Satyricon (band)
Satyricon is a Norwegian black metal band, formed in 1991 in Oslo. Satyr and Frost have been the band's core members since 1993. The band's first three albums typify the Norwegian black metal style. Since its fourth album in 1999, the band has strayed from this style and included elements of traditional heavy metal in their sound. Satyricon was the first Norwegian black metal band to join a multi-national record label (EMI).[2]
Satyricon | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Oslo, Norway |
Genres | |
Years active | 1991–present |
Labels | |
Associated acts | |
Members | |
Past members |
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History
The band were formed in 1990 as Eczema[3] by the bassist Wargod and drummer Exhurtum. In 1991, they decided to start playing black metal and change the band name to Satyricon. Satyr (Sigurd Wongraven) then joined the band. After the first demo All Evil, Exhurtum was kicked out of the band because he "preferred hanging out with my girl at the time rather than kicking down gravestones together with the band",[3] while Wargod left the music scene and became a UN soldier afterwards.[4] Remaining members Satyr and Lemarchand hired the drummer Frost (Kjetil-Vidar Haraldstad) as a session musician and recorded their second and last demo, The Forest Is My Throne. Shortly after this, Lemarchand also left the band. But before leaving the band he recorded guitars (uncredited on the booklet) for the first full-length album, Dark Medieval Times. In the meantime, Frost was being "promoted" as a permanent member and had recorded drums for the aforementioned album. Satyricon have—with two exceptions—been a two-man band ever since: from 1993–1996, Tomas Thormodsæter 'Samoth' Haugen from Emperor was the bassist and guitarist of Satyricon, and participated in the recording of their second album, The Shadowthrone; and later, in 1996, Darkthrone member Nocturno Culto (Ted Skjellum, known as "Kveldulv" during Satyricon's period) became guitarist on the third full-length Satyricon album, Nemesis Divina.
Rebel Extravaganza, Satyricon's fourth album, was released in 1999. During this period Satyr drastically changed his look by shaving off his hair, as seen in the photoshoot for the album as well as their live performances around this time.
In April and May 2000, Satyricon toured as a supporting band for Pantera.[5] Phil Anselmo has spoken of his love for black metal numerous times, and has participated in Eibon with Satyricon frontman Satyr.[6] They used to be signed with Daron Malakian's music label EatUrMusic.[7]
Their fifth studio album Volcano was released in 2002 and won four awards: the Norwegian Grammy for Best Metal Album, an Alarm award for the track "Fuel for Hatred" in the category Song of the Year, the Alarm Award for Metal Album of the Year and The Oslo award for Best Overall Album.[8][9][10]
Satyricon participated in the Darkthrone tribute Darkthrone Holy Darkthrone, released by Moonfog Productions in 1998, covering the song "Kathaarian Life Code". In the same year, Satyricon participated in the Bathory tribute In Conspiracy with Satan – A Tribute to Bathory, released by Hellspawn Records/No Fashion Records, featuring the song "Born for Burning" originally released on Crusade from the North in 1996.
In 2006, Satyricon released Now, Diabolical.[11]
In March 2008, the band headlined the Inferno Metal Festival in Oslo for the first time.
The EP My Skin Is Cold was released before their seventh album, The Age of Nero, which was released on 3 November 2008.[12][13]
Satyricon released their self-titled eighth full-length album on 9 September 2013.[14]
The band released their first ever Full Length live CD/DVD set titled Live at the Opera which took place in September 2013, alongside the Norwegian National Opera, on 4 May 2015.
A fully remastered 20th anniversary edition of 1996's Nemesis Divina was released on 20 May 2016.
According to recent updates on Satyricon's official Facebook page, they entered the studio in March 2017 to record their ninth full-length studio album titled Deep Calleth Upon Deep, which was completed in Summer 2017 and was released on 22 September.[15] Frost has stated in recent interviews that once the new album is released, they will then complete work on their first ever covers album. The covers album will be titled 'Formative Oddities', though they have yet to announce its release date.
