Gaahl

Gaahl
Gaahl performing live in 2007.
Background information
Birth name	Kristian Eivind Espedal
Born	(1975-08-07) August 7, 1975 Sunnfjord, Norway
Genres	Black metal, ambient, folk music
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1993–present
Associated acts	Gaahlskagg, God Seed, Gorgoroth, Trelldom, Sigfader, Wardruna

Kristian Eivind Espedal (born 7 August 1975), better known by his stage name Gaahl, is a Norwegian vocalist. He is best known as the former frontman of Norwegian black metal band Gorgoroth. He is also the founder and frontman of Trelldom and Gaahlskagg. Since leaving Gorgoroth he has been involved with God Seed and Wardruna.

Early life

Gaahl was born in 1975 in Sunnfjord, a district in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. He spent his youth living in a sparsely populated valley called Espedal, in the municipality of Fjaler. Gaahl and his family still have homes in the valley, although he now spends much of his time in Bergen.

Career

Early career (1993–1998)

Gaahl became involved with black metal in 1993, when he co-formed the band Trelldom with guitarist Tyrant and bassist Taakeheim. They released a demo in March 1994, with Goat Pervertor on drums. Gaahl and Tyrant recorded and released Trelldom's first album Til Evighet in early 1995, with help from drummer Ole Nic. In 1998 they released the album Til et Annet with drummer Mutt. That year, Gaahl became involved with the bands Sigfader and Gaahlskagg. The former included Stian Lægreid (Skagg), Tarjei Øvrebotten (Goatboy), Jan Atle Lægreid (Thurzr), Einar Selvik (Kvitrafn) and Mutt. The latter included Skagg, Thurzr and Mutt. Sigfader and Gaahlskagg each released an EP in 1999.

Gorgoroth (1998–2007)

Gaahl joined Gorgoroth in 1998, and was first heard on their fourth album Destroyer; although he only sang on the title track. He made his live debut in May that year, when Gorgoroth played five dates in Germany alongside Cradle of Filth.

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

From February to December 2002, Gaahl was imprisoned for assaulting a man, and was forced to pay the victim 158,000 NOK (26,963 US$). Gorgoroth began recording their album Twilight of the Idols in May that year. Gaahl's imprisonment meant that he was unable to record his vocals until January 2003. The album was released in July that year.

In February 2004, Gorgoroth staged a concert in Kraków, Poland which featured impaled sheep heads, satanic symbols, and a mock-crucifixion performed by naked models doused in blood. A police investigation took place with allegations of religious offense (which is prosecutable under Polish law) and cruelty to animals. Though these charges were considered, the band was not charged. The controversy led to the band being dropped from the Nuclear Blast Tour and the footage of the concert being confiscated by the police. Following this, Gorgoroth ended their contract with the label.

In January 2005, Gorgoroth began work on their next album. The instrumental parts were recorded between January and May 2005, and Gaahl arranged and recorded the vocals in March 2006. Ad Majorem Sathanas Gloriam was released shortly thereafter. From April to December 2006, Gaahl spent another nine months (of a fourteen-month sentence) in prison. He was accused of assaulting and torturing a man for six hours while collecting his blood into a cup and threatening to make him drink it. The victim received a total of 190,000 NOK (32,424 US$) in compensation. Gaahl claims that he was acting in self-defense, saying: "I was the one who was attacked, but they think I punished him too hard. As I always say, when people cross my line ... then I will be the one to decide what their punishment will be."

In January 2007, Gaahl was the focus of a documentary called 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.

In May 2007, he appeared on the third Trelldom album, Til Minne. Gaahl was the band's only founding member to appear on the album, which featured guitarist Valgard, bassist Stian, drummer Are and hardingfele player Egil Furenes.

In October 2007, Gaahl and King ov Hell tried to remove founding member Infernus from Gorgoroth. This began the Gorgoroth name dispute.

