Summary
Bård Guldvik "Faust" Eithun (born 21 April 1974) is a Norwegian musician, best known as the drummer of black metal band Emperor and the main lyricist of blackened death metal band Zyklon. A prominent member of the early Norwegian black metal scene, Eithun was sentenced to 14 years in prison for murder and church arson in 1994.[1] He was released in 2003 and has since continued performing as a drummer for Emperor, Djevel, Blood Tsunami, Aborym and Scum. Eithun won the 2021 Norwegian Spellemann Award in the Metal category with Djevel.[2]
Bård Eithun | |
|---|---|
 Faust performing with Emperor at Wacken Open Air 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Bård Guldvik Eithun |
| Also known as | Faust |
| Born | 21 April 1974 Hedmark, Norway |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Drummer |
| Years active | 1989–1994, 2003–present |
| Member of |
|
| Formerly of | |
Biography edit
Early years edit
Eithun was born on 21 April 1974 in Hedmark. At age sixteen, he moved to Lillehammer and became the drummer of Thorns, then-known as Stigma Diabolicum.[3][4] Eithun published the underground fanzine Orcustus in the early 1990s.[5] In 1992, he moved to Oslo and started working in Øystein "Euronymous" Aarseth's shop Helvete, having been pen-pals with the Mayhem guitarist since 1987.[3][6] Eithun joined Emperor as a drummer that same year and became a part of the inner circle of the early Norwegian black metal scene.[7][3]
Conviction and release edit
On 21 August 1992, while visiting his family in Lillehammer, Eithun stabbed Magne Andreassen, a gay man, to death after being sexually propositioned by him.[8][9][10] According to Eithun, while walking home from a pub through the Olympic park, Andreassen drunkenly approached him and solicited him for sex.[8] Eithun agreed to go with him to the nearby woods and stabbed Andreassen 37 times[8][11] while also repeatedly stomping on the victim's head.[citation needed] Upon returning to Oslo the following day, he told Aarseth, Varg Vikernes, and a few other members of the black metal scene what he had done.[8][12] Eithun, Aarseth and Vikernes later burned down Holmenkollen Chapel together.[8] After Vikernes' murder of Aarseth in August 1993, Eithun was arrested and confessed to killing Andreassen on impulse.[7] In early 1994, Emperor released their debut album, In the Nightside Eclipse. Later that year, Eithun was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment and subsequently left Emperor.[1][3] He testified against Vikernes in the latter's murder and arson trial that same year.[3] Although media had linked Eithun's murder to black metal and speculated that he was motivated by Satanism, fascism, or homophobia, he has later denied being a satanist and having racist, fascist or homophobic views in several interviews.[13][14][15] Singer Gaahl, an openly gay member of the Norwegian black metal scene, stated that Eithun was the first person to send him a message of support when he came out.[16]
In 2001, Eithun became the main lyricist of blackened death metal band Zyklon and also contributed lyrics to albums released by Sigh and Wurdulak. He joined the hardcore punk/black metal supergroup Scum with members of Emperor, Turbonegro and Mindgrinder the following year.[17]
In 2003, Eithun was released from prison due to good behavior after serving nine years and four months.[14] Of his incarceration, Eithun said: "It has taught me a lot about myself, my limits, my psyche and my will. I think it as a positive thing that I was removed from the black metal scene because I was heading towards a very destructive path."[18] In later interviews, Eithun has expressed remorse for his actions in the 1990s and called them senseless.[7]
Subsequent career edit
Following his release, Eithun was interviewed for the black metal documentary Until the Light Takes Us, later released in 2008.[3] Eithun was announced as Swedish extreme metal band Dissection's new drummer in 2003, but departed the band that same year due to ideological differences.[19][20] Scum released their first album, Gospels for the Sick, in 2005. Eithun joined thrash metal Blood Tsunami and industrial black metal band Aborym that same year.[21][22] He released his first album with Aborym as a member the following year, having previously contributed lyrics to the band.[23] Blood Tsunami released their debut album, Thrash Metal, in 2007. Eithun joined punk/metal band Mongo Ninja in 2009 and released three albums with the band before their disbandment in 2012.[24]
