Ildjarn


Overview

Depending upon who you ask, Ildjarn is either a fiercely minimalist one-man black metal band from Norway or the name of the enigmatic musician behind it. Ildjarn the band was founded in 1992, but had its roots in another band, Thou Shalt Suffer, that was founded in Telemark in 1991. Ildjarn the man (whose "real name" is Vidar Våer) played bass in Thou Shalt Suffer, while Ishahn and Samoth (both of Emperor "fame") handled guitar/vocals and guitar (respectively), and a man named Thorbjoern Akkerhaugen played drums. After recording a demo and a 7" with Thou Shalt Suffer, Ildjarn took his leave for greater creative pastures. Aided periodically by Ishahn and another musician calling himself Nidhogg, Ildjarn has (depending upon who you ask) released 9 albums, 4 EPs, three demos, and even a compilation spanning the first three years of his solo band's existence. Records that were recorded with Nidhogg are done, appropriately enough, under the name Ildjarn-Nidhogg. The music presented on most of these records is uncompromisingly feral. Ildjarn's albums typically contain more than 20 songs, something not seen very often among black metal bands. Then again, maybe that's the point; whereas other Norwegian bands (the aforementioned Emperor and others such as Immortal or Burzum) try to write intentionally long, "epic" songs, Ildjarn's songs are short, fast, to the point, and unambiguous. One reviewer (whose name escapes me) said Ildjarn's music is "so raw, it corrodes the soul." Some of the songs he records don't even sound complete; he'll quit recording in the middle of a song and call it done. If William S. Burroughs was in a black metal band, I think it would sound a hell of a lot like Ildjarn. Still, Ildjarn is rather unpredictable: in 1996, Ildjarn recorded an ambient keyboard album entitled Landscapes that he improvised in one night. Some sources claim Ildjarn will never release another album, while others say this is false. I guess only time will tell. Ildjarn has also done session material for Emperor and played a brief role in another band called Sort Vokter.

Ildjarn himself is a man of few words with a less than optimistic appraisal of the world and his place in it. When asked for his thoughts about the end of the world, he replied "I'll welcome it with all my heart" and when pressed further about his own life, he answered "hopefully I'll be dead in a few years time...and I really look forward to it." He claims to hate humanity ("humans are weak...and I will always hate them"), but has an immense love and respect for nature. He sees no distinction between good and evil, but rather that which is natural and unnatural. His method for creating music is entirely spontaneous and "natural," in that he records what he feels rather than attempting to frame his mindset around societally-acceptable conventions of "good music." To further substantiate this idea, he shuns comparisons with other bands claiming "I don't care about other bands" and contemptously snarls "I don't give a shit about art" when asked about his various influences. He is a vegan and he never touches drugs or alcohol. He claims that his "biggest fear is to live for eternity."


Discography

(Note: There are many discrepancies between sources in Ildjarn's rather bizarre and extensive discography. I've tried to get it as right as possible. This comes from Ildjarn's official page, linked at the bottom.)

Seven Harmonies of Unknown Truths 1992, Self released demo (Limited to 25 copies)

  1. Untitled
  2. Untitled
  3. Untitled
  4. Untitled
  5. Untitled
  6. Untitled
  7. Untitled

For many years now, a song from this release has been bootlegged and erroneously passed around as part of what purports to be a Burzum demo. It is occasionally rumored that the song is actually a Burzum cover of an Ildjarn track, but this is categorically false. Caveat emptor.

Ildjarn 1993, Self released demo

  1. Innferd
  2. Kronet
  3. Sola Skjultes
  4. Ild
  5. Fjerde Dag
  6. Et Glimt
  7. Støv Og Aske

Minnesjord 1994, Self released EP

  1. Øde
  2. Utsyn 1
  3. Utsyn 2
  4. Utsyn 3
  5. Utsyn 4
  6. Utsyn 5
  7. Demring
  8. Minnesjord 1
  9. Minnesjord 2
  10. Minnesjord 3
  11. Minnesjord 4
  12. Minnesjord 5
  13. Myrk Var
  14. Dalens ånd (Avslutning)

ILDJARN-NIDHOGG: Norse 1994, Nocturnal Art Productions EP (Limited to 500 copies)

  1. Mørklagt Sti
  2. Svarte Hjerter
  3. Nattens Ledestjerne
  4. Natt Og Tåke

Det Frysende Nordariket 1995, Norse League Productions (Limited to 1000 copies; rereleased in 1997 on Napalm Record)

  1. Mørklagt Sti
  2. Svarte Hjerter
  3. Nattens Ledestjerne
  4. Natt Og Tåke
  5. Innferd
  6. Kronet
  7. Sola Skjultes
  8. Ild
  9. Fjerde Dag
  10. Et Glimt
  11. Støv Og Aske
  12. Øde
  13. Utsyn 1
  14. Utsyn 2
  15. Utsyn 3
  16. Utsyn 4
  17. Utsyn 5
  18. Demring
  19. Minnesjord 1
  20. Minnesjord 2
  21. Minnesjord 3
  22. Minnesjord 4
  23. Minnesjord 5
  24. Myrk Var
  25. Dalens ånd (Avslutning)

Ildjarn 1995, Norse League Productions (Limited to 750 copies)

