Svartsot

Svartsot was started in February 2005 in Randers, Denmark, arising from the ashes of an earlier, more blackmetal-based folkmetal act. With the addition of Claus B. Gnudtzmann on vocals came a change in course for the lyrical content, with songs being now based on traditional Danish folklore and Nordic mythology. The music still kept elements of blackmetal, together with other contemporary metal-styles merged with Nordic folk music. Already within a couple months of the bands inception, a support slot was offered by goth/industrial act, Clonecircle, from Svartsots hometown, and the bands debut concert was played on the 12th May 2005, at Copenhagen’s The Rock. Shortly after this concert, flautist and bodhran-player Stewart Lewis joined the band, bringing and added folk element and supporting Cris J. S. Frederiksens guitar leads. The band went into the rehearsal studio to consolidate all the elements before new concerts in the autumn of 2005. During this period original drummer Marcelo Freitas stopped due to career responsibilities. With just one month left before the autumn’s concerts, new drummer Niels Thøgersen was brought into the line up. The first concert of the autumn season, supporting The Psyke Project and MCIP at Café Von Hatten in Randers, was a success, being played to a packed house. Other concerts during the autumn/winter season 2005/2006 saw the band refine their live performance, achieving praise from concert-reviewers as can be read on www.revolution-music.dk (in Danish). During November 2005 the band went into the studio and recorded their first 4-tracker, „Svundne Tider”, with the tracks Jotunheimsfærden, Havets Plage, Valhal and Hævnen. The EP received a good review on www.danishmetal.dk (in Danish) and ensured the band a place in the Dansk Metal Grand Prix 2006. Svartsot won a second place in the initial heat at 1000Fryd in Ålborg and went ahead to win the competition at Studenterhuset in Ålborg a week later (on 17th February, the bands official first birthday!) On December 17th 2008, Michael Lundquist Andersen, Niels Thøgersen, Claus B. Gnudtzmann and Martin Kielland-Brandt announced they had left the band because of different opinions on how to run a band and how the music should sound.