Norway’s ORKAN Sign With Dark Essence Records; Sophomore Album Due This Year

Bergen-based Dark Essence Records have announced the signing of Norwegian black metallers Orkan, and are set to release the band’s sophomore full-length album, Livlaus, later this year.
 
Orkan’s four-man lineup, all of whom also play in Enchanting Darkness, was formed in 2008 by Taake’s live guitarist Gjermund Fredheim and ex- Byfrost drummer Rune Ness. Having been joined by former Grimnorth bassist Sindre Hillesdal and frontman Einar Fjelldal (ex-Gravemachine), Orkan released their debut full-length album, Crimson Canvas in 2012.

 
Whilst Crimson Fields is, as described by the band, “a self-financed, thrashy album”, Orkan have left this sound behind them and taken their musical vision in a much darker direction, taking the classic Norwegian black metal sound and incorporating into it influences from many other genres, to create atmospheric melodies with haunting vocals and intense blast beats.

Fan-filmed footage of Orkan playing the track “Deus Vicit” from their debut album Crimson Fields, at the Ferrailleur in Nante during their tour with Take and Helheiim in 2003 can be seen below: