Vreid was formed in 2004 after the demise of ”Sognametal” legends Windir.
Vreid have released 5 albums & 1 DVD. Their last album ”V” is the biggest success and it received fantastic critics such as 6/6 in Scream Magazine, 5/6 in Norwegian national newspapers VG & Dagbladet, and 9/10 in US main metal mag Decibel to name a few. ”V” was also nominated to the Norwegian Grammy (Spellemann) for best Norwegian metal album in 2011.
Vreids music is referred to as ”Black & Roll”. UK Metal Hammer described their music as a unique time travel in metal, and one can hear elements of 70ties rock, 80ties classic metal and Norwegian black metal. This unique sound is blended with historical inspired lyrics. Their 3rd & 4th albums ”I Krig” & Milorg” were both concept albums about the liberation work in Norway during WW2. Liberation was also the keyword on ”V”, but then seen in a brother historical philosophic view.
Vreid is a heavy touring band. They have done 300 shows in 20 different countries. They have played major festivals like Wacken, Summer Breeze, Party San, Metal Camp, Inferno, Ragnarok, HITS, ØYA etc.,and toured with bands such as Enslaved, Pestilence, Marduk, Unleashed, Eluvetie, Belphegor, Einherjer & Kampfar to name a few. In 2011 Vreid headlined tours in Norway, Europe & North America.
In 2012 Vreid will tour India for the first time as a central part of the ”Questionings” performance. This performance will also come to Norway, and Vreid will there as the first metal band perform in the national opera house in Oslo. In 2012 Vreid will also do some selected shows & festivals such as the ”Fire walk with me festival” in Oslo where they will perform the entire ”I Krig” album. Otherwise the main priority for Vreid in 2012 is to work on their 6th album, which will be released in the first half of 2013.
Solefald is a Norwegian avant-garde metal band that was formed by members Lars Are "Lazare" Nedland and Cornelius Jakhelln in August 1995, with Lars singing, and playing keyboard, synthesizer, piano and drums, and Cornelius singing, and playing guitar and bass. The meaning of the band's name is best explained in an interview from Century Media Records website. Lazare states "Solefald is an old Norse word for sunset. We 'stole' it from a painting by the Norwegian artist Theodor Kittelsen. His two paintings 'Soleglad' and 'Solefald' portrays the cycle of being, and we found it to be a very fitting idea for our band." Cornelius also states "'Solefald' means literally 'the fall of the sun', or just 'sunset'; the way we spell it is Danish, from the 19th century."
In Vain was formed by J. Haaland and A. Frigstad back in 2003, however the band first saw action during the summer of 2004 when recording their first release. The highly critically acclaimed “Will the Sun Ever Rise” was a three-track EP of unrelenting atmosphere, aggression and complexity. The release was embraced by metal heads and journalists alike. Fueled by the standing ovations and the great response from a united metal press, the band was soon back in the studio to record yet another. “Wounds” was released December 2005 and the music was more diverse, progressive and dramatic than ever, without sacrificing the brutal edge of its predecessor. Already at this point in the band’s recording career the strong musical craftsmanship is obvious with guest musicians playing saxophone, cello and percussion. Just like its' debut EP, Wounds received fantastic reviews and the band was launched as one of the most promising acts in the extreme metal scene. Shortly after they landed a deal with the Norwegian based label Indie Recordings, as the label’s first signing.
When their debut album was released in 2007, the metal world didn't know what hit them. “The Latter Rain” was recorded in DUB Studio (Green Carnation, Blood Red Throne & Chain Collector) in the summer/fall of 2006. The recording was a huge project involving close to 20 guest musicians and several guest vocalists such as legendary Jan K. Transeth (In the Woods...) and Kjetil Nordhus (Tristania, ex Green Carnation, ex Trail of Tears). Although the band kept the same vibe as on the two previous recordings the music was taken a step further, in every direction. A united metal press praised the album, and it was described as an instant classic.
After joining forces with Battered and label mates Vreid for a European tour, and several other live appearances such as the Inferno festival, and by:larm, the band went back to the drawing board and started to work on a new album.
Guitarist and songwriter J. Haaland comments: "In January 2008 I was left with a choice: If we were going to record a new album, which for practical reasons had to happen in the summer, I needed to start working on music right away. I was working hard in the evenings and weekends trying to force myself to come up with cool ideas and songs. After a while I started to believe we would actually have enough songs to record a new full-length album."
In the summer of 2008, the band once again entered DUB studio, to record the sequel to "The Latter Rain". The recording process should turn out to be more difficult than they had ever imagined, and J. Haaland was close to giving up: "... It was a very hectic summer and the recording process was the worst I have ever been through. At one point I was thinking that destiny wanted us never to complete this album. I am extremely proud of the record and final product we were able to create, all the problems and circumstances taken into consideration. " In the end the band made it through the difficult time, and came out of it stronger then ever.
The band recorded 10 songs, including one rerecording of an old song and a cover song. Seven of these songs found their way on to the new album "Mantra" With brutal passages, progressive guitar riffs, beautiful melodies and a diverse use of vocal styles, the album continues the progression from "The Latter Rain".
The number of guest performances was more limited this time around, as J. Haaland wanted the band to be in focus. "This time around I wanted less guests and the album to be more a band effort. I think we succeeded with that". Still you will hear fantastic guest performances by Kjetil Nordhus (Tristania, ex Green Carnation, ex Trail of Tears), Gil Silverbird, Jan Kenneth Transeth (In the Woods...) and Hanne Kolstø (Love-Fi, Post).
With "Mantra", In Vain takes the step up amongst the heavyweights of the genre. This album proves that the band is in it for the long haul, and it is safe to say that this is the best In Vain-album to date. Keep your eyes open for "Mantra". 2010 is going to be the year of In Vain. Haaland notes: "Hope you enjoy the new album, an album we put and extreme amount of energy and work into. An album which has given us a lot of frustration, but in the end an album we are extremely proud of."
In 2013 In Vain are ready for their 3rd attack of progressive extreme metal. In March 2013 they will release their most versatile and extreme work to date. 2013 will also be the year with the most extensive touring by In Vain so far.