Norwegian black metallers Borknagar have announced the addition of new drummer Baard Kolstad to the band. Baard will take over duties replacing David Kinkade, who parted ways with the band last year. He joins, having been discovered by Vortex in the spring of 2011 while recording in Toproom Studio with a band. After this, both Borknagar and ICS Vortex were asked to participate in the anniversary recording of Metallica's Black Album, and as Asgeir Mickelson was unavailable, Vortex called up Baard and asked him to play on the song.

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Borknagar

"Roots", a brand new song from Norwegian metallers Borknagar, is available for streaming at this location.

"Roots" comes off the band's forthcoming album, Urd, which will be released on March 26 in Europe and March 27 in North America via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded with Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios (Opeth, Paradise Lost, Katatonia) in Örebro, Sweden. More details about Urd were previously reported over here.

Void Eater for sending in this news!]

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Source:	borknagar.com
Band profile:	Borknagar

Norwegian melodic black metallers Borknagar have unveiled the artwork and tracklist of their forthcoming album, Urd, which will be released on March 26th, 2012 in Europe as well as March 27th, 2012 in North America via Century Media Records. The album's artwork was designed by Brazilian artist Marcelo Vasco, who has already worked on the band's previous Universal release. More album details here.

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Source:	borknagar.com
Band profile:	Borknagar

Norwegian melodic black metallers Borknagar have finalized mixing duties for their upcoming studio album with Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios (Opeth, Paradise Lost, Katatonia, etc.) in Sweden and have now checked in to announce that their new effort will be titled Urd and is to be released on March 26th, 2012 in Europe as well as March 27th, 2012 in North America via Century Media Records.

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Source:	borknagar.com
Band profile:	Borknagar

Norwegian melodic black metallers Borknagar are currently at Fascination Street studio working on their upcoming new album, and the band has now checked in with the following update: "Øystein, Lars and myself arrived in Fascination Street Studio last night and today we're already hard at work with the mixing process. I don't want to say much more, only share a few pics here, but this is different! Enjoyable, Majestic, Brilliant! Can't wait to release this..."

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Source:	borknagar.com
Band profile:	Borknagar

Official press release

Borknagar have decided to part ways with the US drummer David Kinkade. This is first and foremost due to the logistical challenges we have been facing having a US drummer in a Norwegian band the last couple of years. Sometimes reality bites and in order to be a fully operative band, we need a drummer based in Norway. The split is of friendly manner and we would like to say thanks for everything David has contributed with in relations to the band and we would also like to wish him the best of luck for his future endevours.

Borknagar is currently finishing up the recording of the 9th. album which is planned to be released early next year. As we speak Vintersorg and ICS Vortex are working on the vocal arrangements and we are all exited about the new effort we currently are brewing. The album will be mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren in Fascination Street Studio later this years.

More details and information will be issued soon!

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Source:	borknagar.com
Band profile:	Borknagar

Norwegian metal band Borknagar is currently recording the next album roughly planned to be released in February 2012 through Century Media Records. The album will be mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren at famous Fascination Street Studios in Sweden in November.

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Source:	borknagar.com
Band profile:	Borknagar

Official press release

I.C.S Vortex officially announce his return to Borknagar. To mark this grand cooperation between Vintersorg and I.C.S Vortex, Inferno is announcing that Borknagar will headline the 2012 edition with both vocalist on stage.

Over the past months, there has been a wide array of rumors and speculations about I.C.S Vortex' involvement with Borknagar, so now it's time for us to bring this out from the dungeons and into the plains of clarity: Vortex is back as a permanent member of Borknagar. Vortex will handle the bass as well as doing vocals together with Vintersorg.

Inferno festival also announces that Borknagar is confirmed to next years edition, doing a rare concert with both these renowned singers on stage. You will also find the band signing autographs at this years Inferno (Saturday at 20:00) I.C.S Vortex was re- introduced to Borknagar in 2010 after a 10 year break with his participation on Universal as guest vocalist, and also stepped up to help out the band on a tour of South- America that was later canceled. After this the rumors and speculations have been many, and here is the confirmation that so many have hoped for.

I.C.S Vortex comments: "I am chuffed and proud to be part of the Borknagar universe once again. Hailing the dawn of a new era, I lionize their splendorous glare."