Post-Gorgoroth (2008 onward)

Gaahl at Hellfest in June 2009

In July 2008, Gaahl revealed in an online interview that he was involved in the creation of Wynjo, an upcoming fashion collection for women, together with Norwegian modeling agent Dan De Vero and designer Sonja Wu. At the same time, it was also revealed that he and De Vero had had a "close relationship" since 2006. It was stated that they were no longer a couple but remained good friends. In an interview for the November 2008 issue of Rock Hard, Gaahl confirmed his homosexuality.

Shortly thereafter, De Vero said that he had received threats from black metal fans, both at his door and by phone and email. It was also alleged that a fight had erupted backstage at the 2008 Wacken Open Air, triggered by homophobic remarks. Allegedly, the person who made the remarks had to be hospitalized. However, Gaahl denied that anyone had ever "said anything derogatory" to him in person. When asked by the webzine FaceCulture if he thinks people will see him and his music differently now that he has publicly acknowledged his homosexuality, Gaahl answered:

Mankind is known to be narrow-minded, so... maybe some [will have a negative reaction]. But I guess it will even out the score in a way. I think it will be positive for some and negative for some. It's always good to have some negative as well. Otherwise you would end up with equality and equality is the worst thing in the world. Equality is stagnation. It doesn't let anything grow. It holds back.

In March 2009 the name dispute ended when Oslo City District Court ruled that Infernus was the rightful owner of the Gorgoroth name. It also found that by trying to oust Infernus, Gaahl and King had instead excluded themselves from the band. That month, Gaahl and King assumed the name God Seed.

In early 2009, Gaahl spent two months in Spain. King stated in an interview that Gaahl had been spending time in Spain working on lyrics and vocal arrangements for the debut God Seed album. However, in another interview in April 2009, King stated that:

We have recorded everything in the studio and are just waiting for Gaahl to put vocals on it. So we have only vocals and the final mix to go before it's all done. It's sometimes a nightmare to work with him in the studio because of the pride he puts into the smallest details. If he's not in the right mood or doesn't find the correct words we get nothing done. At times I've spent days in the studio counting seconds with nothing happening. It's the same way now, but I know in the end the result will be unique and powerful.

In summer 2009, God Seed performed at Hellfest Summer Open Air in June and With Full Force in July. In August, Gaahl revealed that he had quit the band. His bandmate King later clarified that Gaahl had in fact chosen to retire from metal music for the time being. King put the band 'on hold' as a result. Since then, however, the band has reformed and are working on a debut album.

In January 2010, Gaahl was hired by Den Nationale Scene in Bergen to play a role in Svartediket, a performance for the 2010 Bergen International Festival. This caused controversy due to Gaahl's anti-Christian standpoint and support for church burnings. The Bishop of Bjørgvin spoke against Gaahl's involvement.

Personal life

During the journey back to his home in 2004, it was stated that Gaahl is a vegetarian. In December 2005, he discussed this in an interview. However, some sources have stated otherwise.

Beliefs

Gaahl is a practitioner of Norse Shamanism and can often be seen wearing a Mjölnir pendant. Gaahl has stated that his intention with Wardruna is to bring Baldr out of Hel so he can die an honorable death and return to Valhalla.

Christianity and Satanism

Gaahl is strongly opposed to Christianity. He has often been mistaken as a Satanist, but objects to being labeled as such. In a 1995 interview, he stated: "I am my own God as I am my own Satan. So I'm not a Satanist judging by those terms." He jokingly added: "Maybe you could call it Gaahlism." He reiterated this belief in the documentary True Norwegian Black Metal when he said: "The god within yourself is the only true god." In an interview for the documentary Metal: A Headbanger's Journey—at which time he was Gorgoroth's vocalist—Gaahl was asked what inspired the band's music, to which his sole reply was "Satan". When asked what Satan represented, he again answered with a single word: "Freedom".

Gaahl explained his use of Satanic themes:

"We live in a Christian world and we have to speak their language ... When I use the word 'Satan' it means the natural order, the will of a man, the will to grow, the will to become the superman and not to be oppressed by any law such as the church, which is only a way to control the masses."

