Þagað í Hel
Encyclopedia
Þagað í Hel, was the first album released by Iceland
ic band Þeyr
in December 1980 through label SG-hljómplötur.
By late 1979 Þeyr members contacted Svavar Gestsson, the owner of SG-Hljómplötur, and introduced him a few songs of disco music. Svavar sent them to studio Tóntækni and the recording sessions began in January 1980 and were concluded in February when the band decided to take a break, which was extended until September, when the album was finished. Over the long break, New Wave music
was hitting Iceland and Þeyr got heavily influenced by it. Therefore, part of the recorded album featured two different music styles.
The album was titled Þagað í Hel, which means Silenced to Death and it was introduced to Svavar, who felt reluctant to release it because he didn’t like the music nor even the album design, but his wife, Elly Vilhjálms (a renowned singer from the 1960s and 1970s), did like it and persuaded him to release it.
Thus, Þagað í Hel came out to the streets by December 1980, on limited edition because the vinyl printing was defected and only 500 low quality copies were released. After the release of Þagað í Hel, Þeyr gained popularity in Iceland thanks to the critic reviews and the band underwent internal changes with the departure of guitarist Jóhannes Helgason
and vocalist Elín Reynisdóttir.
About a year later, Tóntækni studios were caught in a fire and the masters and all unpublished recordings of Þeyr up to that moment were lost forever.
The only song to survive was "En…", which was featured on Nælur, a compilation released by label Spor in 1998. Þagað í Hel is currently out of availability and has become a collector’s item.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic band Þeyr
Þeyr
Þeyr was a renowned Icelandic New Wave band from the early 1980s. Shrouded under a veil of mystery, their three-year existence was characterized by a deep interest in ancient wisdom...
in December 1980 through label SG-hljómplötur.
By late 1979 Þeyr members contacted Svavar Gestsson, the owner of SG-Hljómplötur, and introduced him a few songs of disco music. Svavar sent them to studio Tóntækni and the recording sessions began in January 1980 and were concluded in February when the band decided to take a break, which was extended until September, when the album was finished. Over the long break, New Wave music
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
was hitting Iceland and Þeyr got heavily influenced by it. Therefore, part of the recorded album featured two different music styles.
The album was titled Þagað í Hel, which means Silenced to Death and it was introduced to Svavar, who felt reluctant to release it because he didn’t like the music nor even the album design, but his wife, Elly Vilhjálms (a renowned singer from the 1960s and 1970s), did like it and persuaded him to release it.
Thus, Þagað í Hel came out to the streets by December 1980, on limited edition because the vinyl printing was defected and only 500 low quality copies were released. After the release of Þagað í Hel, Þeyr gained popularity in Iceland thanks to the critic reviews and the band underwent internal changes with the departure of guitarist Jóhannes Helgason
Jóhannes Helgason
Jóhannes Helgason , was a guitar player known by his work in the band Þeyr and currently works as a pilot for Icelandair.-Early bands:...
and vocalist Elín Reynisdóttir.
About a year later, Tóntækni studios were caught in a fire and the masters and all unpublished recordings of Þeyr up to that moment were lost forever.
The only song to survive was "En…", which was featured on Nælur, a compilation released by label Spor in 1998. Þagað í Hel is currently out of availability and has become a collector’s item.
Side 1
- "En…" (Music: Magnús Guðmundsson, Lyrics: Hilmar Örn HilmarssonHilmar Örn HilmarssonHilmar Örn Hilmarsson , also known as HÖH , is a musician, an art director, and allsherjargoði of Ásatrúarfélagið ....
) – 04:48 - "…Nema Jói" (Music: Hilmar Örn Agnarsson, Lyrics: Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson) – 03:20
- "Hringt" (Music: Sverrir Agnarsson, Lyrics: Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson) – 03:30
- "Heilarokk" (Music: Hilmar Örn Agnarsson, Lyrics: Guðni Rúnar Agnarsson) – 05:38
Side 2
- "Svið" (Music: Þeyr, Lyrics: Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson) – 04:48
- "Eftir Vígið" (Music: Hilmar Örn Agnarsson, Lyrics: Jóhann SigurjónssonJóhann SigurjónssonJóhann Sigurjónsson was an Icelandic playwright and poet. Atypically, Jóhann wrote plays and poetry in both his native Icelandic and in Danish.Jóhann was the son of an Icelandic farmer and was born in Laxamýri, Iceland...
and Skuggi Þýddi) – 04:26 - "Vítisdans" (Music: Sverrir Agnarsson, Lyrics: Skuggi Þýddi) – 03:40
- "555" (Music: Þeyr, Lyrics: Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson) – 04:00
Band members
- Magnús Guðmundsson – Vocals, guitar, keyboards and additional sounds.
- Elín Reynisdóttir – Vocals, backing vocals and screams.
- Hilmar Örn Agnarsson – Bass and keyboards.
- Jóhannes HelgasonJóhannes HelgasonJóhannes Helgason , was a guitar player known by his work in the band Þeyr and currently works as a pilot for Icelandair.-Early bands:...
– Guitar. - Sigtryggur BaldurssonSigtryggur BaldurssonSigtryggur Baldursson is an Icelandic drummer and singer.Sigtryggur was born in Norway to Icelandic parents. He was a founding member of the Sugarcubes and has been a longtime fixture on the Icelandic punk and alternative music scene. Other bands he has played in have included Þeyr, KUKL,...
– Drums and percussion.
Collaborators
- Eiríkur HaukssonEiríkur HaukssonEiríkur Hauksson is an Icelandic heavy metal vocalist who is educated as a teacher.Eiríkur is considered to be a talented vocalist, able to adopt various styles...
– Vocals (side 2, track 3) - Vilborg Reynisdóttir – Background vocals
- Þorsteinn Magnússon – Guitar (side 1, track 3 and side 2, tracks 2 and 4)
- Sigurður Long and Daði Einarsson – Horns
- Eiríkur Örn Pálsson – Horns and Horn arrangement
Production
- Sigurður Árnason – Recording
- Hilmar Örn Agnarsson – Production
- Gunnar Vilhelmsson – Photography
- Kristján Einvarður Karlsson – Album design
- Kristján Einvarður Karlsson – Acknowledgement for his inspiring ideas on the songs development
External links
- Page about Þeyr
- Web site about the history and discography of Þeyr
- Page about Þeyr at Tónlist.is (in Icelandic)
- Intravenous.de - Page about Icelandic music. It includes a section for Þeyr
- Page of Þorsteinn Magnússon at Isound.com
- Page of Þorsteinn Magnússon at MySpace.com
- Official site of Sigtryggur Baldursson