Biography
Distinct among Norwegian black metal acts, Immortal from Bergen avoid themes of violence and misanthropy, instead adhering to the dark fantasy and occult-inspired ethos of the scene's beginnings. Rejecting the classical structures and progressive experiments common among their contemporaries, the band favored a raw, pure blackened sound. Their initial three albums—Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism from 1992, Pure Holocaust in 1993, and Battles in the North in 1995—have become landmarks in the genre. The releases At the Heart of Winter in 1999 and Sons of Northern Darkness in 2002 introduced a notable thrash influence that received praise. Between 2003 and 2006 the group went on hiatus. Upon reforming, they embarked on tours and issued the successful All Shall Fall in 2009. After significant lineup shifts in 2015, Immortal came back with Northern Chaos Gods during 2018 along with multiple tours. War Against All emerged in 2023.
Although linked solely by shared pseudonyms, vocalist and bassist Abbath Doom Occulta along with guitarist Demonaz Doom Occulta established Immortal in Bergen, Norway during 1990. Abbath had previously played in the death metal garage outfit Old Funeral, whose members also included Varg Vikernes, later known both for his project Burzum and for murdering Mayhem guitarist Euronymous, while Demonaz had departed from fellow Bergen act Amputation. Drawing from the dense Norwegian forests and harsh winter climate, the pair invented the imaginary domain of Blashyrkh, populated by demons and battles, which would underpin Immortal's lyrics on subsequent recordings.
The pair enlisted drummer Armagedda and, for a short time, second guitarist Jorn Inge Tunsberg, who departed after the band completed the demos Suffocate and Northern Upins Death. Opting to stay a trio, they cut the 7" single "Unholy Forces of Evil/The Cold Winds of Funeral Frost" for the French label Listenable Records in 1991, which secured a deal with another French imprint, Osmose. Their first full-length, Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism, appeared in 1992 and offered a slower, more atmospheric approach than most contemporaries. Once Abbath and Demonaz began emphasizing blastbeats, Armagedda departed, compelling Abbath to handle every drum part on the next two influential albums, Pure Holocaust in 1993 and Battles in the North in 1995. Drummer Grim appeared on the Pure Holocaust cover and performed during the band's initial full European tour in 1993 before dismissal. Mayhem's Hellhammer temporarily handled live drumming and the home video Masters of Nebular Frost until Horgh joined permanently.
After the 1997 album Blizzard Beasts, Immortal suffered a major setback. Demonaz developed severe tendonitis that prevented him from maintaining the required speed and intensity on guitar, prompting his exit as a performing member, though he continued supplying lyrics. Abbath moved from bass to guitar, and the band employed several bassists for live work, beginning with Ares of Aeternus. With Demonaz gone, songwriting fell mainly to Abbath, who started crafting more progressive, dynamic, and expansive compositions set to Demonaz's words.
Abbath played every instrument except drums on the widely praised At the Heart of Winter in 1999, which initiated the band's collaboration with producer Peter Tägtgren of Hypocrisy; the album and its two successors were tracked at his Abyss Studios. Bassist Iscariah joined for Damned in Black in 2000, enabling Immortal's first extensive North American tour alongside Satyricon. Seeking improved U.S. distribution, the band ended its long association with Osmose and signed with Nuclear Blast, which issued the seventh album Sons of Northern Darkness in 2002, now viewed as a genre classic.
By 2003 fractures had appeared, and that summer Immortal declared they were disbanding. Two years later Abbath, Demonaz, and original drummer Armagedda formed the black metal supergroup I with Gorgoroth bassist King ov Hell and Enslaved guitarist Ice Dale. The project released one album, Between Two Worlds in 2006, before Abbath, Demonaz, and Horgh revealed that Immortal would reunite for 2007 tour dates. With Demonaz still writing lyrics, Abbath and Horgh were joined onstage by new bassist Apollyon, who also performed on the comeback album All Shall Fall. Issued by Nuclear Blast in September 2009, the record achieved strong critical and commercial results, charting notably in Norway, Finland, and Germany while reaching the Billboard 200. The following year the audio and video package The Seventh Date of Blashyrkh documented the 2007 reunion performance at Germany's Wacken Open Air Festival.
Early in 2015 it was disclosed that founding member Abbath, who had guided the band throughout its existence, would depart. He engaged in a legal dispute over the group name with his former colleagues but lost the case and subsequently launched his own solo project. Demonaz assumed guitar and vocal duties, marking his first guitar work on an Immortal recording since Blizzard Beasts in 1997. After a 2017 tour featuring bassist Apollyon, Demonaz and Horgh, with longtime producer Peter Tägtgren handling bass, released Northern Chaos Gods in 2018 and toured across North America, Europe, and Pacific Rim countries.
