Biography

Erlend HJELVIK (YELL-vik) is a heavy metal composer, lyricist, and vocalist from Vikedal, Norway.  In 2006, Erlend co-founded Kvelertak, the rock & metal band known for its high-energy live shows and led by the owl-headed frontman’s savage vocals, performance, and lyrics. Erlend released three albums with Kvelertak:  Kvelertak in 2010, Meir in 2013, and Nattesferd in 2016.  While he led Kvelertak, they toured worldwide with bands like Metallica & Mastodon (2014), Alice in Chains (2014), Slayer (2015), Ghost (2017), and again with Metallica (2017/18).  During Erlend’s tenure, Kvelertak earned four Norwegian Spellemann awards – a kin to an American Grammy. Despite the growing success, in 2018, Erlend shocked the music world and left Kvelertak. For two years now, he has quietly readied HJELVIK. Armed with HJELVIK and his debut album, Welcome to Hel  - Erlend Hjelvik is back to deliver his metal to the masses. Erlend has composed Welcome to Hel and calls the music “blackened Viking heavy metal” with lyrics revolving around Norse mythology. HJELVIK enlists an international crew of musicians, Rob Steinway on guitar, Remi André Nygård on rhythm guitar, Alexis Lieu on bass, Kevin Foley on drums. Allied with HJELVIK for the worldwide metal massacre is the mighty Nuclear Blast Records. At home in Norway, HJELVIK will release his recordings on his independent record label, Helmet Fire Records. HJELVIK’s debut album, Welcome to Hel, was released November 2020 and is here on Spotify.