King ov Hell

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King ov Hell
God Seed Motocultor 15 08 2015 03 NB (cropped).jpg
Visnes performing live with God Seed in 2015
Background information
Birth nameTom Cato Visnes
Also known asKing, TC King
Born (1974-11-27) 27 November 1974 (age 49)
Origin Bergen, Norway
Genres Black metal
Instrument(s)
  • Bass
  • drums
  • vocals
  • guitar
Years active1999–present
Formerly of

Tom Cato Visnes (born 27 November 1974), [1] better known as King ov Hell or simply King, is a Norwegian musician. He is best known as the former bassist of black metal band Gorgoroth, and as a member of Audrey Horne, Sahg, I, Ov Hell, God Seed, Abbath, Jotunspor and Temple of the Black Moon.

Contents

Biography

King joined the Bergen-based black metal band Gorgoroth as a bassist in 1999, shortly before the recording of their fifth album Incipit Satan . In 2002, he co-founded the rock band Audrey Horne. King wrote the majority of the music for the Gorgoroth sixth studio album, Twilight of the Idols , released in 2003. The following year King formed the doom metal band Sahg with Gorgoroth drummer Einar Selvik and Thomas Tofthagen of Audrey Horne.

In 2005, Audrey Horne released their debut album No Hay Banda and won the Norwegian Spellemann Award in the 'Metal' category. [2] Sahg released their first studio album Sahg I in 2006. King further collaborated with Einar Selvik that same year in the black metal band Jotunspor and on their album Gleipnirs Smeder. [3]

King composed all the music for Gorgoroth's 2006 album Ad Majorem Sathanas Gloriam. The album was nominated for a Spellemann Award in the 'Metal' category that same year. [4] [5] Later in 2006, King joined the Norwegian supergroup I as a bassist along with Abbath of Immortal, Arve Isdal of Enslaved and Audrey Horne, and former Immortal drummer Armagedda. The band released the album Between Two Worlds in 2006 and performed their only show at that year's Hole in The Sky Festival in Bergen. King temporarily quit Gorgoroth in June 2006, reportedly due to having difficulties with fronting some of the ideological aspects of the band's agenda, but later stated that the reason was dissatisfaction with Infernus' lack of contributions to the band. [6] [7] He rejoined the band in 2007 by the request of Gaahl and left Audrey Horne later that year to focus on Gorgoroth. [7]

King ov Hell performing with Gorgoroth in 2007 KingovHellGorgoroth.jpg
King ov Hell performing with Gorgoroth in 2007

In September 2007, King filed a trademark application to the Norwegian Industrial Property Office for the name and logo of Gorgoroth, and in the following month he and vocalist Gaahl attempted to fire founding member Infernus, igniting a dispute for the Gorgoroth name. The reasons given for the duo's actions were claims of Infernus having no interest in promoting Gorgoroth or participating creatively and the guitarist's abusive and disrespectful behaviour towards promoters, session members and other working partners, along with Gaahl and King's claim of having "creatively defined" the band through the past eight years. [8] King also cited feeling averse to being associated with Infernus during and after the latter's trial and conviction for rape. [7] In 2008, Gorgoroth released the video album Black Mass Krakow 2004 , while Sahg released their second studio album Sahg II. Gaahl and King toured with Gorgoroth later that year alongside a new lineup consisting of Teloch, Arve Isdal and Nicholas Barker of Cradle of Filth. [9]

Following a trial for the ownership of the Gorgoroth name in January 2009, the Oslo City District Court ruled in March that King's trademark application was not valid and that Infernus was the legitimate owner of the name, and that Gaahl and King had excluded themselves from the band by attempting to fire the guitarist. [10] Following the conclusion of the dispute, King and Gaahl assumed the name God Seed. After Gaahl's decision to retire from metal music in July 2009, King dissolved God Seed and formed Ov Hell with Shagrath of Dimmu Borgir. [11] The music he had written for God Seed's debut album was later used for Ov Hell's 2010 album The Underworld Regime . [11] Gaahl and King re-formed God Seed in 2012 and released the album I Begin that same year. [12] Following Abbath's departure from Immortal in 2015, King joined the frontman in his eponymous band. The band released their self-titled debut album in 2016. King left the band in 2018 over conflicting views on the lyrical concepts of their second album. [13]

Relationship with the metal scene and ideology

King has been part of several projects and collaborations with other members of the Norwegian black metal scene throughout his career. He is closely associated with Gaahl, who he collaborated with for many years as a member of Gorgoroth and God Seed. King collaborated with Einar Selvik of Wardruna in Gorgoroth, Sahg and Jotunspor. He worked with Abbath of Immortal in the supergroup I and the frontman's eponymous band. King has collaborated with Enslaved guitarist Arve Isdal in Audrey Horne and I, in addition to Gorgoroth, God Seed and Ov Hell where the guitarist served as a live and session member.

