Aeternus

Biography

Aeternus is a Norwegian blackened death metal band from Bergen. It was formed in 1993 by Ronny Hovland, alias Ares, and Erik Heggernes, a.k.a. Vrolok. In 1996, bassist Nicola Trier, a.k.a. Morrigan, joined the duo, forming a three-piece that recorded the band's first two albums. Morrigan created the band's trademark ravens-and-axes logo.

History

For the first two albums, the band called their style "dark metal". They released their debut album, Beyond the Wandering Moon×Beyond the Wandering Moon14 April 1997 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Under the Blade of the Dead2:082Sworn Revenge6:353White Realm6:374Sentinels of Darkness8:545Embraced7:196Vind7:067Waiting for the Storms5:588Winter Tale8:149To Enter the Realm of Legend7:5310Celtic Harp Solo (The Last Feast)4:23, in 1997 on Hammerheart Records (now Karmageddon Media), and toured with black metal bands Emperor and Limbonic Art through Europe. Their second album, ...And So the Night Became, was released in 1998, accompanied by a tour supporting Deicide, and was later re-released in different formats.
In 1999, they added guitarist Radek and moved from darkened black metal toward a faster, more aggressive death metal sound for 1999's Shadows of Old. Morrigan left the group in 2001 for personal reasons and was replaced with V'gandr, of Norwegian Viking metal band Helheim. Later that year, they released their fourth full-length album, Ascension of Terror×Ascension of Terror2001 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Possessed by the Serpents Vengeance6:082Slaying the Lambs4:563Ascension of Terror4:594The Essence of the Elder4:085Warlust4:416Wrath of the Warlord3:297Burning the Shroud4:188Denial of Salvation7:199The Lair of Anubis3:55, and played some live shows. They departed Hammerheart Records and split with Radek. Their next album, A Darker Monument×A Darker Monument5 May 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Sword of the Earth4:592Slavestate5:373Litany of Ra6:194Soulslayer4:095Darkstorm4:486Genocide Delight5:427Seen Through Abhorrent Eyes3:238The Trident4:419Sons of War6:13, was released on the Nocturnal Art Productions label in 2003. After the release of their sixth full-length, HeXaeon, Vrolok left the band and was replaced with drummer S. Winter early in 2006. The group toured Europe later that year to support the album. In September 2007, S. Winter left the group.
The band entered a lull between 2008 and 2011. V'gandr left the band to concentrate on his band Helheim and continued to be a session member with Norwegian black metal band Taake. Ares reformed the band with drummer Phobos and guitarist Specter. Work on a new album began. The new line-up returned to the stage in 2013 and released their seventh album, ...And the Seventh His Soul Detesteth.

Current

Ares – vocals, guitar (1993–present)
Gorm – guitar (2018–present)
Eld – bass (2012–present)
Phobos – drums (2007–present)

Former

Lava – guitar (1999–2004)
Dreggen – guitar (2005–2010)
Specter – guitar (2010–2017)
Ørjan – bass (1993–1996)
Morrigan – bass, keyboards (1996–2001)
V'gandr – bass (2001–2012)
Vrolok – drums (1993–2006)

Live

Stanley – guitar (2004–2005)
S. Winter – drums (2006–2007)