When 1349 rose from the ashes of ALVHEIM in 1997, the band was driven by a deep desire to keep the black metal flame burning in all its rebellious glory. The Norwegians set out with the declared aim to remain true to the original spirit of their scene, which they saw heading into all the wrong directions.
Conceived around the founding members, which consisted of vocalist and first drummer Ravn, guitarist Tjalve, and Seidemann on bass, 1349 completed their line-up with the addition of guitarist Archaon in 1999 and SATYRICON drum-legend Frost, after the latter recorded a demo and the debut album with the band in 2001.
When their debut ‘Liberation’ was finally unleashed in 2003, 1349 took the world by storm with their intense blend of old school black metal soundscapes and ultra-fast aggression. Further assaults followed in rapid succession. ‘Beyond the Apocalypse’ (2004) and ‘Hellfire’ (2005) cemented the Norwegians’ reputation as one of the strongest acts in the already peaked scene, where they managed to carve out a claim for their own.
Founding member Tjalve decided to focus on his band PANTHEON I and 1349have since continued as a four-piece – occasionally adding renowned guest guitarists. Extensive touring aided the growth of a massive following, which started to seriously reach across the Atlantic, when 1349 opened for reunited metal legends Celtic Frost in North America in 2006.
In an impressive demonstration that dedication to the origins and early principles of black metal does not have to mean nostalgia and stagnation, 1349considerably widened their sonic palette with the next full-length ‘Revelations of the Black Flame’ (2009), which was co-mixed by iconic CELTIC FROST mastermind Tom Gabriel “Warrior” Fischer.
Their newly found darker and more ambient side, was further explored and interwoven with the earlier sonic approach, which 1349 dub “aural hellfire” on the following ‘Demonoir’ (2010). Extensive touring and performances at prestigious festivals around the globe filled the period from 2010 to 2012.
‘Massive Cauldron of Chaos’ (2013) was the next milestone in the Norwegian’s merciless advance, scoring excellent reviews and sparking more festival shows as well as extended touring, which also brought 1349 for the first time to Australia and New Zealand. Now the band is preparing to unleash more “aural hellfire” onto the expecting world via Season of Mist.
Line-up
Seidemann: bass
Ravn: vocals
Archaon: guitars
Frost: drums
Style: Black Metal
For more on 1349, visit their official FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER.