Øystein G. Brun comments: "Even though Mr. Vortex has been absent from the band for almost a decade due to other musical endeavors, he has always remained a good, loyal and supportive friend of the band. Personally, I have always had a feeling that our paths would cross again - and now they do. I would like to welcome Mr. Vortex back in the fold, and I am really exited to get another opus done with the strongest line-up Borknagar has ever had. Just imagine the musical potential having two of the best and most renowned vocalists in the scene in the same band. This is surely a huge step forward and another exciting chapter in the musical legacy of Borknagar - and I feel like a lucky bastard being part of this. The new album will surely knock your socks off and set some new standards in the world of metal!"

Lars A. Nedland comments: "Vortex and Vintersorg in the same band! Can you imagine the possibilities here? Can you imagine the choirs? The vocal duels? The sheer musical potential? Let me tell you: If you are a Borknagar fan, these are exciting times."

Vintersorg comments: "The Vortex has made a touchdown in the Borknagar camp again. It feels very inspiring just to think about starting to shape vocal lines with this in mind. Time to make some epic music!"

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Source:	centurymedia.com
Band profile:	Borknagar

Borknagar has inked a three-album deal with Century Media Records. The band is currently working on material for its new CD, tentatively due in early 2012.

Commented Borknagar mainman Øystein G. Brun: "Well, sometimes life takes slightly unexpected yet great turns! Due to internal business affairs, the deal with Indie recordings was mutually terminated by both parties in January 2011. Since then we have been negotiating a possible re-signing with Century Media Records.

While you are reading this, Jens F. Ryland and I are at the headquarters of Century Media Records in Dortmund to ink a new deal with our old partners in crime. It feels very good to be back in the fold of the mighty Century family; there is simply no team, no label alike. Thanks to Jens Preuter (head of A&R), we have worked out and landed a deal that we are 110 percent sure will serve the future endeavors of Borknagar in the best possible and most potent way. We share so much history with Century Media Records and we are now preparing to create more musical history for the future to come ? together with our friends at the Century family!"

Added Preuter: "We are very proud to welcome back such a great and highly influential band. Whether you want to call it black, progressive, Viking, folk or whatever metal, Borknagar always managed to be just themselves on a unique and high level. I already heard some pre-production demos from the upcoming album and I can tell you it will be not just another masterpiece, but probably the best material they've done so far."

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Borknagar

Original news, published on 26.06.2010

Official press release

With the recent changes in the band, Borknagar is now able to hit the road and meet the fans face to face. We are very pleased to announce that Borknagar is now gearing up to head to South America, a continent never visited by the band before.

"The Universal Course Tour" flyer] is scheduled to kick off in September 2010 visiting the following cities (venues to be announced):

Sept. 16 - Caracas, Venezuela
Sept. 17 - Bogota, Colombia
Sept. 18 - Quito, Ecuador
Sept. 19 - Lima, Peru
Sept. 22 - La Paz, Bolivia
Sept. 23 - Santiago, Chile
Sept. 24 - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Sept. 25 - São Paulo, Brasil

Guitarist Øystein Garnes Brun comments: "Damn, I am really looking forward to this! Borknagar is all about explorations and breaching limits, so heading for South America to do these dates is just what I am ready for now. I am sure this will be a very special event for me, the band and our South American fans! See you soon!"

Guitarist Jens Rylan adds: "I never thought this would happen, but I'm going on another tour with my brother ICS Vortex and best of all, I'm going to explore a continent I've always wanted to visit together with a few of my favorite people. I'm very proud to again be able to say: See you on tour folks!"

UPDATE (thanks to Dominus)

Official press release

Borknagar deeply regret to inform that the previously announced South American tour in September has been cancelled.

Øystein G. Brun commented: "Sometimes reality bites and it is with a graven heart we have to inform you all that we are forced to pull the plug on the South American tour in September. At this point, too many of the concerts have been canceled by the local promoters (due to local issues beyond our control) and in spite of a desperate attempt to find new venues, we have not been able to get the puzzle together without losing shit loads of money. Parallel to this, our agent for this tour in South America has not provided us with the necessary visas, not even the plane tickets. So there is nothing more we can do at this point and we are forced to pull the plug now, in order to avoid further and major expenses that leads to nothing. On our end, we have done all we can to make this happened. David has come over from US for rehearsals, we have worked out and started rehearsing the set, equipment has been shipped from our endorsement partners, prepared tour-shirt design and so on- we have even gotten the necessary vaccines for us going to South America. We had such high hopes for this tour, it would indeed have been a very special event for us, our fans and friends in South America. I can assure you that we have never before fought this hard to get a tour happening, this time we lost the fight and we are sorry!"

