Kvelertak

Kvelertak is a Norwegian heavy metal band from Stavanger, formed in 2007. The group comprises vocalist Ivar Nikolaisen, guitarists Vidar Landa, Bjarte Lund Rolland and Maciek Ofstad, bassist Marvin Nygaard and drummer Håvard Takle Ohr. Founding member and lead singer Erlend Hjelvik left the group in 2018,[9] being replaced by Ivar Nikolaisen.[10] Most of Kvelertak's songs have Norwegian lyrics, and their main influences are rock and roll and punk rock.

Kvelertak
Kvelertak performing in 2019
Background information
OriginStavanger, Norway
Genres
Years active2007–present
Labels
Websitekvelertak.com
Members
  • Ivar Nikolaisen
  • Vidar Landa
  • Bjarte Lund Rolland
  • Maciek Ofstad
  • Marvin Nygaard
  • Håvard Takle Ohr
Past members
  • Erlend Hjelvik
  • Anders Mosness
  • Kjetil Gjermundrød

The band's self-titled debut album was released in 2010 and sold more than 15,000 copies in Norway.[11] The second album, Meir, was released in March 2013. The band's third studio album, titled Nattesferd, was released on May 13, 2016. Their fourth studio album, Splid, released on February 14th, 2020, their first with Ivar Nikolaisen on lead vocals.

History

Formation and debut album (2007–2011)
Former vocalist Erlend Hjelvik

Kvelertak were formed in Stavanger, Norway in 2007. The band's name is the Norwegian for "stranglehold" or "chokehold".[12] A demo, Westcoast Holocaust, was self-released that year.[13][14] The band released their debut album, entitled Kvelertak, on June 21, 2010 via the Norwegian record label Indie Recordings,[15] and on March 15 via The End Records in North America.[16] The album was certified gold by IFPI in Norway for selling over 15,000 copies.[11]

In March 2011, Kvelertak were presented with two Spellemannprisen Awards, a prestigious Norwegian music award similar to the American Grammy Award—for Best Newcomer and Best Rock Band.[17] The Kvelertak song "Mjød" was used as the end music for the film The Troll Hunter.[18]

Meir and Nattesferd (2012–2017)
Kvelertak in 2019

The second album, entitled Meir, was released on March 25, 2013 (March 26 in the US) via Sony Music Scandinavia in Scandinavia, Roadrunner Records in the rest of the world, and by Indie Recordings on vinyl. Kvelertak has also attracted a following from renowned artists such as Metallica front man James Hetfield who, along with the Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon, watched the band perform in San Francisco. Hetfield also posted a video on his Instagram account of him watching the band and describing the front man Hjelvik as a "savage" frontman. [19]

The band's third studio album, titled Nattesferd, was released on May 13, 2016.[20] They opened for Metallica on their WorldWired Tour between September 2017 and May 2018 in Europe, and was also the opening act for Ghost on their Popestar Tour in 2017.

Lineup change and Splid (2018–present)
Ivar Nikolaisen in 2019

In July 2018, Erlend Hjelvik announced that he had left the band.[9] His replacement, Ivar Nikolaisen (of Silver and The Good, The Bad and The Zugly), was announced on July 20 at their show in Fjellparkfestivalen, Flekkefjord[10] - he had previously featured as a guest vocalist on 'Blodtørst'.[21]

Kvelertak released their fourth studio album, Splid, on February 14, 2020.[22] Hjelvik released his solo album, Welcome to Hel, on November 20, 2020.

Discography

Studio albums
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Year Album details Peak chart positions
NOR
[23]		 BEL (FL) FIN
[24]		 GER
[25]		 SWE SWI
[26]		 UK
2010 Kvelertak 3——————
2013 Meir 1165186420100108
2016 Nattesferd
  • Released: May 13, 2016
  • Label: Roadrunner Records,
    Indie Recordings
  • Formats: CD, digital download, vinyl
 2
[27]		919
[28]		243144128
2020 Splid
  • Released: February 14, 2020
  • Label: Rise Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, vinyl
 1
[29]		—21
[30]		1219
[31]		32—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

EPs
  • Gojira/Kvelertak Live (2013, split with Gojira)

Singles
  • "Mjød" (2010)
  • "Blodtørst" (2010)
  • "Bruane Brenn" (2013)
  • "Kvelertak" (2013)
  • "1985" (2016)
  • "Berserkr" (2016)
  • "Bråtebrann" (2019)
  • "Crack of Doom (feat. Troy Sanders)" (2020)

Demos
  • Westcoast Holocaust (2007)[32]

