Extol

Infobox musical artist
Name = Extol


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Origin = Oslo, Norway
Instrument =
Genre = Melodic death metal, progressive metal
Years_active = 1993–present
Label = Endtime Productions
Solid State
Century Media
Associated_acts = Serena Maneesh, Schaliach, Lengsel, Benea Reach
URL = [http://www.myspace.com/extol MySpace Page]
Current_members = Peter Espevoll
David Husvik
John Robert Mjåland
Tor Magne Glidje
Ole Halvard Sveen
Past_members = Ole Børud
Christer Espevoll
Eystein Holm
Emil Nikolaisen

Extol was a progressive metal band from Oslo, Norway that formed in 1993 and disbanded in 2007. They are known for playing a variety of different styles of metal which include melodic death metal, technical thrash metal, and currently a mix between progressive metal and post-hardcore. They are mainly described as a melodic death metal band since they gained their popularity primarily through their earlier works in that genre.cite web |url= http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gcfqxqrjld6e |title= Extol |accessdate= 2007-12-21 |last=DaRonco |first=Mike |date= |format= |work= Allmusic |publisher= |pages= |language= |quote= ]

Signed to Century Media Records, the band has released 4 studio albums and 2 EPs. The band is noted for their precise, technical musicianship. The 4th album, "The Blueprint Dives" received Spellemannsprisen nomination for best metal album of 2005. [cite web |url= http://www.jay.no/index.cgi?art=10740 |title= Spellemannspris til Extol |accessdate= 2007-12-21 |last=Dammann |first=Josva |date=2006-01-03 |format= |work= Jay.no |publisher= |pages= |language= |quote=Etter at metall-gruppa Extol ble dannet i 1994 har de kommet med fire album. The blueprint dives er det foreløpig siste og har nå blitt nominert til spellemannsprisen. ] Currently on a hiatus, their recent line-up included vocalist Peter Espevoll, guitarists Tor Magne Glidje and Ole Halvard Sveen, drummer David Husvik, and bass player John Robert Mjåland. Notable original guitarists were Ole Børud (of Schaliach fame) and Christer Espevoll, who contributed significantly to the band's virtuoisic songwriting. All the band members share Christian faith, which is apparent in their lyrics and themes.

History

Extol was formed in 1993 by drummer David Husvik and guitarist Christer Espevoll, who had been playing together and wanted to start a band. Peter Espevoll became their vocalist. In 1994, bassist Eystein Holm joined the band just before their first gig. Emil Nikolaisen joined as a second guitarist in 1995.

In 1996, they recorded for Norwegian metal compilation, "Northern Lights". Later that year they recorded "Embraced", a short demo. Ole Børud, formerly known for his death/doom project Schaliach, soon replaced Nikolaisen, who wanted to give more attention to his other band, Royal, on guitar. Nikolaisen currently plays guitar and lead vocals for indie rock band Serena Maneesh. They signed with Endtime Productions in 1998, and released "Burial", the band's first full album. It was licenced to US through Solid State Records and to Japan through Avalon Records. The album introduced a melodic and technical, blackened death metal oriented style. [cite web |url= http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:anfrxqwjldde |title= Extol - Burial |accessdate= 2007-12-21 |last=DaRonco |first=Mike |date= |format= |work= Allmusic |publisher= |pages= |language= |quote= ]

The next year, they released the EP, "Mesmerized", which featured three industrial remixes of songs from "Burial" by the bands Raison d'être and Sanctum. Eystein was replaced by Tor Magne Glidje on bass. They later recorded "Undeceived", which was much darker and more intense than its predecessor. The song "Ember" proved to be a popular song among their fans.cite web |url= http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0nftxqrkldae |title= Extol - Undeceived |accessdate= 2007-12-21 |last=Jeffries |first=Vincent |date= |format= |work= Allmusic |publisher= |pages= |language= |quote= ] Then Ole left the band, so Tor Glidje switched over to guitar, and John Robert Mjåland joined as bassist.

In 2001, another EP, "Paralysis", was recorded; it was only released in Sweden. This EP featured a cover of "Shadow of Death" by the reputive American thrash metal group Believer, whom the band considers to be a great influence. After "Paralysis", Tor Magne left the band to focus on his other project, Ganglion, and Ole returned to the line-up. After "Undeceived" was released, Extol was no longer obligated to Endtime, and they signed with Century Media in 2002. Their album Synergy, released in 2003, showed an even greater appreciation of the band Believer. The music on the album is very similar to Believer's style of thrash metal. Following the release, Extol toured Europe and US with the Swedish progressive death metal group Opeth.

In June 2004, Ole Børud and Christer Espevoll left Extol to "invest their time and energy elsewhere". Taking their place as permanent members in the band are the return of Tor Magne Glidje and Ole Halvard Sveen, both from Ganglion, that merged with Extol when four out of five bandmembers ended up playing in both bands.

In 2005, the band released what could be considered their most diverse album; "The Blueprint Dives", or "Blueprint" for short. A music video was shot for the song "Pearl." The album was nominated for the Norwegian Grammy, Spellemannprisen, for best Norwegian metal album in 2005. Also, "Blueprint" was voted for the Top 5 metal albums of the year list by the reades of the biggest newspaper in Norway, "Dagbladet". Afterwards, Extol toured Europe with Mastodon, God Forbid, and Opeth, and US with Haste the Day, Becoming the Archetype, and The Showdown. [cite web |url= http://smackthejack.net/uutinen.phtml?id=830 |title= Extol nominated for Norway's Grammy |accessdate= 2007-12-21 |last= |first= |date= 2005-08-01 |format= |work= Smack the Jack |publisher= |pages= |language= Finnish |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] The album received rave reviews: For example, Eduardo Rivadavia of Allmusic gave the album 4.5/5 and writes that "To Extol's greatest credit, offhand comparisons to other bands are almost impossible!". [cite web |url= http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jzfpxq8sldte |title= Extol - Blueprint |accessdate= 2007-12-21 |last=Rivadavia |first=Eduardo |date= |format= |work= Allmusic |publisher= |pages= |language= |quote= ]

On August 9, 2007 the band announced through their MySpace page that they are currently on a hiatus.

Members

Most recent members

*Peter Espevoll - vocals, acoustic guitar (1993–2007)
*Tor Magne Glidje - bass guitar, guitar (1999–2001); guitar (2004–2007)
*Ole Halvard Sveen - guitar (2004–2007)
*David Husvik - drums (1993–2007)
*John Robert Mjåland - bass guitar (2001–2007)

Past members

*Christer Espevoll - guitars (1993–2004)
*Ole Børud - guitars, flute, vocals (1996–2000) (2001–2004)
*Eystein Holm - bass guitar(1994–1999)
*Emil Nikolaisen - guitars (1995–1996)

Discography

All recordings are licensed to Solid State Records

tudio albums

*1998: "Burial" (Endtime Productions)
*2000: "Undeceived" (Endtime Productions, re-issued by Century Media in 2003)
*2003: "Synergy" (Century Media)
*2005: "The Blueprint Dives" (Century Media)

Miscellanious

*1997: "Embraced" (demo)
*1999: "Mesmerized" (EP, Endtime Productions)
*2001: "Paralysis" (EP, Endtime Productions)

ide projects

Tor Magne Glidje, Jon Robert Mjåland, and Ole Halvard Sveen are the sole members of Lengsel, a progressive black metal band that formed in 1995 and released one album, called "Solace", on Endtime Productions, which was subsequently licensed to Solid State Records for an American release. Shortly after releasing "Solace", Lengsel changed their name to Ganglion and turned away from the progressive black metal to a progressive-aggressive rock sound. In 2006, they reunited as Lengsel and released their second album, "The Kiss, The Hope".

Christer Espevoll and David Husvik went out of their way recently to form a band named Absurd². They put out an EP in 2004.

Under the name Aperture, Peter Espevoll and David Husvik released an album of softer, acoustic rock songs, entitled "Salvage". "Aperture" is also the name of an acoustic song off of "Synergy".

Christer Espevoll was for a period of time in the band Benea Reach, which also features former members of Selfmindead.

Several members of Extol have founded a new side project, Mantric.

References

* |issue=84 |pages= |accessdate=2007-04-24 |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20000918052320/www.hmmagazine.com/Current_Issue/84Extol/84extol.html
* [http://www.myspace.com/extol MySpace page]

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/extol MySpace Page]
* [http://www.purevolume.com/extol/ Extol's Purevolume Page]
*
* [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Extol Extol discography] at Discogs
* [http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=1164 Extol] at Encyclopaedia Metallum
* [http://www.metal-realm.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=100 Official Forum]