Jan Axel Blomberg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jan Axel Blomberg
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Hellhammer live in 2024
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Hellhammer |
| Born | August 2, 1969 Trysil, Norway |
| Genres |
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| Occupation(s) | Drummer |
| Years active | 1987–present |
Jan Axel Blomberg (born August 2, 1969) is a talented Norwegian drummer. He is best known by his stage name, Hellhammer. He joined the black metal band Mayhem in 1988. He is the only member who has played on all of their albums.
In 1987, Blomberg helped start the band Arcturus. This band was first called Mortem. He chose the name Hellhammer to honor a Swiss metal band. Blomberg is a highly praised musician. He has won the Spellemannprisen award three times.
Early Life and Music Journey
When Jan Axel Blomberg was a child, he loved football and wrestling. He wasn't interested in drums at first. But as he listened to more music, he became curious about different instruments. This led him to discover drums.
His grandparents bought him his first three drum kits. The first one was a four-piece jazz kit. He learned to play by drumming along to his favorite albums. He enjoyed heavy metal bands like Iron Maiden and Metallica. He also liked bands such as Depeche Mode. Later, he found out about Venom and Celtic Frost. He even got into jazz music because of a past drum teacher.
A Look at His Music Career
Before joining Mayhem, Blomberg played in several local bands. One of these was Tritonus, a progressive metal band. There, he met Carl August Tidemann, who later played guitar for Arcturus. Mayhem then hired Blomberg to replace their previous drummer. He took on the stage name Hellhammer.
His first recordings with Mayhem were two songs for a compilation album in 1989. The first full album he recorded with Mayhem was Live in Leipzig in 1990. After this album, Mayhem faced some changes in its members. During this time, Hellhammer helped start the band Arcturus in 1991. They released an EP called My Angel in 1991.
In 1995, he joined Immortal for their tour. He also played drums in their first official music video. He briefly played for Emperor as well. That same year, Arcturus released their first album, Aspera Hiems Symfonia.
In 1997, Jan Axel started working with Covenant, now known as The Kovenant. He recorded drums for their second album, Nexus Polaris. This album came out in 1998. Arcturus also released another album, La Masquerade Infernale, in 1997. The Kovenant released another album, Animatronic, the next year.
In 2000, he recorded a mini-album with his new band Winds. It was called Of Entity And Mind and came out in 2001. Winds also recorded a full album, Reflections of the I, in 2001.
Jan Axel has won the Norwegian Grammy Awards twice. He won in 1998 for The Kovenant's Nexus Polaris. He won again in 1999 for Animatronic. Both times, they won for Best Hard Rock Album. He has also played as a guest musician on many other recordings.
In 2005, he was interviewed for a short film about black metal. This film was part of the DVD for Metal: A Headbanger's Journey. In 2009, Hellhammer played drums on six songs for Eyes of Noctum's album Inceptum. This band features Weston Cage, who is the son of actor Nicolas Cage.
Hellhammer also worked with keyboard player Andy Winter on one of his albums. In 2010, he played on Nidingr's album Wolf-Father. Arcturus got back together in 2011 with Hellhammer. They released the album Arcturian in 2015.
His Approach to Music
Blomberg joined Mayhem because his friends encouraged him. He shared his music recordings, which led to him officially joining the band.
He sometimes found certain attitudes "weird." He once said:
I came to his house: he was all dressed in black, and there was a knife hanging on his belt. I remember thinking, "What the hell does it mean?" Dead joined the band a few months earlier than I did. He was a Swede and didn’t understand a lot of what we were talking about. Well, he was a strange guy. A very reserved person. It was impossible to discuss personal things with him.
—Hellhammer
Playing for Antestor
Blomberg also played drums for the Christian black metal band Antestor. He played on their EP Det tapte liv. He also played on their album The Forsaken.
This was interesting because Antestor and Mayhem had different views in the past. However, Hellhammer's involvement was well-received by some, and not by others, in the metal music world.
The singer Ronny Hansen knew Hellhammer and asked him to play for Antestor. Hellhammer received the song demos in person. But he never met the Antestor members in the studio. This was because the producer preferred to work with each musician separately. The band also asked Hellhammer to play live with them, but he said no. He explained that it wasn't about their beliefs. He said: "In my opinion, black metal today is just music. I will tell you that neither I nor other members of Mayhem were ever really against religion or anything else. We are primarily interested in music."
Drumming Style and Gear
Equipment (2012)
- Sonor Drums: Black Nickel Hardware – White Marine Pearl (Outer), Blue Stratawood (Inner)
- Bass Drums: 20x20 – Evans EQ4 – Medium Maple
- Snare Drum: 13x4.25 – Evans Genera Dry – Heavy Beech – Pearl Masterworks Snare, Pearl CZX Snare
- Toms: 8x10, 10x12, 12x13, 13x14, 16x18 – Thin Maple
- Cymbals: Paiste Rude (some custom made)
- Pedals: Axis A Short-boards – Variable Drive: Lowest – Springs: Highest
- Sticks: B-Stick 3AN
Techniques
- Hands: French grip with the Moeller method.
Discography: His Music Albums
As a Member of Bands
Mortem
- Slow Death (Demo) – (1989)
- Ravnsvart – (2019)
Arcturus
- Promo 90 (Demo) – (1990)
- My Angel (EP) – (1991)
- Constellation MCD/MLP – (1994)
- Aspera Hiems Symfonia – (1996)
- Constellation – (1997)
- La Masquerade Infernale – (1997)
- Disguised Masters – (1999)
- Aspera Hiems Symfonia/Constellation/My Angel re-release – (2001)
- The Sham Mirrors – (2002)
- Sideshow Symphonies – (2005)
- Shipwrecked in Oslo – (2006)
- Arcturian – (2015)
Mayhem
- Live in Leipzig – (1993)
- De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas – (1994)
- Out from the Dark – (1996)
- Wolf's Lair Abyss – (1997)
- Ancient Skin / Necrolust – (1997)
- Mediolanum Capta Est – (1999)
- Necrolust / Total Warfare (Split with Zyklon-B) – (1999)
- Grand Declaration of War – (2000)
- Live in Marseille 2000 – (2001)
- European Legions – (2001)
- U.S. Legions – (2001)
- The Studio Experience (Box Set) – (2002)
- Freezing Moon/Jihad (Split with Meads of Asphodel) – (2002)
- Legions of War – (2003)
- Chimera – (2004)
- Ordo Ad Chao – (2007)
- Esoteric Warfare – (2014)
- Daemon – (2019)
Covenant/The Kovenant
- Nexus Polaris – (1998)
- Animatronic – (1999)
- SETI – (2003)
Troll
- The Last Predators – (2000)
- Universal – (2001)
Winds
- Of Entity and Mind – (2001)
- Reflections of the I – (2001)
- The Imaginary Direction of Time – (2004)
- Prominence and Demise – (2007)
- Into Transgressions of Thought – (2015)
Mezzerschmitt
- Weltherrschaft – (2002)
Shining
- Angst, Självdestruktivitetens Emissarie – (2002)
- Dolorian/Shining – (2004)
- Through Years of Oppression – (2004)
- The Darkroom Sessions – (2004)
- The Eerie Cold – (2005)
Age of Silence
- Acceleration – (2004)
- Complications - Trilogy of Intricacy – (2005)
Dimmu Borgir
- Stormblåst MMV – (2005)
- In Sorte Diaboli – (2007)
Carnivora
- Judas – (2004)
Umoral
- 7" Umoral EP – (2007)
Nidingr
- Wolf-Father – (2010)
As a Session Musician
Tritonus
- Live drummer
Emperor
- Live drummer – (1992)
- Moon over Kara-Shehr – on the compilation Nordic Metal: A Tribute to Euronymous – (1995)
Immortal
- Live drummer, Sons of Northern Darkness Tour Part II – (1995)
- Grim and Frostbitten Kingdoms music video – on the Masters of Nebulah Frost video cassette – (1995)
Jørn
- Worldchanger – (2001)
- The Gathering (Best of) – (2007)
Thorns
- Thorns – (2001)
Vidsyn
- On Frostbitten Path Beneath demo – (2004)
- On Frostbitten Path Beneath – (2004)
Antestor
- Det Tapte Liv – (2004)
- The Forsaken – (2005)
Endezzma
- Alone (EP) – (2007)
Suchthaus
- The Dark Side and the Bright Side – (2011)
Andy Winter
- Incomprehensible – (2013)
Dynasty of Darkness
- Empire of Pain – (2014)
Circle of Chaos
- Crossing The Line – (2014)
As a Guest Musician
Ulver
- Synen – on the compilation Souvenirs from Hell – (1997)
Fleurety
- Department of Apocalyptic Affairs (track 1) – (2000)
Eyes of Noctum
- Inceptum (tracks 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11) – (2009)
Lord Impaler
- Admire the Cosmos Black (all tracks) – (2011)
See also
In Spanish: Jan Axel Blomberg para niños
