Drottnar

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Drottnar
Drottnar live at Elements of Rock 08 (CH)
Drottnar live at Elements of Rock 08 (CH)
Background information
Origin Fredrikstad, Norway
Genre(s) Black metal
Extreme metal
Progressive metal
Technical metal
Unblack metal
Years active 1996 – Present
Label(s) Endtime Productions (2006 - Present)
Momentum Scandinavia (2003)
Plankton Records (2000)
Website drottnar.com
Members
Sven-Erik Lind
Karl Fredrik Lind
Bengt Olsson
Håvar Wormdahl
Glenn-David Lind
Former members
Bjarne Peder Lind

Drottnar is a technical and progressive black metal band from Fredrikstad, Norway. Drottnar started out in 1996 playing death-doom and viking metal, then developed its style to technical black metal to the current technical and progressive extreme metal, musically close to black metal. Drottnar has played at notable festivals such as Sweden's Endtime Fest[1], Norway's Nordic Fest[2], Switzerland's Elements of Rock[3], Finland's Immortal Metal Fest[4] and United Kingdom's Destruction Fest[5] and they frequently play concerts throughout Europe.

The band has released two albums, Spiritual Battle (2000) and Welterwerk (2006), and an EP titled Anamorphosis (2003). The first album was released on UK label Plankton Records. They are currently signed to Swedish label Endtime Productions (Extol, Antestor, Crimson Moonlight).[6][7]

Drottnar is an Icelandic word for master, ruler or king.[8] Originally adopting a more mystic Viking image, the band is currently known for their peculiar political thematics and live shows where they use military uniforms reminiscent of the DDR or Soviet style.[9]

Contents

[edit] History

The band was originally formed under the name Vitality in 1996 by four cousins: vocalist Sven-Erik Lind, guitarist-keyboardist Karl Fredrik Lind, drummer Glenn-David Lind, and bassist Bjarne Peder Lind. They recorded their first two demos at X-Ray Studios. First one, titled Doom of Antichrist, was released in May 1996 and featured more death-doom metal oriented output.[10]

In 1998 the name was changed to Drottnar and a demo titled A White Realm was recorded in September. Musically it went for a more Viking metal direction.

In 2000 the band released their demos together as an album titled Spiritual Battle. It was published by UK based label Plankton Records. The demos were remastered for the album, and Spiritual Battle was well-received by critics and underground metal enthusiasts.[11][12]

A year later, Drottnar entered the studio of Black Woods Productions and recorded a song called "Trellebaand Maa Briste" for the Swedish label Endtime Productions' compilation album titled "In the Shadow of Death". The song was characterized by raw, traditional and melodic Viking black metal style.

In 2002 Drottnar abandoned its folk influenced Viking black metal style and went for a more chaotic, technical black metal direction.

The band changed its image a bit and used more militant elements such as gas masks as part of its live shows. In 2003, Drottnar recorded an EP titled Anamorphosis on the Norwegian label Momentum Scandinavia. The EP was limited to 850 pieces, and contains an intro and 3 songs with violins on the intro and other parts. Bass player Bjarne Peder Lind left the band before the album was recorded. Drottnar was joined by guitarist Bengt Olsson and bassist Håvar Wormdahl. The EP received positive reviews.[13][14]

Vocalist Sven-Erik Lind wearing a military uniform.
Vocalist Sven-Erik Lind wearing a military uniform.

The band developed its style further to more technical extreme metal which has elements of black, death, thrash and progressive metal. They also began using military uniforms, reminiscent of Soviet or Czech army style, as part of their image and live shows. In 2005 the band was signed to Endtime Productions, and entered Subsonic Studios to record new material. Some elements such as trumpet were recorded in Ostrava, Czech Republic by Jan-Espen S. Schildmann. In April 2006 the band released an album titled Welterwerk.[15] A 7 inch vinyl single titled Ad Hoc Revolt was also released for promotional purposes. Welterwerk is by far Drottnar's most acclaimed release.[15]

Drottnar has performed with bands such as Grimfist and Extol.

