Nargaroth
Nargaroth | |
|---|---|
 Nargaroth at Phoenix club, Saint Petersburg, 2014. Left to right: Obscura, Ash, Beliath. | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Germany |
| Genres | Black metal |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | No Colours, Inter Arma Productions |
| Members | René "Kanwulf"/"Ash" Wagner |
| Past members | Akhenaten Occulta Mors L'hiver |
| Website | www |
Nargaroth is a German black metal band led by René "Ash" Wagner, formerly known as “Kanwulf”.[1][2]
History
[edit]Nargaroth was formed by René Wagner, also known as Ash, following the disbandment of his previous band, Exhuminenz, which included members R.S., Charoon, and Darken (not to be confused with Rob Darken of Graveland).[3] While Wagner had previously claimed that Nargaroth was established in 1989 and had released the demo Orke in 1991 and Herbstleyd in 1993, later statements clarified that the band was officially founded in 1996. The early Nargaroth recordings, including the aforementioned demos, were completed in 1998 with Charoon on guitar and the use of a drum machine.[4]
Nargaroth's debut album, Herbstleyd (translated as Autumnal Suffering), was released in December 1998 through No Colours Records. In 2000, the label released Amarok, a compilation featuring older and previously unreleased material, including an early version of Herbstleyd and a cover of Burzum. The same year saw the release of the demo Fuck Off Nowadays Black Metal, originally limited to 333 cassette copies and 100 vinyl pressings by Sombre Records. A picture disc reissue followed in 2005 through No Colours Records.[5]
In 2001, the album Black Metal ist Krieg was released, described by Wagner as a personal tribute to black metal. The album's artwork and lyrical themes led to controversy, particularly due to the inclusion of wartime photographs of Wagner's deceased relatives who had served in the Wehrmacht during World War II. The album also featured the track The Day Burzum Killed Mayhem, which narrates the events surrounding the 1993 murder of Mayhem guitarist Euronymous by Burzum's Varg Vikernes.[6]
The band continued to release music throughout the early 2000s, including the Rasluka series (Rasluka Part I in 2004 and Rasluka Part II in 2002), both dedicated to Wagner’s former bandmate R.S., who died by suicide in 1995. The album Geliebte des Regens (Beloved of the Rain), recorded in the same sessions as the Rasluka series, was released in 2003. In 2004, Nargaroth released the live album Crushing Some Belgian Scum and Prosatanica Shooting Angels, which was initially intended to be released under a separate project named Prosatanica.[7]
In 2007, Wagner released Semper Fidelis, marking a shift in his artistic approach. He stated that he was moving away from his former stage name, Kanwulf, and adopting Ash, a childhood nickname, to distance himself from the black metal scene. The album was released in both a standard CD format and a limited-edition box set containing various bonus items, including a DVD and personal effects.[8]
Nargaroth performed in Mexico and Guatemala in 2008, followed by a South American tour in 2009. That year, the album Jahreszeiten (Seasons) was released in a limited A5 digibook format and as a double LP, with the vinyl version containing spoken introductions to each track, which were omitted from the CD edition. The band continued touring in 2010, performing in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Colombia, and Venezuela.[9]
The album Spectral Visions of Mental Warfare was released in 2011, followed by Era of Threnody in 2017.[10]
René Wagner
[edit]René Wagner classifies his music as "German Hateful and Misanthropic Metal", not as black metal; he does so as he claims black metal is mainly influenced by Satanism whereas Nargaroth is not. Despite Wagner's denial, as the music resembles classic black metal and the emotional background and influence being an essence of black metal, Nargaroth is often seen as a black metal band.
While interviewed by "Magacinum ab ovo", Wagner said he sees Nazism as a mental restriction and that he had no fascist ideas because he was a supporter of the Kriegsgräberfürsorge, a German organization caring for graves of soldiers similar to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and the MIA International.[11]
Discography
[edit]- Orke (demo, 1998)
- Herbstleyd (demo, 1998)
- Herbstleyd (1998)
- Amarok (2000)
- Fuck Off Nowadays Black Metal (demo, 2000)
- Black Metal ist Krieg (2001)
- Rasluka Part II (2002)
- Geliebte des Regens (2003)
- Crushing Some Belgian Scum (live, 2004)
- Rasluka Part I (2004)
- Prosatanica Shooting Angels (2004)
- Semper Fidelis (2007)
- Semper Fidelis Boxset (2007)
- Jahreszeiten (2009)
- Spectral Visions of Mental Warfare (2011)
- Black Metal Manda, Hijos de Puta (live, 2012)
- Era of Threnody (2017)
References
[edit]- ^ Jillian Drachman (10 October 2024). "10 Best Black Metal Love Songs". Loudwire.
- ^ "Nargaroth – Era of Threnody Review". Angry Metal Guy. 14 May 2017.
- ^ Gaye Advert (28 January 2016). "Nargaroth : Boston Music Room : London : live review and interview". Louder Than War.
- ^ James Weaver (6 June 2017). "LIVE REVIEW: Nargaroth @ Boston Music Room, London". Distorted Sound Magazine.
- ^ Neil Skoglund (9 May 2017). "Nargaroth, Absu and Hate Team Up For UK / European Black Metal May / June 2017 Tour". Rock Sins.
- ^ "Nargaroth playing first-ever US shows, including NYC". Brooklyn Vegan. 5 February 2018.
- ^ "Nargaroth Post 'Era of Threnody' Album Teaser". Ultimate Guitar. 17 March 2017.
- ^ "Bands accused of promoting neo-Nazism to play Glasgow music festival". The Ferret. 4 March 2017.
- ^ Reeder (1 October 2021). "NARGAROTH's ASH: 'Am I The Only One Who Simply Can't Dig The BEHEMOTH". Metal Addicts.
- ^ Bree Halmstad (11 September 2023). "Black on Black: 13 Times Black Metal Bands Covered Their Peers". MetalSucks.
- ^ Interview with Magacinum ab ovo, 1999 (in German); archived cached copy.
External links
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