Cor Scorpii
{{Short description|Norwegian black metal band}}
{{For|a star|Antares}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Cor Scorpii
| image =
| genre = Black metal
| years_active = 2004–present
| label = Descent Records
Dark Essence Records
| website = http://www.corscorpii.net/
| associated_acts = Vreid, Windir
| current_members = Gaute Refsnes
Rune Sjøthun
Stian Bakketeig
Thomas S. Øvstedal
Inge Jonny Lomheim
Ole "Vargon" Nordsve
| past_members =
}}
Cor Scorpii ("Scorpion's Heart" in Latin) is a black metal band from Sogndal, Norway, founded in 2004 by Gaute Refsnes, the former keyboardist of Windir. Cor Scorpii is an alternative name of Antares, the 15th brightest star in the sky.{{cite web
| title = ANTARES
| publisher = University of Wisconsin–Madison
| url = http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/hr/6134.html
| access-date = 2008-04-08}} The name was chosen because the band members felt that it conveyed a mysterious and atmospheric feeling, corresponding to the musical and lyrical content.{{cite web
| title = Cor Scorpii Interview
| publisher = corscorpii.mysites.nl
| url = http://corscorpii.mysites.nl/index.php?id=47455&PageID=138281
| access-date = 2008-04-09}}
History
Cor Scorpii was formed in late 2004 after the death of Terje Bakken, the lead singer and founder of Windir. Following a farewell concert, the band was dissolved. At that point, Gaute Refsnes implemented the long-standing idea of creating his own band.{{cite web
| title = INTERVIEW: Cor Scorpii
| publisher = metal1.info
| url = http://www.metal1.info/interviews/interview-en.php?interview_id=121
| date = 2006-04-02
| access-date = 2008-04-11
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110717033718/http://www.metal1.info/interviews/interview-en.php?interview_id=121
| archive-date = 2011-07-17
| url-status = dead
}} Two other former Windir members, Stian Bakketeig and Jørn Holen, joined the band. Holen, however had to leave in 2005 due to family reasons and his obligations to Vreid, another band created by the former Windir members.{{cite web
|title=Bio
|publisher=corscorpii.net
|url=http://www.corscorpii.net/bio.html
|access-date=2008-04-11
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312085757/http://www.corscorpii.net/bio.html
|archive-date=2008-03-12
|url-status=dead
}} The line-up was completed by Thomas S. Øvstedal, Rune Sjøthun, and Inge Jonny Lomheim, who have all been involved in the local metal scene for years.{{cite web
| title = Cor Scorpii Interview
| publisher = lordsofmetal.nl
| url = http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/showinterview.php?id=1464&lang=en
| date = October 2006
| access-date = 2008-04-11}} The band's first demo, Attergangar, was released in 2005, receiving much praise from the musical critics and fans and winning the Demo of the Month award from the Metal Hammer Germany magazine. Shortly after, the band signed a record deal with the Dutch label Descent Productions. A new drummer, Ole "Vargon" Nordsve, joined the band by the end of 2006. In July 2007, the band commenced to record its début full-length album, Monument, which was released on March 26, 2008 to positive reviews.{{cite web |last1=Blom |first1=Hans Petter |last2=Andersen |first2=Morten |title=Lidenskap lar seg ikke sykemelde |url=https://www.nrk.no/kultur/xl/lidenskap-lar-seg-ikke-sykemelde-1.14666167 |publisher=NRK |access-date=28 January 2021 |language=Norwegian |date=25 August 2019}}
In 2009, Cor Scorpii was signed by the Norwegian label Dark Essence Records, which re-released the band's début album, as well as the earlier demo.{{cite web
| title = Cor Scorpii Signs To Dark Essence Records
| publisher = metalunderground.com
| url =http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=47456
| date = 2009-08-20
| access-date = 2009-10-08}} The band's second album Ruin was released on June 15, 2018.{{cite web |last1=Selzer |first1=Jonathan |title=Norwegian metallers Cor Scorpii stream their epic new album in full |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/norwegian-metallers-cor-scorpii-stream-their-epic-new-album-in-full |publisher=Metal Hammer |access-date=28 January 2021 |date=13 June 2018}}
Musical style
Compared to Vreid, the legacy of Windir in Cor Scorpii's music, which is melodic and sombre, is apparent, even though no band member was actually involved in songwriting for Windir. There are notable differences as well, however. The folk influences, characteristic of Windir, were replaced with classical influences. Such classical composers as Sergei Prokofiev, Edvard Grieg, Sergei Rachmaninov, and Erik Satie are stated as sources of inspiration for the band.
Live performance
Cor Scorpii's first concert took place in their hometown in October 2007 during the Støy Festival; the band continued to tour Norway the following year, participating in larger events, such as the Inferno Metal Festival.{{cite web
|title=Live
|publisher=corscorpii.net
|url=http://www.corscorpii.net/live.html
|access-date=2008-04-12
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308094320/http://www.corscorpii.net/live.html
|archive-date=2008-03-08
|url-status=dead
}} In 2009, the band was able to perform outside their native country for the first time, playing in the Netherlands and then at the Ragnarök Festival in Germany.{{cite web
| title = Ragnarök Festival - Lichtenfels 2009 (Day 2)
| publisher = reflectionsofdarkness.com
| url =http://www.reflectionsofdarkness.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4913&Itemid=43
| date = 2009-08-20
| access-date = 2009-05-15}}
Members
=Current=
- Thomas S. Øvstedal – vocals
- Erlend Nybø – guitars
- Rune Sjøthun – rhythm guitars
- Inge Jonny Lomheim – bass
- Gaute Refsnes – keyboards
- Ole "Vargon" Nordsve – drums
=Former=
- Jørn Holen – drums
- Stian Bakketeig – guitars
Discography
=Albums=
- Monument (2008)
- Ruin (2018)
=Demos=
- Attergangar (2005)
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080409221927/http://www.corscorpii.net/ Official web-site]
- [http://www.myspace.com/corscorpii Official MySpace]
- [http://www.darkessencerecords.no/web/index.php?page=artist&Artist_id=19 Cor Scorpii at Dark Essence Records]
{{Authority control}}
Category:Norwegian black metal musical groups
Category:Musical groups established in 2004
Category:2004 establishments in Norway