During 2020 Demonaz and Horgh entered a separate legal conflict concerning the band name after the guitarist sought to patent it. The drummer argued for joint ownership because the brand had been built collectively, while Demonaz maintained exclusive rights as the sole remaining original member. In 2022 the Norwegian Patent Office determined that rights to the Immortal name belonged to the band itself rather than individual members.
Demonaz continued alone. He recorded most instruments for War Against All in 2023 but received studio assistance from Ice Dale (Enslaved's Arve Isdal) on bass and production as well as Kevin Kvåle of Gaahls Wyrd on drums.
Although linked solely by shared pseudonyms, vocalist and bassist Abbath Doom Occulta along with guitarist Demonaz Doom Occulta established Immortal in Bergen, Norway during 1990. Abbath had previously played in the death metal garage outfit Old Funeral, whose members also included Varg Vikernes, later known both for his project Burzum and for murdering Mayhem guitarist Euronymous, while Demonaz had departed from fellow Bergen act Amputation. Drawing from the dense Norwegian forests and harsh winter climate, the pair invented the imaginary domain of Blashyrkh, populated by demons and battles, which would underpin Immortal's lyrics on subsequent recordings.
The pair enlisted drummer Armagedda and, for a short time, second guitarist Jorn Inge Tunsberg, who departed after the band completed the demos Suffocate and Northern Upins Death. Opting to stay a trio, they cut the 7" single "Unholy Forces of Evil/The Cold Winds of Funeral Frost" for the French label Listenable Records in 1991, which secured a deal with another French imprint, Osmose. Their first full-length, Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism, appeared in 1992 and offered a slower, more atmospheric approach than most contemporaries. Once Abbath and Demonaz began emphasizing blastbeats, Armagedda departed, compelling Abbath to handle every drum part on the next two influential albums, Pure Holocaust in 1993 and Battles in the North in 1995. Drummer Grim appeared on the Pure Holocaust cover and performed during the band's initial full European tour in 1993 before dismissal. Mayhem's Hellhammer temporarily handled live drumming and the home video Masters of Nebular Frost until Horgh joined permanently.
After the 1997 album Blizzard Beasts, Immortal suffered a major setback. Demonaz developed severe tendonitis that prevented him from maintaining the required speed and intensity on guitar, prompting his exit as a performing member, though he continued supplying lyrics. Abbath moved from bass to guitar, and the band employed several bassists for live work, beginning with Ares of Aeternus. With Demonaz gone, songwriting fell mainly to Abbath, who started crafting more progressive, dynamic, and expansive compositions set to Demonaz's words.
Abbath played every instrument except drums on the widely praised At the Heart of Winter in 1999, which initiated the band's collaboration with producer Peter Tägtgren of Hypocrisy; the album and its two successors were tracked at his Abyss Studios. Bassist Iscariah joined for Damned in Black in 2000, enabling Immortal's first extensive North American tour alongside Satyricon. Seeking improved U.S. distribution, the band ended its long association with Osmose and signed with Nuclear Blast, which issued the seventh album Sons of Northern Darkness in 2002, now viewed as a genre classic.
By 2003 fractures had appeared, and that summer Immortal declared they were disbanding. Two years later Abbath, Demonaz, and original drummer Armagedda formed the black metal supergroup I with Gorgoroth bassist King ov Hell and Enslaved guitarist Ice Dale. The project released one album, Between Two Worlds in 2006, before Abbath, Demonaz, and Horgh revealed that Immortal would reunite for 2007 tour dates. With Demonaz still writing lyrics, Abbath and Horgh were joined onstage by new bassist Apollyon, who also performed on the comeback album All Shall Fall. Issued by Nuclear Blast in September 2009, the record achieved strong critical and commercial results, charting notably in Norway, Finland, and Germany while reaching the Billboard 200. The following year the audio and video package The Seventh Date of Blashyrkh documented the 2007 reunion performance at Germany's Wacken Open Air Festival.
Early in 2015 it was disclosed that founding member Abbath, who had guided the band throughout its existence, would depart. He engaged in a legal dispute over the group name with his former colleagues but lost the case and subsequently launched his own solo project. Demonaz assumed guitar and vocal duties, marking his first guitar work on an Immortal recording since Blizzard Beasts in 1997. After a 2017 tour featuring bassist Apollyon, Demonaz and Horgh, with longtime producer Peter Tägtgren handling bass, released Northern Chaos Gods in 2018 and toured across North America, Europe, and Pacific Rim countries.
During 2020 Demonaz and Horgh entered a separate legal conflict concerning the band name after the guitarist sought to patent it. The drummer argued for joint ownership because the brand had been built collectively, while Demonaz maintained exclusive rights as the sole remaining original member. In 2022 the Norwegian Patent Office determined that rights to the Immortal name belonged to the band itself rather than individual members.
Demonaz continued alone. He recorded most instruments for War Against All in 2023 but received studio assistance from Ice Dale (Enslaved's Arve Isdal) on bass and production as well as Kevin Kvåle of Gaahls Wyrd on drums.
Albums
