Gaahl: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->

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==Early life==

The first Gorgoroth album to feature Gaahl as main vocalist was ''[[Incipit Satan]]'', recorded from July–October 1999. The music was entirely written by guitarists [[Infernus]] and [[Tormentor (musician)|Tormentor]], while the lyrics were written by Infernus and Gaahl; the latter having written the lyrics for the title song and "Ein Eim av Blod og Helvetesild". This was also the first Gorgoroth album to feature elements of [[Industrial music|industrial]], [[dark ambient]], and [[noise music]].

 

In 2002, Gaahl was sentenced to 12 months in prison for an assault which took place in 2000, and was ordered to pay the victim 158,000 NOK (about US$25,300).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Injection |first=Metal |date=2011-02-17 |title=Top 10 Worst Crimes Committed by Black Metal Musicians |url=https://metalinjection.net/lists/top-10-crimes-committed-black-metal-musicians |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=Metal Injection |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name='gaahl-hist'>{{cite news | first=Chris | last=Campion | title=In the face of death | date=20 February 2005 | publisher=Guardian Unlimited | url =https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/feb/20/popandrock4 | work =[[The Observer]] | access-date = 10 February 2008 }}</ref> Gorgoroth began recording their album ''[[Twilight of the Idols (Gorgoroth album)|Twilight of the Idols]]'' in May that year. Gaahl's imprisonment meant that he was unable to record his vocals until January 2003.<ref name="vds1">{{cite web|url=http://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/interviews/gorgoroth.htm|title=www.voicesfromthedarkside.de|last=www.voicesfromthedarkside.de|website=www.voicesfromthedarkside.de|access-date=22 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716084758/http://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/interviews/gorgoroth.htm|archive-date=16 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The album was released in July that year.

 

In May 2004, Gaahl again received a prison sentence, for [[aggravated assault]].<ref name="blabbermouthfeb05">[http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gorgoroth-singer-sentenced-to-14-months-in-prison/ "Gorgoroth Singer Sentenced To 14 Months In Prison"]. [[Blabbermouth.net]]. 22 February 2005.</ref> He [[appeal]]ed for a reduced sentence, and in February 2005 he was re-sentenced to fourteen months in prison and ordered to pay the victim 190,000 NOK (about US$30,400) in compensation.<ref name="blabbermouthfeb05"/> The incident happened in February 2002 during a late-night party at Gaahl's house in Espedal, when he became involved in a confrontation with a man. Gaahl was accused of severely beating the man, torturing him for long periods of time and collecting his blood into a cup and threatening to make him drink it.<ref name="blabbermouthfeb05"/> Gaahl said "I was the one who was attacked, but they think I punished him too hard. As I always say, when people cross my line and I let them know where the line is many steps before they cross it, and still they choose to cross it, then I will be the one to decide what their punishment will be".<ref name = "shaman1" /> He also claimed to have given the man the cup "so that he would not make such a mess in my house with all the blood".<ref name="blabbermouthfeb05"/> In March 2006, Gaahl recorded vocals for Gorgoroth's next album, ''[[Ad Majorem Sathanas Gloriam]]''. According to band members, he was in prison from April<ref name=chroniclesofchaos>[http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/articles.aspx?id=1-935 Chronicles of Chaos - Interview with King ov Hell, 25 June 2006].</ref> to December 2006.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927184250/http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/article/?id=45971 "Gorgoroth singer released from prison"]. ''Metal Hammer''. 9 January 2007.</ref>

 

In January 2007, Gaahl was the focus of a documentary called ''[[True Norwegian Black Metal (documentary)|True Norwegian Black Metal]]''. It was shown in five parts on ''vbs.tv'', the broadcast network of ''[[Vice Magazine]]'', in April. In it, Gaahl offered the film-makers a tour of his home in Espedal and the surrounding countryside. The documentary was produced by photographer Peter Beste, who also starred in it.

 

 

==Personal life and beliefs==

 

Gaahl is a practitioner of [[Germanic neopaganism|Norse Shamanism]] and can often be seen wearing a [[Mjölnir]] pendant.<ref name="shaman1">{{cite web|url=http://www.tartareandesire.com/interviews/gorgoroth.html|title=Gorgoroth interview @ Tartareandesire.com<!-- Bot generated title -->|access-date=22 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214650/http://www.tartareandesire.com/interviews/gorgoroth.html|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[http://www.imhotep.fi/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2151&Itemid=135&lang=en Imhotep<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514024208/http://www.imhotep.fi/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2151&Itemid=135&lang=en |date=14 May 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thegauntlet.com/article/23543/Trelldom-Interview-With-Gaahl|title=Trelldom Interview With Gaahl|access-date=22 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scarletmetal.com/gaahl_gorgoroth_interview.htm |title=Gaahl of Gorgoroth Interview: Scarlet Metal |access-date=21 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209224615/http://www.scarletmetal.com/gaahl_gorgoroth_interview.htm |archive-date=9 February 2014 }}</ref>