| Sahg | |
|---|---|
Sahg performing live at Wacken, Germany, 2007. |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Bergen, Norway |
| Genres | Hard rock Stoner rock Doom metal |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels | Regain |
| Associated acts | Gorgoroth Audrey Horne Manngard I |
| Website | www.sahg.no/site/ |
Sahg is a four-piece Norwegian metal band formed in the summer of 2004. After years of involvement on different ends of the Norwegian rock and metal scene, four hard rock devotees teamed up under the name Sahg. The band consists of King on bass, Olav on lead vocals and guitar, Thomas on guitar and Tor on drums. In mid-April 2006, the band's debut album 'Sahg 1' was released across Europe, with numerous positive reviews on the album. 'Sahg 1' entered the Norwegian charts at no. 31, and the record sales continued to be much better than anticipated. The album's positive reception resulted in Sahg shifting their focus into live performances. The band did some live appearances in Scandinavia throughout the summer, such as the Hole in the Sky Festival in Bergen, Norway. In September 2006, they headed out on a three weeks tour of USA and Canada, supporting Celtic Frost. Returning from there, the band started working on their second album, which is expected for early 2008.
Sahg was part of the Wacken Open Air festival in the north of Germany in 2007 and is expected to play at the 2008 edition of the Metal Camp fest.
After many years of involvement on different ends of the Norwegian rock and metal scene, four hard rock devotees teamed up under the name Sahg, in the late summer of 2004. The four members had gained long and wide experience – together and separately – from bands like Gorgoroth, Audrey Horne and Manngard. Still, they had the calling to create this new band, which would in many ways reach deeper down into their musical roots than any of their former bands.
It took a long process making this band become reality, and it had been subject to many conversations between the soon-to-become bandmates for years already. Only the dedication to their other bands had prevented Sahg to take shape earlier. But the process had helped to create a pretty clear vision of what was going to happen once Sahg saw the light of day. And when it did, things started happening pretty quickly.
Within a couple of months, the band had the first few songs written and rehearsed, and by the end of 2004, the first rough demo was distributed to a limited number of record labels, among others Swedish Regain Records. The record company responded very quickly and positively, and within another couple of months, the record contract was signed.
Throughout the winter and spring of 2005 Sahg continued to work on the material for their first album, and at the same time worked up quite a solid reputation through their live efforts on the club scene of their hometown, Bergen. 'Sahg I' was recorded and mixed throughout the summer and fall of 2005, with valuable assistance from co-producer and additional musician Brynjulv Guddal, to whom the band pay a great deal of credit for the magnificent sound on the album.
Shortly after the studio process was completed, drummer Kvitrafn announced his departure from the band. After much consideration, he had decided to move with his family to a different part of Norway, to seek new opportunities and concentrate on his solo projects. There was no drama around Kvitrafn’s departure, and the band accepted his decision. He stayed in the band for a couple of more months, giving them a chance to find a replacement.
After a couple of months on the look-out for a new drummer, Kvitrafn’s place was filled by Tor Bjarne Bjelland, a widely experienced player, who had recently ended his engagement with a more commercially directed rock act. Tor was an old acquaintance of the band members, and he was more than eager to step up to a more intense division, and join Sahg.
Despite the long demanding months in the studio, and the news about Kvitrafn’s departure, the band continued their work instantly after the studio process was finished. The artwork for the album was created single-handedly by the band members, and the video for 'Godless Faith' was shot in October the same year. In short, 2005 was a very busy and eventful year for the band, going from newly started garage band to up-and-coming doom rockers with a worldwide album release coming up.
Naturally, 2006 started off in a slower tempo for Sahg, giving the band a chance to recover from the rat race they had been through the year before. But with appearances at Bylarm (national Norwegian showcase festival and international music business get-together) and Inferno Festival, along with bands like Emperor, Cathedral and Witchcraft, a bigger audience had started opening their eyes to Sahg. The media attention was increasing rapidly, in Norwegian as well as international press, and the band received some astonishing concert reviews.
Finally, in mid-April, 'Sahg I' was released across Europe, and the media attention increased even more, with numerous brilliant reviews on the album. 'Sahg I' entered the Norwegian charts at no. 31, and the record sales continued to be much better than anticipated. This was far beyond what anyone had expected from the debut album of a doom metal band.
After the album release, Sahg turned their focus onto playing concerts. The band did some live appearances in Scandinavia and Germany throughout the summer, such as the Hole In The Sky Festival in Bergen, Norway. After only a few months with a new drummer, the band had to let another one go, as Tor left the band in early autumn 2006.
In September 2006, Sahg headed out on a three weeks tour of USA and Canada, supporting Swiss metal legends Celtic Frost. This was the perfect opportunity to follow up the North-American release of 'Sahg I' a few months earlier. Along for the ride was also fellow Norwegians, 1349.
Returning from North-America, the band was very inspired to start working on their second album, and focused on song-writing for the next few months. Sahg released their third album entitled "Sahg 3" in August 2010.