In 2013, Eithun returned to Emperor as drummer for the 20th anniversary tour of In the Nightside Eclipse in the summer of 2014, which included a performance at Wacken Open Air.[25][26] He departed Aborym in 2014 after releasing three studio albums with the band.[27] In 2017, Eithun was announced as the new drummer for black metal band Djevel.[28] On 23 May 2021, Eithun appeared as a guest at Emperor's show at Notodden Theatre marking the 30th anniversary of their formation.[29] In 2022, Djevel won the Norwegian Spellemann Award in the Metal category for the album Tanker som rir natten, released the previous year.[2]
Education edit
While incarcerated, Eithun completed two bachelor degrees at the University of Oslo in the history of religions and the history of ideas, in addition to studying a year of E-business at a private school in Oslo.[18]
Discography edit
With Emperor edit
Studio albums
- In the Nightside Eclipse (1994)
EPs
- Wrath of the Tyrant (1992)
- Emperor (1993)
- As the Shadows Rise (1994)
Compilation albums
- Emperial Vinyl Presentation (2001)
- Scattered Ashes: A Decade of Emperial Wrath (2003)
- Emperor: The Complete Works (2017)
With Scum edit
Studio albums
- Gospels for the Sick (2005)
With Blood Tsunami edit
Studio albums
- Thrash Metal (2007)
- Grand Feast for Vultures (2009)
- For Faen! (2013)
- Grave Condition (2018)
EPs
- Castle of Skulls (2009)
With Aborym edit
Studio albums
- Generator (2006)
- Psychogrotesque (2010)
- Dirty (2013)
With Mongo Ninja edit
Studio albums
- ...And the Wrist Is History (2009)
- No Cunt for Old Men (2010)
- Nocturnal Neanderthals (2011)
With Studfaust edit
EPs
- Half Human, Half Dynamite / 1980's Ladies (2012)
- Where the Underdogs Bark (2014)
With Djevel edit
Studio albums
- Blant svarte graner (2018)
- Ormer til armer, maane til hode (2019)
- Tanker som rir natten (2021)
- Naa skrider natten sort (2022)
EPs
- Englene Som Falt Ned I Min Seng, Skal Jeg Sette Fri Med Brukne Vinger Og Torneglorier (2021)
Lyrical, vocal and instrumental credits edit
| Year | Artist | Title | Song(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Ulver | Perdition City | "The Future Sound of Music" | Drums |
| 2001 | Emperor | A Tribute to Mayhem: Originators of the Northern Darkness | "Funeral Fog" | Drums |
| 2001 | SiriuS | Spectral Transition - Dimension SiriuS | "Spectral Transition", "Spiritual Metamorphosis" | Vocal samples |
| "Dimensional Quantum", "The Majesty of the Nightsky" | Drums | |||
| 2001 | Cadaver Inc. | Discipline | "Kill Tech" | Spoken passage |
| 2001 | Sigh | Imaginary Sonicscape | "Nietzschean Conspiracy" | Lyrics |
| 2001 | Wurdulak | Ceremony in Flames | "Containment of Inferno" | Lyrics |
| 2001 | Zyklon | World ov Worms | Lyrics | |
| 2003 | Aborym | With No Human Intervention | "With No Human Intervention", "Faustian Spirit of the Earth" | Lyrics, spoken words |
| 2003 | Disiplin | Disiplin | "Strategy Formulation" | Lyrics, spoken lines |
| 2003 | Zyklon | Aeon | Lyrics | |
| 2006 | Zyklon | Disintegrate | Lyrics | |
| 2009 | Fenriz' Red Planet/Nattefrost | Engangsgrill | "Nekronaut II Nekro Spirituals", "Humiliated and Pissed Upon" | Drums |
| 2010 | The Wretched End | Ominous | "Of Men and Wolves", "Numbered Days", "With Ravenous Hunger", "Residing in Limbo" | Lyrics |
| 2010 | Zyklon | The Storm Manifesto | Lyrics |
In popular culture edit
Eithun was portrayed by Valter Skarsgård in the 2018 biographical horror-thriller film Lords of Chaos.[30]
Bibliography edit
References edit
- ^ a b "AMEN Frontman: Convicted Murderer FAUST Is 'The Nicest Man'". Blabbermouth.net. 22 October 2005. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ a b Drachman, Jillian (10 November 2022). "Spellemannpris-Winner DJEVEL Drops Their Latest Single, 'I Daudens Dimme Natt'". Metal Injection. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Aaron Aites (director, producer), Audrey Ewell (director, producer) (2009). Until the Light Takes Us (motion picture). Variance Films.
