Clemens "Ardek" Wijers (born 10 November 1983) is a Dutch keyboardist, pianist, and composer best known as the keyboardist of Dutch

symphonic black metal Symphonic black metal is a subgenre of black metal that emerged in the 1990s and incorporates symphonic and orchestral elements. History One of the earliest forerunners in what would come to be the sound of symphonic metal was Celtic Frost ...

band

Carach Angren Carach Angren () is a Dutch symphonic black metal band, founded in 2003 by two members of the now-defunct bands Inger Indolia and Vaultage. Their style is characterized by prominent usage of orchestral arrangements, black (sometimes death) metal ...

. Prior to forming Carach Angren with his brother Ivo "Namtar" Wijers and Dennis "Seregor" Droomers, he played with Dark Mutation and Vaultage. Wijers has written songs for

Rammstein Rammstein (, "ramming stone") is a German band formed in Berlin in 1994. The band's lineup—consisting of lead vocalist Till Lindemann, lead guitarist Richard Kruspe, rhythm guitarist Paul Landers, bassist Oliver Riedel, drummer Christoph ...

singer

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's side project Lindemann and

solo album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track or cassette), or digital. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th century ...

, in addition to contributing orchestration and orchestral arrangements for Lindemann,

Pain Pain is a distressing feeling often caused by intense or damaging Stimulus (physiology), stimuli. The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as "an unpleasant sense, sensory and emotional experience associated with, or res ...

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and

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. He has also composed several soundtrack albums and provided soundtracks for short films.

Career

Wijers first started playing piano at the age of seven and played with a local youth choir throughout his teen years. As a teenager, he was listening to dance music before being introduced to metal at age fifteen and joined a band as a way of combining his new interest with his classical background. Wijers studied music at the Tilburg Conservatory in 2002 before forming Vaultage that same year, and co-founding

together with his brother Ivo "Namtar" Wijers and Dennis "Seregor" Droomers in 2003. Wijers is the band's main composer, while bandmate Droomers writes the lyrics and stories. Wijers has stated that he is influenced by classical composers, movies and soundtracks. He particularly enjoys video game soundtracks, having been a gamer in the 1990s and a fan of the

Doom Doom is another name for damnation. Doom may also refer to: People * Doom (professional wrestling), the tag team of Ron Simmons and Butch Reed * Daniel Doom (1934–2020), Belgian cyclist * Debbie Doom (born 1963), American softball pitche ...

series. Alongside Carach Angren, Wijers released his debut solo album titled ''Worlds'' in 2017, which mainly featured a combination of industrial and classical music tracks. His second solo album, ''Worlds II'', was released in 2021. Wijers has also written songs and contributed orchestration for

and

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's side project Lindemann. He further collaborated with singer Lindemann as a producer and songwriter on his debut solo album, ''Zunge'', and contributed orchestral arrangements for Tägtgren's project

on their album '' Coming Home''. He has also provided orchestration for

and

. Wijers has composed several soundtrack albums, soundtracks for short films, and offers music lessons.

Discography

Solo

Studio albums * ''Worlds'' (2017) * ''Worlds II'' (2021) Studio EPs * ''Parasite Twin'' (2019)

With
Carach Angren Carach Angren () is a Dutch symphonic black metal band, founded in 2003 by two members of the now-defunct bands Inger Indolia and Vaultage. Their style is characterized by prominent usage of orchestral arrangements, black (sometimes death) metal ...

Studio albums * ''

The Chase Vault Tragedy ''The Chase Vault Tragedy'' is the first demo by Dutch symphonic black metal band Carach Angren. The CD was released on 1 September 2004; it is a concept album about the mystery of the burial vault of Chase Vault in Barbados Barbados, of ...

'' (2004) * ''

Lammendam ''Lammendam'' is the debut studio album by Dutch symphonic black metal band Carach Angren. Released in 2008, it is a concept album about Lammendam, the remains of a castle that are haunted by a "ghost lady in a white dress". Dennis "Seregor" Droo ...

'' (2008) * ''

Death Came Through a Phantom Ship ''Death Came Through a Phantom Ship'' is the second studio album by Dutch symphonic black metal band Carach Angren, It was released in 2010. This album tells the legend of a ghost ship (an interpretation of the ''Flying Dutchman'') from its begi ...

'' (2010) * ''

Where the Corpses Sink Forever ''Where the Corpses Sink Forever'' is the third studio album by Dutch symphonic black metal band Carach Angren. It was released on 18 May 2012 via Season of Mist. The concept of this album is not about a Dutch urban legend or ghost stories, like ...

'' (2012) * '' This is no Fairytale'' (2015) * ''

Dance and Laugh Amongst the Rotten ''Dance and Laugh Amongst the Rotten'' is the fifth studio album by Dutch symphonic black metal band Carach Angren. It was released on 16 June 2017 via Season of Mist. Although the album doesn't follow a linear story as their previous albums did, i ...

'' (2017) * ''

Franckensteina Strataemontanus ''Franckensteina Strataemontanus'' is the sixth studio album by Dutch symphonic black metal band Carach Angren. Released on 26 June 2020 through Season of Mist, it is a concept album inspired by the life of late 17th-century/early 18th-century Ger ...

'' (2020) Studio EPs * '' Ethereal Veiled Existence'' (2005)

With Vaultage

Studio EPs * ''Hallucinate Beyond'' (2003)

Production, writing, instrumental and vocal credits

External links

*
Official Website

Bandcamp

Carach Angren Website

Official Facebook

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wijers, Clemens 1983 births Dutch heavy metal keyboardists Dutch keyboardists Dutch pianists Dutch composers Dutch male songwriters Dutch songwriters Black metal musicians Season of Mist artists Living people 21st-century Dutch pianists