Manimalism
Norway · formed 1992 · last active 2015
Manimalism is a Norwegian avant-garde black/doom metal outfit from Oslo whose roots trace to the mid-1990s project Taarenes Vaar, a quiet contemporary of the early post-black-metal weirdness scene alongside Ved Buens Ende and Fleurety. Their self-titled 2014 debut fuses black-metal-inspired doom with operatic, King Diamond/Ghost-indebted crooning. Bassist Petter 'Plenum' Berntsen doubles in Virus, tying the band directly into that group's avant-black lineage.
SCORE PROFILE
Accent numbers counted towards the index. Hover an axis — or hold it on a phone — for what it means.
WHY THOSE SCORES
- Barbershop 5 — Described as 'a Black Metal-inspired Doom band performing twisted 60's crooner ballads' with operatic vocals compared to King Diamond and Ghost's Papa Emeritus.
- Black 6 — Tagged black metal/post black metal; reviewers call it 'a very good mix of Black Metal with Doom Metal.'
- Technical 4 — Reviews note 'elaborate rhythms and intricate instrumental details' throughout.
- Theatrical 6 — Majestic, operatic vocal delivery likened to King Diamond, Ghost's Papa Emeritus, and Mayhem's Maniac.
- Doom 6 — Core doom-metal riffing anchors the sound alongside black metal.
MEMBERS
CONNECTIONS
- Alfa Obscurapath →
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 ↗
- Alfa Obscurapath →
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 ↗
- Arcturuspath →
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 Arcturus's "Sideshow Symphonies" (2005, Design, Photography By [www.trineogkim.no]). 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 and Kim Sølve, Oslo; Discogs artist id 1912469): Manimalism's "Demo Sessions 1996-1998" (2015, Design, Image Editor) and Dødheimsgard's "Supervillain Outcast" (2007, Artwork, 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 ↗
- Fleuretypath →
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 Fleurety's "Ingentes Atque Decorii Vexilliferi Apokalypsis" (2009, 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 ↗
- Ihsahnpath →
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 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): Manimalism's "Demo Sessions 1996-1998" (2015, Design, Image Editor) and In Lingua Mortua's "Salon Des Refusés" (2022 Repose Records vinyl edition, Cover). 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; Discogs artist id 1912469): Manimalism's "Demo Sessions 1996-1998" (2015, Design, Image Editor) and Mayhem's "Ordo Ad Chao" (2007, Artwork). 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; Discogs artist id 1912469): Manimalism's "Demo Sessions 1996-1998" (2015, Design, Image Editor) and Peccatum's "Lost In Reverie" (2004, 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 ↗
- Shining (Sweden)path →
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 Shining (Sweden)'s "Redefining Darkness" (2012, Artwork). 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 ↗
- Solefaldpath →
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 Solefald's "Red For Fire - An Icelandic Odyssey Part I" (2005, 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; Discogs artist id 1912469): Manimalism's "Demo Sessions 1996-1998" (2015, Design, Image Editor) and Sturmgeist's "Manifesto Futurista" (2009, Cover, 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 ↗
- Ulver (electronic era)path →
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 Ulver (electronic era)'s "Svidd Neger (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)" (2003, Cover). 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; Discogs artist id 1912469): Manimalism's "Demo Sessions 1996-1998" (2015, Design, Image Editor) and Yurei's "Night Vision" (2012, 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 ↗
FURTHER LISTENING
Nearest score profiles in the atlas.
- UnaffiliatedEI 11AnaretaTheatricalDoomBlack
Anareta is a six-piece orchestral/blackened doom metal band from New Orleans, formed in 2018 around a chamber trio of violin, viola and cello alongside conventional metal instrumentation. Their self-released 2023 debut Fear Not pairs Sarah Jacques' harsh, black/sludge-inflected screams with cinematic string arrangements, earning praise for fusing classical chamber writing with crushing doom riffing. Note: this is the New Orleans band and its 2023 album Fear Not — not the same-titled Horrendous death metal album.
- Blackgaze / avant-blackEI 9Porta NigraBlackTheatricalDoom
Porta Nigra is a German avant-garde black metal band founded in Koblenz in 2010 by Gilles deRais (guitars, bass) and drummer/vocalist O., who recorded the first two albums as a duo before expanding to a full band. Their concept records — Fin de Siècle (2012), Kaiserschnitt (2015), Schöpfungswut (2020) and Weltende (2023), the last inspired by World War I — move between straightforward black metal fury and more psychedelic, spoken-word-laced detours, released through Soulseller Records. Guitarist Gilles deRais has described the project as a way of channeling 'old spirits' through the music.
