Cor Scorpii

Cor Scorpii
OriginSogndal, Norway
GenreBlack metal
Years active2004–present
LabelsDescent Records
Dark Essence Records
MembersGaute Refsnes
Rune Sjøthun
Stian Bakketeig
Thomas S. Øvstedal
Inge Jonny Lomheim
Ole "Vargon" Nordsve
Websitehttp://www.corscorpii.net/

Cor Scorpii ("Scorpion's Heart" in Latin) is a black metal band from Sogndal Municipality, Norway, founded in 2004 by Gaute Refsnes, former keyboardist of Windir. Cor Scorpii is an alternative name of Antares, the 15th brightest star in the sky. The band members chose the name because they felt that it was mysterious and atmospheric, corresponding to their music and lyrics.

History

Cor Scorpii was formed in late 2004 after the death of Terje Bakken, lead singer and founder of Windir. Following a farewell concert, the band dissolved. At that point, Gaute Refsnes created his own band. Two other former Windir members, Stian Bakketeig and Jørn Holen, joined the band. Holen left in 2005 due to family reasons and his obligations to Vreid, another band created by former Windir members. The line-up was completed by Thomas S. Øvstedal, Rune Sjøthun, and Inge Jonny Lomheim, who were all involved in the local metal scene for years. The band's first demo, Attergangar, was released in 2005, received praise from critics and fans, and won Demo of the Month from the Metal Hammer Germany magazine. Shortly after, the band signed with the Dutch label Descent Productions. New drummer Ole "Vargon" Nordsve joined the band by the end of 2006. In July 2007, recorded its début full-length album, Monument, released on March 26, 2008 to positive reviews.

In 2009, Cor Scorpii signed to Norwegian label Dark Essence Records, which re-released the band's début album, as well as the earlier demo. The band's second album, Ruin, was released on June 15, 2018.

Artistry

Musical style and influences

Compared to Vreid, the legacy of Windir in Cor Scorpii's music, which is melodic and sombre, is apparent, even though no band member was actually involved in songwriting for Windir. There are notable differences as well, however. The folk influences, characteristic of Windir, were replaced with classical influences. Such classical composers as Sergei Prokofiev, Edvard Grieg, Sergei Rachmaninov, and Erik Satie are stated as sources of inspiration for the band.

Live performances

Cor Scorpii's first concert took place in their hometown in October 2007 during the Støy Festival; the band continued to tour Norway the following year, participating in larger events, such as the Inferno Metal Festival. In 2009, the band was able to perform outside their native country for the first time, playing in the Netherlands and then at the Ragnarök Festival in Germany.

Members

Current

  • Thomas S. Øvstedal – vocals
  • Erlend Nybø – guitars
  • Rune Sjøthun – rhythm guitars
  • Inge Jonny Lomheim – bass
  • Gaute Refsnes – keyboards
  • Ole "Vargon" Nordsve – drums

Former

  • Jørn Holen – drums
  • Stian Bakketeig – guitars

Discography

Albums

  • Monument (2008)
  • Ruin (2018)

Demos

  • Attergangar (2005)

References

  1. ↑ "ANTARES". University of Wisconsin–Madison. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
  2. ↑ "Cor Scorpii Interview". corscorpii.mysites.nl. Retrieved 2008-04-09.
  3. 1 2 3 "INTERVIEW: Cor Scorpii". metal1.info. 2006-04-02. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
  4. 1 2 "Bio". corscorpii.net. Archived from the original on 2008-03-12. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
  5. 1 2 3 "Cor Scorpii Interview". lordsofmetal.nl. October 2006. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
  6. ↑ Blom, Hans Petter; Andersen, Morten (25 August 2019). "Lidenskap lar seg ikke sykemelde" (in Norwegian). NRK. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  7. ↑ "Cor Scorpii Signs To Dark Essence Records". metalunderground.com. 2009-08-20. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  8. ↑ Selzer, Jonathan (13 June 2018). "Norwegian metallers Cor Scorpii stream their epic new album in full". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  9. ↑ "Live". corscorpii.net. Archived from the original on 2008-03-08. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
  10. ↑ "Ragnarök Festival - Lichtenfels 2009 (Day 2)". reflectionsofdarkness.com. 2009-08-20. Retrieved 2009-05-15.