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Borknagar
Event:	Borknagar: Universal Course Tour [CANCELLED]

As was speculated, I.C.S Vortex (ex-Dimmu Borgir, ex-Arcturus) has returned to Borknagar after the departure of bassist Tyr just last week. I.C.S Vortex will be handling both bass and vocals duties for Borknagar's upcoming tour.

The band is currently working on touring plans for the future. Due to private commitments vocalist Andreas "Vintersorg" Hedlund (Vintersorg, Cronian) is unfortunately not able to join the band on the road for the moment being. Because of this, I.C.S. Vortex will step in to the fold to handle vocal and bass for upcoming live activities.

Guitarist Øystein G. Brun comments: "As stated in several interviews the last couple of month's it's our firm intention to bring the band's live activities up a notch - in respect for all our fans. There is just no way we can dismiss all the requests we get all over the world. We are currently working on some really interesting touring plans, but unfortunately our brother in music Vintersorg is not able to come along for the moment being due to private commitments. So Vortex being a previous member and always a good friend of the band, it feels great to have him back in the fold in order to execute these plans. Also, I would like to express my deepest admiration for Vintersorg's open minded and supportive attitude, embracing the idea to pull this off with Vortex in his absence- to make this a genuine and worthy solution for Borknagar."
　
Vintersorg comments: "This is just what the band needs at the moment. I'm not leaving the band or anything like that, but my work situation is holding me back for doing these shows. I know I.C.S Vortex will bring all his personality and skills into this to make it perfect! I wish I could be there."
　
I.C.S Vortex comments: "I am looking forward to see all you old school helmet-wearing mo-fos on the road and to spend some quality time once again with my favorite vikings. Let's make this event "a really special BM party come on!"

More information about the concerts will be posted soon.

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Borknagar

Erik Tiwaz (aka Tyr) has parted ways with Borknagar again (he already left the band once in 2004 and re-joined in 2008).

Tiwaz has decided to leave the Norwegian melodic black metal outfit due to "general disagreements". The band insists that the split happened in a "friendly manner and with mutual respect". The band also wishes him the best of luck for future endeavours.

More news to follow soon.

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Borknagar

The opening track "Havoc" for the new Borknagar album Universal will be officially available for streaming the 29th of January at http://www.myspace.com/borknagar.

The band also announced additional info on bonus discs: the bonus disc that comes with the limited digipack edition and the CD BOX Dragon edition will include the 4 episodes of the documentary "Making of Universal", high resolution wallpapers, highquality mp3 version of the album and iTunes booklet. Universal will be released in 4 different versions: normal jewelcase, limited digipack, CD-BOX and gatefold LP with two vinyls. See here for more specific information on each item.

Borknagar's upcoming album Universal will be launched for a worldwide release the 22nd of February 2010 through Indie Recordings. Release date for USA/Canada/Mexico the 2nd of March 2010 through Indie Recordings via The End Records. More info about the album here.

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Borknagar

Borknagar's upcoming album Universal will be launched for a worldwide release the 22nd of February 2010 through Indie Recordings.

Comment about the artwork reads as follows: "We are really proud to finally reveal the cover for Universal. It has been a long process to circle in and establish the perfect visual approach for this album. A cover that is able to visually represent the album. We firmly believe that we have achieved that with the new cover and the general designs (including CD, CDL, LP and CD BOX) represent nothing less."

Universal cover art] tracklist:

01. Havoc
02. Reason
03. The Stir Of Seasons
04. For A Thousand Years To Come
05. Abrasion Tide
06. Fleshflower
07. Worldwide
08. My Domain (feat. guest vocals of I.C.S Vortex)

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Borknagar

The following update has been posted by Borknagar guitarist Øystein Garnes Brun on the band's Myspace page:

"The title of the new Borknager album will be nothing less than: "Universal".

As the musical and lyrical approach of the album has shaped up during the production of the new album, the title "Universal" is the title that shines through and mirrors the essence of the album. "Universal" is a title that is broad enough and huge enough to project the giant character of this album, both musically and lyrically.

The production of the new album is going as planned and the album will be mixed at Toproom studios by the end of April. We can assure you that the new album will come with a massive, energic and vital production that few can match, by far the best production we have had so far. The album is planned to be released through Indie Recordings in September, later this year, an actual date will be issued later."

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Borknagar