/1992 till:05/01/2012  color:vocals
bar:Nefas       from:01/01/1992 till:05/01/2012  color:guitar width:3
bar:Nefas       from:01/01/1995 till:06/01/1995  color:drums width:7
bar:Nefas       from:01/01/2008 till:06/01/2008  color:bass width:7
bar:Nefas       from:01/01/2010 till:06/01/2010  color:drums width:7
bar:Enzifer     from:01/01/1992 till:09/01/1997  color:guitar width:3
bar:Enzifer     from:01/01/1992 till:09/01/1997  color:drums
bar:Enzifer     from:09/01/1997 till:03/01/2016  color:guitar
bar:Enzifer     from:01/01/2016 till:03/01/2016  color:bass width:7
bar:Enzifer     from:06/01/1995 till:09/01/1997  color:keys width:7
bar:Enzifer     from:09/01/1997 till:03/01/2016  color:keys width:3
bar:Enzifer     from:06/01/2022 till:end         color:guitar 
bar:Chiron      from:01/01/1992 till:09/01/1997  color:bass
bar:Shregoth    from:04/01/2003 till:12/01/2006  color:bass
bar:Mannevond   from:03/01/2007 till:06/01/2012  color:bass
bar:Mannevond   from:06/01/2022 till:end         color:bass
bar:Aradia      from:01/01/1992 till:06/01/1995  color:keys
bar:Uruz        from:09/01/1997 till:06/01/2008  color:drums
bar:Renton      from:06/01/2008 till:06/01/2010  color:drums
bar:Uruz        from:06/01/2010 till:03/01/2016  color:drums
bar:Uruz        from:06/01/2022 till:end         color:drums 
</timeline>

References

^ "Urgehal - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives".
^ Ciekals, Trånn. "Mediateket: Urgehal". Rockheim. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
^ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 "Interview with Enzifer of Urgehal, 2007". NocturnalCult.com. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
^ ^4.0 ^4.1 "Urgehal - Interview". Metal Glory magazine. 11 January 2010. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
^ Urgehal. Voices from the Darkside. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
^ Hartmann, Graham. "Urgehal Frontman Trondr Nefas Dies at 35". Loudwire. Retrieved 2012-10-28.

External links

Urgehal on Myspace

[1] "Urgehal - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives".

[2] Ciekals, Trånn. "Mediateket: Urgehal". Rockheim. Retrieved 2010-12-31.

[nocturnal-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 "Interview with Enzifer of Urgehal, 2007". NocturnalCult.com. Retrieved 31 October 2012.

[metalglory-4] 4.0 ^4.1 "Urgehal - Interview". Metal Glory magazine. 11 January 2010. Retrieved 31 October 2012.

[darkside-5] Urgehal. Voices from the Darkside. Retrieved 31 October 2012.

[6] Hartmann, Graham. "Urgehal Frontman Trondr Nefas Dies at 35". Loudwire. Retrieved 2012-10-28.

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