Morgul

Morgul is a Norwegian symphonic black metal band formed in Råde, Norway in the year 1991.

In 1991 Morgul soon recorded two demo-tapes: Vargvinter & In Gowns Flowing Wide, which were spread through the underground. Eventually this managed to garner them a deal with Napalm Records.

The band at this time consisted solely of Hex, on drums and main-man Jack D. Ripper on guitars, bass, keyboard and vocals. Together they released two albums: Lost In Shadows Grey & Parody Of The Mass. Parody Of The Mass being recorded at Abyss Studios in Sweden by Mikael Hedlund from Hypocrisy, especially created interest for Morgul within the underground and soon the media mentioned them to be THE hidden treasure within the black metal scene.

In the year of 1999 Morgul signed to Century Media Records and started working on new material that saw the band breaking the boundaries of a somewhat over-crowded black metal genre and came up with a more varied and personal sound. This album also marked a change in producer and studio. Every album including and following The Horror Grandeur has been produced by Terje Refsnes at Soundsuite Studios in the south of France. It's also of interest that prior to the recording of The Horror Grandeur, Hex and Jack D. Ripper parted ways musically for personal reasons, leaving Jack D. Ripper sole responsible persons for Morgul. The only guest musician on The Horror is Pete Johansen (The Scarr, Sins of Thy Beloved, Sirenia, Tristania) an amazingly talented violinist from Western Norway.

2001 Morgul enters the studio once again to record Sketch of Supposed Murderer. This would be Morguls last album under the label Century Media.

April 2002 Jack D. Ripper entered Soundsuite Studio to record the entirety of vocals for Swiss band Meridian on their 1st album "The Seventh Sun". Earlier in the year Meridian had won Metallians demo contest, which eventually led to a record deal with Season of Mist.

2004. After much hesitation and thoughts of leaving the music scene all together Morguls front man re-enters Soundsuite and self finances "All Dead Here". Once again this album features Pete Johansen on violins. 1 year later the album is released on the label Season Of Mist.

Jack D. Ripper is now residing in the United States, where he is working on his next album. It is unknown where the next album will be recorded or on which label.

In The Lord of the Rings story Morgul is the Sindarin elvish word for "black magic". It is likely intended as the name for the Witch-king of Angmar, the leader of the Nazgûl. The blade that he used on Weathertop was called a Morgul-blade, and the name of his stronghold was Minas Morgul (Tower of Black Magic).

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