Skagg – Vocals / Guitars
Hoest – Bass
Thurzur – Drums
Lava – Guitars

Deathcult is a Norwegian black metal band from Bergen, formed in 2006 by musicians deeply rooted in the country's notorious underground scene. Built around guitarist and vocalist Skagg, bassist Hoest and drummer Thurzur, the band represents a particularly raw, sinister and uncompromising strain of Norwegian black metal, drawing upon the traditions of the genre while maintaining a distinct identity of its own.

The origins of Deathcult can be traced much further back than the band's official formation. Skagg had been writing black metal material since the early 1990s, initially working under names such as Ceremonial Union and Slakt. During the mid-'90s he became involved with Gaahl, leading to the formation of projects including Sigfader and the infamous Gaahlskagg. Years of activity within the Norwegian underground eventually provided the foundation from which Deathcult emerged.

The band's pedigree was formidable from the beginning. Skagg had already established himself through Gaahlskagg and later Infernal Manes, while Hoest was best known as the driving force behind Taake. Thurzur likewise brought extensive experience from Gaahlskagg, Infernal Manes and other projects. Rather than functioning merely as a collection of musicians from established bands, however, Deathcult developed its own musical and ideological character, centred around primitive aggression, darkness, occult imagery, misanthropy and an intentionally hostile approach to black metal.

Deathcult made its full-length debut in 2007 with Cult of the Dragon, released through Dark Essence Records. The album introduced a sound firmly anchored in traditional Norwegian black metal: abrasive guitars, cold melodies, harsh vocals and a deliberately unpolished atmosphere. Rather than following the increasingly polished or experimental direction taken by parts of the Norwegian scene, Deathcult embraced the primitive and threatening qualities associated with black metal's underground roots.

Cult of the Dragon was also conceived as the opening chapter of an ambitious trilogy. The proposed continuation would eventually become Cult of the Goat, while a third instalment, Cult of the Dog, was also announced. The second chapter, however, would take a decade to materialise.

During the long period between the first two albums, Deathcult remained active on a more sporadic and underground level. Material from rehearsals and recording sessions surfaced through releases such as Obscene Sessions, Cruel Rehearsals and Complete Obscene Sessions. These recordings reinforced the band's deliberately archaic aesthetic and its connection to the cassette-driven traditions of the black metal underground.

Deathcult finally returned with their second full-length album, Cult of the Goat, in December 2017. Released through Soulseller Records, the album demonstrated that the decade-long gap had done little to soften the band's approach. The record retained the primitive aggression and darkness of the debut while displaying a more developed sense of composition and atmosphere.

The album also featured several notable guest appearances, including Attila Csihar of Mayhem, further connecting Deathcult to the wider history of Norwegian and European black metal. Nevertheless, the core of the band remained the long-standing partnership of Skagg, Hoest and Thurzur.

Further activity followed during the next decade. In 2020 Deathcult appeared alongside fellow Bergen black metallers Taake on the split release Jaertegn, an especially fitting collaboration considering Hoest's central role in both bands. The Bestial Recordings EP followed in 2021, continuing Deathcult's preference for raw and deliberately underground presentations of their material.

In May 2024 the band released the two-track EP Seven Are They. Recorded at Heaven's Gate and completed over several years, the release featured Skagg on vocals and guitar, Hoest on bass, Thurzur on drums and Lava on guitar. Consisting of the lengthy compositions “Seven Are They” and “Twice Seven They Are”, the EP showed Deathcult expanding their ideas into longer forms without abandoning the hostile atmosphere at the heart of their music.

Deathcult's history is therefore unusual even within Norwegian black metal. Their output has never been prolific, with lengthy periods separating major releases, yet the band has maintained a remarkably consistent identity since its formation. Instead of adapting to changing trends, Deathcult have continued to pursue an intentionally traditional and confrontational vision of black metal.

Closely connected to bands such as Taake, Gaahlskagg, Infernal Manes and Dead to This World through its members, Deathcult occupies an interesting position within the Bergen black metal lineage. Their music carries unmistakable traces of the Norwegian tradition, but its primitive violence, ritualistic atmosphere and deeply misanthropic character distinguish Deathcult from many of their contemporaries.

Nearly two decades after their formation, Deathcult remain active, with Skagg, Hoest and Thurzur continuing to form the core of the band. Their relatively small but uncompromising catalogue – particularly Cult of the Dragon and Cult of the Goat – has established Deathcult as one of the darker and more elusive entities to emerge from the later generations of the Norwegian black metal underground.

Cruel Rehearsals (Demo, 2006)
Cult of the Dragon (2007)
Obscene Sessions (Demo, 2014)
The Complete Obscene Sessions (Demo, 2015)
Cult of the Goat (2017)
Bestial Recordings (EP, 2021)
Seven Are They (EP, 2024)
Cult of the Dog (2026)

Black Metal
Norway