King and Isdal were also a part of the supergroup Temple Of The Black Moon with Cradle of Filth vocalist Dani Filth, guitarist Rob Caggiano of Anthrax and Volbeat, keyboardist Gerlioz from Dimmu Borgir and drummer John Tempesta of The Cult and White Zombie. [14] The band released a demo track and recorded an album titled Time to Prey that has remained unreleased. [14] [15] King has worked with Teloch of Mayhem as member of Gorgoroth, God Seed and Ov Hell. Frost of Satyrion contributed to Gorgoroth and Ov Hell albums with King as a session drummer. During the Gorgoroth name dispute, Anders Odden of Cadaver and Satyricon helped King file the trademark application and testified at the following trial for King and Gaahl. [16] [17] According to Gaahl, he and King are friends with the late Martin Eric Ain and Thomas Gabriel Fischer of Celtic Frost. [18]

King attracted the attention of several detractors in the black metal scene during the Gorgoroth name dispute. Gorgoroth guitarist Tormentor departed the band in 2002 due to falling out with King and testified for Infernus at the trademark rights trial. [19] Fenriz of Darkthrone, who also supported Infernus during the name dispute, has expressed disdain for King in several interviews and on his blog. [20] [21] [22] [23] Another supporter of Infernus, Swedish guitarist Blackmoon, has previously criticized King's satanical views. [24]

In a 2010 interview with Norwegian newspaper Bergensavisen , King stated that he was not a satanist despite having claimed to be so in earlier interviews, instead claiming that "[w]e take seriously what is dark in nature and the human mind", and that "[t]he music, the images, the lyrics — all this is part of an artistic expression. Many find it provocative and scary, yes, but to us it is only parables." [25] [26]

Discography

With Gorgoroth

Studio albums

Live albums

With Audrey Horne

Studio albums

Studio EPs

  • Confessions & Alcohol (2005)

With Sahg

With I

With Jotunspor

With Ov Hell

With God Seed

Studio albums

Live albums

  • Live at Wacken (2012)

With Abbath

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gorgoroth</span> Norwegian black metal band

Gorgoroth is a Norwegian black metal band based in Bergen. It was formed in 1992 by guitarist Infernus, who is the sole original member remaining, and has released nine studio albums. Gorgoroth are a Satanic band and have drawn controversy due to some of their concerts, which have featured impaled sheep heads and mock crucifixions. The band is named after the dead plateau of darkness in the land of Mordor from J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Audrey Horne (band)</span>

Audrey Horne is a hard rock band from Bergen, Norway. Formed in 2002, the band took its name from Sherilyn Fenn's character in the TV series Twin Peaks. The band's musical style is a mixture of heavy and melodic classic rock, inspired by Iron Maiden, Kiss, Ozzy Osbourne, Van Halen, Mötley Crüe, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin. As of 2022, Audrey Horne has released seven studio albums, one live album and one EP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abbath</span> Norwegian musician (born 1973)

Olve Eikemo, better known by his stage name Abbath Doom Occulta or simply Abbath, is a Norwegian musician best known as a founding member of the black metal band Immortal. Before founding Immortal, Abbath performed with Old Funeral alongside future Immortal member Demonaz. Following his departure from Immortal in 2015, he announced that he would be forming a new band under the Abbath name. Although primarily a guitarist, Abbath is also a proficient bassist and drummer, having started his career as a bassist and recorded all drums for Immortal albums Pure Holocaust and Battles in the North.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaahl</span> Norwegian musician and painter

Kristian Eivind Espedal, better known by his stage name Gaahl, is a Norwegian vocalist and painter. He is best known as the former frontman of Norwegian black metal band Gorgoroth. He is also the founder and lead vocalist of Trelldom and Gaahlskagg. Since leaving Gorgoroth, he has been involved with God Seed, Wardruna, and Gaahls Wyrd. He was the focus of the documentary True Norwegian Black Metal and also appeared in the film Flukt.

<i>Ad Majorem Sathanas Gloriam</i> 2006 studio album by Gorgoroth

Ad Majorem Sathanas Gloriam is the seventh studio album by Norwegian black metal band Gorgoroth. It was released in Europe on 19 June 2006 by Regain Records and in the US on 25 July 2006 by Candlelight Records. This was the only Gorgoroth album on which all of the lyrics and music were written by Gaahl and King ov Hell, and was the last to feature both members. It also marked the return of drummer Frost and was the last Gorgoroth album that he appeared on. It was nominated for Norway's 2006 Spellemann award in the "Metal" category. It is the first Gorgoroth album with no Norwegian lyrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Infernus</span> Norwegian black metal musician

Roger Tiegs, better known by his stage name Infernus, is a Norwegian black metal musician and Satanist. He is the sole founding member and chief ideologist of the black metal band Gorgoroth, formed in 1992, in addition to being the founder and head of Forces of Satan Records. While mainly a guitarist, Infernus has also participated as bassist, drummer and vocalist on several recordings released both by Gorgoroth and other bands.

<i>Twilight of the Idols</i> (Gorgoroth album) 2003 studio album by Gorgoroth

Twilight of the Idols (In Conspiracy with Satan) is the sixth studio album by Norwegian black metal band Gorgoroth. It was released on 12 August 2003 by Nuclear Blast and reissued in 2006 by Back on Black Records. It is the band's only album to feature drummer Kvitrafn.

<i>Incipit Satan</i> 2000 studio album by Gorgoroth

Incipit Satan is the fifth full-length album by Norwegian black metal band Gorgoroth. It was released on 7 February 2000 by Nuclear Blast, and reissued in 2006 by Back on Black Records. Incipit Satan was the first album with King ov Hell as bassist, the last album to feature Tormentor on guitar and the only one with Sjt. Erichsen on drums. The band members dedicated the album to their deceased friend and former bandmate Erik Brødreskift.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sahg</span> Norwegian hard rock/doom metal band

Sahg is a three-piece Norwegian hard rock/doom metal band formed in Bergen in the summer of 2004, by key figures in the metal scene of their country: Tom Cato Visnes, Einar Selvik (Kvitrafn), Olav Iversen and Thomas Tofthagen. Iversen has been the main songwriter and the only constant member of the band since its inception.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tormentor (musician)</span> Norwegian guitarist and vocalist

Tormentor is a Norwegian black metal musician who is best known for his work as guitarist with the black metal band Gorgoroth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ole Moe</span> Norwegian musician

Apollyon is a black metal/thrash metal multi-instrumentalist, formerly associated with Dødheimsgard and Cadaver, now playing in Aura Noir and also Immortal after its reforming in 2006. He has done guest vocals on the Darkthrone albums Plaguewielder and Sardonic Wrath, and also on Audiopain's EP 1986 (2000). He was a live guitarist for Gorgoroth from 2003 to 2004, and performed at Gorgoroth's infamous Kraków show in February 2004 and later released on the video album Black Mass Krakow 2004.

<i>True Norwegian Black Metal – Live in Grieghallen</i> 2008 live album by Gorgoroth

True Norwegian Black Metal – Live in Grieghallen is Gorgoroth's first full-length live album, released by Regain Records. It was recorded live in the studio at Grieghallen Lydstudio in Bergen and Threeman Recordings in Stockholm. The songs on the album represented the most commonly played songs in Gorgoroth's live set. The cover design by Magnus Wohlfart was radically different from the previous three full-length albums, being more reminiscent of the cover of the album Under the Sign of Hell (1997). Most of the album was recorded before the departure of vocalist Gaahl and bass guitarist King ov Hell, who had intended on using the band's name and assets. The bass guitar for this album was later re-recorded by guitarist and band founder Infernus. Infernus dedicated the album to the late Jon Nödtveidt of Dissection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gorgoroth name dispute</span>

The Gorgoroth name dispute refers to a legal dispute between musicians from Norwegian black metal band Gorgoroth over who had ownership of the band's name, which was derived from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. The parties to the dispute were band founder Infernus and members Gaahl and King ov Hell. It began in October 2007, when it was announced that Gaahl and King had decided to part ways with Infernus, although the former two claimed to have "fired" the latter. The dispute was concluded in March 2009 when a court verdict recognising Infernus as the legitimate user of the name was announced, and the outcome of the dispute also established a precedent in Norway for subsequent similar disputes.

<i>Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt</i> 2009 studio album by Gorgoroth

Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt is the eighth studio album by Norwegian black metal band Gorgoroth. It was released on 21 October 2009 by Regain Records. This album marked the return of Pest on vocals, as well as the debut of Tomas Asklund on drums and Bøddel on bass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">God Seed</span> Norwegian black metal band

God Seed was a Norwegian black metal band based in Bergen, Norway. Former Gorgoroth members Gaahl and King ov Hell adopted the name in March 2009 following the ending of the Gorgoroth name dispute. After performing a few gigs as God Seed, vocalist Gaahl left the band in July 2009 and it was put on hold. King finished the music for God Seed's first album, with vocalist Shagrath, and released it under the name Ov Hell. Gaahl re-joined God Seed in 2012. In January that year they released the live album Live at Wacken, and in October they released their first studio album, I Begin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ov Hell</span> Norwegian black metal band

Ov Hell is a Norwegian black metal supergroup started by Shagrath and King ov Hell in 2009. The band's debut album, The Underworld Regime, was released in February 2010 by Indie Recordings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wardruna</span> Norwegian folk music group