Musical style
The band's first album, 1994's Dark Medieval Times (recorded in 1993), showed off the fascination Satyricon had with the Middle Ages and featured raw black metal blast beats produced by Frost, mixed with acoustic guitar and flute. On their next album, The Shadowthrone, this medieval spirit was continued. Rock Hard journalist Wolf-Rüdiger Mühlmann wrote that Satyricon reached their "very early zenith" with that album and Nemesis Divina.[16]
Describing their fifth studio album, 2002's Volcano, frontman Satyr stated in a press release and biography on their homepage that "the music is rock based but more extreme; it is black metal pushing the boundaries that began with bands like Venom and Bathory. Reinventing ourselves based on a foundation of rock-oriented black metal is our philosophy."[17] Mühlmann wrote that Satyricon's path after their zenith reached with their second and third album has only a limited connection to black metal,[16] whereas Metal Hammer journalist Robert Müller described Satyr as a "latently arrogant guy who, along the way, makes great music that constantly tests the borders of the genre".[18]
The band's more recent albums from the mid 2000s to the present day have further abandoned the band's earlier black metal style. The tempo of the music is mostly slower compared to the earlier extensive blast beat usage. It also features similar song structures influenced by post-rock music, old school rock, heavy metal, with some mild elements of their early black metal style sometimes still heard in the music, but with an overall more accessible sound. It has been described as a more "black 'n' roll" direction.
Band members
Current members
Current live members
Former members
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Former live members
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Timeline
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications | ||||||||||
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NOR [19] |
BEL (Fl) [20] |
BEL (Wa) [21] |
FIN [22] |
FRA [23] |
GER [24] |
SWE [25] |
SWI [26] |
UK [27] [28] [29] | ||||||
Dark Medieval Times |
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— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
The Shadowthrone |
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— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
Nemesis Divina |
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— | 107 | — | — | — | 71 [30] | — | — | — | ||||
Rebel Extravaganza |
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32 | — | — | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
Volcano |
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4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
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Now, Diabolical |
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2 | — | — | 28 | — | — | 47 | — | 195 | ||||
The Age of Nero |
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5 | — | — | 30 | 136 | 73 | 26 | — | 156 |
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Satyricon |
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1 | 108 | 148 | 6 | 132 | 37 | 18 | 47 | 129 |
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Deep Calleth Upon Deep |
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7 [37] | 61 | 84 | 17 [38] | 152 | 20 | 36 [39] | 25 | — | ||||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Compilation albums
Title | Album details |
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The Box Set |
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Ten Horns – Ten Diadems |
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Split albums
Title | Album details | Note |
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The Forest Is My Throne / Yggdrassil |
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EPs
Title | Album details |
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Megiddo |
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Intermezzo II |
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My Skin Is Cold |
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Singles
Year | Single | Peak positions | Album | |||||||||||
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NOR [19] | ||||||||||||||
2003 | "Fuel For Hatred" | – | Volcano | |||||||||||
2006 | "K.I.N.G." | 7 | Now, Diabolical | |||||||||||
"The Pentagram Burns" | – | |||||||||||||
2008 | "Black Crow on a Tombstone" | – | The Age of Nero | |||||||||||
2013 | "Our World, It Rumbles Tonight" | – | Satyricon | |||||||||||
2017 | "Deep Calleth Upon Deep" | – | Deep Calleth Upon Deep | |||||||||||
2017 | "To your brethen in the dark" | – | Deep Calleth Upon Deep | |||||||||||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Demos
Title | Album details |
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All Evil |
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The Forest Is My Throne |
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Video albums
Title | Album details |
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Roadkill Extravaganza - A True Roadmovie |
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Live at the Opera |
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Music videos
Year | Title | Director | Album |
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1996 | "Mother North" | Sigurd "Satyr" Wongraven | Nemesis Divina |
2002 | "Fuel for Hatred" | Jonas Åkerlund | Volcano |
2006 | "K.I.N.G"[40] | John Nothingworth | Now, Diabolical |
"The Pentagram Burns"[41] | Håvard Arnstad | ||
2008 | "Black Crow on a Tombstone"[42] | Ove Heiborg, Fredrik Kiosterud | The Age of Nero |
2013 | "Phoenix"[43] | Satyricon |
A music video was made for "To Your Brethren In The Dark", directed by Laban Pheidias. The video (the first from the band in nine years), features American actresses Tonya Cornelisse, Jesse Hotchkiss, Diana Wyenn and Shawn Kathryn Kane.[3]
References
- Huey, Steve. "Satyricon | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
- "Very Metal VI". Rock Sound: 14–15. April 2003.
- Powaviolenza: "Ved Buens Ende - interview with Carl-Michael Eide (guitars / vocals)". gutsofdarkness.com. 26 June 2006. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- "Sunday Old School: Satyricon - in Metal News". Metal Underground.com. 2011-08-15. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
- "Philip Anselmo Says Satyricon Is 'Very Underrated'". Blabbermouth.net. 2008-11-14. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
- Various Artists: Moonfog 2000 – A Different Perspective, Moonfog Productions 2000.
