Gaahl

Gaahl in 2018.

Kristian Eivind Espedal (born August 7, 1975 in Sunnfjord ), better known under the pseudonym Gaahl , is a Norwegian singer and painter .

Espedal is the former singer of the black metal band Gorgoroth . He is also the founder of Trelldom and Gaahlskagg . Since he was kicked out of Gorgoroth, he has also been involved in the God Seed and Wardruna projects.

Life

Espedal was born in 1975 in Sunnfjord , a town in the Sogn og Fjordane region. He spent his childhood in the sparsely populated town of Espedal in Fjaler . His family still owns a house in this area, although they now mainly live in Bergen .

In 2004, Espedal stated that it was a vegetarian . In November 2008, he came out as gay . At Bergen Gay Galla , he was voted Gay Person of the Year in January 2010 . Espedal attended the ceremony and personally accepted the award.

In addition to his musical work, Espedal is also active as a visual artist. Espedal exhibits his work in the Galleri Fjalar in Bergen.

Musical career

1993–1998: First bands: Trelldom, Sigfader and Gahlskagg

Espedal was first involved in black metal in 1993 when he started the group Trelldom with guitarist Tyrant and bassist Taakeheim. Another musician involved was drummer Goat Pervertor. With the group he brought out a demo, as well as the three albums Tit Evighet , "Til Minne" and Til et Annet . The latter came out in 1998. In the same year Espedal was also active in the two bands Sigfader and Gahlskagg , with which he released an EP in 1999.

1998–2007: His time with Gorgoroth

In 1998 he became a member of the Norwegian black metal band Gorgoroth and was heard for the first time on their fourth album, Destroyer , even if he only sang in the title track. He played his first concerts in May of the same year when the group made five appearances with Cradle of Filth in Germany .

The first album on Espedal, from now on called Gaahl , mainly appeared as a singer, is Incipit Satan , which was recorded between July and October 1999. Gaahl was in prison between February and December 2002 for assaulting a man. He also had to pay the victim a compensation of 158,000 NOK , which is approximately US $ 27,000 .

In 2006, Sathanas Gloriam Gaahl's third album was released with the group with Ad Majorem . Gaahl was arrested again between April and December of the same year. He assaulted and tortured a man for which he was sentenced to nine months in prison. The victim received 190,000 Norwegian kroner (NOK) in compensation. For his part, Gaahl pleaded for self-defense .

Gaahl was the focus of the documentary True Norwegian Black Metal , which aired in April 2007. In October 2007 he tried together with his bandmate King ov Hell, the guitarist and founder of the band Gorgoroth, Infernus, from the band and claim the name Gorgoroth for themselves. That was the beginning of the name dispute over Gorgoroth .

2008–2012: After Gorgoroth: Musical creative break

In July 2008, Gaahl published a clothing collection for women under the name Wynjo together with fashion designer Sonja Wu and fashion agent Dan De Vero . At this point he was dating De Vero. They are no longer a couple. However, Gaahl only came out as homosexual in November 2008 . Shortly after the outing, De Vero was threatened publicly and via email by several black metal fans.

Another negative highlight was a performance at the Wacken Open Air in 2008, when King ov Hell and Gaahl played under the name Gorgoroth - while the name dispute was still ongoing. In the backstage area there should have been a fight between the band and some fans. The person who started the brawl had to be hospitalized. The reason should have been homophobic statements against Gaahl.

In March 2009 a court in Oslo ruled that Infernus was the rightful originator of the name Gorgoroth and Gaahl was no longer allowed to use this name. His new project, which had been running under this name until then, had to change its name. He and King ov Hell chose the name God Seed . In early 2009 he spent some time in Spain to write on his lyrics for their debut album. The group worked for a long time with session musicians in the studio, but the album was never released because Gaahl decided to put the project on hold in July 2009. The reason for this was Gaahl's lack of enthusiasm to continue making metal music.

