Svartediket
Norway · formed 2005 · last active 2008
Norwegian black/folk metal project from Bergen, formed in 2005 by Arild Brakstad and Arne Longvastøl and released as a self-titled album in 2008 (https://www.spirit-of-metal.com/en/band/Svartediket). The material was staged as a full theatrical production billed as 'the world's first black metal musical' at Bergen's Den Nationale Scene, dramatizing local legends about the Svartediket lake including 18th-century infanticide, with Gorgoroth/God Seed vocalist Kristian 'Gaahl' Espedal appearing as the Norse god Heimdall. The music itself mixes black metal aggression with Norwegian folk melody and softer theatrical balladry.
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 6 — Black metal instrumentation and aggression anchor the record even as folk and theatrical elements are layered on top (https://swordandaxe.blogspot.com/2010/04/svartediket-svartediket.html).
- Theatrical 9 — Billed as 'the world's first black metal musical,' staged at Bergen's Den Nationale Scene with actors including Gorgoroth/God Seed vocalist Kristian 'Gaahl' Espedal cast as the Norse god Heimdall (http://awaytonorway.blogspot.com/2010/09/svartediket-worlds-first-black-metal.html).
- Folk 6 — The soundtrack folds 'very good folk music' throughout its tracks, blending traditional Norwegian folk melody with black metal (http://awaytonorway.blogspot.com/2010/09/svartediket-worlds-first-black-metal.html).
- Doom 3 — Extended track lengths and the grim 18th-century infanticide narrative give the record slower, heavier passages beyond straight black metal aggression (https://swordandaxe.blogspot.com/2010/04/svartediket-svartediket.html).
MEMBERS
- Arild Brakstadvocals, guitar, bass, strings
- Arne Longvastøldrums
FURTHER LISTENING
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