Musically, Koldbrann play black metal in the classic Norwegian mould and have received favorable comparisons to bands like Darkthrone, Dødheimsgard and Gorgoroth.[1]
History
Koldbrann was founded in 2001 by the then 16-year-old Mannevond. The first lineup consisted of Mannevond on vocals and Dragev on guitars, before Dragev left the band, shortly after the first songs were made. Mannevond then recruited Kvass on guitars in 2002. As songwriter and lyricist, Kvass would play a pivotal role in shaping the band’s sound and has since remained a key band member. The initial lineup was completed the same year, as the band enlisted Fordervelse on drums.[2]
Koldbrann recorded and released their first demo Pre-prod 2002 in July 2002. The recording featured session bass by Kjøttring, aka Seidemann of 1349 (band).
On 1 November 2022, Koldbrann made their live debut at Grotta pub in Hamar, on the underground festival Legions Of The North, with Jonas Aus Slavia on live bass. A second demo, Mislyder fra Det Nekrotiske Kammer, which consisted of a rehearsal recording, was released in December 2002.[2]
Koldbrann released their debut full-length album Nekrotisk Inkvisition, April 2003, coinciding with the band’s performance at the Inferno Metal Festival.[2][3] The album would later be re-released by labels Desolate Landscapes, Twilight Vertrieb and Northern Silence Productions.[4]
Following a handful of concerts in Norway, Koldbrann made their first performances abroad in August 2003, on the Balkan Inkvisition Mini-Tour with Grenjar, with concerts in Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. Stian Johnskareng had joined the band on bass, and Geir Antonsen was enlisted as second guitarist in 2004. The following years saw the band making several concerts in Norway and Europe, including the Anti-Trigger Tour 2004 with Endstille, with 11 dates in Germany and The Netherlands.
In April 2004, Koldbrann released a split 7” vinyl EP with Ljå, followed by the Atomvinter EP, released January 2006.
Koldbrann’s second full-length album Moribund was released on 23 June 2006, followed by a split 7” vinyl EP with Faustcoven, released November 2006, and the Stigma: På kant med livet mini-album, released 15 August 2008.[5]
During the years 2006-2009 Koldbrann made over 70 concerts in Europe, including several tours, both as headliners and as supporting acts for bands like Taake, Marduk (band) and Shining (Swedish band), as well as festival appearances on among others Inferno Metal Festival (2007 and 2009), Summer Breeze Open Air (2007 and 2009), Party.San Metal Open Air (2008) and Hole in the Sky (festival) (2009).
On 10 May 2009 Koldbrann announced that the band had parted ways with drummer Fordervelse, and that guitarist Geir Antonsen had left the band.[6] Replacements were announced 13 July 2009, with Folkedal joining on drums, and Voidar joining on guitars.
After signing with French record label Season of Mist, Koldbrann released the single Totalt Sjelelig Bankerott in November 2012, featuring Erlend Hjelvik of Kvelertak on guest vocals, along with the band’s first music video.
Koldbrann’s third full-length album Vertigo was released 25 January 2013. The album was rewarded album of the month in Norway's Scream Magazine, 6/7 in Metal Hammer Germany and 8/10 in Metal Hammer UK.
During the years 2013-2015, Koldbrann performed nearly 40 concerts in Europe, including tours with Blood Tsunami and Endstille, as well as festival appearances on, among others, Hellfest (2013), Kings Of Black Metal (2014), and Wacken Open Air (2014). In the following years, Koldbrann performed only a small number of selected concerts.
On 14 May 2021 Koldbrann announced Leonid Melnikov as drummer on an upcoming album.[7] The band made several festival performances in 2022 and 2023, premiering new material, at among others Midgardsblot (2022) and Wacken Open Air (2023).
After signing with Norwegian record label Dark Essence Records, Koldbrann released the single Den 6. Massedød (Manna fra en annen himmel) on 1 December 2023,[8] followed by the singles I Unaturens Vold and Fortærer Av Minne Og Form, released June and July 2024.
Koldbrann’s fourth full-length album Ingen Skånsel was released 23 August 2024.[8]
In February 2025, they released the track Elevert hinsides tilstand—originally a bonus track on the CD version of Ingen skånsel—on streaming services as a tribute to the recently deceased Trånn Ciekals.[9]
Discography
Studio albums
Nekrotisk Inkvisition (2003)
Moribund (2006)
Vertigo (2013)
Ingen Skånsel (2024)
EPs
Skamslåtte engler / Fredløs (2004) – split single with Ljå
Atomvinter (2006)
Pogrom Pestilent / Orgy in Sodom (2006) – split single with Faustcoven
Stigma: På kant med livet (2008)
Russian Vodka / Metalni Bog (2009)
Totalt Sjelelig Bankerott (2012)
Den 6. Massedød (Manna fra en annen himmel) (2023)
Demos
Pre-Prod 2002 (2002)
Mislyder fra Det Nekrotiske Kammer (2002) – rehearsal tape
DVDs
Live at Ragnarök Festival 2007 (2007) – official bootleg
Koldbrann at the Inferno Metal Festival in Oslo, Norway, 2024. Ltr: Kvass, John Grave, Mannevond, Voidar. Leonid Melnikov on drums hidden in the smoke. Photo: Birgit Fostervold
Band members
Current members
Mannevond – vocals, bass, guitar (2001–present)
Kvass – guitar, lyrics (2002–present)
Voidar – guitar (2009–present)
John Grave (aka Dragev) – live bass/guitar, additional studio guitars (2001, 2019–present)
Leonid Melnikov – drums (2021–present)
Former members
Jonas aus Slavia – bass (2002–2003)
Fordervelse – drums (2002–2009)
Geir Antonsen – guitar (2004–2009)
Stian Johnskareng – bass (2003–2013)
Folkedal – drums (2009–2018)
Live members
Mpress – bass (2 shows, 2003)
General Kshatriya – guitar (1 show, 2003)
Kjøttring – bass (1 show, 2003)
Kjetil Hektoen – drums (2013)
Lars Fredrik Frøislie – synthesizers (2013-2014)
Desecrator – bass (2014–2017)
Malphas – bass (2014–2018)
Eirik Renton – drums (2014-2020)
Sturt – bass (2023–present)
Hemsk – drums (2024–present)
Touring history
Balkan Inkvisition 2003 - 5 dates (Balkan, w/Grenjar)
German Inkvisition 2004 - 11 dates (Europe, w/Endstille)
Black Hordes Over Europe / Moribund Europe Tour 2006 - 10 dates (Europe, w/Sarkom and Negator)
Moribund Balkan Tour 2006 - 5 dates (Balkan, w/KRV)
Black Hordes Over Europe pt. II 2007 / Moribund Europe Tour pt. II - 15 dates (Europe, w/Taake and Urgehal)
Werewolf Tour 2007 / Moribund Europe Tour Pt. III - 5 dates (Poland, w/Marduk)
Black Hordes Over Europe pt. III 2009 / Stigma Tour 2009 - 9 dates (Europe, w/Shining (Swedish band) and Sarkom)
Fire Walk With Me vol. 6 2013 - 4 dates (Norway, w/Blood Tsunami)
Vertigo Over Europe 2014 - 10 dates (Europe, w/Endstille and Ondskapt)
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