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1) Immortal is a black metal band from Bergen, Norway, founded in 1991 by frontman and guitarist Abbath Doom Occulta (Olve Eikemo) and guitarist Demonaz Doom Occulta (Harald Nævdal). The pair worked with various drummers (including Grim, Armagedda and Hellhammer), and were later joined by current drummer Horgh (Reidar Horghagen) in 1996.
In March 2015, long-serving member Abbath announced his departure from the group following a dispute with the other members of the band, and he went on to form a new band under his name called Abbath. It was initially reported that following Abbath's departure, the band would split up. However, In August 2015, Demonaz and Horgh said that the band would continue without Abbath. Demonaz would return to playing guitar with the band for the first time since 1997, and would also do vocals as well.
Immortal arose from two short-lived bands, Old Funeral and Amputation, which were formed by Abbath and others in 1988. Immortal's original lineup consisted of ex-members from both of these bands. Old Funeral was founded by Abbath and Tore (Tore Bratseth), then went through a string of guitarists (including Demonaz, Varg Vikernes and Jørn Inge Tunsberg) until disbanding in 1992. Abbath, Demonaz, and Jørn formed Amputation, which released two demos with Demonaz on guitar and vocals, Jørn on guitars, and Padden on drums, before disbanding in 1990.
Members of Old Funeral and Amputation formed Immortal in 1991, with Abbath on bass and lead vocals, Demonaz on guitar, and Armagedda on drums. The music on their early demo recordings was death metal, with lyrics influenced by Morbid Angel and Possessed. The band then became influenced by Euronymous and bands like Bathory and Celtic Frost. They released their self-titled EP in 1991, which saw a stylistic change to black metal. This was followed by their debut album Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism in 1992. Immortal's early full-length releases were in traditional black metal style, but their most acclaimed album, At the Heart of Winter, marks the period when the band began to experiment with a complex fusion of black metal and German thrash metal, resulting in the sound of Immortal's later works.
In 1995, the band released two video clips directed by British artist David Palser, entitled Masters of Nebulah Frost, through Osmose Productions. They featured many bizarrely-shot images of frozen landscapes and vast forests with the band performing two songs from the album Battles in the North, "Grim and Frostbitten Kingdoms" and "Blashyrkh (Mighty Ravendark)", on a Norwegian mountainside. The video for "Grim and Frostbitten Kingdoms" features Mayhem drummer, Hellhammer (Jan Axel Blomberg). These clips have become the template for many other bands producing such works, similarly to how "The Call of the Wintermoon" is also highly influential.
The members of Immortal were involved in a legal battle with each other over the rights to the Immortal trademark. They were also due to submit a new album to the Nuclear Blast label, though little information regarding the album and its release had been disclosed. It is confirmed, however, by Abbath that the album had been completed with the aid of various musicians.
In March 2015, Abbath left Immortal as a result of this conflict and an inability to move forward. Abbath is to continue as a musician with a solo band under his name.
On 8 January 2018, the band posted Via Facebook an update on Immortal's upcoming 9th Full-length, stating "We have put a massive amount of energy into this, and wanted to deliver our absolutely best. It has been a pleasure to finish the studio process and most of all being stoked about the final result. Peter Tägtgren has done an outstanding job in producing and mixing it. We now look forward to have it released, and are excited to share our 9th full length with you all." the release date of the album is scheduled for sometime in 2018, releasing under Nuclear Blast Records. The album will feature original member Demonaz on vocals and for the first time in 20 years, he will also play guitar. Demonaz has been the main contributor for the bands lyricism since an injury he had suffered, prevented him from continuing to play guitar for the band since 1998. The last album which had featured Demonaz on Guitar was 1997 album Blizzard Beasts. This will be the first Immortal album to not feature Abbath in the lineup.
On 18 April 2018, the tracklisting and title of the new album was revealed to be Northern Chaos Gods and was given a release date of 6 July 2018.
Immortal's lyrics are based on an overall theme, a realm called "Blashyrkh", which is said to be "demon-and-battle-filled". The idea for Blashyrkh came about from Demonaz and Abbath's feelings of isolation living in Bergen. They created Blashyrkh to mirror those feelings, basing it on Norway, including "winter landscapes", "the woods, the mountains, the darkness, the fog", and "glacial valleys". When writing lyrics, the band Immortal's lyricist Demonaz often takes long walks in the Norwegian countryside near his hometown of Bergen for inspiration. Unlike many early black metal bands, Immortal does not have satanic-themed lyrics. However, on the band's first album, there were a few satanic references but without any lyrics attacking religion.
