Kampfar, formed in 1994, was born from the ashes of the mighty MOCK, in the… Read Full Bio ↴Kampfar, formed in 1994, was born from the ashes of the mighty MOCK, in the early times of Norwegian Black Metal. The whole idea is to make music inspired by the nordic nature, folklores and myths. 'Kampfar' translates to Odin/Wodan.
After releasing a demo in 1995, their first release was the self-titled EP Kampfar, by Season of Mist in 1996 followed by full length Mellom skogkledde aaser by Malicious Records in 1997. Being a studio band, without spending time on live shows or tours and with no intentions to slow down they released another EP Norse in 1998, and full length Fra underverdenen in 1999 both on Hammerheart Records. Then there were 7 years of studio silence although they began to play their first live shows in 2004.
Signing to Napalm records, they released three full length albums on that label: Kvass (2006), Heimgang (2008), & Mare (2011). All were well received by critics and listeners alike. Thus completed their contract with Napalm.
Their next releases were two singles leading up to their sixth full length album, 2014's Djevelmakt released by Indie Recordings.

Members:
Dolk - Vocals (also drums from '94-'03) (Mock, ex-Gruesome)
Ask (as II13) - Drums, Vocals (ex-Graven Image, ex-Mondvolland, others)
Jon - Bass (Fester, ex-Carpathian Full Moon, ex-Gruesome, many others)
Ole Hartvigsen - Guitars, (ex-Utumno now called Emancer, Mistur)
Ex-members:
Thomas Andreassen - Guitars (also bass from '94-'03)

Ildverden
Kampfar Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hele himmelen brenner
Opp velter ild og damp
Glødende hagl herjer jorden
Himmelen brenner de helliges hjem
Flammene biter kvassere,
Hugger seg frem
Ildverden rider
Over hav og himmel

Huggorm som tømmer
Varg som ild
Trollverdens bål
Opp gjennom hav
Gjennom berg
Gjennom grunn
Ormer og sykdom
Biter kvassere
Hugger seg frem
Sur ild slynges ut
Over øde fjell og skog
Himmelen brenner
Himmelen brenner

Himmelen brenner
Hele himmelen brenner

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Kampfar's song Ildverden depict a chaotic and apocalyptic world in which the entire sky is burning with fire and steam, as if the gates of hell have been opened. Glowing hail is ravaging the earth, and the flames are biting sharper and cutting deeper, seemingly unstoppable as they spread over land and sea, destroying everything in their path. The holy ones' homes are burning in the sky, and the world is being ravaged by creatures such as Huggorm and Varg, likened to snakes and wolves, who seem to be fueled by the fire that has consumed the earth.

Throughout the song there is a sense of unease, disorientation and danger, reinforced by the repetition of the phrase "himmelen brenner" (the sky is burning) which serves as a reminder that there is no escape from the destruction. The imagery is steeped in Norse mythology, with references to the troll world's pyre, which is burning through the sea, the mountains and the earth, destroying everything in its path. The song's overall tone is one of dread and chaos, with no signs of hope or reprieve from the impending doom.

Line by Line Meaning

Hele himmelen brenner
The entire sky is on fire

Opp velter ild og damp
Fire and steam erupts upwards

Glødende hagl herjer jorden
Glowing hailstorms ravage the earth

Himmelen brenner de helliges hjem
The homes of the holy are burning in the sky

Flammene biter kvassere, Hugger seg frem
The flames bite sharper and cut through everything in their path

Ildverden rider
The world of fire rides

Over hav og himmel
Over sea and sky

Huggorm som tømmer
Adder snakes that drain

Varg som ild
Wolves that are like fire

Trollverdens bål
The bonfire of the troll world

Opp gjennom hav
Rising through the sea