When asked whether he was influenced by Friedrich Nietzsche in his beliefs and his use of the "superman" terminology, Gaahl answered: "For me he doesn't mean anything and I haven't a lot of things in common with him. Personally, I focus on myself, on my own thoughts."

Gaahl has expressed opposition to the Church of Satan, describing it as a group of "weak people flocking like rats, afraid of standing alone" and adding: "Anton LaVey and his followers are incredibly ridiculous. It's all so childish. I will not waste my breath on discussing them."

Black metal

Regarding black metal, Gaahl sees individuality as the most important aspect of the genre. He has described black metal as "the depiction of honesty without compromise" and "a war for those who hear the whisper". When asked in the documentary Metal: A Headbanger's Journey (2005) for his thoughts on the church burnings associated with the early Norwegian black metal scene, Gaahl answered:

Church burnings are, of course, a thing that I support one hundred percent. It should have been done much more, and will be done much more in the future. We have to remove every trace [of] what Christianity, and the semitic roots, have to offer this world.

However, in a controversial interview from 1995 he also said of the church burnings:

Well, personally I don't mind it at all, but I fear that it might cause among people fear of nihilism and [the] anti-Christian views that black metal represents, and in that way lead neutral people to succumbing to Christendom because that is what they accept and don't want to lose. I think it's the wrong way to proceed.

Politics

Gaahl maintains that he has no clear set of political beliefs, and that his circle of friends includes both right-wingers and left-wingers. However, in a controversial 1995 interview he stated his support for Varg Vikernes, Adolf Hitler and Roman leaders Julius Caesar, Augustus, Caligula and Nero. He also described people such as "niggers", "mulattoes" and Muslims as "subhuman". In 2008, when asked about these controversial statements in Rock Hard magazine, Gaahl explained:

In the early '90s, there were all these different youth gangs in Norway and one thing led to another. I was involved in gang fights and had false friends ... There was no political disposition – not with me nor any of my friends. But you had to profess allegiance to a certain group if you wanted to defend yourself and not get your ass kicked.

During the 1990s the Anti-Defamation League listed Trelldom on its Hate Music Groups, presumably as a result of these statements.

Discography

Year	Title	Band	Notes
1994	Disappearing of the Burning Moon (demo)	Trelldom
1995	Til Evighet	Trelldom
1998	Til et Annet	Trelldom
1998	Destroyer	Gorgoroth	vocals on "Destroyer"
1999	Sigfaders hevner (demo)	Sigfader
1999	Split With Stormfront	Gaahlskagg
2000	Erotic Funeral	Gaahlskagg
2000	Incipit Satan	Gorgoroth
2003	Twilight of the Idols	Gorgoroth
2006	Ad Majorem Sathanas Gloriam	Gorgoroth
2006	Secht	Secht	additional vocals
2007	Til Minne	Trelldom
2008	Black Mass Krakow 2004	Gorgoroth	live recording from February 2004
2008	True Norwegian Black Metal – Live in Grieghallen	Gorgoroth	live recording from 2007
2009	Runaljóð - gap var Ginnunga	Wardruna
2009	Skandinavisk misantropi	Skitliv	additional vocals on "Hollow Devotion"
2012	Live at Wacken	God Seed	live recording from Wacken Open Air, August 2008
2012	I Begin	God Seed
2013	Runaljóð - Yggdrasil	Wardruna

Filmography

• 2005: Metal: A Headbanger's Journey (documentary)
• 2007: True Norwegian Black Metal (documentary)
• 2012: Flukt (Escape) (drama) - as "Grim"

Gallery

• 

  Gaahl with God Seed (2009)

• 

  Gaahl with God Seed (2009)

• 

  Gaahl and Teloch with God Seed (2009)

• 

  Gaahl with God Seed (2009)

• 

  Gaahl (left) with King.

External links

• Interview with Infernus and Gaahl by Terrorizer Magazine