Jan Axel Blomberg

Jan Axel Blomberg (born 2 August 1969), better known by his stage name Hellhammer, is a Norwegian drummer known for his role as the drummer of the black metal band Mayhem, which he joined in 1988. He is the only member to have appeared on all of their studio albums. In 1987, Blomberg, alongside Steinar Sverd Johnsen and Marius Vold, formed the avant-garde black metal band Arcturus (initially under the name Mortem), which disbanded in April 2007 and reunited in 2011. He adopted his stage name in homage to the Swiss extreme metal band Hellhammer. Acclaimed as a talented musician, Blomberg is a three-time recipient of the Spellemannprisen award.

Early life As a child, Blomberg's primary interests were football and wrestling. Initially, he had no interest in drums or drumming; however, as music became increasingly appealing to him, he began to find different instruments intriguing, which eventually led to an interest in drums. His grandparents purchased his first three drum kits, the first of which was a four-piece jazz kit. He started learning to play the drums by playing along with the albums he listened to. He was influenced by heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden, Metallica, and Slayer, as well as bands like Depeche Mode and Duran Duran. Eventually, he discovered Venom, Celtic Frost, and jazz, inspired by a previous drum teacher.

Career Before joining Mayhem, Blomberg played in various local bands, including the progressive metal band Tritonus, where he met Carl August Tidemann, who later became the guitarist for Arcturus and Winds. He also participated in live performances and was then hired by Mayhem, who needed to replace Kjetil Manheim. Blomberg secured the position and adopted the pseudonym Hellhammer. and he also contributed drums to their first official video, Grim and Frostbitten Kingdoms. He briefly played for Emperor during this time as well. The recording and release of Arcturus's debut album Aspera Hiems Symfonia also occurred in this year.

In 1997, Jan Axel began collaborating with Covenant, now known as The Kovenant, for the recording of their second album, Nexus Polaris. That album was released in 1998, followed by a European tour. During 1997, Arcturus also released another album, La Masquerade Infernale.

The following year, another album from The Kovenant, Animatronic, was released.

In 2000, he recorded a mini album with his new band Winds, titled Of Entity And Mind, which was released in May 2001. Winds also recorded a full-length album during the spring of 2001, Reflections of the I.

Jan Axel is a two-time Norwegian Grammy Awards winner, having received the award in 1998 for The Kovenant's Nexus Polaris and in 1999 for Animatronic. Both years, they won the prize for Best Hard Rock Album. In addition to these collaborations, Jan Axel has made numerous guest and session musician appearances on various releases.

In 2005, he was interviewed for the black metal mini-documentary included with the 2-disc DVD edition of Metal: A Headbanger's Journey, alongside other Mayhem members Necrobutcher (Jørn Stubberud) and Blasphemer (Rune Eriksen).

In 2009, Hellhammer appeared on Eyes of Noctum's album Inceptum, where he played drums on six tracks. Eyes of Noctum is a black metal band from America featuring Weston Cage, the son of Nicolas Cage, as their lead singer.

Hellhammer collaborated with keyboardist Andy Winter on one of his albums.

In 2010, he played on Nidingr's album Wolf-Father. In 2011, Arcturus reunited, including Hellhammer, and released Arcturian in 2015.

Beliefs Blomberg joined Mayhem after being introduced by mutual friends and offering his demo tape.

He, however, came to distrust the attitudes he considered "weird":

Soon after, Blomberg had his first contact with Satanism. Initially, driven by youthful curiosity and having read various books on occultism that described different rituals, Blomberg soon realized that he was entering a dangerous path:

Session of Antestor Borgund stave church is depicted in the cover art of the Det tapte liv EP. Blomberg served as the session drummer for the Christian black metal band Antestor, contributing to the EP Det tapte liv and subsequently to the album The Forsaken, which also featured vocalist Ann-Mari Edvardsen.

Hellhammer's involvement occurred despite the adversarial relationship between Antestor and Mayhem during the former's "Crush Evil" era, characterized by Mayhem's guitarist, Euronymous, attempting to force the band to disband.

