Alfa Obscura
Norway · formed 2009 · last active 2023
Alfa Obscura is a one-man Norwegian black metal/avant-garde project based in Oslo, run since around 2010 by Bjeima (Bjørge Eide Martinsen), who writes, performs, and produces all instruments and vocals. Musically it is rooted in cold, dissonant '90s Norwegian black metal tradition pushed into more avant-garde territory across the albums 'Plutonian Shores' (2011) and 'Sisyfos Speil' (2023), the latter drawing critical comparisons to Ved Buens Ende, Virus, and Manes. Bjeima is also a session/touring bassist for the Norwegian avant-garde black metal band Virus, appearing on their album 'The Agent That Shapes The Desert' (2011) and 'Oblivion Clock' EP (2012).
SCORE PROFILE
Accent numbers counted towards the index. Hover an axis — or hold it on a phone — for what it means.
WHY THOSE SCORES
- Black 7 — Described as 'forged from the weirder side of Norwegian Metal tradition and the obscure grandeur of nineties Black Metal.'
- Technical 4 — 'Chiseled from cold, dissonant guitar work' with layers that 'reveal more upon repeated listening.'
- Ambient 3 — 2023 album praised for atmospheric, introspective quality, drawing comparisons to atmospheric post-black acts Whirling and Manes.
MEMBERS
- Bjeima (Bjørge Eide Martinsen)all instruments, vocals, production
CONNECTIONS
- Bjeimapath →
Bjeima is the sole artist behind both the NoHoN project and Alfa Obscura. source ↗
- Viruspath →
Bjeima (Alfa Obscura's sole member) played bass for Virus on 'The Agent That Shapes The Desert' (2011) and the 'Oblivion Clock' EP (2012), replacing longtime bassist Plenum for those releases. source ↗
- Bjeimapath →
Bjeima (Bjeima) worked as producer/engineer on Alfa Obscura's "Plutonian Shores" — credited Producer [Produced By]. Multi-anchor credit (Bjeima is a member of 3 atlas bands); tied to every home band per ruling 9 (2026-08-22). source ↗
- Manimalismpath →
Bjeima (Manimalism) worked as producer/engineer on Alfa Obscura's "Plutonian Shores" — credited Producer [Produced By]. Multi-anchor credit (Bjeima is a member of 3 atlas bands); tied to every home band per ruling 9 (2026-08-22). source ↗
- Yureipath →
Bjeima (Yurei) worked as producer/engineer on Alfa Obscura's "Plutonian Shores" — credited Producer [Produced By]. Multi-anchor credit (Bjeima is a member of 3 atlas bands); tied to every home band per ruling 9 (2026-08-22). source ↗
- Arcturuspath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen and Kim Sølve, Oslo): Arcturus's "Sideshow Symphonies" (2005, Design, Photography By [www.trineogkim.no]) and Alfa Obscura's "Plutonian Shores" (2011, Design, Photography By), same Discogs artist entity (id 1912469) on both releases. Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band so there is no anchor band. source ↗
- Dødheimsgardpath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen + Kim Sølve, Oslo design duo, Discogs artist id 1912469): Dødheimsgard's "Supervillain Outcast" (2007, Artwork, Design) and Alfa Obscura's "Plutonian Shores" (2011, Design, Photography By), same Discogs artist id confirmed on both releases. Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. source ↗
- Fleuretypath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen and Kim Sølve, Oslo): Fleurety's "Ingentes Atque Decorii Vexilliferi Apokalypsis" (2009, Design) and Alfa Obscura's "Plutonian Shores" (2011, Design, Photography By). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band so there is no anchor band. source ↗
- Ihsahnpath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen and Kim Sølve, Oslo): Alfa Obscura's "Plutonian Shores" (2011, Design, Photography By) and Ihsahn's "The Adversary" (2006, Design). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band so there is no anchor band. source ↗
- In Lingua Mortuapath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen and Kim Sølve, Oslo; Discogs artist id 1912469): In Lingua Mortua's "Salon Des Refusés" (2022 Repose Records vinyl edition, Cover) and Alfa Obscura's "Plutonian Shores" (2011, Design, Photography By). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band so there is no anchor band. source ↗
- Manimalismpath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen and Kim Sølve, Oslo; Discogs artist id 1912469): Manimalism's "Demo Sessions 1996-1998" (2015, Design, Image Editor) and Alfa Obscura's "Plutonian Shores" (2011, Design, Photography By). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band so there is no anchor band. source ↗
- Mayhempath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen and Kim Sølve, Oslo): Mayhem's "Ordo Ad Chao" (2007, Artwork) and Alfa Obscura's "Plutonian Shores" (2011, Design, Photography By). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band so there is no anchor band. source ↗
- Peccatumpath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen and Kim Sølve, Oslo): Peccatum's "Lost In Reverie" (2004, Design) and Alfa Obscura's "Plutonian Shores" (2011, Design, Photography By). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band so there is no anchor band. source ↗
- Shining (Sweden)path →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen + Kim Sølve, Oslo design duo, Discogs artist id 1912469): Shining (Sweden)'s "Redefining Darkness" (2012, credited to both Kim Sølve [Art Direction] and Trine + Kim Design Studio [Artwork] on the same release) and Alfa Obscura's "Plutonian Shores" (2011, Design, Photography By), same Discogs artist id confirmed on both releases. Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. source ↗
- Solefaldpath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen and Kim Sølve, Oslo): Solefald's "Red For Fire - An Icelandic Odyssey Part I" (2005, Design, Photography By) and Alfa Obscura's "Plutonian Shores" (2011, Design, Photography By). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band so there is no anchor band. source ↗
- Sturmgeistsatellitepath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen and Kim Sølve, Oslo): Sturmgeist's "Manifesto Futurista" (2009, Cover, Design) and Alfa Obscura's "Plutonian Shores" (2011, Design, Photography By). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band so there is no anchor band. source ↗
- Ulver (electronic era)path →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen and Kim Sølve, Oslo): Ulver (electronic era)'s "Svidd Neger (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)" (2003, Cover) and Alfa Obscura's "Plutonian Shores" (2011, Design, Photography By). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band so there is no anchor band. source ↗
- Yureipath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by Trine + Kim Design Studio (Trine Paulsen and Kim Sølve, Oslo): Yurei's "Night Vision" (2012, Design) and Alfa Obscura's "Plutonian Shores" (2011, Design, Photography By). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Trine + Kim Design Studio is not an atlas band so there is no anchor band. source ↗
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