He started an acting career. First at the Norwegian State Theater , then in the movie Escape - Legacy of the Vikings , which was officially broadcast in September 2012. In January 2010 it was announced that Espedal had received a role in the musical Svartediket of the Bergen theater Den Nationale Scene . The musical was performed at the Bergen International Festival in May 2010. However, the announcement that Gaahl would get a role was criticized because of Gaahl's anti-Christian positions.

Since 2012: return as a musician: God Seed

In January 2012 Gaahl decided to start the God Seed project again. Together with King ov Hell and other musicians, he released the debut album I Begin in October 2012, which was released via Indie Recordings .

ideology

Gaahl sees himself as a shaman . He often wears a Mjölnir pendant. He also feels strongly connected to paganism .

Position on Christianity and Satanism

Even if he vehemently rejects the Christian faith , he is often falsely described as a Satanist . In previous interviews, he said that he was "his own God and his own Satan" and that he did not consider himself a Satanist because of this. He confirms this statement in the documentary True Norwegian Black Metal when he stated that "the only true God slumbers in you". In an interview in the documentary Metal: A Headbanger's Journey he was asked what Gorgoroth stood for, which he answered with "Satan". When asked what Satan represented for him, he replied "freedom".

"We live in a Christian world and we have to speak their language [...] When I use the word 'Satan' it means the natural order, the will of a man, the will to grow, the will to become the superman and not to be oppressed by any law such as the church, which is only a way to control the masses. "

-

Gaahl denied that he was inspired in his faith by Friedrich Nietzsche . He also sees himself as an opponent of the Church of Satan .

Black metal

By the term "Black Metal" he understands individuality as the most important aspect. He describes Black Metal as a "display of the truth without compromise" and a "war for all who can hear the whisper". When asked how he felt about church cremations in the early years of black metal, he replied:

"Church burnings are, of course, a thing that I support one hundred percent. It should have been done much more, and will be done much more in the future. We have to remove every trace [of] what Christianity, and the Semitic roots, have to offer this world. "

- Gaahl in the documentary Metal: A Headbanger's Journey (2005)

In 1995, in a controversial interview, he said the following about church cremation:

“Well, personally I don't mind it at all, but I fear that it might cause among people fear of nihilism and [the] anti-Christian views that black metal represents, and in that way lead neutral people to succumbing to Christendom because that is what they accept and don't want to lose. I think it's the wrong way to proceed. "

-

politics

In a controversial interview from 1995, Gaahl said that he supported people like Varg Vikernes , Adolf Hitler , as well as the rulers of the Roman Empire Gaius Iulius Caesar , Emperor Augustus and Nero . He called " niggers ", " mulattos " and Muslims as " subhumans ". In the meantime he describes himself as apolitical and says that his circle of friends knows people from both right and left political camps . When asked about the 1995 interview in a 2008 interview with Rock Hard , he replied:

"In the early '90s, there were all these different youth gangs in Norway and one thing led to another. I was involved in gang fights and had false friends ... There was no political disposition - not with me nor any of my friends. But you had to profess allegiance to a certain group if you wanted to defend yourself and not get your ass kicked. "

- Gaahl in 2008

In the 1990s, his band Trelldom was blacklisted by the Anti-Defamation League . The reason given was Gaahl's statements in the 1995 interview.

Discography

With Gorgoroth

• 1998: Destroyer
• 2000: Incipit Satan
• 2003: Twilight of the Idols
• 2006: Ad Majorem Sathanas Gloriam

With God Seed

• 2012: Live at Wacken 2008 ( announced and accrued as Gorgoroth )
• 2012: I Begin

With trelldom

• 1995: Til Evighet
• 1998: Til et Annet
• 2007: Til Minne

With Wardruna

• 2009: Runaljóð - gap var Ginnunga
• 2013: Runaljóð - Yggdrasil

With Gaahls Wyrd

• 2019: GastiR - Ghosts Invited

Filmography

• 2005: Metal: A Headbanger's Journey (Documentary)
• 2007: True Norway Black Metal (documentary)
• 2012: Escape - Legacy of the Vikings (Flukt)

