Immortal

The Profile

Immortal is a Norwegian black metal band associated with the early 1990s Norwegian scene, known for fast, icy riffing and fantasy-tinged lyrics centered on the fictional realm Blashyrkh. Key figures discussed in the reviews include Abbath and Demonaz, with drummer Horgh joining later; Demonaz temporarily stopped playing guitar due to tendinitis but continued as lyricist, and later returned to guitar and vocals.

From the reviews: Immortal are repeatedly described as a foundational Norwegian black metal act; early classics cited include Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism, Pure Holocaust, and Battles in the North. Demonaz is noted as lyricist and (early) guitarist, later forced to stop playing guitar due to tendinitis; Horgh is introduced as drummer starting with Blizzard Beasts and is often praised. Multiple reviews discuss Immortal’s shift toward more epic/melodic and cleaner production around At the Heart of Winter. Publicly verifiable: Immortal formed in 1990 in Bergen, Norway; primary genre black metal; notable member Abbath (Olve Eikemo); Demonaz (Harald Nævdal).

Across 13 DeBaser reviews, Immortal are framed as a foundational Norwegian black metal band, defined by icy speed, epic imagery, and the Blashyrkh mythos. Early albums like Pure Holocaust and Battles in the North are repeatedly treated as genre-defining classics, even when production is criticized. At the Heart of Winter is praised as a major reinvention toward cleaner, more melodic and epic songwriting. Later releases split opinions: Blizzard Beasts and All Shall Fall are often seen as weaker, while Sons of Northern Darkness is celebrated as a high point. Northen Chaos Gods is considered solid but predictable, with some reviewers missing Abbath.