- "Satyricon Signs With Malakian Label". Billboard. 2004-02-18. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
- "Satyricon Set European Release Date For 'Volcano'". Blabbermouth.net. 2002-09-09. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
- "Vinnere / Nominerte". Spellemann.no. 2012-01-14. Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
- "Satyricon Confirmed For Sweden's Close Up Festival". Blabbermouth.net. 2006-03-01. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
- "Satyricon: 'Now, Diabolical' European Release Date Moved Forward". Blabbermouth.net. 2006-04-03. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
- "Satyricon To Release 'My Skin Is Cold' Limited Edition Ep". Blabbermouth.net. 2008-04-16. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
- "Satyricon: 'The Age Of Nero' U.S. Release Date Announced". Blabbermouth.net. 2008-11-17. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
- "Satyricon (Satyricon) Digipak CD. Buy Satyricon (Satyricon) Digipak CD at the official Satyricon online shop". Omerch.eu. Archived from the original on 2014-07-27. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
- "SATYRICON To Release 'Deep Calleth Upon Deep' Album In September; Cover Artwork Unveiled". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
- "Satyricon erreichen mit "The Shadowthrone" und "Nemesis Divina" ihren sehr frühen Zenit und begeben sich danach auf neue musikalische Pfade, die nur noch bedingt etwas mit Black Metal zu tun haben." Wolf-Rüdiger Mühlmann: Under the Sign of the Black Mark. Die zweite Generation des Black Metal. In: Rock Hard, no. 269, October 2009, p. 78.
- "Satyricon Confirmed For Bloodstock 2009 - Bloodstock metal news | Bloodstock". Bloodstock.uk.com. Retrieved 2019-10-09.
- "BLAKE JUDD ist für den US-Black Metal in etwa das, was Satyr von Satyricon im norwegischen darstellt: Ein latent arroganter Typ, der ganz nebenbei großartige Musik macht, welche ständig die Grenzen des Genres austestet." Robert Müller: Nachtmystium. Genialer Grosskotz. In: Metal Hammer, September 2012, p. 84.
- "Satyricon discography". norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
- "Satyricon discography". ultratop.be/nl/. Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
- "Satyricon discography". ultratop.be/fr/. Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
- "Satyricon discography". finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
- "Satyricon discography". www.chartsinfrance.net. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
- "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche". musicline.de. Retrieved 2014-07-29.
- "Satyricon discography". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
- "Satyricon discography". hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
- "Chart Log UK: DJ S - The System Of Life". Zobbel.de.
- "Chart Log UK – Chart Coverage and Record Sales 2008". Zobbel.de.
- "Chart Log UK – Update 21.09.2013 (wk37)" (TXT). Zobbel.de.
- "Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 2016-05-27.
- "Shadows Fall, Satyricon, Zao First Week Sales Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. 2006-06-21. Retrieved 2014-07-29.
- "Satyricon's Record Label Is Hoping To Strike Norwegian Gold With 'The Age Of Nero'". Blabbermouth.net. 2008-11-06. Retrieved 2014-07-29.
- "IFPI". Ifpi.no. 2012-02-06. Retrieved 2014-07-29.
- "Satyricon: Second Satyr Video Guitar Lesson Posted Online". Blabbermouth.net. 2009-04-23. Retrieved 2014-07-29.
- "IFPI Norsk platebransje". 2011-05-10. Archived from the original on May 10, 2011. Retrieved 2014-07-29.
- "Satyricon's New, Self Titled Album: First Week Sales Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. 2013-09-25. Retrieved 2014-07-29.
- "VG-lista – Satyricon". VG-lista. Archived from the original on October 16, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
- "Suomen Virallinen Lista". Ifpi.fi. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- "Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved September 29, 2017. Click on "Veckans albumlista".
- "Satyricon: 'K.I.N.G.' Video Posted Online". Blabbermouth.net. 2006-04-20. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
- "Satyricon: 'The Pentagram Burns' Video Posted Online". Blabbermouth.net. 2006-09-06. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
- "Satyricon's 'Black Crow on a Tombstone' Video To See Mtv2 Premiere". Blabbermouth.net. 2009-01-23. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
- "Satyricon: 'Phoenix' Video Released". Blabbermouth.net. 2013-11-11. Retrieved 2014-03-20.