Web links

• Kristian Espedal in the Internet Movie Database (English)
• Gaahl in the Internet Movie Database (English)
• Gaahl at Discogs (English)
• Gaahl on MusicBrainz
• Gaahl at Allmusic (English)
• Kristian Espedal

Individual evidence

1. ^ ^{A b} Peter Beste: True Norwegian Black Metal . In: VBS.tv , YouTube , April 27, 2007. Accessed February 10, 2008. 
2. ↑ Jonathan Tisdall: Black metal vocalist faces prison (Norwegian?) , Aftenposten. April 28, 2004. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008 Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Retrieved February 10, 2008.  
3. ↑ [Gaahlskagg Myspace Blog]
4. ^ Revolver Magazine, "Paul Bostaph . Revolvermag.com. December 1, 2011. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010. Retrieved on February 10, 2012.
5. ↑ BLABBERMOUTH.NET - Former GORGOROTH Frontman Named 'Homosexual Of The Year' . Roadrunnerrecords.com. Archived from the original on October 16, 2011. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved February 10, 2012. 
6. ^ Galleri Fjalar. Retrieved February 11, 2020 . 
7. ↑ Gorgoroth - Live ( Memento of the original from April 13, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
8. ↑ ^{a b} Chris Campion: In the face of death . In: The Observer , Guardian Unlimited, February 20, 2005. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012 Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Retrieved February 10, 2008.  
9. ↑ Gorgoroth interview @ Tartareandesire.com ( Memento of the original from March 3, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
10. ↑ ^{a b} GORGOROTH Frontman Had 'Close Relationship' With Norwegian Modeling Agent DAN DEVERO . July 24, 2008. Archived from the original on July 28, 2008 Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Retrieved July 28, 2008.  
11. ^ ^{A b} Hansen, Birthe Steen: - Jeg var gal etter Dan (Norwegian) , Nettavisen . undated . Archived from the original on July 27, 2008 Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Retrieved July 28, 2008.  
12. ↑ ^{a b c d e f} BLABBERMOUTH.NET - GORGOROTH Frontman Opens Up About His Sexual Orientation: 'I've Never Made Any Secret About It' . Roadrunnerrecords.com. Archived from the original on November 21, 2011. Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved February 10, 2012. 
13. ↑ Røyseland, Halstein: - TRUET av black metal-miljøet etter homo-nyhet (Norwegian) . In: Verdens Gang , November 2, 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2008. 
14. ↑ BLABBERMOUTH.NET
15. ↑ Imhotep - Interviews / Articles - GOD SEED - NEW ENERGY
16. ↑ Internet Movie Database : Profile: Gaahl
17. ↑ Internet Movie Database : Profile: Fluct
18. ↑ Götz Kühnemund: Rock Hard : Gaahls Returns ( Memento of the original from July 21, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (Archive entry, originally published in issue # 307) 
19. ↑ Finn Bjørn Tønder: Legger Hardt press på teatersjefen (Norwegian) , Bergen Tidende . January 14, 2010. Archived from the original on January 17, 2010 Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Retrieved January 15, 2010.  
20. ↑ ^{a b c d} Gorgoroth interview @ Tartareandesire.com ( Memento of the original from March 3, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
21. ↑ GORGOROTH'S GAAHL - INFINITE DIMENSIONS ( Memento from May 14, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
22. ↑ http://www.thegauntlet.com/article/23543/Trelldom-Interview-With-Gaahl
23. ↑ Archive link ( Memento of the original from March 17, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
24. ↑ ^{a b} Dunn, Sam (2005). Metal: A Headbanger's Journey
25. ↑ Gorgoroth Interview at Metal1.info ( Memento of the original from July 17th, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
26. ↑ ^{a b c} Interview with Gaahl from Polish Holocaust Magazine, 1995
27. ↑ ^{a b} Interview with Gaahl from Polish Holocaust Magazine, 1995
28. ^ Hate Rock Online: A New Tool for Racists and Anti-Semites . Adl.org. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved February 10, 2012.