Tsjuder

Tsjuder
Nag performing atParty.San2013
Background information
Origin	Oslo,Norway
Genres	Black metal
Years active	1993–2006, 2010–present
Labels	Season of Mist
Website	tsjuder.com

Tsjuderis a Norwegianblack metalband founded inOsloin 1993. For the majority of the band's existence, it has functioned as a trio, including bassist/frontman Nag, guitarist Draugluin, and drummer Anti-Christian. With the latter's departure, the band operates as a duo, with Nag and Draugluin being the longterm and primary members.

Name

The name Tsjuder was picked from the Norwegian moviePathfinder(Veiviseren). The Tsjuder (orChud) was a mythical Northern Finnic tribe. In the movie, the Tsjuder were the evil antagonists who appeared out of the harsh, arctic winter night.

History

Originally fromOslo,Tsjuder was formed in 1993 by bassist and vocalist Nag and guitarist Berserk, with second guitarist Draugluin joining in 1994.After a year of rehearsals and writing, the band record their firstdemo tape,entitledVed Ferdens Ende—shortly after, Berserk left the band.Tsjuder replaced him with drummer Torvus for their second demo tape, 1996'sPossessed.The following year, Tsjuder underwent another change in its formation, with Torvus being fired, and his replacement Desecrator, along with American guitarist Diabolus Mort, recorded theThrone of the GoatEP,released through Solistitium Records in 1997.Later in 1998, both Diabolus Mort and Desecrator left the band due to "lack of interest". The full-length debut album was then planned with Blod fromGehennaon drums, and Arak Draconiiz from Isvind; who joined the band as guitarist. They then, recorded thepromoAtum Nocturnemactually meant for Blod to rehearse, but indie labels had begun to pay attention to Tsjuder's "totally uncompromising brand of brutal, speed-addicted black metal"and it was eventually released by At War Records in 1999.Later that year, Tsjuder signed a deal for two albums withDrakkar Productions,and the debut albumKill for Satanwas recorded.Because of time limits and that Blod was unable to join the band on the first planned tour in 2000, Christian "Anti-Christian" Svendsen joined instead on the drums.

After the release ofKill for Satan,Arak Draconiiz moved away from Oslo, and was replaced by Pål. In October 2001, Svendsen had to leave the band,because he gottendinitisin both arms. Guitarist Pål also left the band due to his working hours. Svendsen was replaced by Jontho ofRagnarok,and this line-up recorded from December 2001 to January 2002, which became the band's second studio albumDemonic Possession,which was released through Drakkar Productions in 2002. Norwegian label Mester Productions also re-released theThrone of the GoatEP onpicture discin a limited edition of 666 copies that same year.In 2003, the recovered Svendsen returned to Tsjuder, replacing the drummer Jontho. The band signed to the French labelSeason of Mistin April 2004,and, after striking this new deal, their third full-lengthDesert Northern Hellwas released in November 2004. Tsjuder toured Europe withCarpathian Forestin early 2005.

As of 2006 the band had split up,but reunited to play atWacken Open Airfestival in August 2011 and continued to tour afterwards.A fourth studio album,Legion Helvetewas released in October 2011 and a fifth,Antiliv,in September 2015. The band's sixth album,Helvegr,was released in June 2023.

Musical style and lyrical themes

The music in Tsjuder is mainly written by Nag and Draugluin, citing as main musical inspirations the black metal bands from the early 1980s and early 1990ssuch asBathory,Celtic Frost,Darkthrone,Gorgoroth,Immortal,Marduk,Mayhem,and "old"thrash metaland death metal bands:Destruction,Kreator,Possessed,Sepultura,Slayer,andSodom.

Tsjuder's lyrics are written prior to the music,and are based on topics such as darkness, death, evil, hatred,demons,antireligiousthemes,Satanism,horror films,and thefictional bookNecronomicon,that appears in the stories of horror novelistH. P. Lovecraft,considered as a "great source of inspiration" by frontman Nag.

Band members

Current

• Nag (Jan-Erik Romøren) – vocals, bass guitar (1993–2006, 2010–present)
• Draugluin (Halvor Storrøsten) – guitar, vocals (1994–2006, 2010–present)

Session

• Jon Rice – drums (2020-present)

Former

• Berserk – guitar (1993–1995)
• Torvus – drums (1995–1996)
• Desecrator – drums (1997–1998)
• Diabolus Mort – guitar (1997–1998)
• Blod – drums (1998–1999, died 2018)
• Arak Draconiiz – guitar (1999–2000)
• Pål – guitar (2000–2001)
• Jontho – drums (2001–2003)
• Anti-Christian (Christian Svendsen) – drums (1999–2001, 2003–2006, 2010–2020)

Timeline

Discography

Studio

• Kill for Satan(2000)
• Demonic Possession(2002)
• Desert Northern Hell(2004)
• Legion Helvete(2011)
• Antiliv(2015)
• Helvegr(2023)

Live

• Norwegian Apocalypse(2006)

External links

• Official website
• TsjuderatAllMusic