[PRESS RELEASE]

In the wake of the release of their upcoming album, Urd , on March 26th in Europe and in North America, Norwegian avant-garde metallers BORKNAGAR have announced a new drummer for the band's line-up. The exceptionally talented youngster Baard Kolstad is now joining BORKNAGAR as their drummer, and he will perform his first show together with the band at this year's Inferno Festival during April 4th-7th in Oslo, Norway (www.infernofestival.net). Kolstad's extreme drum abilities have been proven through several YouTube clips, TV-appearances in Norway-- and just recently, he won the world championship in V- Drums in Los Angeles.

In regards to Kolstad joining the band, BORKNAGAR's mastermind Øystein G. Brun comments: "First and foremost I would like to welcome Baard into the fold, may our journey ahead become a joy able ride. We are all very excited about Baard teaming up with the band. He has proven to be an immensely talented drummer with skills and a technique that is simply breathtaking. Our first encounter was late last year when he stepped in and recorded drums for ICS VORTEX's cover version of METALLICA's song 'Don't Tread On Me'. Since then we have kept an eye on him. When we spilt with David Kinkade a bit later on, the road ahead was obvious. We are all very much looking forward to pull off the very first gigs..."

Kolstad adds : "I'm really happy for this opportunity and the fact that I have earned the respect to play with BORKNAGAR. Really looking forward to the musical adventure that the future holds and will do my best to deal with the challenge in the most respectful and creative way. Now, I just want to play!"

"Roots", BORKNAGAR's first single off their much anticipated new studio album, Urd, can be heard here on DecibelMagazine.com. The album's artwork was designed by Brazilian artist Marcelo Vasco (www.P2RDESIGN.com), who has not only already worked on the band's previous Universal release, but also with artists such as SOULFLY, BELPHEGOR, EINHERJER, and KEEP OF KALESSIN. Jens Bogren handled mixing duties for Urd at Sweden's Fascination Street Studios (OPETH, PARADISE LOST, KATATONIA), and the track-listing for the album is below.

BORKNAGAR Urd track-listing:
1. Epochalypse
2. Roots
3. The Beauty Of Dead Cities
4. The Earthling
5. The Plains Of Memories
6. Mount Regency
7. Frostrite
8. The Winter Eclipse
9. In A Deeper World

Urd can be now pre-ordered at CM Distro here in a few different formats, including as a bundle with the CD and an exclusive shirt, so reserve your copy now!

BORKNAGAR Line-Up 2012:
Øystein G. Brun - clean & electric guitars (CRONIAN, ex-MOLESTED)
ICS Vortex - bass, clean vocals & choirs (ARCTURUS, ICS VORTEX, ex-DIMMU BORGIR)
Vintersorg - grim vocals, clean vocals & choirs (VINTERSORG, FISSION)
Jens F. Ryland - lead guitars (ICS VORTEX)
Lars A. Nedland - keys, clean vocals & choirs (SOLEFALD, ex-CARPATHIAN FOREST)
Baard Kolstad - drums
*Drums and percussion on Urd were performed by David Kinkade (SOULFLY, ex-MALEVOLENT CREATION).

More details and information about the album's release will be issued soon, so stay tuned!

[PRESS RELEASE]
Norwegian avantgarde metallers BORKNAGAR are now premiering their first single via Decibel.com off their much anticipated new studio album, Urd (due out March 26th in Europe and March 27th in North America through Century Media). Go check out the enthralling track "Roots" here:

http://www.decibelmagazine.com/featured/streaming-borknagar-roots/

BORKNAGAR's mastermind Øystein G. Brun checked in to comment about the song:

"In regards to the depth, diversity and magnitude of our new album, 'Urd', it almost feels painful to slice off just a tiny bit of the bloody roast for the very first official 'starter'. I would argue that each and every song on the new album stands on solid ground, but as usual with our music, the songs empower each other in the context of a full album.

That said, 'Roots' is probably the song on the album that gives you the most representative impression of 'Urd'. Musically it contains most of the elements that framework the musical universe of BORKNAGAR, and lyrically this song is gnawing on the very spine of our lyrical tradition. Hope you enjoy this song, the first tiny glimpse into our new opus. The beast is about to be unleashed..."

The album's artwork was designed by Brazilian artist Marcelo Vasco (www.P2RDESIGN.com), who has not only already worked on the band's previous Universal release, but also with artists such as SOULFLY, BELPHEGOR, EINHERJER, and KEEP OF KALESSIN. The mixing duties for the album were taken care of by Jens Bogren at Sweden's Fascination Street Studios (OPETH, PARADISE LOST, KATATONIA, etc.).

The track-listing for the album is below.

Urd track-listing:
1. Epochalypse
2. Roots
3. The Beauty Of Dead Cities
4. The Earthling
5. The Plains Of Memories
6. Mount Regency
7. Frostrite
8. The Winter Eclipse
9. In A Deeper World

BORKNAGAR line-up (from left to right in band photo):
Øystein G. Brun - Clean & Electric Guitars (CRONIAN, ex-MOLESTED)
ICS Vortex - Bass, Clean Vocals & Choirs (ex-DIMMU BORGIR, ARCTURUS, ICS VORTEX)
Vintersorg - Grim Vocals, Clean Vocals & Choirs (VINTERSORG, FISSION)
Jens F. Ryland - Lead Guitars (ICS VORTEX)
Lars A. Nedland - Keys, Clean Vocals & Choirs (SOLEFALD, ex-CARPATHIAN FOREST)

Drums and percussion on Urd were performed by David Kinkade (SOULFLY, ex-MALEVOLENT CREATION).

BORKNAGAR Live 2012:
04.-07.04 - Oslo (Norway) - Inferno Festival / www.infernofestival.net
13.-14.04 - Lichtenfels (Germany) - Ragnarök Festival / www.ragnaroek-festival.com

More details and information about the upcoming BORKNAGAR release will be issued soon, so stay tuned!

[PRESS RELEASE]
The 28th of March BORKNAGAR signed a 3 album deal with Century Media Records.

BORKNAGAR is currently working on material for a new album, at this point roughly scheduled to be released in early 2012.

Øystein G. Brun comments:

" 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 CMR in Dortmund to ink a new deal with our old partners in crime. If 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 A&R) we have worked out and landed a deal that we are 110% sure will serve the future endeavors of BORKNAGAR in the best possible and most potent way. We share so much history with CMR and we are now preparing to create more musical history for the future to come- together with our friends at the Century family!"

Head of A&R at Century Media, Jens Preuter, comments:

"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. In case you live near by Dortmund, Germany, you can come by the Die Burg bar on Thursday, March 29 evening and party with Øystein G. Brun, Jens F. Ryland and the Century Media crew."