Spellemannprisen, often called the Norwegian equivalent of the Grammys, has announced the albums nominated in the Hard Rock/Metal category. The nominees are Afargang, Cult Member, Jordsjuk and Morax.
Afargang – Andvake
Afargang is a one-man project by fiddle player Olav L. Mjelva. “Andvake” is Afargang’s debut album, though Mjelva has previously performed live on fiddle with bands such as Wardruna and Myrkgrav. Given that Mjelva is a fiddler, it’s only natural we’re in folk-metal territory, but Afargang’s music also carries many progressive elements.
Cult Member – Gore
Cult Member hail from Tromsø and play crossover thrash metal; “Gore” is the band’s second album. The band formed in 2020 and released their debut, “Infinite Death”, in 2022. Their style is aggressive and clearly inspired by hardcore punk.
Jordsjuk – Naglet til livet
Jordsjuk are a relatively new band, and “Naglet til livet” is their debut album. Despite being a new outfit, the members have many years’ experience under their belts, from bands including Trollfest, Nattverd and Koldbrann.
Morax – The Amulet
Another newcomer: Morax have only been active a few years, and “The Amulet” is their debut. It is essentially a one-man project led by Remi from Inculter, though Morax have recently begun performing live with a full line-up. Musically, this is old-school heavy metal.
Those are, according to the Spellemann committee, the four best hard rock and metal albums. It’s worth noting that 2025 also saw releases from bands such as In the Woods…, Seigmen, Helvitnr and Blood Red Throne, to name a few.
Homepage: https://spellemann.no/
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