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2) A Dutch goth rock band from the late '80s, see e.g. their verified Spotify profile with several releases:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2NLYWhkv6D3xLqxPc4bfoD
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3) There is also a rapper with the same name.
4) Immortal was a thrash metal band that would disband and go on to form Circle of Dust
Battles in the North
Immortal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Under the banner of
Blashyrkh we ride
In the battlesky
We lie estranged
Kings of the ravenrealm
We trample bejeweled
Thrones of the earth
Viewing myriad battles
Yet our eyes sparkling
Strident with strength
To trample bejeweled
Thrones of the earth
In an age underdreamed of
The ones to sit upon
The elder thrones
With shadowed faces
For the coming centuries
Riding towards the masterfields
A ride from the north
To the north
By our sacred raven
We are one
In the deadwhite moonlight
far above we reign mercilessly
Kings of the ravenrealm
Stronger than ice
Stronger than stone
A horde of heathenhearts to come
Battle... Battles in the north
Those who adhere to principle
Above battlelust
Sing your songs with dying breath
For the kings of the ravenrealm
For the kings of the ravenrealm
Battle... Battles in the north
The lyrics of Battles in the North by Immortal are about riding under the banner of Blashyrkh, a fictional realm that the band uses as a thematic backdrop for their music. The song is about riding off to battle, but with a sense of detachment from the world around them. They see themselves as kings of the ravenrealm, a place where they are disconnected from the bejeweled thrones of the earth. They are stronger than ice and stone, riding towards the masterfields in the north with a horde of heathenhearts to come.
The song speaks to the idea of battling not just for the sake of violence or victory, but for a higher principle. The lyrics urge listeners to sing their songs with dying breath for the kings of the ravenrealm, who adhere to principle above battlelust. The song offers a sense of detachment and otherworldliness, where the battles waged are not just physical, but spiritual as well.
Line by Line Meaning
Come forth demonized
Prepare for battle with demonic power and fury
Under the banner of
Fighting under the symbolic flag of
Blashyrkh we ride
We ride for the mythical Blashyrkh land
In the battlesky
Fighting in the vast expanse of the sky
We lie estranged
We are isolated from others due to our violent nature
Kings of the ravenrealm
Ruling over a land of darkness and cold, where ravens roam
We trample bejeweled
Conquering and destroying even the most luxurious and wealthy places
Thrones of the earth
The seats of power and authority throughout the world
In an age underdreamed of
In a time so ancient and forgotten that it seems as if it never existed
Viewing myriad battles
Watching countless and diverse fights and wars
Yet our eyes sparkling
Despite the gruesome nature of war, our spirits and determination are unwavering
Strident with strength
Full of determination and vigor
To trample bejeweled
To step on, crush and defeat even the most prized and precious possessions
The ones to sit upon
The rulers and those in power
The elder thrones
The most ancient and prestigious seats of power
With shadowed faces
With mysterious and eerie appearances
For the coming centuries
For the generations to come, our legacy will be remembered
Riding towards the masterfields
Heading towards the final and most significant battlegrounds
A ride from the north
A journey from the cold and desolate north
To the north
Returning home after victory
By our sacred raven
Guided by the revered black birds of our land
We are one
As a tribe or collective, we are unified and strong
In the deadwhite moonlight
Illuminated only by the pale reflection of the moon, the landscape is eerie
far above we reign mercilessly
Looking down upon the land from above, we rule it with brutality and lack of compassion
Stronger than ice
Our strength is absolute, like the freezing power of ice
Stronger than stone
Our unrelenting force is greater than the resilience of rock
A horde of heathenhearts to come
There are more fighters yet to join our cause
Those who adhere to principle
The ones who follow codes of honor and ideals
Above battlelust
Putting their values and convictions ahead of the adrenaline rush of battle
Sing your songs with dying breath
Even in death, keep true to your beliefs and values
For the kings of the ravenrealm
In respect and reverence for the dominators of the darklands
Battle... Battles in the north
The epic and unending struggles for power in the cold and rugged north
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind