Borknagar is a melodic, progressive, folk/ viking, black metal-influenced band from Bergen, Norway founded in 1995 by Øystein Garnes Brun. The band's style combines symphonic metal and black metal with viking, medieval, and traditional folk elements. Borknagar's lyrics often deal with philosophy, paganism, nature, and the cosmos. The name Borknagar is an anagram of " Ragnarok", with a B thrown in to make it pronounceable (however, Øystein Brun stated once that the name was inspired by a Scottish myth about a man who climbed Loch Nagar, a mountain in Scotland).
Borknagar rose out of the ashes of the Norwegian death metal band Molested when then-member Øystein Brun became tired of the brutal aspects of the band's music. Øystein formed Borknagar to explore a more melodic outlet of expression; he wrote all of the music and lyrics and gathered together an all-star group of black metal musicians to play in his band. Well-known musicians of the black metal scene (such as Infernus of Gorgoroth, Grim of Immortal and Gorgoroth). And when Garm of Ulver, Head Control System, and ex- Arcturus joined the project, it brought immediate attention to Borknagar. The band never even recorded a demo – they simply asked for a record contract on Malicious Records and were granted their request. Borknagar's majestic, melodic sound was instantly liked by many and received positive press attention.
Borknagar has released six albums to date. Their self-titled debut album features lyrics in Norwegian; all subsequent albums have featured lyrics written in English by both ICS Vortex from Arcturus and Dimmu Borgir and later by current singer, Vintersorg from Otyg and his eponymous band. All of the band's records (excluding the original pressing of the debut album) have been released by the Century Media label. Borknagar has toured with various bands, including the well-known Cradle Of Filth.