Wardruna is a Norwegian music group formed in 2003 by Einar Selvik along with Gaahl and Lindy-Fay Hella. They are dedicated to creating musical renditions of Norse cultural and esoteric traditions, and make significant use of Nordic historical and traditional instruments including deer-hide frame drums, flutes, kraviklyra, tagelharpe, mouth harp, goat horn, and lur. Non-traditional instruments and other sources of sound like trees, rocks, water, and torches are also used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arve Isdal</span> Musical artist

Arve Isdal, also known as Ice Dale, is a Norwegian musician and producer, best known as lead guitarist for the extreme metal band Enslaved and the hard rock band Audrey Horne. He owns and runs Conclave & Earshot Studio in Bergen together with former-Enslaved band member Herbrand Larsen. In addition to working as a musician and producer, Isdal also teaches music production at Noroff.

<i>I Begin</i> 2012 studio album by God Seed

I Begin is the only album by Norwegian black metal band God Seed. It was released on 23 October 2012 in North America and on 30 October 2012 in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morten Bergeton Iversen</span> Norwegian guitarist

Morten Bergeton Iversen, better known by his stage name Teloch, is a Norwegian musician and composer. He is currently guitarist for black metal bands Mayhem and Nidingr, and fronts the eponymous electronic solo project Bergeton. Iversen is a former touring and session member of Gorgoroth, God Seed and 1349.

References

  1. ↑ Skatt - bt.no - Bergens Tidende Archived 5 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ NRK (31 January 2006). "Spellemannprisen 2005". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  3. ↑ Blabbermouth (25 March 2006). "JOTUNSPOR Featuring GORGOROTH Members: Audio Available". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  4. ↑ "Interview with Infernus and King". Metal-Whore. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  5. ↑ "Spellemannprisen". Ifpi.no. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  6. ↑ "BLABBERMOUTH.NET - GORGOROTH Enter Norwegian Chart At No. 22". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  7. 1 2 3 Grow, Kory (21 October 2007). "Infernal Affairs". Revolver . Future US. Archived from the original on 15 May 2008. Retrieved 13 March 2009. Why the most dangerous true Norwegian black-metal band of the decade turned on itself
  8. ↑ "GORGOROTH Frontman: 'We Will Raise The Flame Higher And Brighter Than Ever'". Blabbermouth.net. 23 October 2007. Archived from the original on 21 April 2008. Retrieved 26 May 2008.
  9. ↑ Blabbermouth (2 June 2008). "GAAHL-Fronted GORGOROTH Announces Touring Lineup". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  10. ↑ "Blabbermouth.Net". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  11. 1 2 "God Seed - Gaahl Retires From Metal - Metal Storm". Metalstorm.ee. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  12. ↑ Blabbermouth (29 November 2012). "GOD SEED: 'Alt Liv' Video Released". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  13. ↑ Blabbermouth (11 June 2018). "Bassist KING OV HELL Quits ABBATH Over 'Conflicting Views On Lyrical Concepts' Of Upcoming Album". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  14. 1 2 Kennelty, Greg (23 November 2016). "Dani Filth Discusses His Failed Supergroup With ENSLAVED, GORGOROTH, And VOLBEAT Members". Metal Injection. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  15. ↑ M. Drew: Dani Filth Talks New Book.
  16. ↑ Blabbermouth (4 February 2009). "GORGOROTH Trial Update: Witness List Revealed". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  17. ↑ "Information on King's Gorgoroth trademark application". Dbsearch.patentstyret.no. Retrieved 13 March 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
  18. ↑ "GORGOROTH Frontman Opens Up About His Sexual Orientation: 'I've Never Made Any Secret About It" Archived 26 May 2012 at archive.today .
  19. ↑ Mastema: "La renaissance de Gorgoroth : la réplique d'Infernus" Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine .
  20. ↑ "Break the chains with Fenriz!". www.metalfan.ro. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  21. ↑ Kory Grow: "WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: DARKTHRONE'S FENRIZ, PART 3! HIS THOUGHTS ON 'PANZERFAUST', VARG VIKERNES, - ".
  22. ↑ Russ Cardona: Darkthrone.
  23. ↑ Michael Wuensch: Darkthrone - Circle The Wagons Archived 29 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine .
  24. ↑ "Ex-NECROPHOBIC/DARK FUNERAL Guitarist Launches New Project, Slams 'Fake' GORGOROTH". Archived from the original on 10 July 2012.
  25. ↑ "Former GORGOROTH Bassist KING: 'The Church Is More Satanist Than We Are".
  26. ↑ Mladen Škot: "Interview with JOTUNSPOR" Archived 27 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine . In: Maelstrom, no. 50.
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