Sarke Explained

Sarke
Origin:	Oslo, Norway
Genre:	Black metal, thrash metal
Years Active:	2008 - present
Label:	Indie Recordings
Associated Acts:	Darkthrone, Khold, Tulus, Valhall, Dimmu Borgir, Satyricon, Old Man's Child, Borknagar, Spiral Architect, ICS Vortex, Vintersorg, Susperia, El Caco
Current Members:	Sarke Nocturno Culto Anders Hunstad Terje Kråbøl Steinar Gundersen
Past Members:	Cyrus Asgeir Mickelson

Sarke is a Norwegian metal band from Oslo, formed in 2008. The band has released seven studio albums and is currently signed to Norwegian record label Indie Recordings.

History

Sarke formed in 2008 when Thomas "Sarke" Bergli (Khold, Tulus) decided to make a solo album. In November 2008, Sarke recorded the tracks for the album with keyboardist Anders Hunstad, produced by Lars-Erik Westby. Ted "Nocturno Culto" Skjellum (Darkthrone, ex-Satyricon) joined Sarke and provided vocals for the debut album, titled Vorunah, released on 6 April 2009 via Indie Recordings.^[1] In 2009, drummer Asgeir Mickelson and guitarist Terje "Cyrus" Andersen joined the band as live members. In 2010, Steinar Gundersen joined Sarke as their second guitar player. In 2009 and 2010, the band played at several festivals such as Wacken Open Air (with the guest appearance of Thomas Gabriel Fischer^[2]), Inferno Festival, Hole in the Sky, Party.San Open Air, Brutal Assault and Ragnarök Festival. After the festivals, Mickelson, Cyrus and Gundersen became full-time members of the band.

On 15 April 2011, Sarke released a new album, Oldarhian, via Indie Recordings.^[3]

On 20 September 2013, the band released their third studio album, titled Aruagint, via Indie Recordings.^[4]

Musical style and influences

Sarke's sound can be described as a blend of black metal^[5] ^[6] and thrash metal, that incorporates doom metal, death metal and punk^[7] elements. According to the band, they are influenced by '70s rock, '80s speed metal and '90s black metal. They are inspired by bands like Mayhem, Slayer, Darkthrone, Celtic Frost, Black Sabbath, Candlemass, Death, Motörhead and Kreator.

Members

Current members

Sarke – drums, guitar (2008–2011); bass (2008–present)
Nocturno Culto – lead vocals (2008–present)
Anders Hunstad – keyboards (2008–present)
Terje Kråbøl – drums (2011–present)
Steinar Gundersen – guitar (2011–present)

Former members

Cyrus – guitar (2011–2013)

Session members

Asgeir Mickelson – drums (2009–2011)
Cyrus – guitar (2009–2011)
Steinar Gundersen – guitar (2010–2011)

Discography

Vorunah (2009)
Oldarhian (2011)
Aruagint (2013)
Bogefod (2016)
Viige Urh (2017)
Gastwerso (2019)
Allsighr (2021)
Endo Feight (2024)

External links

Official Facebook page

Notes and References

Web site: SARKE Featuring DARKTHRONE's NOCTURNO CULTO Signs With INDIE RECORDINGS. 3 February 2009. Blabbermouth.net. 10 December 2013. 15 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131215004453/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/sarke-featuring-darkthrone-s-nocturno-culto-signs-with-indie-recordings/. live.
Web site: SARKE To Be Joined By Former CELTIC FROST Frontman For WACKEN OPEN AIR Performance. 3 July 2009. Blabbermouth.net. 10 December 2013. 15 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131215004643/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/sarke-to-be-joined-by-former-celtic-frost-frontman-for-wacken-open-air-performance/. live.
Web site: SARKE: 'Oldarhian' Release Party To Be Held In Oslo. 14 March 2011. Blabbermouth.net. 10 December 2013. 15 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131215004645/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/sarke-oldarhian-release-party-to-be-held-in-oslo/. live.
Web site: SARKE: Entire 'Aruagint' Album Available For Streaming. 20 September 2013. Blabbermouth.net. 10 December 2013. 15 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131215004530/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/sarke-entire-aruagint-album-available-for-streaming/. live.
Web site: Sarke – Aruagint (Review). Norskmetal.net. 10 December 2013. 14 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131214154705/http://www.norskmetal.net/sarke-aruagint-review/. live.
Web site: Sarke – Aruagint (Indie Recordings). 30 September 2013. Ave Noctum. 10 December 2013. 13 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131213034545/http://www.avenoctum.com/2013/09/sarke-aruagint-indie-recordings/. live.
Web site: Sarke – Oldarhian Review. 18 April 2011. Angry Metal Guy. 10 December 2013. 11 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140711100019/http://www.angrymetalguy.com/sarke-oldarhian-review/. live.