Kampfar

Norway's Kampfar took their name from an ancient Norse battle cry and fuse a punishing yet often triumphant sound drawing on icy black metal, neoclassical passages, and rousing Viking folk-metal. What started as a solo project for ex-Mock frontman Dolk, born Per Joar Spydevold, later expanded into a band format, with Dolk the only member to remain throughout every incarnation. Their first album, Mellom Skogkledde Aaser, surfaced in 1997, followed by further acclaimed releases that included 2006's Kvass and 2015's Profan, the latter earning a Spellemann award, Norway's equivalent of a Grammy.

Dolk formed the group in 1994 with guitarist Thomas Andreassen after exiting the Norwegian black metal act Mock. The duo's demo appeared later that year on Season of Mist. A contract with Germany's Malicious label yielded the 1997 debut Mellom Skogkledde Aaser. Tensions with the label prompted a move to Hammerheart, which issued the 1998 EP Norse. Also in 1998 the band released Fra Underverdenen, shifting toward a more neoclassical black metal approach.

Kampfar entered a hiatus soon after but regrouped in 2003 as a quartet by adding bassist Jon Bakker and vocalist/drummer Ask Ty Arctander. Until that point the group had built underground recognition without ever performing live. Their concert debut came the next year at Moshfest in Halden while they assembled material for a new album. Kvass arrived in 2006 as their first outing on Napalm Records and reflected a change in sound inspired by classic Norwegian black metal, recalling the work of Enslaved, Behemoth, and Emperor. Heimgang in 2008 continued in a comparable vein, as did 2010's Mare, though the latter was tracked after longtime guitarist Thomas Andreassen departed shortly before recording.

Guitarist Ole Hartvigsen joined in 2011 and made his recorded debut on 2014's Djevelmakt, which also marked the band's transition from Napalm to Indie Recordings. Just over a year later Kampfar issued their seventh full-length, Profan, which received the Spellemann award for best metal achievement. A stretch of personal difficulties within the lineup preceded the 2019 release of the expansive Ofidians Manifest, which included guest vocal appearances by Agnete Kjølsrud of Djerv and Animal Alpha along with Ask Ty's sister Marianne Maria Moen.