- ^ "THORNS – Stigma Diabolicum". Voices From The Darkside. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 18 February 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2008.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Campion, Chris (20 February 2005). "In the face of death". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ a b c "Emperor's Faust: A Life Forever Changed by a Single Night". Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Godfrey, Alex (22 March 2019). "'Before you know it, it's not a big deal to kill a man': Norwegian black metal's murderous past". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Moynihan & Søderlind 2003, p. 111
- ^ Aaron Aites (director, producer), Audrey Ewell (director, producer) (2009). Until the Light Takes Us (motion picture). Variance Films.
- ^ Moynihan & Søderlind 2003, pp. 111, 113, 116
- ^ Moynihan & Søderlind 2003, p. 116
- ^ Interview with Euronymous, Faust, Metalion and others from Beat, Issue 2 (1993) Archived 25 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Bowar, Chad. "Interview with former Emperor drummer Faust". Archived from the original on 29 June 2006. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
- ^ "Interview with Peter "Pete" Vegem and Bård "Faust" Eithun of Blood Tsunami". OX-FANZINE. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ Godla, Frank (28 May 2019). "Gaahl Opens Up On Being Gay In The Black Metal Scene, New GAAHLS WYRD Album, His Evolving Career, & The Three Biggest Changes In His Life". Metal Injection. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "AMEN Singer Talks About SCUM And His Love For Black Metal". Blabbermouth.net. 28 December 2004. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Former EMPEROR Drummer Reflects On Past, Looks Forward To Future". Blabbermouth.net. 2 November 2002. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- ^ "DISSECTION Set To Reform!". BraveWords. 7 March 2003. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ "Drummer FAUST Leaves DISSECTION". Blabbermouth.net. 10 December 2003. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ "Hit The Lights: Faust: 'It's Easier To Distinguish Blood Tsunami From Other Groups'". Ultimate Guitar. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ "Former EMPEROR Drummer FAUST Joins ABORYM". Blabbermouth.net. 14 March 2005. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ "ABORYM Faust Delivers!". BraveWords. 10 December 2001. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Smith, Bradley (2013). "Blood Tsunami Interview 2013". www.nocturnalcult.com. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ "Drummer BÅRD 'FAUST' EITHUN Confirms Involvement With EMPEROR Reunion". Blabbermouth.net. 4 August 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ "Reunited EMPEROR Performs At SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL (Video)". Blabbermouth.net. 8 June 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ "Aborym adds guitarist, loses drummer". Lambgoat. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ "Djevel - Line-up for the new album: Faust: Drums T.Ciekals: Guitars & Chants Mannevond: Vocals & Bass". Facebook. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ "EMPEROR To Celebrate 30th Anniversary With 'A Night Of Emperial Wrath 2021' Livestream Event". Blabbermouth.net. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ "BEHEMOTH's NERGAL Defends 'Lords Of Chaos' Movie: 'It's Really Well Done'". Blabbermouth.net. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
Sources edit
- Moynihan, Michael; Søderlind, Didrik (2003). Lords of chaos : the bloody rise of the satanic metal underground (New ed.). Port Townsend, Washington: Feral House. ISBN 0-922915-94-6.
