Drottnar

The band was originally formed under the name Vitality in 1996 by four Lind siblings: vocalist Sven-Erik Lind, guitarist-keyboardist Karl Fredrik Lind, drummer Glenn-David Lind, and bassist Bjarne Peder Lind. They recorded their first two demos at X-Ray Studios. The first one, titled Doom of Antichrist, was released in May 1996.

In 1998, the name was changed to Drottnar and a demo titled A White Realm was recorded in September.

In 2000, the band released their demos together as an album titled Spiritual Battle. It was published by UK based label Plankton Records. The demos were remastered for the album, and Spiritual Battle was well received by Cross Rhythms Magazine.{{cite journal |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Drottnar/Spiritual_Battle/2957/ |title=Drottnar - Spiritual Battle |access-date=2007-11-20 |last=Cranson |first=David |date=February 2001 |journal=Cross Rhythms |issue=61 }}

A year later, Drottnar entered the studio of Black Woods Productions and recorded a song called "Trellebaand Maa Briste" for the Swedish label Endtime Productions' compilation album In the Shadow of Death.

The band changed its image a bit and used more militant elements such as gas masks as part of its live shows. In 2003, Drottnar recorded an EP titled Anamorphosis on the Norwegian label Momentum Scandinavia. The EP was limited to 850 copies, and contains an intro and three songs with violins on the intro and other parts. Bass player Bjarne Peder Lind left the band before the album was recorded. Drottnar was joined by guitarist Bengt Olsson and bassist Håvar Wormdahl.

File:Drottnar-singer.jpg

In 2005, the band was signed to Endtime Productions, and entered Subsonic Studios to record new material. Some elements such as trumpet were recorded in Ostrava, Czech Republic by Jan-Espen S. Schildmann. In April 2006, the band released an album titled Welterwerk. A 7-inch vinyl single titled Ad Hoc Revolt was also released for promotional purposes. Around the time of the album's release, the band began using early 20th century military regalia as part of their image.

Drottnar has performed with bands such as Grimfist and Extol. The band played a short tour in the U.S. in summer 2008, performing at the Cornerstone Festival.

On 1 February 2009 the band announced that it was recording a new album.{{cite web|title=Recording new album!|url=https://www.facebook.com/notes/drottnar/recording-new-album/48773906111|publisher=Facebook|access-date=July 2, 2014|date=February 1, 2009}} The next day, Drottnar announced the departure of guitarist Bengt Olsson.{{cite web|title=Bengt leaves Drottnar|url=https://www.facebook.com/notes/drottnar/bengt-leaves-drottnar/48899121111|publisher=Facebook|access-date=July 2, 2014|date=February 2, 2009}} However, later that year, on 12 August, the band announced that Olsson had rejoined Drottnar.{{cite web|title=Announcement|url=https://www.facebook.com/notes/drottnar/announcement/116156466111|publisher=Facebook|access-date=July 2, 2014|date=August 12, 2009}} Recording continued for the next few years. A single from the album, "Lucid Stratum", was released on 8 November 2011.{{cite web|title=DROTTNAR|url=https://www.facebook.com/drottnar/posts/240051032722683|publisher=Facebook|access-date=July 2, 2014|date=November 8, 2011}} On 13 October 2012 the band released the new album, entitled Stratum, in digital format, as well as a music video for the song "We March".{{cite web|last1=C.|first1=Taylor|title=Drottnar – We March|url=http://www.indievisionmusic.com/2012/10/13/drottnar-we-march/|website=Indie Vision Music|publisher=Brandon Jones|access-date=July 2, 2014|date=October 13, 2012}}{{cite web|author1=Drottnar|title=DROTTNAR - WE MARCH (OFFICIAL)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uqVJ4bRTFo |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/5uqVJ4bRTFo| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|publisher=YouTube|access-date=July 2, 2014|date=October 13, 2012}}{{cbignore}} In 2017 the band released the first of a trio of EPs, Monolith I, followed by Monolith II and Monolith III in 2018. All three have met with very positive praise from fans, showcasing a more raw, even more experimental sound than previous material.

Drottnar has played at notable festivals such as Sweden's Endtime Fest,{{cite web |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=65063 |title=Extol, Crimson Moonlight, Veni Domine Confirmed for Sweden's Endtime Festival - Jan. 10, 2007 |access-date=2007-11-21 |work=Blabbermouth |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606233946/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=65063 |archive-date=2011-06-06}} Norway's Nordic Fest,{{cite web |url=http://www.nordicfest.no/nf05/ |title=Nordic Fest 2005 |access-date=2007-11-21 |work=Nordic Fest |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209125606/http://www.nordicfest.no/nf05/ |archive-date=2012-02-09}} Netherlands' Brainstorm Fest, Switzerland's Elements of Rock,{{cite web |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/veni-domine-confirmed-for-switzerland-s-elements-of-rock-festival |title=Veni Domine Confirmed for Switzerland's Elements of Rock Festival - Dec. 13, 2003 |access-date=2007-11-21 |work=Blabbermouth |date=13 December 2003 |quote=Other bands scheduled to appear at the three-day event are Immortal Souls (Fin), Seventh Avenue (Ger), Drottnar (Nor), Slechtvalk (Neth), Crushead (Ger), Sacrificium (Ger), Arson (Ger), Exaudi (Ger), Demoniciduth (Swi) and Disobedience (Swi).}} and Finland's Immortal Metal Fest.{{cite web |url=http://www.immortalmetalfest.net/?i=81 |title=Immortal Metal Fest 2006 (Drottnar was the headliner) |access-date=2007-11-21 |work=Immortal Metal Fest |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109124321/http://www.immortalmetalfest.net/?i=81 |archive-date=2007-11-09}}

