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)
Inferno
Kampfar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Frådende inn i natt
Blistrende og svart
Lyset fråder
Dødens mørke sol ruller over Himmelen
Jagende og kald
Og piskende vind
Reiens sorte profeti slår ild
Kaskader av gnister og vind
Trykker seg inn
Lysets Hvite magi
Fra et ulmende rødt
Til piskende ild
Til et flammende
Inferno
The lyrics of Kampfar's song Inferno are composed in Norwegian and depict an apocalyptic scene where the world is consumed by darkness and fire. The first few lines translate to "Whirring through black, Foaming into night, Blazing and black." The imagery suggests a foreboding darkness that is approaching where the blackness engulfs the world. The phrase "Dødens mørke sol ruller over himmelen" (Death's dark sun rolls over the sky) highlights the severity of the situation, where the world has become a wasteland where all sunlight is obliterated by the darkness. The inferno that follows is described as "cold and thundering sparkling fire, and whipping wind", which adds a sense of urgency to the situation.
The second half of the lyrics describe the aftermath of the inferno, starting with "Cascades of sparks and wind, press in, The white magic of light". The transition from the destructive inferno to the peaceful white light suggests a transformative experience where the world has been renewed. The final part of the song conveys a sense of finality, where the fiery inferno culminates in the world's end, described as "From a smouldering red, To whipping flames, To a blazing inferno". Overall, the song presents a bleak, haunting view of the apocalypse where the world is consumed by an all-consuming darkness followed by an inferno and ultimately ends in a blaze of fire.
Line by Line Meaning
Snerrende Gjennom svart
The sound of something moving quickly through the darkness
Frådende inn i natt
Entering the night with great fury
Blistrende og svart
Gleaming and black at the same time
Lyset fråder
The light rages
Dødens mørke sol ruller over Himmelen
The dark sun of death rolls over the sky
Jagende og kald
Hunting and cold
Kald og dundrende gnistrende ild
Cold and thundering sparkling fire
Og piskende vind
And whipping wind
Reiens sorte profeti slår ild
The dark prophecy of the spirits ignites
Kaskader av gnister og vind
Cascades of sparks and wind
Trykker seg inn
Pressing in
Lysets Hvite magi
The white magic of light
Fra et ulmende rødt
From a smoldering red
Til piskende ild
To whipping fire
Til et flammende Inferno
To a blazing inferno
Contributed by Allison C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.