Forces of Satan Records

Forces of Satan Records was founded in Norway on 6 June 2006 by Infernus, the stage name of Roger Tiegs. Infernus had already established himself within the Norwegian black metal scene as the founder and continuing original member of Gorgoroth, a band formed in 1992. His work with Gorgoroth combined extreme-metal music with explicit Satanic themes, and his role extended beyond guitar performance into songwriting, band direction, and ideological presentation. The record label was a natural extension of that position. The label's stated purpose was highly selective: it was dedicated to releasing music by bands with a clear Satanic profile. This distinguished it from generalist independent labels and placed it within the more explicitly ideological end of the black metal underground. The imprint's identity was built around a combination of musical extremity, anti-Christian and Satanic imagery, and an international network of underground artists. Infernus's own theistic Satanism and his description of himself as the ideological backbone of Gorgoroth provide important context for the label's name and editorial direction. The first release associated with the label was Bergen 1996, a live EP by Gorgoroth. The recording connected the new imprint directly to its founder's principal band and established a catalogue rooted in the Norwegian black metal tradition. The label then broadened its artist base through releases by Black Flame from Italy, Ophiolatry from Brazil, and Triumfall from Serbia. These associations show that, although Forces of Satan Records originated in Norway, its intended field was international underground extreme metal rather than only domestic artists. The label's development took place during a turbulent period in Gorgoroth's history. In 2004, a Gorgoroth performance in Krakow, Poland, attracted police action and a blasphemy-related investigation because of its theatrical use of Satanic symbols, animal remains, blood, and crucifixion imagery. The concert footage was eventually issued as Black Mass Krakow 2004 in 2008. In 2007, a separate dispute began when vocalist Gaahl and bassist King attempted to remove Infernus from Gorgoroth. In 2009, a court determined that Infernus retained the rights to the Gorgoroth name. These events did not constitute changes to the label's ownership in the available material, but they reinforced the public association between Infernus, Gorgoroth, and an uncompromising Satanic aesthetic. The available sources do not provide a complete catalogue, detailed distribution history, financial information, staff list, or reliable evidence about the label's present activity. They also do not establish a later corporate parent or successor. Forces of Satan Records is therefore best documented as a specialist Norwegian extreme-metal imprint founded and headed by Infernus, with a small but internationally oriented catalogue and a strong ideological identity.

• 2006

  Label founded

  [1]Infernusen.wikipedia.org

  Infernus established Forces of Satan Records on 6 June 2006 to release music by bands with an explicitly Satanic profile.

• 2006

  Bergen 1996 becomes the first identified release

  [1]Infernusen.wikipedia.org

  The Gorgoroth live EP Bergen 1996 was identified as the label's first release.

A specialist extreme-metal imprint centered on artists and recordings with an explicit Satanic identity, particularly black metal and related underground genres.

• Live EP · 2006

  Bergen 1996

  A live EP by Gorgoroth and the first release identified for Forces of Satan Records. Its inclusion connected the newly founded label directly to Infernus's principal band and to the Norwegian black metal scene from which the label developed.

• Black metal recordings

  Black Flame releases

  The label was associated with releases by Black Flame, an Italian black metal band. The available reference identifies the artist as part of the label's catalogue but does not specify individual release titles or dates.

• Death metal recordings

  Ophiolatry releases

  Forces of Satan Records was associated with releases by Ophiolatry, a Brazilian death metal band. The available material does not identify the precise recordings, editions, or release dates.

• Extreme metal recordings

  Triumfall releases

  The Serbian band Triumfall was among the artists associated with the label. Specific titles and release chronology are not established by the supplied reference material.

• 2006

  Adopt an explicitly Satanic catalogue policyStrategy

  Background

  Infernus created the imprint within the black metal underground and defined it around artists with a clear Satanic profile.

  Action taken

  The label was positioned as a specialist outlet for Satanic black metal and related extreme-metal recordings rather than as a broad music label.

  Aftermath

  The policy gave the imprint a distinctive ideological identity and supported an international roster including artists from Italy, Brazil, and Serbia.

  Source

1. 1Infernusen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Forces of Satan Records official websiteforcesofsatan.com