SVARTSALT – BIOGRAPHY
Origin: Tórshavn,
Faroe Islands
Genre: Antifascist
Blackened Death / Thrash Metal
Lineup:
●
Nirvargh (John Ivar Venned) – Lead Vocals (since 2024), Guitars, Recording & Main Production
●
Killhellm (Martin Rói) – Drums, Backing Vocals & Songwriting
●
Groth (Pól) – Bass, Vocals (Lead Vocals 2016–2024), Songwriting & Audio
Engineering Input
About the Band & History:
Svartsalt was formed in Tórshavn in 2016 in
connection with the Faroese Wacken Metal Battle. The vision was clear from day
one: to strip away modern digital gimmicks and go back to basics—a raw,
dangerous underground metal trio creating sonic confrontation in a rehearsal
room without click tracks, triggers, or backing tracks. The name Svartsalt
("Black Salt") represents a harsh, impure element that poisons the
system—a direct reaction to the toxic nature of modern political and societal
structures.
Most Iconic Moment & Vocal Evolution:
The most iconic milestone in the band's early
era was their legendary vinyl release show at Perlan in Tórshavn in 2017,
celebrating the release of their debut 7" live vinyl EP.
After a period of dormancy, the band prepared
for a long-awaited reunion show in December 2024 at OY Brewery. When original
lead singer Pól (Groth) was unable to perform at the gig, guitarist John Ivar
stepped up to take over lead vocals. Because of the close bond and deep trust
within the band, the transition was seamless. The concert was a massive
success, proving the new constellation was a ferocious force and reigniting the
band's drive to write new material. Moving forward live, Pól will continue to
handle lead vocals on the classic EP tracks while providing heavy backing
vocals on the new material, creating a dynamic two-vocal attack.
Musical Style & Songwriting:
All three members write the music collectively.
Songwriting stems from shared conversations about societal frustrations,
political decay, and systemic corruption. Musically, Svartsalt fuses intense
death metal with raw, classic black metal (focusing on aggression rather than
atmospheric soundscapes), heavy groove-driven riffing (inspired by Gojira and
Pantera), and dynamic, post-metal compositional structures.
The Debut Album (Upp Úr Dýpinum):
Their debut full-length album, Upp Úr
Dýpinum (released August 14, 2026, via Tutl Records on 12" vinyl
and digital formats), was birthed out of pure passion, social frustration, and
resistance.
Production & Artwork:
Operating as a 100% DIY entity, the album was
recorded and produced entirely in-house. John Ivar tracked and produced the
guitars, lead vocals, and overall sound at his home studio, while Martin Rói
recorded drums and backing vocals at his setup. Bassist Pól (Groth), a trained
audio engineer, provided invaluable technical input alongside the trio's tight
creative collaboration.
The album’s visual soul was created by Faroese
artist Bjartur F. Clementsen, who painted custom physical watercolor
artwork—using actual salt to react with the paint and create raw, organic
visual textures that mirror the band's identity.
Lyrical Themes:
Upp Úr Dýpinum
("Out of the Deep") is a sonic middle finger to rising fascism,
systemic greed, anti-intellectualism, and societal apathy. Svartsalt delivers
an uncompromising message: rise up from the deep, reject conformity, and
support true physical underground culture!
Davis Café-Bar
Κρατήσεις: 694 430 6867
Σάββατο 5/9 – Davis Café-Bar, Άρτεμιδα – 22:00