[edit] Music and themes

While the band started out playing death-doom and folk influenced Viking (un)black metal, Drottnar's music since 2003's Anamorphosis EP is describable as modern black metal. The style is more technical and chaotíc than melodic, and emphasizes on nihilistic, cold atmosphere.[14]

In the beginning the band's lyrics dealt with Christianity with a brutal and extreme approach: The lyrics on the album Spiritual Battle were inspired by the Book of Revelation and dealt mostly with the battle ravaging the spiritual world.[8] The band members have said "The Norwegian black metal scene does not influence our lyrics, but the lyrics are still written in a black metal way, fitting our music well."[8] Currently the lyrics incorporate politics and philosophy, for example Latin phrases such as "ad hoc" or "sine qua non".

Megaphone is a recognizable element of Drottnar's live shows.
Megaphone is a recognizable element of Drottnar's live shows.

Drottnar's early live shows incorporated flashing strobes, thick smoke and cold or dark light show. They also used white candles on stage, "creating a bit mystic and emotional effect."[8]

Currently Drottnar has had a special feature for several years, the use of Czech or "Soviet" style elements: the song titles and lyrics contain Soviet-sounding words and metaphors, some songs contain samples of radio play or radio communication elements involved in the 20th century[15], and at concerts all band members use Soviet or "DDR" type uniforms.[9] They still use stroboflashes at their concerts. The vocalist Sven-Erik Lind typically uses effects such as megaphones to create a militant atmosphere.

In November 2006, the Drottnar members played as session musicians for the one-man unblack metal pioneer group Horde at Nordic Fest. The members covered their faces in order to not to be recognized and maintain the "myth" of Horde.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Members

Drottnar live in 2008.
Drottnar live in 2008.

[edit] Current lineup

[edit] Former members

[edit] References

  1. ^ Extol, Crimson Moonlight, Veni Domine Confirmed For Sweden's Eendtime Festival - Jan. 10, 2007. Blabbermouth. Retrieved on 2007-11-21.
  2. ^ Nordic Fest 2005. Nordic Fest. Retrieved on 2007-11-21.
  3. ^ Veni Domine Confirmed For Switzerland's Elements of Rock Festival - Dec. 13, 2003. Blabbermouth. Retrieved on 2007-11-21. “Other bands scheduled to appear at the three-day event are Jim LaVerde and the Sanctuary Worhsip Team (USA), Immortal Souls (Fin), Seventh Avenue (Ger), Drottnar (Nor), Slechtvalk (Neth), Crushead (Ger), Sacrificium (Ger), Arson (Ger), Exaudi (Ger), Demoniciduth (Swi) and Disobedience (Swi).”
  4. ^ Immortal Metal Fest 2006 (Drottnar was the headliner). Immortal Metal Fest. Retrieved on 2007-11-21.
  5. ^ Destruction Fest 2006. Destruction Fest. Retrieved on 2007-11-21.
  6. ^ Drottnar (German). Metal.de (20.08.2004). Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
  7. ^ Skjæringrud, Morgan (20.09.2003). Drottnar (Norwegian). Musikkavisen. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
  8. ^ a b c d Drottnar. Info-Black.com - The Ultimate Black Metal Informative Site. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
  9. ^ a b Lockert, Morten (26.05.07). Grimfist + Drottnar (Oslo 26.05.07) (Norwegian). Heavymetal.no. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
  10. ^ Drottnar. Highwire Daze (2000). Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
  11. ^ Cranson, David (Thursday 1st February 2001). Drottnar - Spiritual Battle. Cross Rhythms Music. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
  12. ^ Drottnar. Cross Rhythms. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
  13. ^ Hansen, Thomas (October 3, 2003). Drottnar - Spiritual Battle. The Metal Observer. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
  14. ^ a b Ryhänen, Pekka (16.10.2003). Drottnar - Spiritual Battle (Finnish). Imperiumi.net. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
  15. ^ a b c Haustein, Christoph (26.05.07). Drottnar - Welterwerk (Norwegian). Heavymetal.no. Crossover AGM. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.

[edit] External links

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