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)
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- 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
- Innferd
- Kronet
- Sola Skjultes
- Ild
- Fjerde Dag
- Et Glimt
- Støv Og Aske
Minnesjord 1994, Self released EP
- Øde
- Utsyn 1
- Utsyn 2
- Utsyn 3
- Utsyn 4
- Utsyn 5
- Demring
- Minnesjord 1
- Minnesjord 2
- Minnesjord 3
- Minnesjord 4
- Minnesjord 5
- Myrk Var
- Dalens ånd (Avslutning)
ILDJARN-NIDHOGG: Norse 1994, Nocturnal Art Productions EP (Limited to 500 copies)
- Mørklagt Sti
- Svarte Hjerter
- Nattens Ledestjerne
- Natt Og Tåke
Det Frysende Nordariket 1995, Norse League Productions (Limited to 1000 copies; rereleased in 1997 on Napalm Record)
- Mørklagt Sti
- Svarte Hjerter
- Nattens Ledestjerne
- Natt Og Tåke
- Innferd
- Kronet
- Sola Skjultes
- Ild
- Fjerde Dag
- Et Glimt
- Støv Og Aske
- Øde
- Utsyn 1
- Utsyn 2
- Utsyn 3
- Utsyn 4
- Utsyn 5
- Demring
- Minnesjord 1
- Minnesjord 2
- Minnesjord 3
- Minnesjord 4
- Minnesjord 5
- Myrk Var
- Dalens ånd (Avslutning)
Ildjarn 1995, Norse League Productions (Limited to 750 copies)
- Skogsslottet
- Kulde
- Takenheim
- Snøen Dokker
- Skogssvinet
- Svarte Grangrann
- Krigere
- Accer en Gang
- Nordiske Mørke
- Blikkets Storhet
- Himmelhvelv
- Huset i Skogen
- Draumeheim
- Svarte Fjell
- Mørkeheim
- Himmelen Svartner
- Der det Skjulte Lever
- Som en Ensom Borg
- Vinden Biter
- Mørket Slyngen seg
- Skogrommet
- Innover i Dalsøkk
- Lydløst over Åsen
- Tildekket og kald
- Det Mørkner
- Dødmørke
- Dødmørke
Forest Poetry 1996, Norse League Productions/Napalm Records
- Whispering Breeze
- Blackened Might
- Clashing of Swords
- No Gleaming Light
- Blazing Eye
- Sinking Deep
- Chill of the Night (Returning)
- The Blade Flares in Red Light
- Deeping in Grey
- Midnight Interval
- Descending
- Away with the Dawn
- Before my Eyes Forever
- Reflecting Mountains
- Brother of the Forest
- Dead Years
- Dark December
- Cold and Waste
- Visions of the Earth (2nd Returning)
- Risen Seeds of Time
- Winter Embrace
- No Place Nowhere
ILDJARN-NIDHOGG: Svartfråd 1996, Norse League Productions (Limited to 550 copies.)
- I Anmarsj Gjennon Grangrunn
- Ved Tjernets Bredd
- Vintermark
- Skogens Hatefulle Skapning
Landscapes 1996, Norse League Productions (2 CD set limited to 250 copies.)
CD 1
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
CD 2
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
Strength & Anger 1996, Norse League Productions/Napalm Records
- Strength & Anger
- Strength & Anger
- Strength & Anger
- Strength & Anger
- Strength & Anger
- Strength & Anger
- Strength & Anger
- Strength & Anger
- Strength & Anger
- Strength & Anger
- Strength & Anger
- Strength & Anger
- Strength & Anger
- Strength & Anger
- Strength & Anger
- Black Anger (Hate Meditation 1)
- Interchange
- Midnight Strength, Black Anger (Hate Meditation 2)
Son Of The Northstar 2001, Full Moon Productions (Limited to 1000 copies.)
- Kronet
- Fjerde Dag
- Minnesjord
- Mot Kveld
- Hafsval
1992-1995 2002, Northern Heritage
- Intro
- Dark December
- Kronet
- Strength & Anger 1
- Himmelen Svartner
- Der det Skjulte Lever
- Whispering Breeze
- Inanimate
- Mørket Slynger Seg
- Skogrommet
- Blackened Might
- Strength & Anger 2
- Dead Years
- Taakeheim
- Chill of the Night (Returning)
- Strength & Anger 3
- Skogssvinet
- Visions of the Earth (2nd Returning)
- TheBlade Flares in Red Light
- Utsyn 3
- Svarte Fjell
- Away With the Dawn
- Utsyn 6
- Clashing of Swords
- Et Glimt
- Cold and Waste
- Tildekket og Kald
- Krigere
ILDJARN-NIDHOGG: Hardangervidda Part 1 2002, Norse League Productions
- Sunrise
- Daybreak
- Amber Lake
- Northern Winds
- Blissful Mountain View
- After The Rain
- Nature's Church
- Fleeing Herd
- September
- The Ermine
- Frozen Plain
- Sunset
- Night
ILDJARN-NIDHOGG: Hardangervidda Part 2 2002, Norse League Productions
- Overture (Part 1)
- Overture (Part 2)
- Highlands (Part 1)
- Highlands (Part 2)
- Spring
- The Troll Dome
- Nature's Church (Part 2)
ILDJARN-NIDHOGG 2003, Northern Heritage
- Eksistensens Jeger
- Mørklagt Sti
- Svarte Hjerter
- Nattens Ledestjerne
- Natt og Taake
- Bak to Lysende Øyne
- Svart Dag (The Nothingness)
- I Anmarsj Gjennon Grangrunn
- Ved Tjernets Bredd
- Vintermark
- Skogens Hatefulle Skapning
- Skogen Av Jern
- Untitled
Nocturnal Visions 2004, Northern Heritage
- Nocturnal Massacre
- Nocturnal Gathering
- Death Dynamics
- Strength and Anger V (Winter Recital Version)
- Nattens Skyggesider
- Strength and Anger VII (Hammer Torture Version)
- 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