Solefald
Norway · formed 1995 · last active 2016
Solefald is a Norwegian avant-garde metal duo formed in 1995 by Cornelius Jakhelln and Lars Are 'Lazare' Nedland. They build on a black-metal foundation while folding in clean vocals, piano, jazz guitar, classical passages, punk, electronic components and folk rhythms, self-described as 'Red Music With Black Edges.'
SCORE PROFILE
Accent numbers counted towards the index. Hover an axis — or hold it on a phone — for what it means.
WHY THOSE SCORES
- Jazzy 3 — Bio lists 'jazz guitar' among the styles the duo blends.
- Black 7 — Norwegian avant-garde/black metal act; black metal is the foundational element.
- Glitch 2 — Cornelius Jakhelln handles sampling; electronic/industrial components noted.
- Theatrical 3 — Concept-driven, self-styled 'Red Music With Black Edges' narrative approach.
- Folk 3 — Bio notes 'folk rhythms' in their eclectic mix.
- Ambient 3 — Bio cites electronic components and atmospheric passages.
MEMBERS
- Cornelius Jakhellnvocals, guitars, bass, sampling· also in G.U.T., Sturmgeist
- Lars Are Nedlandvocals, piano, keyboards, synthesizers, organ, drums· also in Age of Silence
CONNECTIONS
- Age of Silencepath →
Vocalist Lars Are 'Lazare' Nedland is also the vocalist, drummer, and keyboardist of Solefald. source ↗
- G.U.T.path →
G.U.T. is the solo project of Cornelius Jakhelln, half of Solefald — corroborated by Solefald's own stored member list. source ↗
- Sturmgeistsatellitepath →
Cornelius Jakhelln is a founding member of both Solefald and Sturmgeist source ↗
- Alfa Obscurapath →
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 ↗
- 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 Solefald's "Red For Fire - An Icelandic Odyssey Part I" (2005, 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 Solefald's "Red For Fire - An Icelandic Odyssey Part I" (2005, 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 ↗
- Ephel Duathpath →
Both bands' cover art/design/photography work was done by freelance artist Kim Sølve (Discogs artist id 340792, distinct from the 'Trine + Kim Design Studio' duo entity): Solefald's "Black For Death - An Icelandic Odyssey Part II" (2006, Design, Photography By) and Ephel Duath's "Pain Necessary To Know" (2005, Artwork), same Discogs artist id confirmed on both releases. Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Kim Sølve 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): Solefald's "Red For Fire - An Icelandic Odyssey Part I" (2005, Design, Photography By) 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 ↗
- Godfleshpath →
Both bands' cover art/design/photography work was done by freelance artist Kim Sølve (Discogs artist id 340792, distinct from the 'Trine + Kim Design Studio' duo entity): Solefald's "Black For Death - An Icelandic Odyssey Part II" (2006, Design, Photography By) and Godflesh's "Long Live The New Flesh" (2021, Photography By [Band Photo]), same Discogs artist id confirmed on both releases. Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Kim Sølve is not an atlas band member 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): Solefald's "Red For Fire - An Icelandic Odyssey Part I" (2005, 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 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 ↗
- 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 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 ↗
- Mayhempath →
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 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): Peccatum's "Lost In Reverie" (2004, Design) 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 ↗
- 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 Solefald's "Red For Fire - An Icelandic Odyssey Part I" (2005, 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 ↗
- Sturmgeistsatellitepath →
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 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 ↗
- The Kovenantpath →
Both bands' cover art/design/photography work was done by freelance artist Kim Sølve (Discogs artist id 340792, distinct from the 'Trine + Kim Design Studio' duo entity): Solefald's "Black For Death - An Icelandic Odyssey Part II" (2006, Design, Photography By) and The Kovenant's "In Times Before The Light 1995" (2005, Design, Illustration), same Discogs artist id confirmed on both releases. Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Kim Sølve is not an atlas band member 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 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 ↗
- Ved Buens Ende.....path →
Both bands' cover art/design/photography work was done by freelance artist Kim Sølve (Discogs artist id 340792, distinct from the 'Trine + Kim Design Studio' duo entity): Solefald's "Black For Death - An Icelandic Odyssey Part II" (2006, Design, Photography By) and Ved Buens Ende's "Written In Waters" (2003, Photography By, Artwork, Design), same Discogs artist id confirmed on both releases. Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Kim Sølve is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. source ↗