  1. Skogsslottet
  2. Kulde
  3. Takenheim
  4. Snøen Dokker
  5. Skogssvinet
  6. Svarte Grangrann
  7. Krigere
  8. Accer en Gang
  9. Nordiske Mørke
  10. Blikkets Storhet
  11. Himmelhvelv
  12. Huset i Skogen
  13. Draumeheim
  14. Svarte Fjell
  15. Mørkeheim
  16. Himmelen Svartner
  17. Der det Skjulte Lever
  18. Som en Ensom Borg
  19. Vinden Biter
  20. Mørket Slyngen seg
  21. Skogrommet
  22. Innover i Dalsøkk
  23. Lydløst over Åsen
  24. Tildekket og kald
  25. Det Mørkner
  26. Dødmørke
  27. Dødmørke

Forest Poetry 1996, Norse League Productions/Napalm Records

  1. Whispering Breeze
  2. Blackened Might
  3. Clashing of Swords
  4. No Gleaming Light
  5. Blazing Eye
  6. Sinking Deep
  7. Chill of the Night (Returning)
  8. The Blade Flares in Red Light
  9. Deeping in Grey
  10. Midnight Interval
  11. Descending
  12. Away with the Dawn
  13. Before my Eyes Forever
  14. Reflecting Mountains
  15. Brother of the Forest
  16. Dead Years
  17. Dark December
  18. Cold and Waste
  19. Visions of the Earth (2nd Returning)
  20. Risen Seeds of Time
  21. Winter Embrace
  22. No Place Nowhere

ILDJARN-NIDHOGG: Svartfråd 1996, Norse League Productions (Limited to 550 copies.)

  1. I Anmarsj Gjennon Grangrunn
  2. Ved Tjernets Bredd
  3. Vintermark
  4. Skogens Hatefulle Skapning

Landscapes 1996, Norse League Productions (2 CD set limited to 250 copies.)
CD 1

  1. Untitled
  2. Untitled
  3. Untitled
  4. Untitled
  5. Untitled
  6. Untitled
  7. Untitled
  8. Untitled
  9. Untitled
  10. Untitled

CD 2
  1. Untitled
  2. Untitled
  3. Untitled
  4. Untitled
  5. Untitled
  6. Untitled
  7. Untitled
  8. Untitled
  9. Untitled
  10. Untitled
  11. Untitled

Strength & Anger 1996, Norse League Productions/Napalm Records

  1. Strength & Anger
  2. Strength & Anger
  3. Strength & Anger
  4. Strength & Anger
  5. Strength & Anger
  6. Strength & Anger
  7. Strength & Anger
  8. Strength & Anger
  9. Strength & Anger
  10. Strength & Anger
  11. Strength & Anger
  12. Strength & Anger
  13. Strength & Anger
  14. Strength & Anger
  15. Strength & Anger
  16. Black Anger (Hate Meditation 1)
  17. Interchange
  18. Midnight Strength, Black Anger (Hate Meditation 2)

Son Of The Northstar 2001, Full Moon Productions (Limited to 1000 copies.)

  1. Kronet
  2. Fjerde Dag
  3. Minnesjord
  4. Mot Kveld
  5. Hafsval

1992-1995 2002, Northern Heritage

  1. Intro
  2. Dark December
  3. Kronet
  4. Strength & Anger 1
  5. Himmelen Svartner
  6. Der det Skjulte Lever
  7. Whispering Breeze
  8. Inanimate
  9. Mørket Slynger Seg
  10. Skogrommet
  11. Blackened Might
  12. Strength & Anger 2
  13. Dead Years
  14. Taakeheim
  15. Chill of the Night (Returning)
  16. Strength & Anger 3
  17. Skogssvinet
  18. Visions of the Earth (2nd Returning)
  19. TheBlade Flares in Red Light
  20. Utsyn 3
  21. Svarte Fjell
  22. Away With the Dawn
  23. Utsyn 6
  24. Clashing of Swords
  25. Et Glimt
  26. Cold and Waste
  27. Tildekket og Kald
  28. Krigere

ILDJARN-NIDHOGG: Hardangervidda Part 1 2002, Norse League Productions

  1. Sunrise
  2. Daybreak
  3. Amber Lake
  4. Northern Winds
  5. Blissful Mountain View
  6. After The Rain
  7. Nature's Church
  8. Fleeing Herd
  9. September
  10. The Ermine
  11. Frozen Plain
  12. Sunset
  13. Night

ILDJARN-NIDHOGG: Hardangervidda Part 2 2002, Norse League Productions

  1. Overture (Part 1)
  2. Overture (Part 2)
  3. Highlands (Part 1)
  4. Highlands (Part 2)
  5. Spring
  6. The Troll Dome
  7. Nature's Church (Part 2)

ILDJARN-NIDHOGG 2003, Northern Heritage

  1. Eksistensens Jeger
  2. Mørklagt Sti
  3. Svarte Hjerter
  4. Nattens Ledestjerne
  5. Natt og Taake
  6. Bak to Lysende Øyne
  7. Svart Dag (The Nothingness)
  8. I Anmarsj Gjennon Grangrunn
  9. Ved Tjernets Bredd
  10. Vintermark
  11. Skogens Hatefulle Skapning
  12. Skogen Av Jern
  13. Untitled

Nocturnal Visions 2004, Northern Heritage

  1. Nocturnal Massacre
  2. Nocturnal Gathering
  3. Death Dynamics
  4. Strength and Anger V (Winter Recital Version)
  5. Nattens Skyggesider
  6. Strength and Anger VII (Hammer Torture Version)
  7. Solitary / Nocturnal Visions Rev. / Closing Recital

Links/Sources

  • http://www.anus.com/metal/interviews/ildjarn/index.html
  • http://www.ildjarndomain.com/Discography.htm
  • http://www.ildjarndomain.com/Biography.htm
  • http://www.tartareandesire.com/bands/ildjarn.html
  • http://metal-archives.com/band.php?id=382