AVRAK, THE NEW BAND OF DARKTHRONE’S TED SKJELLUM JOIN PEACEVILLE RECORDS
THE TITANIC DEBUT SELF-TITLED STUDIO ALBUM OF HEAVY ROCK AND METAL TO BE RELEASED ON 9TH OCTOBER 2026
“UNBORN” THE DEBUT SINGLE & VIDEO OUT NOW!
Recently unveiled Norwegian Heavy Metal juggernaut-in-the-making AVRAK was founded in November 2023 by guitarists Anders Hegna (Nød, El Kayenne, Svidd Grevling) and Ted Skjellum; notable for being half of legendary duo, Darkthrone. The pair had known each other for many years, and with a mutual passion for old, classic rock and metal they finally embarked upon this new journey together under the banner of AVRAK.
It quickly became evident that both were on the same page, with AVRAK’s first compositions taking shape within just 5 days. Ted had declared from the beginning that he would not carry out main vocal duties in the band, and so it was Anders – with his own vocal grit a comfortable match anyway – who assumed the role. Several weeks later, Terje Kråbøl (Gjendød, Sarke, Faustcoven) was brought in on the drums and, from there-on, with his percussive presence backing up some thunderous riffing, the creative work accelerated, culminating in the self-titled, hook-laden and doom-laced rock debut, ‘AVRAK’.
“UNBORN” – THE DEBUT SINGLE – OUT NOW
STREAM / DOWNLOAD AND WATCH THE LYRIC VIDEO HERE
(lyric video created by Matthew Vickerstaff)
Suitably and epically defined as a monumental “Heavy Metal voyage from the peak of the mountains to the depths of the seas”, and delivering themes relating to empowerment in the face of increasingly corrupt times, ‘AVRAK’ is a combination of a vast multitude of influences, as the eclectic, deceptively nuanced nine track offering features a classic heavy metal and doom rock backbone, with further experimentation including synth passages, and even some traces of black metal riffing in its DNA.
‘AVRAK’ was recorded, mixed and mastered in Mølla Studio by Knut Magne Valle, in February 2026.
AVRAK subsequently held its debut show in their local town of Porsgrunn in late April 2026, backed by new bassist & final piece of the puzzle, Steinar Gundersen (Khold, Sarke, Satyricon), with more live shows intended in future to support the release.
- Forever Mountain (04:45)
- Unborn (04:45)
- Long May The Lums Reek (05:22)
- Rot (01:07)
- Varde (04:31)
- Cloaks Of Power (03:45)
- The Lonely Shadow (05:32)
- The Rift (05:55)
- Hav (02:47)
‘AVRAK’ is to be released on 9th October on CD, classic black vinyl LP, silver vinyl LP & digitally
PRE-ORDERS ARE AVILABLE NOW HERE
AVRAK is
Anders Hegna – Guitars, vocals, bass
Ted Skjellum – Guitars, Moog guitar/synthesizer, additional vocals, effects
Terje Kråbøl- Drums
Steinar Gundersen – bass
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