- Viruspath →
Both bands' cover art/design/photography work was done by freelance artist Kim Sølve (Discogs artist id 340792, distinct from the 'Trine + Kim Design Studio' duo entity): Solefald's "Black For Death - An Icelandic Odyssey Part II" (2006, Design, Photography By) and Virus's "Carheart" (2003, Design, Illustration), same Discogs artist id confirmed on both releases. Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Kim Sølve is not an atlas band member 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): Solefald's "Red For Fire - An Icelandic Odyssey Part I" (2005, Design, Photography By) 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 ↗
- Aarnipath →
Shared label roster: CD‐Maximum, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Arcturuspath →
Shared label roster: Season of Mist, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Asofypath →
Avantgarde Music artist — continuously signed since 2013 across its whole discography (Amusia, 2020; Svanire, 2023); anchored at Solefald, whose debut The Linear Scaffold (1997) is the label's landmark atlas release. source ↗
- Azusapath →
Shared label roster: Indie Recordings, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Botanistpath →
Shared label roster: Avantgarde Music, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Grey Aurapath →
Shared label roster: Avantgarde Music, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Krallicesatellitepath →
Shared label roster: Avantgarde Music, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Light Dwellerpath →
Signed to Avantgarde Music's imprint Unorthodox Emanations (The Subjugate, 2025) — anchored at Solefald, whose debut The Linear Scaffold (1997) is the label's landmark atlas release. source ↗
- Mayhempath →
Shared label roster: Avantgarde Music, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Pan.Thy.Moniumpath →
Shared label roster: Avantgarde Music, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Shining (Sweden)path →
Shared label roster: Avantgarde Music, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Sturmgeistsatellitepath →
Shared label roster: Von Jackhelln Inhuman, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Sur Austrupath →
Avantgarde Music artist — entire discography on the label (Meteahna Timpurilor, 2019; Obârșie, 2021; Datura Străinelor, 2024); anchored at Solefald, whose debut The Linear Scaffold (1997) is the label's landmark atlas release. source ↗
- Thawpath →
Shared label roster: Avantgarde Music, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- The Meads of Asphodelpath →
Shared label roster: Death to Music, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Tormentorpath →
Avantgarde Music artist (Recipe Ferrum!, 2000) — anchored at Solefald, whose debut The Linear Scaffold (1997) is the label's landmark atlas release. source ↗
- Ulver (black metal era)path →
Shared label roster: Avantgarde Music, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Ulver (electronic era)path →
Shared label roster: Avantgarde Music, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Void Paradigmsatellitepath →
Avantgarde Music artist (Ultime Pulsation | Demain Brûle, 2020, a single-album stint) — anchored at Solefald, whose debut The Linear Scaffold (1997) is the label's landmark atlas release. source ↗
- Windspath →
Shared label roster: Avantgarde Music, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
FURTHER LISTENING
Nearest score profiles in the atlas.
- Blackgaze / avant-blackEI 13VainaBlackTechnicalFolk
Vaina is an active Finnish avant-garde black metal project (formed by siblings in 2014) whose records braid raw black-metal riffing and shrieked/growled vocals with flute, horns, strings, choral and clean singing, and dense ambient/noise passages — critics have compared the effect to Dead Can Dance colliding with black metal. Sung entirely in Finnish, releases run from the 2017 EP Viisikärki through 2024's Unio Mystica (Aesthetic Death, UK).
- Blackgaze / avant-blackEI 13The SprawlcosmBlackTechnicalTheatrical
The Sprawlcosm was a Vienna, Austria act active 1999-2005 (performing as Sprawl until 2001) that fused black metal's blast beats and shrieked vocals with industrial/EBM electronics, oriental-tinged scales, and jazz-adjacent touches. Their sole full-length, Cybionic Black Art (Silverhead Records, Dec 2000), juxtaposed programmed industrial textures and harsh black metal aggression with acoustic guitar and symphonic keyboard passages.
- UnaffiliatedEI 10FjoergynBlackTechnicalTheatrical
A Thuringian epic/symphonic black metal band that has drifted steadily toward progressive excess: synthesized orchestration, pagan/folk motifs, and, on 2023's Judasmesse, krautrock passages and a saxophone solo folded into second-wave-derived black metal. Bandcamp tags it avant-garde but most of the catalogue still sits inside melodic/symphonic black metal, with the experimentation concentrated on the later records.
