Norwegian avant-garde metal legends In The Woods… have penned their signatures under a multi-album deal with Prophecy Productions. The band will release their upcoming new studio albu
In The Woods… comment:
“We are honored to announce our signing with Prophecy Productions. A label that we have felt connected to for many years already”, drummer Anders Kobro states on behalf of the band. “Our paths have crossed before in the past, and it feels natural that our journey has ultimately led us to join forces again. Prophecy Productions‘ dedication to supporting visionary artists resonates deeply with our own commitment to crafting immersive, atmospheric music that reflects the landscapes and spirit of our homeland around Kristiansand. We are looking forward to bring our new release and future creations to listeners worldwide together with the label, and to share the profound connection between nature, art, and the human spirit. This partnership feels like a homecoming, and we are excited about what lies ahead.”
About the band
There is no need to introduce the name In The Woods… to any adherent of avant-garde and black metal. Their coordinates within the scene are famous. The Norwegians were among the bands that have participated in the burgeoning evolution of black metal in the early 90s… And have had a large part in the shaping of the sound of a strong subgenre.
The band came to life in the southern Norwegian city of Kristiansand in 1991… Indeed, a town considered as the bible belt of their country. At the time, the band emerged as an offshoot of the original line-up of Green Carnation, which some of the members were also a part of. They quickly gained a strong reputation within the underground as an innovative entity that was pushing the boundaries of their genre. Their 1993 demo Isle of Men became widely circulated in the tape trading community. Many of its ideas and riffs flowed into the first full-length Heart of the Ages (1995), which made a lasting impact on black metal.
About their first era
Heart of the Ages distinguished itself with a sound that was more open to influences outside the strict black metal canon. Its meandering songs had a strong cinematic quality, often described as atmospheric. The band used themes from Norse myth and was one of the first to which the term ‘pagan metal’ was applied, which is different from ‘folk metal’ and applies to such acts as Enslaved, Thyrfing, Primordial, and Moonsorrow… Those that use ancient myth and at times also traditional elements in their Bathory inspired music.
Refusing to rest on their laurels, In The Woods… progressed further into different musical dimensions with Omnio (1997) and Strange in Stereo (1999) that were both rich in experimentation. In the year 2000, the Norwegians announced their split, marking the end of their first era…
The second cycle
After the tragic death of founding guitarist Oddvar A.M. aka Oddvar Moi on May 13th, 2013, drummer Anders Kobro revived the band. He got the Botteri twins from the original core lineup back on board. The new vocalist James Fogarty and guitarist Kåre André Sletteberg joined them. This led to the second life cycle of the band that began with the official reunion in 2014. The acclaimed album Pure followed in 2016. However, the same year the Botteri brothers decided to leave again. Despite a phase of lineup changes, In The Woods… managed to release another strong album, Cease the Day in 2018. During the production of the next full-length Diversum, vocalist James Fogarty parted ways with the band in December 2021. Which also marks the end of a somewhat tumultuous second cycle.
The third incarnation
In the meantime, guitarist Bernt Horne Sørensen and local bass player Nils Olav Drivdal had joined the band. In 2022, vocalist Bernt Fjellestad completed In The Woods… and Diversum came out the same year. With a finally stable and strong lineup, the Norwegians have worked hard on all fronts. The celebrated performance at Prophecy Fest 2024 gave witness to a band having reached a new peak, ready to take on the world.
Currently, the band is preparing for the release of their forthcoming new album. Indeed, one which promises to reflect the strength and artistic maturity of the band’s third incarnation. This highly anticipated record will come out via Prophecy Productions in 2025, and will also be supported by an extended European tour the same year.
Lineup
Anders Kobro – drums
Bernt Fjellestad – vocals
Kåre André Sletteberg – guitars, keyboards
Bernt Horne Sørensen – guitars
Nils Olav Drivdal – bass
