Silenoz
Encyclopedia
Silenoz is a Norwegian
guitarist
who is a founding member, along with Shagrath
and Tjodalv
, of the Norwegian symphonic black metal
band Dimmu Borgir
which he is the primary songwriter. He is also guitarist for the death metal supergroup, Insidious Disease.
", its re-record, and "Godless Savage Garden
") and bass (on "Stormblåst MMV"). He also sung lead vocals on their debut album "For All Tid
".
Another band Silenoz, or "Ed Damnator" as he was called, played rhythm guitar and occasional bass in was the Norwegian thrash metal
band, "Nocturnal Breed
". Before becoming a musician Silenoz used to work in a kindergarten.
Silenoz has written the majority of Dimmu Borgir
's lyrics and also based the songs in the album In Sorte Diaboli
on a narrative of his composition.
Silenoz was featured as a voice actor in the Adult Swim
cartoon Metalocalypse
. This episode kicked off the second season of the popular show and debuted on Adult Swim Fix on Friday 21 September 2007.
Silenoz originally played bass, but he 'felt limited by only four strings'. He has played guitar since 1991, saying that he was inspired to play the guitar by Judas Priest, Randy Rhoads and Eddie Van Halen - in his words 'Real guitar players'.
," the name of a satyr-like being in Greek mythology
who was a tutor to the wine god Dionysus
, and was said to possess special knowledge and the power of prophecy while intoxicated. In the early days of the band, he used as stage name Erkekjetter Silenoz (erkekjetter being Norwegian for "arch heretic"), having it shortened later to Silenoz.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
who is a founding member, along with Shagrath
Shagrath
Shagrath is a Norwegian musician best known as the vocalist of Dimmu Borgir.-Biography:Stian Thoresen was born on November 18, 1976 in Jessheim, outside of Oslo, Norway....
and Tjodalv
Tjodalv
Tjodalv is a Norwegian drummer. He is a founding member of both Dimmu Borgir and Old Man's Child. He now plays in Black Comedy and Susperia. Tjodalv played guitar on the first Dimmu Borgir albums Inn I Evighetens Mørke and For All Tid. He then switched to drumming for them on Stormblåst and...
, of the Norwegian symphonic black metal
Symphonic black metal
Symphonic black metal is a black metal subgenre that emerged in the mid to late 1990s. The genre is known for its symphonic and orchestral elements and is centralized in Europe.-Characteristics:...
band Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir...
which he is the primary songwriter. He is also guitarist for the death metal supergroup, Insidious Disease.
Biography
Silenoz has been Dimmu Borgir's guitarist since they started. He also composes and writes lyrics for most of the band's songs. He contributes backing vocals (on "StormblåstStormblåst
-Personnel:*Silenoz – lead vocals, lead guitar*Shagrath – rhythm guitar, vocals*Tjodalv – drums*Brynjard Tristan – bass*Stian Aarstad – synthesizers, piano...
", its re-record, and "Godless Savage Garden
Godless Savage Garden
Godless Savage Garden is a compilation album by Norwegian black metal band Dimmu Borgir. It was released in 1998 by Nuclear Blast and re-released on 3 October 2006 with 2 bonus tracks....
") and bass (on "Stormblåst MMV"). He also sung lead vocals on their debut album "For All Tid
For All Tid
-Dimmu Borgir:* Silenoz – lead vocals, rhythm guitar* Tjodalv – lead guitar, drums on Glittertind* Stian Aarstad – synthesizers, keyboards, effects* Brynjard Tristan – bass* Shagrath – drums, backing vocals, lead guitar on "Glittertind"...
".
Another band Silenoz, or "Ed Damnator" as he was called, played rhythm guitar and occasional bass in was the Norwegian thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band, "Nocturnal Breed
Nocturnal Breed
Nocturnal Breed is a Norwegian thrash metal band, formed in Oslo in 1996 by singer/bassist Kenneth Svartalv and guitarist Sven Atle Kopperud .-Members:*S.A. Destroyer : vocals/bass...
". Before becoming a musician Silenoz used to work in a kindergarten.
Silenoz has written the majority of Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir...
's lyrics and also based the songs in the album In Sorte Diaboli
In Sorte Diaboli
In Sorte Diaboli is Norwegian symphonic black metal band Dimmu Borgir's eighth studio album, released in 2007. It is the band's first concept album. A site on the Nuclear Blast website was created for In Sorte Diaboli, in which a new promotional photo can be seen and an audio sample can be heard...
on a narrative of his composition.
