Månegarm

Following an initial month of rehearsals in late 1995, the musicians formerly known as Antikrist—vocalist Svenne Rosendal, guitarists Jonas Almquist and Mårten Matsson, bassist Pierre Wilhelmsson, and drummer/vocalist Erik Grawsiö—adopted the name Månegarm after the legendary Norse vampire wolf destined to swallow the moon at Ragnarök. From their base in Norrtälje, Sweden, the group began developing its Viking metal approach across two early recordings: the 1996 demo Vargaresa and the 1997 effort Ur Nattvindar, the latter featuring new arrivals Jonny Wranning on vocals and Markus Andé on guitar in place of Matsson.

Folk influences expanded on that second demo through added violin parts and female vocal contributions, helping secure a deal with Displeased Records. Before commencing work on the 1998 debut Nordstjärnans Tidsålder, the band recruited Stockholm vocalist Viktor Hemgren. The album’s title, translating as The Age of the Northstar, underscored its fusion of black metal intensity with Nordic folk traditions, highlighted by session violin from soon-to-be permanent member Janne Liljequist and female vocals supplied by Ymer Mossige-Norheim.

Persistent vocalist instability led to Hemgren’s dismissal midway through the sessions for the follow-up album. Drummer Grawsiö assumed all vocal duties for Havets Vargar, issued in 2000. After a brief hiatus the same lineup completed Dödsfärd, released in 2003 with an increased emphasis on clean singing alongside the group’s established black metal elements and a broader range of slower tempos.

The remastered demos appeared on CD in 2004, followed by the 2005 album Vredens Tid, widely regarded at the time as the band’s strongest work and the catalyst for Månegarm’s initial European festival appearances. The folk-oriented EP Urminnes Hävd concluded the Displeased association and inaugurated a partnership with Black Lodge, which yielded the 2007 album Vargstenen.