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)
Norse
Kampfar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through the white waterfalls of norway
From the dark and misty forests
From the mighty snowfilled mountains
Through the winds of the northern sea
it's been more than a thousand years
But still I am proud
Still the father of the north
Embrace my soul
through the white waterfalls of norway
From the dark and misty forests
From the mighty snowfilled mountains
Through the winds of the northern sea
let the fields and homes
Turn into fire and blood
Let the lambs be wolves
Once again
I feel a pagan breeze
From the storms of the northern sea
Let the northland of supreme
Be the north of my dreams
Once again
through the white waterfalls of norway
From the dark and misty forests
From the mighty snowfilled mountains
Through the winds of the northern sea
In "Norse," by Kampfar, the singer is feeling the pull of his pagan roots as he is called to by his ancestors who came from Norway. He is in awe of the natural beauty and power of the land they came from, with its white waterfalls, dark and misty forests, and mighty snow-filled mountains. These are the things that speak to his soul and remind him of his heritage. He feels a tremendous pride in his ancestry and in being Norse, the father of the north. This heritage is so ingrained in him that he believes that he can feel the spirits of his ancestors blowing in on the pagan breeze from the northern sea.
At the same time, the singer also acknowledges that the pagan way of life was violent and brutal. He recalls the time when the fields and homes turned to fire and blood and the lambs became wolves. It's not entirely clear if he is calling for this way of life to return or if he is simply acknowledging its existence. However, he is clearly drawn to the idea of the northland of supreme being the north of his dreams, once again.
Overall, "Norse" is a call to embrace one's ancestral roots, while acknowledging the brutality of that history. It quivers with a sense of pride and an almost overwhelming sense of awe for the natural beauty of Norway and the power of the pagan gods.
Line by Line Meaning
My pagan ancestors call my name
My forefathers who worshipped nature and the gods of the Norse pantheon are invoking me
Through the white waterfalls of norway
The voice of my ancestors is heard through the thundering white waterfalls of Norway
From the dark and misty forests
Their voice echoes from the dark, dense and foggy forests
From the mighty snowfilled mountains
Their summons are from the grand and majestic snow-clad mountains
Through the winds of the northern sea
Their message carries through the fierce and powerful winds of the northern sea
it's been more than a thousand years
Time has passed for over a millennium
But still I am proud
Nonetheless, I still feel a sense of pride
Still I am, norse
I remain connected to my Norse roots
Still the father of the north
I am the central figure in the heritage of the north
Embrace my soul
I long to experience a spiritual embrace
let the fields and homes
I yearn for
Turn into fire and blood
The destruction and upheaval of both the fields and homes
Let the lambs be wolves
May the meek become predators
Once again
Like it was before
I feel a pagan breeze
I experience a natural and primitive sensation
From the storms of the northern sea
It comes from the turmoil of the formidable northern sea
Let the northland of supreme
Perhaps, a place of unquestionable supremacy
Be the north of my dreams
May it be the aspiration of my ideals
Once again
Like it was in the past
through the white waterfalls of norway
Echoing my pagan ancestors over and over again
From the dark and misty forests
Reverberating their voices
From the mighty snowfilled mountains
Resonating their call
Through the winds of the northern sea
Their summons still reaches me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PER-JOAR SPYDEVOLD, THOMAS ANDREASSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gionatan Di Palma
This is one of the most underrated channel for black metal \m/
Based Vaush Enthusiast
👌🏿
Jacek Sky
Great
Nameless Spectre
0:00 Norse
5:35 Troll
10:44 Tæring
underneathica
i'm convinced Kampfar were a black metal parody act. Its def got me laughin'
Wasicu
Understand. That's a really fun conviction ...