For over two decades RAGNAROK have been giving fans their uncompromising take on Norwegian Black Metal, both in the studio and on stage, and now, the seasoned veterans, along with their label Agonia Records, are ready to reveal details of the band's ninth full-length studio album. Titled "Non Debellicata", the ten-track album will be released on November 15th.
The band gives us an insight into what went into the making of "Non Debellicata", an album in which RAGNAROK's entire line-up of founder and frontman Jontho, guitarist Bolverk, bassist Rammr and drummer Malignant, had a significant input:
"Our new album, Non Debellicata, is the result of an extensive process in which all the members of the band participated creatively, both musically and lyrically. We put a lot of work into this album to make it as extreme and violent as we possibly could, pushing the borders of our musicianship and song writing skills. Originally we started out with 20 songs, out of which we rehearsed 16 and whittled it down to 13 for recording. We eventually chose 10 for inclusion on the album, because we wanted to ensure highest possible quality of every song".
As for the title itself:
“Non Debellicata, refers to a phrase used as the motto for our home town Saropsborg in the olden days. It is taken from letter Jarl Alv Erlingsson sent to the Scottish Government in 1286. Aside from being a nobleman and the Jarl (Earl) of Sarpsborg, Alv was also an infamous pirate who was in the habit of robbing Danish and German merchant ships".
"The Scottish government had confiscated a number of Norwegian ships and Jarl Alv wrote them a letter, in which he said that maybe they were under the impression that Norway was weak after being at war for several years. But assured them that they would learn that the Norwegian people were not weakened by the war and would never be defeated".
"Non Debellicata. The people of Norway would never give up - and neither will Ragnarok!".
"Non Debellicata" was recorded in Sweden's Endarker Studio, with Marduk's Devo at the helm, and with artwork by Nestor Avalos and photos by Arash Taheri.
Tracklist:
1. Non Debellicata
2. Chapel of Shadows
3. Sanctimoneous
4. Bestial Emptiness
5. Nemesis
6. The Great Destroyer
7. Gerasene Demoniac
8. The Gospel of Judas Iscariot
9. Jonestown Lullaby
10. Asphyxiation
Formats:
- jewelcase CD,
- limited slipcase digipack CD (with bonus tracks),
- black LP,
- red LP,
- t-shirt.
To celebrate the album's release, RAGNAROK are set to support US death metallers Immolation on a 21-date European tour, "The Last Atonement", in November of 2019. Accompanying them on the tour will be Austria's Monument Of Misanthropy and Italy's Embryo.
Dates:
07.11. (GER) Munster / Sputnikhalle
08.11. (HOL) Amersfoort / Flour033
09.11. (HOL) Tilburg / de Nieuwe Vorst
10.11. (HOL) Enschede / Metropool
13.11. (ITA) Milan / Slaughter Club
14.11. (ITA) Rome / Traffic
15.11. (ITA) San Dova di Piave / Revolver
16.11. (CH) Sion / Le Port Franc
17.11. (GER) Trier / Mergener Hof
18.11. (FR) Niort / Camji
19.11. (FR) Paris / Backstage
21.11. (UK) Manchester / Rebellion
22.11. (UK) London / The Dome
23.11. (HOL) Rotterdam / Baroeg
24.11. (BEL) Namur / Belvedere
26.11. (GER) Munich / Backstage
27.11. (CZ) Praga / Nova Chmelnice
28.11. (POL) Bielsko Biała / Rudeboy
29.11. (POL) Łódź / Magnetofon
30.11. (GER) Berlin / Lido
01.12. (POL) Poznań / U Bazyla
Pre-orders: www.agoniarecords.com/ragnarok
ONLINE
LINEUP
Jontho - vocals
Bolverk - guitars
Rammr - bass
Malignant - drums
{tab=title="BIOGRAPHY" class="orange"}
Formed in 1994 by drummer Jontho and then-bassist Jerv, RAGNAROK’s first foray into a studio to record the “Pagan Land” demo didn’t perhaps turn out quite as they would have wished due to their lack of experience. Undeterred they recorded a track for a compilation CD for local bands, and, being satisfied with both the result, and the resulting response from fans and media alike, the original demo was re-recorded and its release led to the band signing with the cult label Head Not Found and the appearance of first full-length RAGNAROK album “Nattferd” in 1995. Having been persuaded to sign with Head Not Found for a further two albums, Century Media’s interest in the band arrived just too late.
“Arising Realm”, which featured DIMMU BORGIR’s SHAGRATH on keyboards, and “Diabolical Age” were released in 1997 and 2000 respectively, and RAGNAROK steadily built up a reputation for dynamic live performances both on the tour circuit and at festivals. It was at this point that Regain Records stepped in with an offer, and recording began on the band’s third full length album “In Nomine Satanas”, which was engineered by Tommy Tägtgren, and released in 2002. Having lost the services of their vocalist Lord Arcamous, who was no longer able to commit to the band’s schedule, TAAKE’s Hoest stepped in as frontman and “Blackdoor Miracle”, once again engineered by Tommy Tägtgren, was released in February of 2004 to huge critical acclaim.
RAGNAROK then entered a period of stasis until 2008 when Jontho, by then the only remaining original member, decided that the time was right for RAGNAROK to come roaring back to life with a new lineup that included Jontho on drums, Hans Fyrst on vocals, DezeptiCunt on Bass and Brigge on guitars. And roar it did. New material was prepared with MARDUK’s Magnus Devo Andersson at the engineering helm and “Collectors of the King” was released in 2010 increasing RAGNAROK’s reputation as both writers and performers. Following a successful tour of Russia, Bolverk, who had been a session guitarist with RAGNAROK, came onboard as a full member replacing the departing Brigge.
The world-wide release of RAGNAROK's seventh full-length album “Malediction” on Agonia Records in the Autumn of 2012 further consolidated the band's reputation with both fans and critics, which resulted in the band’s first ever North American appearance.
Following the departure of vocalist Hans Fyrste, who wanted to spend less time on musical activities, 2014 marked a major change in RAGNAROK's lineup, and it was announced that Jontho, would be handling vocals for the band, both on stage and in the studio, whilst continuing to handle drums during recording. It was a change that surprised everyone, given that Jontho was acknowledged as one of the most iconic drummers on the scene, but it was something he felt he needed to do, both for his own personal development and for RAGNAROK itself. His stage debut at Norwegian Hellcamp in Germany gave a clear indication that his decision was the right one.
With RAGNAROK having celebrated over twenty years in the business, the band's eighth full-length album "Psychopathology" released in the spring of 2016, as well as "Chaos and Insanity Between 1994-2004" retrospective compilation album titled titled "Chaos and Insanity Between 1994-2004", a ten-track retrospective album which features a rare collection of the band's early demos and EPs, with tours and festival appearances lining up, and with Agonia Records renewing their working relationship with RAGNAROK for a further three albums, it's clear that one of Norway's longest serving bands is continuing to go from strength to strength.
DISCOGRAPHY
Nattferd - 1995
Arising Realm - 1997
Diabolical Age - 2000
In Nomine Satanas - 2002
Blackdoor Miracle - 2004
Collectors of the King - 2010
Malediction - 2012
Psychopathology - 2016
Non Debellicata - 2019