Hellhammer's appearance on the recordings elicited a polarized reception within the metal scene. In an interview with the Russian metal site Metal Library on 7 January 2007, Blomberg stated:

To be honest, it [playing for Antestor] was a big 'fuck off!' to them all [Mayhem colleagues and record company]. I will repeat again that I decide what I do and I play not only in black metal groups. Metal Library Additionally, Hellhammer stated that no member of the new lineup was a Satanist, and that the "Satanic stuff […] isn't what I feel Mayhem is about today. […] Mayhem's music is still dark, but I wouldn't say that it's Satanic." Antestor vocalist Ronny Hansen remarked on Blomberg's contribution:

Drums/techniques

Equipment (2012) Sonor Drums: Black Nickel Hardware – White Marine Pearl (Outer), Blue Stratawood (Inner) Bass Drums: 20x20 – Remo Powerstroke 3 – Medium Maple Snare Drum: 13x4.25 – Remo Coated Ambassador – Heavy Beech – Pearl Masterworks Snare, Pearl CZX Snare Cymbals: Paiste Rude (some custom-made) Pedals: Axis A Short-boards – Variable Drive: Lowest – Springs: Highest Sticks: Vic Firth Rock Nylon tip

Techniques Hands: French grip with the Moeller method.

Discography

As a member

Mortem Slow Death (Demo) – (1989) Ravnsvart – (2019)

Arcturus Promo 90 (Demo) – (1990) My Angel (EP) – (1991) Constellation MCD/MLP – (1994) Aspera Hiems Symfonia – (1996) Constellation – (1997) La Masquerade Infernale – (1997) Disguised Masters – (1999) Aspera Hiems Symfonia/Constellation/My Angel re-release – (2001) The Sham Mirrors – (2002) Sideshow Symphonies – (2005) Shipwrecked in Oslo – (2006) Arcturian – (2015)

Mayhem Live in Leipzig – (1993) De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas – (1994) Out from the Dark – (1996) Wolf's Lair Abyss – (1997) Ancient Skin / Necrolust – (1997) Mediolanum Capta Est – (1999) Necrolust / Total Warfare (Split with Zyklon-B) – (1999) Grand Declaration of War – (2000) Live in Marseille 2000 – (2001) European Legions – (2001) U.S. Legions – (2001) The Studio Experience (Box Set) – (2002) Freezing Moon/Jihad (Split with Meads of Asphodel) – (2002) Legions of War – (2003) Chimera – (2004) Ordo Ad Chao – (2007) Esoteric Warfare – (2014) Daemon – (2019) Liturgy of Death - (2026)

Covenant/The Kovenant Nexus Polaris – (1998) Animatronic – (1999) SETI – (2003)

Troll The Last Predators – (2000) Universal – (2001)

Winds Of Entity and Mind – (2001) Reflections of the I – (2001) The Imaginary Direction of Time – (2004) Prominence and Demise – (2007) Into Transgressions of Thought – (2015)

Mezzerschmitt Weltherrschaft – (2002)

Shining Angst, Självdestruktivitetens Emissarie – (2002) Dolorian/Shining – (2004) Through Years of Oppression – (2004) The Darkroom Sessions – (2004) The Eerie Cold – (2005)

Age of Silence Acceleration – (2004) Complications - Trilogy of Intricacy – (2005)

Dimmu Borgir Stormblåst MMV – (2005) In Sorte Diaboli – (2007)

Carnivora Judas – (2004)

Umoral 7" Umoral EP – (2007)

Nidingr Wolf-Father – (2010)

As a session musician

Tritonus Live drummer

Emperor Live drummer – (1992) Moon over Kara-Shehr – on the compilation Nordic Metal: A Tribute to Euronymous – (1995)

Immortal Live drummer, Sons of Northern Darkness Tour Part II – (1995)

Andy Winter Incomprehensible – (2013)

Dynasty of Darkness Empire of Pain – (2014)

Circle of Chaos Crossing The Line – (2014)

As a guest

Ulver Synen – on the compilation Souvenirs from Hell – (1997)

Fleurety Department of Apocalyptic Affairs (track 1) – (2000)

Eyes of Noctum Inceptum (tracks 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11) – (2009)

Lord Impaler Admire the Cosmos Black (all tracks) – (2011)