Glittertind

Named after the second tallest mountain in Norway, Glittertind’s powerful and melodic blend of folk, pop, progressive metal, and punk invokes names like Turisas, Korpiklaani, Kaizers Orchestra, and Heidevolk. Originally conceived as a one-man band built around the talents of vocalist/guitarist Torbjørn Sandvik, the project yielded two full-length LPs, Evige Asatro (2004) and Til Dovre Faller (2005), before expanding. The addition of multi-instrumentalist Geirmund Simonsen, who had a background as a church organist and producer and composer for theater, film, and television, heralded the arrival of album number three, 2009′s Landkjenning. The band morphed into a six-piece for 2013′s critically acclaimed Djevelsvart, which drew inspiration from Sandvik’s girlfriend’s battle with cancer, as well as the 2011 Norwegian terror attacks that resulted in the deaths of 77 people. January 2015 saw the release of the single “Høyr Min Song (Til Fridomen)” in anticipation of the arrival of the group’s second full-band outing, the more acoustic-leaning and historically minded Blåne for Blåne, which was issued later that April. In 2017, the band released Himmelfall, which charted the role that the protestant reformation of the 1500s played in Norway’s politics and culture. ~ James Christopher Monger