Funeral

Funeral were formed in 1991 out of the ashes of another band by drummer (then guitarist) Anders Eek and guitarist Thomas Angell. Several line-up changes followed. Early `93 bassist Einar Fredriksen was recruited from his old thrash-metal band Anti-Chord, and Funeral recorded it`s first demo "Tristesse" later that year, featuring Eek on drums/vocals/guitars, Thomas Angell - guitars and Einar Fredriksen - bass/vocals. Shortly after this recording 2nd guitarist Christian Loos joined. Wild Rags Records released the demo in `94 as a MCD.

Early `94 singer Toril Snyen joined, and the demo "Beyond All Sunsets" was recorded. This got the attention from amongst others the Norwegian label Arctic Serenades, which led to the release of the album "Tragedies" in 1995.

These releases gave birth to the underground doom-metal term: funeral-doom.

In 1996 Funeral went to the famous Academy Studios in England, and recorded 10 instrumental tracks. By now singer Snyen was fired, and the band was without a singer until 1997 when Sara Eick was recruited. "Demo 97" (also referred to as "To Mourn Is A Virtue") was released. This included 5 of the 10 academy tracks. Later in `97 Sara Eick decided to quit, and the band recruited singer Hanne Hukkelberg the following year. In 1999 Funeral recorded "Demo 99" (also referred to as "The Passion Play). This featured 6 tracks, and led Funeral to the release of the album "In Fields Of Pestilent Grief" in 2001, through Nocturnal Music. By now guitarist Thomas Angell quit due to musical indifferences, and Idar Burheim (now in 1349, known as Archaon) replaced him. The band also found a permanent keyboardist in Kjetil Ottersen (also singer in Eek`s sideproject Fallen). I. Burheim later quit to concentrate fully on 1349.

In january 2003 utter tragedy befell upon the band, as bassist/singer and songwriter Einar Fredriksen died. This led the band to a near disbandment, and Funeral laid dormant for a year and a half.

Then Eek started up again with yet some line-up changes, now consisting of:

Frode Forsmo - vocals (also singer in Minas Tirith), Jon Borgerud - keyboards, as well as Christian Loos - guitars, Anders Eek - drums and Kjetil Ottersen (now playing guitars).

In 2004 four of the ten Academy-tracks (originally recorded in 1997) were partly re-written, and was Frode Forsmo`s first work as Funeral singer. This was intended as a new demo, but ended up not being released, as totally new material was written, which ultimately led to a new deal with a well-known English label, for which the band is currently in negotiations with, signing up for a 3-album release.

2005 saw the band recording a new 9-track album. This album will be released during spring 2006 with the working title "From These Wounds" (based upon one of the poems of Einar Fredriksen)

Lineup

Frode Forsmo - vocals
Jon Borgerud - keyboards
Christian Loos - guitars
Anders Eek - drums
Kjetil Ottersen - guitars

Discography

Tragedies/Tristesse (2CD reissue) (Firebox Records, 2006)
In Fields of Pestilent Grief (Nocturnal Music, 2002)
Tragedies (Arctic Serenades, 1995)
Tristesse MCD (Wild Rags, 1994)

Contact

HOMEPAGE: www.tragedies.cjb.net
E-MAIL: Funeral