Windir () was a black metal band from Sogndal Municipality, Norway, formed in 1994 by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Terje "Valfar" Bakken. They released their debut album, Sóknardalr, in 1997.
Windir produced four albums in nearly ten years. The band broke up in March 2004 after frontman Valfar died of hypothermia during a blizzard on his way to his family's cabin in Norway. Following his death, the remaining band members formed several bands, including Vreid, Mistur, and Cor Scorpii.
History The band formed in 1994 and released four albums in ten years. On January 14, 2004, Terje "Valfar" Bakken walked to his family's cabin in Fagereggi, Norway. On January 17, his body was found at Reppastølen in the Sogndal valley. He died from hypothermia after being caught in sudden inclement weather en route. He was buried on January 27 at Stedje Church in Norway. In March 2004, Windir officially disbanded.
A compilation album containing Windir outtakes and B-sides, Valfar, ein Windir, was released in 2004 as a tribute to Valfar. On September 3, 2004, in Oslo, Windir's remaining members performed their last concert to reconnect with their roots and maintain what they believed was real. Enslaved, Finntroll, Notodden All Stars, Weh, E-Head, and Mindgrinder were the guest bands.
Musical style and influences Windir combined black metal with Scandinavian folk music, folklore, and mythology, and many of the band's lyrics were written in Sognamål. Most of the band's early albums featured lyrics written in Valfar's native dialect, Sognamål. The band had an "intense affinity for traditional music and Norwegian texts, drawing much of its lyrical content from local sagas, using traditional folk tunes in its music, and singing in an archaic rural dialect".Interview with Valfar from Windir on NRK, archived at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qZ6AFQ0C-4 The term "Sognametal", coined in reference to the genre established by Windir, has inspired many bands from the small region of Sogn og Fjordane, most of whom are ex-members of Windir or their friends. These bands include Vreid, Cor Scorpii, Mistur, Sigtyr, and Feigd.
Band members
Final line-up Terje "Valfar" Bakken – vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, accordion (1994–2004; until his death), (studio-only for instruments since 2001) Jørn "Steingrim" Holen – drums (1994–2004; studio-only until 2001) Jarle "Hvàll" Kvåle – bass guitar (2001–2004) Sture Dingsøyr – rhythm guitar (2001–2004), vocals (2004) Stian "Strom" Bakketeig – lead guitar (2001–2004) Gaute "Righ" Refsnes – keyboards (2001–2004)
Past members Sorg – guitars (1994–1996) and choir (on Det gamle riket) Lars Stian "Invictus" Havraas – bass (session)
Session members
Arntor Steinarson – clean vocals I. R. Aroy – lead guitar (tracks 2, 4, and 6) Harjar – lead guitar (tracks 3 and 5) B. T. Aroy – keyboards (track 7)
Other session members Cosmocrator – clean vocals (on 1184, Likferd, and Sognametal) Vegard Bakken – vocals (on Sognametal)
Discography Albums Sóknardalr (1997) Arntor (1999) 1184 (2001) Likferd (2003)
Compilations Valfar, ein Windir (2004) – a tribute to deceased founding member Valfar
Videos Sognametal (DVD, 2005)
Demo albums The demos feature Valfar on vocals, Sorg on guitars, and Steingrim on drums. Sogneriket (1994) Det gamle riket (1995)
References
External links Official website (archived) Biography Metal Archives File