Gehenna (band)
Encyclopedia
Biography
Gehenna was formed in January, 1993 by original members SanrabbSanrabb
Sanrabb is a Norwegian black metal musician, and one of the founding members of Norwegian black metal band Gehenna.-Biography:Sanrabb formed the Norwegian black metal band Gehenna in 1993, together with Dolgar and Sir Vereda. He has participated on all of Gehenna's releases, both as a vocalist and...
, Dolgar, and Sir Vereda. Their first demo, entitled Black Seared Heart, was recorded between the 3rd and 7 June 1993 in Soundsuite Studios, and was released as a cassette. Around this same time, a 7" titled Ancestors of The Darkly Sky was released by Necromantic Gallery Productions.
Shortly after the release of these two recordings, Sir Verada left the band due to legal problems, and was replaced by Dirge Rep. The band also enlisted Svartalv as bass player during this time.
Up until this time, the band had yet to play any live shows. It was not until February, 1994 that the band made their live debut.
In 1994 Sarcana joined the band and added keyboards to the mix.
In March, 1994, the band entered Soundsuite Studios to record their debut album, First Spell
First Spell
First Spell is the first full length album by the Norwegian black metal band Gehenna. An vinyl lp version, limited to 500, was released in 1995 by Damnation Records...
. It was released as an MCD on Head Not Found Records. First Spell
First Spell
First Spell is the first full length album by the Norwegian black metal band Gehenna. An vinyl lp version, limited to 500, was released in 1995 by Damnation Records...
generated a larger fan-base for the band, and led to them signing 2-album record deal with Cacophonous Records.
In 1995, Gehenna released their second full-length, Seen Through The Veils of Darkness
Seen Through the Veils of Darkness
Seen Through The Veils Of Darkness is the second full length album by the Norwegian black metal band Gehenna. A vinyl LP version, limited to 1000, was released in 1995 by Necromantic Gallery Productions.-Track listing:...
. This record featured a guest appearance by Garm
Kristoffer Rygg
Kristoffer Rygg , also known as Garm, Trickster G. and recently also God Head is a Spellemannprisen nominated vocalist, musician and producer known as the frontman of Ulver and former vocalist for Arcturus...
of Arcturus and Ulver
Ulver
Ulver is a musical group from Norway. Since their first, folklore-influenced black metal release entitled Bergtatt – Et eeventyr i 5 capitler , Ulver’s musical style has been fluid and increasingly eclectic, blending genres such as rock, electronica, symphonic and chamber traditions, noise and...
doing vocals on the track Vinterriket. This release cemented Gehenna as a strong band in the black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
scene.
Shortly before the release of Gehenna's next record, Svartalv left the band. Noctifer, who had joined the band as Svartalv's replacement, was unable to meet the demands of being a member of Gehenna. After 6 months, during the recording sessions of Gehenna's third release, Noctifier left the band.
E.N. Death, a friend of the band, was asked to sit in as a session bassist to finish the recording. After also joining the band on tour, he was asked to join the band full-time.
In 1996, Gehenna's third release, Malice
Malice (Gehenna album)
Malice is the third full length album by the Norwegian black metal band Gehenna.-Track listing:#"She Who Loves The Flames" - 5:00#"Made To Suffer" - 4:42#"Touched And Left For Dead" - 5:16#"Bleeding The Blue Flame" - 5:04...
, was released on Cacophonous Records.
Sarcana and Dirge Rep both left the band shortly after a touring in support of Malice. Damien was added as Sarcana's replacement on keyboards and Blod took up drumming duties.
With the new members, Gehenna's sound changed a bit. Blod brought a death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
background with him, and it influenced Gehenna in a much heavier way.
In 1998, Gehenna signed to Moonfog Productions and immediately released an EP Deadlights
Deadlights
Deadlights is a three song EP by the Norwegian black metal band Gehenna. This ep was released upon their signing to Moonfog Productions. Gehenna released this as a preview of the change in sound of the band. The first track, Deadlights was a song on the upcoming record, Adimiron Black. In...
, which was a sample to their fans of what to expect from the newer Gehenna material. This EP was later followed by their Moonfog debut LP, Adimiron Black
Adimiron Black
Adimiron Black is the fourth full length album by the Norwegian black metal band Gehenna. It was their first Moonfog Productions debut. This recording marked a different sound for Gehenna, as this record has more of a heavier and death metal influence than their earlier recordings.-Track...
.
During their tenure with Moonfog Productions, Gehenna would also release Murder
Murder (Gehenna album)
Murder is the fifth full length album by the Norwegian black metal band Gehenna.-Track listing:#"Intro" - 1:13#"Murder" - 2:46#"Worthy Exit" - 3:06#"Devout Dementia" - 4:12#"The Crucified One" - 3:27#"Perfect Hate" - 5:04#"To The Grave" - 2:42...
2000 and WW
WW (Gehenna album)
WW is the sixth full length album by the Norwegian black metal band Gehenna. It was recorded and released 4 years after their previous album.-Track listing:#"Grenade Prayer" - 3:49#"Death To Them All" - 3:46#"New Blood" - 3:26...
2005.
In late 2005 Gehenna signed with ANP Records.
In December, 2007, Gehenna announced that the previous contract signed with ANP Records was cancelled and that Gehenna signed with Norwegian based "Indie Recordings". Dirge Rep was also announced as a full-time member.
According to a message posted by the band on their official MySpace page in June 2009, "Gehenna is currently writing new material for a yet untitled album. We hope to have it recorded by the end of 2009. Some work / track titles are : The Blooding, Melek, Stillborn, Claws of Obedience, Death's Emblem, Liber Torquere (Leviathan Rising)".
Members
- SanrabbSanrabbSanrabb is a Norwegian black metal musician, and one of the founding members of Norwegian black metal band Gehenna.-Biography:Sanrabb formed the Norwegian black metal band Gehenna in 1993, together with Dolgar and Sir Vereda. He has participated on all of Gehenna's releases, both as a vocalist and...
- vocals, guitars - Dolgar - vocals, bass
- Skinndød - guitars
- Dirge Rep - drums
Former members
- Blod (1998–2001) - drums
- Damien (1998–1999) - keyboards
- Dirge Rep (Per Husebø) (1993-1997 2007-) - drums
- E.N. Death (Frode Sivertsen) (1996–2000) - bass
- Frost - session live drums
- Kine (2000–2005) - synths
- Nekro - guitars
- Noctifer (1996) - bass
- S. Winter - drums
- Sarcana / Nina (1994–1997) - keyboards
- Sir Vereda (1993) - drums
- Svartalv / Kenneth (1993–1996) - bass
Discography
- Ancestor Of The Darkly Sky (EP), 1993
- Black Seared HeartBlack Seared HeartBlack Seared Heart is compilation of very early recordings by the Norwegian black metal band Gehenna.Tracks 1-7 are labeled "Pact I" and originally appeared on Gehenna's 1993 demo, Black Seared Heart. It was released on a cassette, limited to 100 copies. They were recorded in June, 1993.Tracks 8...
(demo), Necromantic Gallery Productions 1993 - First SpellFirst SpellFirst Spell is the first full length album by the Norwegian black metal band Gehenna. An vinyl lp version, limited to 500, was released in 1995 by Damnation Records...
(Full-length), Head Not Found Records 1994 - Seen Through The Veils of DarknessSeen Through the Veils of DarknessSeen Through The Veils Of Darkness is the second full length album by the Norwegian black metal band Gehenna. A vinyl LP version, limited to 1000, was released in 1995 by Necromantic Gallery Productions.-Track listing:...
(The Second Spell) (Full-length), Cacophonous Records 1995 - MaliceMalice (Gehenna album)Malice is the third full length album by the Norwegian black metal band Gehenna.-Track listing:#"She Who Loves The Flames" - 5:00#"Made To Suffer" - 4:42#"Touched And Left For Dead" - 5:16#"Bleeding The Blue Flame" - 5:04...
(Our Third Spell) (Full-length), Cacophonous Records 1996 - Black Seared HeartBlack Seared HeartBlack Seared Heart is compilation of very early recordings by the Norwegian black metal band Gehenna.Tracks 1-7 are labeled "Pact I" and originally appeared on Gehenna's 1993 demo, Black Seared Heart. It was released on a cassette, limited to 100 copies. They were recorded in June, 1993.Tracks 8...
(Re-Release of BSH Demo, with bonus tracks), Holycaust Records 1996 - DeadlightsDeadlightsDeadlights is a three song EP by the Norwegian black metal band Gehenna. This ep was released upon their signing to Moonfog Productions. Gehenna released this as a preview of the change in sound of the band. The first track, Deadlights was a song on the upcoming record, Adimiron Black. In...
(EP), Moonfog Productions 1998 - Adimiron BlackAdimiron BlackAdimiron Black is the fourth full length album by the Norwegian black metal band Gehenna. It was their first Moonfog Productions debut. This recording marked a different sound for Gehenna, as this record has more of a heavier and death metal influence than their earlier recordings.-Track...
(Full-length), Moonfog Productions 1998 - MurderMurder (Gehenna album)Murder is the fifth full length album by the Norwegian black metal band Gehenna.-Track listing:#"Intro" - 1:13#"Murder" - 2:46#"Worthy Exit" - 3:06#"Devout Dementia" - 4:12#"The Crucified One" - 3:27#"Perfect Hate" - 5:04#"To The Grave" - 2:42...
(Full-length), Moonfog Productions 2000 - WWWW (Gehenna album)WW is the sixth full length album by the Norwegian black metal band Gehenna. It was recorded and released 4 years after their previous album.-Track listing:#"Grenade Prayer" - 3:49#"Death To Them All" - 3:46#"New Blood" - 3:26...
(Full-length), Moonfog Productions 2005
External links
- Official Gehenna Website
- Official Gehenna MySpace page
- Gehenna on Moonfog Productions website
- Indie Recordings MySpace - Gehenna's current record label
- Gehenna's entry at Encyclopaedia Metallum