Awards
  • 2010: Two times Spellemannprisen in the categories best Rock band and this years Newcomer, for the self-titled album Kvelertak

Band members
Current members
  • Vidar Landa – guitar (2007–present)
  • Bjarte Lund Rolland – guitar, backing vocals (2007–present)
  • Marvin Nygaard – bass (2007–present)
  • Maciek Ofstad – guitar, backing vocals (2009–present)
  • Ivar Nikolaisen – lead vocals (2018–present)
  • Håvard Takle Ohr – drums (2019–present)
Past members
  • Erlend Hjelvik – lead vocals (2007–2018)
  • Anders Mosness – guitar (2007–2009), drums (2007–2008)
  • Kjetil Gjermundrød – drums (2008–2019)
Others
  • Steve Moore - drums (session) (2019)

Timeline

References
  1. Buchanan, John. D. "Kvelertak". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  2. Pham, Andrew (15 March 2015). "Kvelertak - Kvelertak". Exclaim!. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  3. Nelson, Michael (1 November 2013). "Kvelertak – "Snilepisk" Video". Stereogum. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  4. Walschots, Natalie Zina (26 March 2013). "Kvelertak - Meir". Exclaim!. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  5. Walschots, Natalie Zina (26 March 2013). "Kvelertak - Meir". Exclaim!. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  6. Monger, Jason Christopher (March 25, 2013). "Meir - Kvelertak - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - Music". Allrovi. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  7. Smith, Nathan (22 November 2013). "Get Crushed By Kvelertak's Unclassifiable Heaviness". Houston Press. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  8. Barkan, Jonathan (25 January 2013). "Roadrunner Records Signs Norwegian Rock Band Kvelertak". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  9. "Kvelertak - Hey, Erlend here, there is no easy way to say..." Facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
  10. "Kvelertak - Ivar Nikolaisen, Welcome To The Kvelertak..." Facebook.com. 2018-07-20. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  11. "Kvelertak Receives Gold-Album Plaque From Dave Grohl". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner. July 1, 2011. Archived from the original on April 9, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  12. Ramirez, Carlos (April 29, 2011). "Kvelertak Strangle the Crowd in 'Ordsmedar Av Rang' -- Video Premiere". Noisecreep. AOL Music. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
  13. KVelertak: Eight Songs Available For Free Download - June 17, 2007. Blabbermouth.net.
  14. Kvelertak Replaces Helldriver At Norway's Øyafestivalen - Aug. 4, 2007. Blabbermouth.net.
  15. "KVELERTAK: 'Ordsmedar Av Rang' Video Released". Blabbermouth.net. 20 April 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  16. Kvelertak Interviewed In Berlin (Video) - May 29, 2011. Blabbermouth.net.
  17. "Kvelertak Wins Two Spellemann Awards". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. March 6, 2011. Archived from the original on April 9, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  18. "Trollhunter". IMDb.com. 29 October 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  19. "KVELERTAK Is Almost Done Writing Material For Next Album". Blabbermouth.net. November 29, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  20. Kvelertak To Release 'Nattesferd' Album In May; New Song '1985' Streaming. Blabbermouth.net. Published on March 8, 2016.
  21. "Kvelertak - Kvelertak (2010, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  22. "KVELERTAK To Release 'Splid' Album In February". Blabbermouth.net. November 27, 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  23. Hung, Steffen. "norwegiancharts.com - Discography Kvelertak". Norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  24. "FinnishCharts.com Kvelertak discography page". Finnishcharts.com. Retrieved 2013-04-05.
  25. "Discographie von Kvelertak". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  26. "Discographie Kvelertak". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  27. "VG-lista - Topp 40 Album uke 21, 2016". Lista.vg.no. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  28. "Musiikkituottajat - Tilastot - Suomen virallinen lista - Albumit". Ifpi.fi. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  29. "VG-lista – Topp 40 Album uke 8, 2020". VG-lista. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  30. "Albumit 8/2020 – Suomen virallinen lista – Musiikkituottajat". Ifpi.fi. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
  31. "Veckolista Album, vecka 8". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  32. Archaic Magazine interview of Kvelertak Archived October 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
Awards
Preceded by
John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen		 Recipient of the rock Spellemannprisen
2010		 Succeeded by
Honningbarna
Preceded by
Donkeyboy		 Recipient of the newcomer Spellemannprisen
2010		 Succeeded by
Jonas Alaska
Preceded by
Nekromantheon		 Recipient of the metal Spellemannprisen
2013		 Succeeded by
Execration
Preceded by
Beglomeg		 Recipient of the rock Spellemannprisen
2016		 Succeeded by
Sløtface
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