Kristoffer Rygg

Kristoffer Rygg

Norwegian post-black metallers BORKNAGAR have started recording a new studio album, to follow-up 2012’s Urd! The original BORKNAGAR vocalist, Kristoffer Rygg (aka Garm / Fiery G. Maelstrom / Trixter G. – see photo above), has recorded vocals for two songs on this currently untitled release. Set to be once again mixed by Jens Bogren in June at Fascination Street Studio (OPETH, KREATOR, KATATONIA, etc.), the album is expected to be unleashed in late 2015 via Century Media Records.

BORKNAGAR’s Øystein G. Brun (guitars) comments:

“These days, 20 years ago, Kristoffer and I hooked up for the very first time in Bergen to record vocals for the BORKNAGAR debut album. Glorious days, indeed. Last night I was barely asleep as I got the first vocal samples from Kristoffer late yesterday evening – and have been listening to the songs repeatedly since then. Being a former bandmate and a huge fan of his work ever since we parted ways back in the days, I certainly did expect a lot, but what he sent over this time around surpass every expectations. Really! Still trying to get my jaw back in position and the goosebumps seem to have turned chronic on me.

Kristoffer performs the lead vocals for one full song called ‘Winter Thrice’ and does additional vocals for another opus called ‘Terminus’.

Being a profoundly nostalgic person, this makes me reflect about how damn lucky I am to have been able to work with some of the finest vocalists in the world, throughout the years. Musically the upcoming album will be a celebration of just that. Along with the vocals of Vintersorg, ICS Vortex and Lazare, it should be needless to argue that this will be a very special album! Massively so! More info will follow soon!”

BORKNAGAR released their latest album, Urd, in March 2012, marking the 9th studio release in the band’s 18-year career. The album saw the return of ICS Vortex (ex DIMMU BORGIR) to the band’s ranks, and the release was supported with a rare concert appearance headlining the Inferno Festival in Oslo / Norway, also introducing Baard Kolstad as the band’s new drummer. BORKNAGAR then also appeared at Brutal Assault Festival in Czech Republic in August 2013 and introduced Pål “Athera” Mathiesen as stand-in vocalist for Vintersorg.

An epic promotional video clip for the outstanding song “The Earthling” off the Urd album can be seen here: