Norwegian musician Thomas Bergli (drummer for Khold and Tulus, and formerly for Old Man's Child -in 1997 – and Sensa Anima – with whom he recorded the 2000 album Synthetic) akà Sarke had been toying with the ideas for a solo project for a couple of years already. Then, in 2008, he actually took time off to write the material, and in November of the same year went into the H10 Productions studio with engineer/ producer Lars-Erik Westby, to record an album's worth of material, the old fashioned way (no computers, but actual analog recordings).
Darkthrone's Nocurno Culto (formerly of Satyricon, and currently also with Gift Of Gods) being his favourite singer, he initially just asked the man, and then hounded him until he gave in (which didn't happen until he'd heard the material,), and for help on the keyboards he turned toward his Tulus bandmate Anders Hunstad (whom also has a history as live musician for Satyricon)...Sarke himself taking care of both drums, bass, and guitars. The result, the full-length Vorunah, was released through Indie Recordings in April 2009 (on vinyl as well as CD). With the label wanting the Sarke, the band, to play at the April 2009 Inferno festival, Bergli and Culto completed the line-up by recruiting guitarist Cyrus (formerly of Seven Sins, ICS Vortex, Crownfall, Sensa Anima, live musician for Satyricon, and currently still active in Susperia and as live musician for Dimmu Borgir) and drummer Asgeir Mickelson (formerly of Borknagar, Highland Glory, Ihsahn, Lunaris, Sturmgeist, Anesthesia one-time Testament live musician, and currently also playing in Scariot, Spiral Architect, God Of Atheists, H.E.A.L., and Thornbound he had, by the way, been hired to design the band's logo and album cover), with Sarke taking on bass playing duties. The line-up worked so well, that Bergli wanted the project to turn into an actual band. A choice of other high profile shows then followed that same year, including Wacken Open Air, where Tom G. Warrior joined the band on stage for a rendition of Celtic Frost's “Dethroned Emperor”.
New songs were written in early 2010, and for the band's appearance at Roadburn a new guitarist in the form of Steinar Gundersen (see also ICS Vortex, Spiral Architect, and King's Quest; he is a live musician with Satyricon and has also served with Lunaris) was brought into the band, as Cyrus was scheduled to go on an Australian tour with Dimmu Borgir...a tour which eventually didn't happen...and the band did a smokin' show at Roadburn, with Culto joining Tom G. Warrior's Triptykon on stage for another rendition of “Detroned Emperor”. Steinarson was the asked to join the band full-time, and Sarke played its first gig with two guitarists at the 2010 edition of the German Ragnarök festival. October 2010 saw the band gathering at H10 Productions, where Lars-Erik Westby recorded the album Oldarhain, released (again on both CD and vinyl) through Indie Recordings in April 2011. in promotion for that album, Sarke did a European tour...and that's the last of the reliable info I found on the band. Meanwhile, Cyrus is no longer with the band, and Anders Hunstad has been appointed the task of the band's keyboardist (both changes happening in 2011, but I have no way of knowing which came first).
Taking slightly more time for the follow-up (perhaps the members' other bands also needed some attention?), we now get a third serving (recorded in the same old-fashioned way, and again by the same producer an in the same studio) from the Norwegian band which, in the info sheet which came with the promo download of the album is befittingly described as “...taking the listener on a journey through dark and soothing soundscapes inspired by legends such as Mayhem, Slayer, Darkthrone, Celtic Frost, Black Sabbath, Candlemass, Death, Motörhead, and Kreator...”. Dubbed as “Death Rock”, the band's music “...combines Metal, Death, Black, and Punk music, but wrapped up in a 70s Rock veil...”! Well, according to Bergli himself, the band's music IS inspired by the great '70 Rock bands, '80s Speed Metal bands, and '90s Black Metal bands...and that IS what we hear on the album. For a taster, either consult the band's MySpace page (not being able to log onto that, I can't tell you what you'll find there), or surf to (www.) facebook.com/sarkeofficial, where you'll find a couple of older songs in the “BandPage” section. At YouTube, you'll find some videos, but I'm afraid they too are somewhat older. Nevermind, the atmosphere of those tracks and vids are quite like what the band does on its new album!