Silenoz was featured as a voice actor in the Adult Swim
Adult Swim
Adult Swim is an adult-oriented Cable network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am ET/PT in the United States, and broadcasts in countries such as Australia and New Zealand...
cartoon Metalocalypse
Metalocalypse
Metalocalypse is an American animated television series, created by Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha, which premiered on August 6, 2006 on Adult Swim...
. This episode kicked off the second season of the popular show and debuted on Adult Swim Fix on Friday 21 September 2007.
Silenoz originally played bass, but he 'felt limited by only four strings'. He has played guitar since 1991, saying that he was inspired to play the guitar by Judas Priest, Randy Rhoads and Eddie Van Halen - in his words 'Real guitar players'.
Stage Name
Silenoz explained in an interview that his stage-name is derived from an alternative Latinised spelling of the Greek "SilenusSilenus
In Greek mythology, Silenus was a companion and tutor to the wine god Dionysus.-Evolution of the character:The original Silenus resembled a folklore man of the forest with the ears of a horse and sometimes also the tail and legs of a horse...
," the name of a satyr-like being in Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
who was a tutor to the wine god Dionysus
Dionysus
Dionysus was the god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, of ritual madness and ecstasy in Greek mythology. His name in Linear B tablets shows he was worshipped from c. 1500—1100 BC by Mycenean Greeks: other traces of Dionysian-type cult have been found in ancient Minoan Crete...
, and was said to possess special knowledge and the power of prophecy while intoxicated. In the early days of the band, he used as stage name Erkekjetter Silenoz (erkekjetter being Norwegian for "arch heretic"), having it shortened later to Silenoz.
Equipment
- ESPESP Guitars, located in North Hollywood, California, is an American-based, Japanese-owned manufacturer of electric guitars and basses.- History :In 1975, Hisatake Shibuya opened a shop called Electric Sound Products in Tokyo. It provided custom replacement parts for guitars. In 1976, ESP gained a reputation...
Okkultist Custom V guitars (Maroon & Natural Finishes) - ESPESP Guitars, located in North Hollywood, California, is an American-based, Japanese-owned manufacturer of electric guitars and basses.- History :In 1975, Hisatake Shibuya opened a shop called Electric Sound Products in Tokyo. It provided custom replacement parts for guitars. In 1976, ESP gained a reputation...
SV Series guitars - ESPESP Guitars, located in North Hollywood, California, is an American-based, Japanese-owned manufacturer of electric guitars and basses.- History :In 1975, Hisatake Shibuya opened a shop called Electric Sound Products in Tokyo. It provided custom replacement parts for guitars. In 1976, ESP gained a reputation...
Viper guitar - Jackson Guitars
- Seymour DuncanSeymour DuncanSeymour Duncan is a company that is best known for manufacturing of guitar pickups, and currently has a line of effects pedals. The company was founded in 1976 by guitarist and luthier Seymour W. Duncan and his then-wife Cathy Carter Duncan in Goleta, California, USA...
pickups - Marshall amplifiersMarshall AmplificationMarshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
- Mesa BoogieMesa BoogieMesa/Boogie is a company in Petaluma, California that makes amplifiers for guitars and basses. It has been in operation since 1969....
amplifiers - ENGLEnglENGL is a German company that makes high-end tube amplifiers for electric guitars. Over the years ENGL has succeeded in becoming a global player in this market...
amplifiers - BlackstarBlackstar AmplificationBlackstar Amplification is a UK-based manufacturer of guitar amplifiers and effects, largely made up of ex-Marshall employees. Their products include the hand-wired, boutique "Artisan" series, the Series One series, and a range of pedals and amplifiers in the HT line...
amplifiers - BossBoss CorporationBoss is a manufacturer of effects pedals for electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a division of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in musical equipment and accessories...
guitar effects - Dean Markley - Blue Steel guitar strings
- DunlopDunlop ManufacturingDunlop Manufacturing, Inc., known colloquially as Jim Dunlop, is a manufacturer of musical accessories based in Benicia, California. Originally founded in 1965 by Jim Dunlop, Sr., the company has grown from a small home operation to being a large manufacturer of music gear for over 40 years.- Way...
Tortex picksPlectrumA plectrum is a small flat tool used to pluck or strum a stringed instrument. For hand-held instruments such as guitars and mandolins, the plectrum is often called a pick, and is a separate tool held in the player's hand... - ShureShureShure Incorporated is an American corporation originally founded by Sidney N. Shure in Chicago, Illinois in 1925 as a supplier of radio parts kits. The company became a consumer and professional audio-electronics manufacturer of microphones, wireless microphone systems, phonograph cartridges,...
wire-less systems