- UnaffiliatedEI 14HasardBlackTheatricalTechnical
Hasard is a French dissonant/avant-garde black metal project by the musician Hazard, an offshoot of his prior orchestral/classical one-man project Les Chants du Hasard. Debut album Malivore (I, Voidhanger Records, 2023) inverts that project's formula, building chaotic, dissonant black metal shot through with classical/orchestral flourishes, piano guest work from John Steven Morgan of Wreche, and comparisons to early Ævangelist, Abyssal and Blut Aus Nord. A follow-up, Abgnose, was released in 2025, also on I, Voidhanger.
- UnaffiliatedEI 12Favna AbisalTheatricalBlackTechnical
Chilean avant-garde/post-black metal band from the Region Metropolitana (Santiago), formed 2008. Blends post-black metal with industrial elements, melodic post-rock, and operatic Spanish-language vocal delivery reminiscent of Arcturus. Discography includes "Rerum Imaginaria" (2012), "Argonautas", and "La Casa de los Siete Espejos" (2024, inspired by a legendary Valparaiso brothel and Sergio Larrain's photography).
- Igorrr-verseEI 14WormfoodTheatricalDoomBlack
A French gothic-doom outfit built around Emmanuel Lévy's deep, 'conjuring' French-language vocals, symphonic keyboards, and an atmosphere reviewers liken to Type O Negative crossed with Ange's chanson-prog — plus stray psych-rock detours. Their own scene ties (a member also drums for Öxxö Xööx, another was a live member of Carnival in Coal) place them squarely in the French avant-metal underground rather than mainstream gothic metal.
- UnaffiliatedEI 13DevarBlackTechnicalTheatrical
Devar is a Norwegian avant-garde/black metal band from Bergen, active since 2003, known for fusing black metal with 70s progressive rock, art rock and dark 50s-tinged rock'n'roll under King Diamond-esque theatrical vocals. Albums include Alternate Endings (2009, Code666), House of Bones and Mausoleum (both 2017, Gymnocal Industries). Reviewers compare their genre-blurring approach to Sigh's use of jazz/avant-garde technique within black metal.
- UnaffiliatedEI 12NomiconBlackTheatricalDoom
Nomicon was a Helsinki act led by vocalist/bassist Tommi Launonen (Ceasar), moving from an early death/thrash sound into symphonic, atmospheric black metal by the 2001 album Halla, drawing comparisons to The Kovenant's Nexus Polaris but 'enriched with more deeply doomy atmospherics.' The band drew on a deep bench of Finnish extreme-metal talent, including guitarist Roope Latvala (later Children of Bodom), rhythm guitarist Miika Niemela (Shape of Despair), female vocalist Tanya Kemppainen (Lullacry), and drummer Yka 'Agathon' (Barathrum). A Metal Archives review characterizes Halla's keyboard-led sound as a 'misanthropic baroque celebration' anchored by 'apocalyptic witch-esque rasps.'
- Norwegian avant-blackEI 9Shining (Sweden)BlackTheatricalTechnical
Shining is a Swedish depressive/suicidal black metal band formed by Niklas Kvarforth in 1996 — a genuinely distinct entity from the atlas's Norwegian blackjazz Shining (shining-norway). Musically it is rooted in DSBM with early doom influences, gradually adopting clean guitars, solos and odd meters as it drifted toward progressive extreme metal, its avant-garde credentials thinner than most atlas nodes. Its most 'experimental' dimension is arguably Kvarforth's notorious confrontational stagecraft (self-mutilation, razor-blade distribution). Personnel overlap with Mayhem and Arcturus is significant.
- UnaffiliatedEI 12LychgateBlackDoomTechnical
Lychgate is a London-based avant-garde black/doom metal band formed around 2011-2012, built on a foundation of pipe/church organ used as the compositional backbone of every track. Their influences span late-19th/early-20th-century art music, Rock in Opposition and musique concrete. They record for Debemur Morti Productions, with a discography running from the 2013 self-titled debut through 2025's 'Precipice.'
- Norwegian avant-blackEI 11BethlehemBlackDoomTheatrical
Bethlehem are a German black/doom band formed in Grevenbroich in 1991 by Jürgen Bartsch and Klaus Matton. Their 1994 debut Dark Metal gave an entire subgenre its name, welding black metal's tremolo and shriek to doom's crawl plus violin, piano and keyboard for a uniquely desolate, avant-garde atmosphere. Later records pushed further into Suicidal/Depressive Black Metal territory and, briefly, electronic Neue Deutsche Härte.