Chrome Division

Scandinavian musicians appear unusually driven to launch ensembles of every stripe, whether primary commitments or casual side efforts, perhaps owing to the tedium of lengthy winters. Shagrath and Nagash, both members of the world-renowned black metal outfit Dimmu Borgir, launched the Norwegian biker metal group Chrome Division in 1999 during a break from recording with their main band. The pair reconvened five years later to assemble a functional studio unit, bringing in vocalist Eddie Guz of the Carburetors, lead guitarist Ricky Black, and bassist Bjorn Luna, formerly of Ashes to Ashes, then shaping enough material for a full album. Nagash soon followed the same path he had taken earlier with Dimmu Borgir and stepped away, only to be quickly succeeded by Tony White. The solidified lineup pressed forward and finished Chrome Division’s self-titled debut, Doomsday Rock ’n Roll, issued by Nuclear Blast in 2006.