Gorgoroth

Gorgoroth is a Norwegian black metal group from Bergen, active since 1992. It is led by guitarist Infernus, also known as Roger Tiegs. The band name refers to the dark plains of Mordor in J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, and the name is said to mean “land of great despair”.

Early years and first releases

Gorgoroth forms in 1992 as a trio with vocalist Hat, whose name means “hate” in Norwegian, and drummer Goat Pervertor. The band is based in Hyllestad and debuts on 28 April 1993 with the demo A Sorcery Written in Blood, which includes the tracks “Sexual Bloodgargling” and “(Under) The Pagan Megalith”, preceded by an intro made up of incoherent screaming. A later cassette, Promo'94, contains “Katharinas Bortgang” and “Maaneskuggens Slave”.

Their first album, Pentagram, appears in 1994 and is recorded at Grieghallen Studios with producer Pytten, also known as Eirik Hundvin, for the French label Embassy Productions. The recording features Samoth of Emperor on bass because original bassist Kjetter is imprisoned for involvement in the burning of Skjold Stavkirke, a church more than 800 years old. The release is notable for its deliberate absence of lyrics, artwork and promotional self-mythologising, and earlier demo material is reworked for the album. “Sexual Bloodgargling” is also re-recorded under the title “Ritual”. Further contributions come from Satyricon drummer Frost.

After Pentagram, Malicious Records issues the seven-inch EP The Last Tormentor, which contains two live tracks recorded at The Garage in Bergen. Around this period, Samoth is imprisoned for church burning and is replaced by Storm.

Late 1990s line-up changes and albums

The June 1996 album Antichrist - True Norwegian Black Metal moves to the German label Malicious Records, which also reissues Pentagram. It features Pest of Obtained Enslavement as second vocalist and guitarist. At this stage Gorgoroth operates largely as a studio project for Infernus, who plays both guitar and bass on the recording. The album is sparse, running to about 25 minutes and including five full tracks plus a short intro, “En Stram Lukt av Kristent Blod”.

For European touring with Satyricon and Dissection, the line-up changes again to Infernus, ex-Immortal drummer Erik Brødreskift as Grim, and Aeternus singer and bassist Ares. After the October 1997 album Under the Sign of Hell, recorded by Pytten at Grieghallen Lydstudio, the band continues to shift. This album uses lower tuning for a heavier sound and includes the backward-spliced chanting of “Postludium” and the unusually slow “The Devil Is Calling”. The line-up at this point includes Infernus, guitarist Tormentor, bassist T. Reaper, vocalist Gaahl and drummer Vrolok.

In 1998 Gorgoroth signs to Nuclear Blast for Destroyer, or About How To Philosophize With The Hammer. Peter Tägtgren mixes the album, which includes an uncredited version of Darkthrone’s “Slottet I Det Fjerne”. Keyboard parts on “På Slagmark Langt Mot Nord” come from Daimonion, also known as Ivar Peersen or Ivar Bjørnson. Infernus and Grim are also members of Borknagar. Infernus appears on Deskrator’s Metal For Demons in 1999, while Gaahl begins the solo project Sigfader with the Sigfaders Hevner sessions.

2000s releases, instability and legal disputes

Drummer Grim dies by drug overdose in 1999. Gorgoroth’s February 2000 album Incipit Satan, recorded at Sunlight Studios, is its most experimental up to that point, using samples, keyboard layers and the 1950s-style “Death Rock” track “When Love Rages Wild in My Heart”. King ov Hell plays bass, while former Molested drummer Erlend “Sersjant” Erichsen handles drums before being replaced by Kvitrafn, also known as Einar Selvik, of Det Hedenske Folk. Frost later fills in temporarily when Kvitrafn injures his arm. The band also contributes a version of Mayhem’s “Life Eternal” to a tribute release in 2001.

Recording of a new album is delayed when Gaahl receives a prison sentence and later serves time after an assault case. During this period Tormentor leaves the band. With Gaahl released, Gorgoroth records vocals for Twilight of the Idols (In Conspiracy with Satan) at Shimmer Recordings in Bergen. The original European sleeve is withdrawn because it depicts the ruins of Fantoft stave church, a site burnt in 1992.

Tormentor and Infernus also found the Orcustus project with ex-Enslaved drummer Dirge Rep, and the trio debuts with the limited 7-inch World Dirt Nap. In 2004 Gorgoroth faces legal scrutiny after a performance filmed at Krakow TV studios in Poland, where the stage includes naked performers in crucifixion poses, sheep’s blood, sheep’s heads and entrails. The show leads to an investigation over offence to religious beliefs. Around the same time Gaahl is also involved in a separate assault case and later receives a prison sentence and damages order.

Gorgoroth parts ways with Nuclear Blast and later signs to Regain Records for a new studio album. The band’s live material is recorded with 1349 for the release True Norwegian Black Metal. In 2005 it is nominated in the metal category at the Spellemann awards for Ad Majorem Sathanas Gloriam. King ov Hell leaves, then returns in 2006. The group also licenses its early catalogue through Season of Mist for remastered digipak reissues of Pentagram, Antichrist and Under the Sign of Hell.

In 2007 Gaahl and King ov Hell part ways with Infernus, leading to a dispute over the band name. A court decision in 2009 rules in favour of Infernus, holding that Gaahl and King ov Hell have excluded themselves from Gorgoroth when they leave him. The group remains active.

Style and line-up

Gorgoroth is associated with Norwegian black metal and is known for a stark, aggressive approach, especially on its early records, with minimal decoration and a focus on the music itself. Across its history, members and contributors include Goat Pervertor, Hat, Infernus, Samoth, Frost, Grim, Ares, Pest, Tormentor, T-Reaper, Gaahl, Sersjant, King ov Hell, Kvitrafn, Bøddel and Tomas Asklund.