Midnattsol

In 2002 vocalist Carmen Elise Espenaes joined forces with guitarist Chris Hector to launch the symphonic metal outfit Midnattsol, whose Norwegian name translates as “midnight sun,” while folding Nordic folk elements into the group’s sound. The lineup soon expanded to include guitarist Daniel Droste, bassist Birgit Ollbruner, keyboardist Daniel Fischer, and drummer Chris Murzinsky. A self-titled demo issued in 2003 earned the ensemble a recording contract with Napalm Records. Their debut full-length, Where Twilight Dwells, arrived in 2005 and earned the band support slots with In Extremo plus appearances at Wave Gotik and Summer Breeze. Nordlys, the follow-up studio album, surfaced in 2008. Although the collective remained active during this phase, individual members also pursued outside endeavors, as Murzinsky and Ollbrunner performed with R.I.P. while Hector and Droste lent their efforts to the German doom metal outfit Ahab.