Old Man's Child is a Norwegian
black metal
Black metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include Tempo#Beats per minute, fast tempos, a Screaming (music)#Black metal, shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted Electric guitar, guitars played with tr ...
band originating from the city of
Oslo
Oslo ( or ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of 1,064,235 in 2022 ...
. The band was founded by
Galder (formerly known as Grusom; birth name: Thomas Rune Andersen), who is the sole permanent member of the group.
History
Old Man's Child was officially founded in 1993, but its roots trace back to 1989 when
Galder,
Jardar, and
Tjodalv formed a
death
Death is the end of life; the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism. Death eventually and inevitably occurs in all organisms. The remains of a former organism normally begin to decompose sh ...
/
thrash band called ''Requiem''. They initially performed covers of songs by
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California, formed in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King, drummer Dave Lombardo and bassist/vocalist Tom Araya. Slayer's fast and aggressive musical style made them ...
and
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band. It was formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by vocalist and guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrume ...
, later releasing a demo album in 1990. "Requiem" dissolved in 1992.
In 1996, after releasing their first full-length album,
Born of the Flickering, they signed with Century Media. Following the releases of
The Pagan Prosperity and
Ill-Natured Spiritual Invasion through Century Media, the band embarked on one of their rare tours. Old Man's Child has infrequently toured due to constant line-up changes over the years.
In 2000, Galder joined
Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir () is a Norwegian symphonic black metal band from Jessheim, formed in 1993. The name is derived from Dimmuborgir, a volcanic formation in Iceland, the name of which means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic lang ...
, but he continued to work with Old Man's Child. Over the years, the band has evolved into a one-man project, utilizing session musicians for their albums.
Between 2000 and 2005,
Galder released three albums:
Revelation 666 – The Curse of Damnation (2000),
In Defiance of Existence (2003), and
Vermin
Vermin (colloquially varmint(s) or varmit(s)) are pests or nuisance animals that spread diseases and destroy crops, livestock, and property. Since the term is defined in relation to human activities, which species are included vary by regi ...
(2005). In July 2008, Old Man's Child announced that they were entering the studio to record their seventh album, ''
Slaves of the World''. It was released in 2009.
In an early 2011 interview, Galder stated that he was firmly focused on the current
Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir () is a Norwegian symphonic black metal band from Jessheim, formed in 1993. The name is derived from Dimmuborgir, a volcanic formation in Iceland, the name of which means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic lang ...
tour. However, he mentioned that after the world tour, he would begin writing music for Old Man's Child, with the possibility of releasing an album in 2012. This did not materialize, and the band entered an extended period of silence during which Galder appeared to maintain his focus on Dimmu Borgir.
In December 2019, however, the group was reactivated, with Galder posting a video on the band's Facebook page showing him working on new Old Man's Child material—the first such work in over a decade. Galder parted ways with Dimmu Borgir in August 2024, announcing that he would finalize the new album and begin touring with Old Man's Child. In March 2025, Galder announced Tjodalv will be returning to the band to tour in the summer.
Discography
Studio albums
*''
Born of the Flickering'' (1996)
*''
The Pagan Prosperity'' (1997)
*''
Ill-Natured Spiritual Invasion'' (1998)
*''
Revelation 666 – The Curse of Damnation'' (2000)
*''
In Defiance of Existence'' (2003)
*''
Vermin
Vermin (colloquially varmint(s) or varmit(s)) are pests or nuisance animals that spread diseases and destroy crops, livestock, and property. Since the term is defined in relation to human activities, which species are included vary by regi ...
'' (2005)
*''
Slaves of the World'' (2009)
Compilations
*''
The Historical Plague'' (2003)
Demos
*''In the Shades of Life'' (1994)
Splits
*''
Sons of Satan Gather for Attack'' (with
Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir () is a Norwegian symphonic black metal band from Jessheim, formed in 1993. The name is derived from Dimmuborgir, a volcanic formation in Iceland, the name of which means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic lang ...
— also known as "Devil's Path / In the Shades of Life") (1999)
Band members
;Current members
*
Galder (Tom Rune Andersen) – vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards (1993–present)
*
Kenneth "Tjodalv" Åkesson – drums (1993–1996, 1999–2001, 2025–present)
;Former members
*
Brynjard Tristan – bass (1994–1995)
* Frode "Gonde" Forsmo – bass (1995–1997)
*
Jon Øyvind "Jardar" Andersen – guitars, backing vocals (1993–1997, 1999–2003)
* Tony Kirkemo – drums (1996–1997)
* Jan Roger "Grimar" Halvorsen – drums (1999–2000)
;Former session musicians
* Bjørn "Aldrahn" Dencker Gjerde - vocals (1995–1996)
*
Stian Aarstad – keyboards (1996–1999)
*
Gene Hoglan
Eugene Victor Hoglan II (born August 31, 1967) is an American drummer, acclaimed for his creativity in drum arrangements, including use of abstract devices for percussion effects and his trademark lengthy double-kick drum rhythms. Though his pla ...
– drums (1998)
* Håkon "Memnoch" Didriksen – bass (2000)
*
Nick Barker – drums (2003)
*
Reno Kiilerich – drums (2005)
*
Peter Wildoer
Karl Peter Wildoer is a Swedish musician who is the drummer for Darkane, Electrocution 250 and Grimmark. He has also drummed for the bands Armageddon, Majestic, Pestilence, Silver Seraph, Arch Enemy, Time Requiem, Soilwork, Gardens of Obscuri ...
– drums (2008)
Timeline
References
External links
Official Old Man's Child MyspaceOfficial Old Man's Child Forum
{{Authority control
Norwegian black metal musical groups
Musical groups established in 1993
1993 establishments in Norway
Century Media Records artists
Musical groups from Oslo