Ov Hell

Yet another Norwegian black metal supergroup — or super-duo, as it were — Ov Hell was founded in 2009 by Oslo-based vocalist Shagrath (real name Stian Tomt Thoresen) of Dimmu Borgir and Bergen-residing bass player King ov Hell (Tom Cato Visnes), late of Gorgoroth (and a member of many other groups). Having recently suffered the double setback of losing legal use of the Gorgoroth name to previously ousted guitarist Infernus and the supposed "retirement" of former partner in crime Gaahl, King found himself in possession of some leftover song ideas that were duly completed in collaboration with Shagrath, thus spawning Ov Hell. Once they were ready to enter the studio, Shagrath and King settled for nothing but the best in terms of session players, recruiting guitarists Teloch (1349, Orcustus, etc.) and Arve Isdal (Enslaved, Audrey Horne, etc.), plus drummer Frost (aka Kjetil Vidar Haraldstad; Keep of Kalessin, Gorgoroth, Satyricon, 1349, etc.). Ov Hell's debut album, The Underworld Regime, was released in early 2010 through Indie Recordings and showcased an intriguing blend of its creators' past experiences across black metal's most primitive and refined extremes.