- Blackgaze / avant-blackEI 19FleuretyBlackTechnicalJazzy
Formed in 1991 by Alexander Nordgaren and Svein Egil Hatlevik, Fleurety began as a conventional Norwegian black metal band before radically expanding its palette: Min Tid Skal Komme (1995) folded in atonal harmonics and folk elements, and Department of Apocalyptic Affairs (2000) - produced by Ulver's Kristoffer Rygg - spans metal, jazz, trip-hop and electronica. Both records leaned heavily on the Norwegian avant-garde scene for guest performers, pulling in Mayhem's Hellhammer and Maniac, Ulver's Rygg (as vocalist "G. Playa") and Tore Ylwizaker on programming, Arcturus/Winds' Steinar "Sverd" Johnsen, and Borknagar's Knut Magne Valle; a later 2009 EP brought in Mayhem's Hellhammer and Necrobutcher again alongside Thorr's Hammer vocalist Runhild Gammelsæter.
- UnaffiliatedEI 19AnubiBlackTheatricalTechnical
Anubi were a Lithuanian avant-garde/experimental black metal band from Kaunas, active 1992-2002, built around frontman Martynas Meskauskas ('Lord Ominous,' also a noted painter) and themed around death and Egyptian mythology. Their sole full-length, Kai pilnaties akis uzmerks mirtis (1997, Danza Ipnotica Records), wove piano, saxophone, accordion, and natural sound recordings into their black metal, and was reissued in 2025 by Inferna Profundus Records. The band dissolved after Meskauskas drowned in a sailing accident on Lake Michigan in March 2002.
- Norwegian avant-blackEI 19IhsahnBlackTechnicalJazzy
Vegard Sverre Tveitan, known as Ihsahn, is the Norwegian guitarist/vocalist of the seminal black metal band Emperor (not currently an E.M.M.A. node) who since 2006 has built an acclaimed solo catalogue blending black metal with progressive rock, industrial and free-jazz textures - most notably via saxophonist Jorgen Munkeby of Shining (Norway). He co-founded the avant-garde project Peccatum with his wife Heidi 'Ihriel' Solberg Tveitan, guested on Arcturus's 'The Sham Mirrors,' and hosted Ulver/Arcturus/Borknagar vocalist Kristoffer Rygg on his own debut. His Hardingrock side project fuses traditional Norwegian Hardanger-fiddle folk music with metal.
- UnaffiliatedEI 27JumalhämäräBlackTechnicalTheatrical
Jumalhämärä ('Twilight of the Gods') is an experimental black metal band from Lahti, Finland, active since 1996 and currently signed to Ahdistuksen Aihio Productions. Their sound folds droning sustained tones, Gregorian-chant choirs, and folk-tinged interludes into a black metal chassis, most audible on the 18-minute Songless Shores EP where bell tones give way to psychedelic drift.
- UnaffiliatedEI 18Alkuharmonian KantajaBlackTechnicalJazzy
Alkuharmonian Kantaja are an avant-garde black metal quartet from Oulu, Finland, founded in 2020 by J. Usurper with S. Redeemer (drums) and Swiss-based D. Harbinger (keys). Their I, Voidhanger-released debut Shadowy Peripherals (2021) draws critical comparisons to 1990s Norwegian avant-prog black metal acts like Ved Buens Ende, splicing jazz, folk, and classical fragments into spitfire riffing and clean-toned synth melancholy.
- UnaffiliatedEI 14AryosBlackTechnicalTheatrical
Aryos is a long-running French avant-garde black metal act from Ussac/Brive-la-Gaillarde (Corrèze), formed in 1994 (originally as Forlorn, renamed 1997). Built around an occult/esoteric concept by members using the stage names Napharion, Pétal and Alilteas Gornnec, their sound layers jazz-tinged synths, classical piano and prog-rock textures over a black metal core. Later releases like Les Stigmates d'Hécate (2015) lean into atmospheric, folk-tagged textures.
- UnaffiliatedEI 13Hail Spirit NoirBlackTechnicalAmbient
Hail Spirit Noir is a Greek band from Thessaloniki (formed 2010) that welds 1970s psychedelic and progressive rock — vintage organ, synth and mellotron textures — onto a modern second-wave black metal frame. Founded by Haris and Theoharis, both veterans of the prog outfit Rex Mundi and the avant/symphonic project Transcending Bizarre?, the band cultivates an occult, horror-tinged atmosphere across concept albums, drifting further into synth-forward territory on Eden in Reverse. Frequently filed alongside Oranssi Pazuzu and Arcturus as psychedelic/avant-garde black metal.