Our new album is out 22nd of November 2013 on Indie Recordings!

With “Djevelsvart” (Eng. Devil Black), we are inviting you on a journey through the dark sides of life. Part of the inspiration for the lyrical concept of “Djevelsvart”derives from writers who by the end of the 19th century said something about what it means to be a modern human being. The writers had to relate to the fact that religion lost its power of explanation concerning man and the world, the alienation in the factory work, and the growth of the big cities. From being members of communities with close ties, they now found themselves to be aliens among aliens. Gradually, the individual has been left to itself to carry the responsibility of answering the question: Who am I?

Founder of Glittertind, Torbjørn, was confronted with these existential problems in its full force when his girlfriend was diagnosed with a serious cancer disease. During the 4 year long treatment, several traumatic events occurred. These events have heavily influenced the music and lyrics of “Djevelsvart”. The album is also influenced by the Oslo terror on July 22nd 2011. The song “Sprekk for sol” (”Burst by Sun”) is dedicated to a fan of us, Torjus Jakobsen Blattman, who was killed on Utøya. The song is a statement against right-wing extremism and hate-ideologies. With ”Djevelsvart”, the darkest Glittertind album so far, we hope the listener can achieve a sense of connection with humanity through our common fate of suffering.

Our History

“From finding meaning to losing meaning”

Glittertind started out 12 years ago, in 2001, and was quite different from what you hear on ”Djevelsvart” in 2013. In 2001 it was a one man project by Torbjørn Sandvik (then 16 years old). The inspiration was mainly taken from the grand, collective histories Norwegians have told themselves. The lyrics revolved around themes such as the story of what Norway is, the great conflicts between authority and submission, between Christianity and Asatro (the belief in Norse gods), what language to speak, between neo-liberalism and socialism and so on. The red thread on these earlier albums has been the search for meaning and coherence. However, in 2013 Glittertind takes another turn on these themes with lyrical concepts revolving loosing meaning and coherence in ones identity.

After several years of trading underground demos, Glittertind was signed on Karmageddon Media in 2004. This collaboration resulted in two records. The debut-album Evige Asatro or in English, "Eternal belief in Norse gods", was released August 2004. It was heavily inspired by pagan and viking metal ideology and music-wise it was also inspired by folk punk. It received great reviews, Kerrang! gave it 4/5K!s and wrote the following:

“..One listen to one-man Norwegian project Glittertind will instantly make you want to eat meat off the bone, casually get into a drunken fight and possibly grow a huge beard as well, thanks to their raucous Pogues-turned-up-to-11 sound. Madder than a donkey on a trampoline and twice as ludicrous, this is also an incredible amount of fun!..”

The second record got out April 2005 and had a concept which was celebrating Norway's 100 years of independence. It was dedicated to Norwegian freedom fighters throughout the ages and it made a statement for democracy and empowerment of citizens through a state that owns its own capital, over the deregulating nature of neoliberalism which contributes to the privatisation of natural resources and the rise of monopolies. The title Til Dovre Faller, "Until Dovre falls", was taken from the moment of the constitutional signing in 1814 where Norwegian patriots gathered, stating that they would struggle for independence until the mountains of Dovre fell.According to the statement in the booklet, Sandvik claimed that the neo-liberal ideology is doing the opposite than the founding fathers of Norway.Terrorizer gave the album 8/10 and wrote:

”..Glittertind understands that folk is first and foremost life affirming as opposed to hateful, morbid, anti-social, suicidal and racist. It is also simple and realistic - just like punk. How refreshing it is to witness a patriot who is strong and healthy-spirited enough to oppose the EU entity, yet wish for a 'united and peaceful Europe'. How ideologically consistent the inclusion of songs against Nazi occupation side by side with songs resisting older foreign conquests of Norway..”

”Geirmund Simonsen joins Glittertind”

The autumn of 2005 Torbjørn moves to Oslo to study and put Glittertind aside for 3 years. In 2008 Thomas Steindl who was A&R at Napalm Records got in touch. The music had lived its own life on the Internet and had growing fan base he told Torbjørn. Napalm Records wanted to release the next Glittertind album, and they ened up inking a deal. Geirmund Simonsen joined the project and added a special musical dimension with his background as a producer and composer for large TV and movie productions. With two different backgrounds they thought they could create something unique.

”Landkjenning” (Landsighting) was released in 2009 on Napalm Records. Thomas Steindl wrote:

"Landkjenning" commemorates the history and poetry of the Norwegian homeland. Traditional melodies and Nordic sounds determine the overall picture of an album that nevertheless finds repeated diversity in its placement of drums and fast riffs. The folkloric sounds delivered by authentic instruments of old skillfully merge with modern elements to create catchy, detail-oriented works. The clean and powerful vocals, sung in Norwegian, give Landkjenning a unique touch. The very profound lyrical concept revolves around Norway's Christianization and transports the listener 1000 years back into the past, to a time where one had to decide between the new religion and the traditional old ways.

”Landkjenning” got great reviews in Norway. Atle Bredal i Norsk på Norsk (NRK P1 – largest radio channel in Norway) gave the album 8/10, other regional newspapers such as Bergensavisen gave it 5/6, Bergens tidende gave it 5/6 and the Norwegian metal magazine Scream magazine gave it 6/6 to mention some. The song ”Går min eigen veg” (Trudging my own path) was playlisted on NRK P1 and is still played from time to time even today 4 years later. ”Landkjenning”also reached a 20th position on the Norwegian domestic charts. The record also got great reviews in the rest of Europe: Denmark’s Metalized gave the album8/10, Sweden Rock 8/10, Metal Hammer in Germany gave it 6/7 and Aardschock in Netherlands gave it 77/100.

”From a studio-project to a full band”

Autumn 2009 Torbjørn got contacted by Johnny Anglund who is the head of the legendary Karmøygeddon Metal festival in Haugesund. Johnny wanted to see the band live, and Torbjørn and Geirmund thought that the time was right to expand the line-up. The new line-up were: Torbjørn Sandvik (Vocals, rythmn-guitar), Geirmund Simonsen (accordion, effect-guitar, samples), Stefan Theofilakis (flutes), Olav Aasbø (leadgitar), Bjørn Nordstoga Eide (bass) and Geir Holm (drums).

In april 2010 Glittertind played the Karmageddon Metal Festival and appeared for the first time as a full band. The concert exceeded all expectations and one reviewer from heavymetal.no, Yngve M. Jacobsen wrote:

”The songs came as pearls on a string, some calm without edges, and some so powerful that you felt entirely mindblown. Several times I was just standing with my jawn all open. The audience exploded when they understood what was happening and this was like being part of an exceptional happening. It is a concert I am really proud to have witnessed. Kind of like Woodstock."

And now, in 2013, Glittertind is ready to show you their new work as a full band. For the first time on a Norwegian label, Indie Recordings will release the album "Djevelsvart" 22nd of November in Norway and 25 of November in EU!