In the beginning the band's lyrics dealt with Christianity with a brutal and extreme approach; the lyrics on the album Spiritual Battle were inspired by the Book of Revelation and dealt mostly with the battle ravaging the spiritual world. The band members have said "The Norwegian black metal scene does not influence our lyrics, but the lyrics are still written in a black metal way, fitting our music well."{{Harvnb|Sharpe-Young|2001|loc="Drottnar", p. 133. Quote: "Although just as vicious and chaotic as many pure Black Metal band, Drottnar are in fact ardent Christians. The band employs strong use of mythical imagery from the books of revelation to achieve their aim."}}

File:Drottnar-EoR2013-12.jpg

Currently Drottnar has had a special feature for several years, the use of Czech or "Soviet" style elements: the song titles and lyrics contain Soviet-sounding words and metaphors, some songs contain samples of radio play or radio communication elements involved in the 20th century,{{cite web |url=http://www.crossover-agm.de/cdDrottnar06.htm |title=Drottnar - Welterwerk |access-date=2007-11-20 |author=Haustein, Christoph |date=2007-05-26 |publisher=Crossover AGM |language=de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829154659/http://www.crossover-agm.de/cdDrottnar06.htm |archive-date=2007-08-29 |url-status=dead }} and at concerts all band members used Soviet uniforms,.{{cite web |url=http://heavymetal.no/show.article.asp?artid=6395&menuid=14 |title=Grimfist + Drottnar (Oslo 26.05.07) |access-date=2007-11-20 |author=Lockert, Morten|date=2007-05-26 |work=Heavymetal.no|language=no |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209152526/http://heavymetal.no/show.article.asp?artid=6395&menuid=14 |archive-date=2012-02-09 }} The vocalist Sven-Erik Lind typically uses effects such as megaphones to create a military atmosphere.

Drottnar's general style has been described as black metal, death/doom, and Folk metal. On Spiritual Battle, the band was compared to Groms, Extol, and Antestor, and Sven-Erik used a vocal style ranging from growling to a more high-pitched style. With the release of Welterwerk, Drottnar broadened their style, "aiming somewhere between Atheist, Extol, and the most complex Mayhem material and almost hitting the mark."

File:Drottnar-EoR2013-01.jpg

;Albums

• Welterwerk (2006, Endtime Productions)
• Stratum (2012, Endtime Productions)
• Monolith (2019, Endtime Productions)

;Singles

• "Lucid Stratum" Single (2011, Endtime Productions)
• "Wolves and Lambs' Single (2016, Endtime Productions)

;Extended Plays

• Anamorphosis EP (2003, Momentum Scandinavia)
• Ad Hoc Revolt 7-inch EP (2006, Endtime Productions)
• Monolith I EP (2017, Endtime Productions)
• Monolith II EP (2018, Endtime Productions)
• Monolith III EP (2018, Endtime Productions)

;Demo

• Doom of Antichrist (Demo, 1997) as Vitality
• Demo 96/97 (Demo, 1997) as Vitality
• A White Realm (Demo, 1998)

;Compilation

• Spiritual Battle (Compilation, 2000,

Plankton Records)

;Current lineup

• Karl Fredrik Lind – guitar (1996–present), Vocals (2013-present)
• Håvar Wormdahl – bass guitar (2003–present)
• Glenn-David Lind – drums (1996–present)

;Former members

• Sven-Erik Lind – vocals (1996-2013)
• Bengt Olsson – guitar (1996-2013)
• Bjarne Peder Lind – bass guitar (1996-2003)

Timeline

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{{Reflist|2}}

• {{Cite book |last=Sharpe-Young |first=Garry |author-link=MusicMight |title=Rockdetector: A-Z of Black Metal |year=2001 |publisher=Cherry Red Books |place=London, Great Britain |edition=First printing |publication-date=2001 |isbn=1-901447308 }}
• {{Cite book |author=Wagner, Jeff |author2=Wilson, Steven |author2-link=Steven Wilson |title=Mean Deviation: Four Decades of Progressive Heavy Metal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8ZwZcZ2X5ToC |publisher=Bazillion Points Books |publication-date=2010 |isbn=978-0-9796163-3-4 |year=2010 }}

{{Commons}}

• [http://www.drottnar.com Official website]

{{Authority control}}

Category:Norwegian unblack metal musical groups

Category:Norwegian death metal musical groups

Category:Norwegian doom metal musical groups

Category:Norwegian viking metal musical groups

Category:Musical groups established in 1996

Category:1996 establishments in Norway

Category:Musical groups from Fredrikstad