Kristoffer Rygg (born 9 September 1976), also known as Garm, Trickster G. Rex and God Head, is a Norwegian vocalist, musician and producer known primarily for his work with Ulver, Arcturus, and Borknagar.
Biography
Kristoffer Rygg was born in Oslo, Norway and later raised in Cascais, Portugal. He formed the experimental band Ulver at age 16, considered one of the early acts in the Norwegian black metal scene. Through his work with Ulver, Rygg would go on to become an important part of later metal subcategories, including avant-garde metal. Rygg is also the former vocalist of Borknagar (1995–1997) and Arcturus (1993–2003), both of which comprise central musicians from the early Norwegian black metal scene. Upon resigning from Borknagar, he recommended ICS Vortex as his replacement.
Rygg possesses a wide range of vocal textures and styles, ranging from baritone, countertenor, crooning and even black metal style screaming. He often records multiple tracks of himself to create dense male choirs on albums such as the majority of the vocals on Kveldssanger.
In 2005, Rygg collaborated with Portuguese musician/producer Daniel Cardoso in the project Head Control System. The music was described by the label as "groovy rock/metal with progressive edges and cinematic components." Their first and only full-length, entitled Murder Nature was released on 4 April 2006 through The End Records.
In recent years Rygg has been involved in freeform/improvisational project Æthenor which includes notable musicians such as Stephen O'Malley of Sunn O))), Daniel O'Sullivan of Guapo and David Tibet of Current 93. In April 2008 he played five concerts with Æthenor. It was his first time on stage in over a decade. Rygg has since participated in several mini-tours and concerts with Æthenor. Their triple residency at the Oslo jazz club Blå resulted in the much-acclaimed 4th album En Form for Blå.
In 2009, fifteen years after their only concert back in 1993, he decided to reintroduce Ulver live in concert. The first show was hosted by the Lillehammer Norwegian Literature Festival Norwegian Festival of Literature, and initiated by the late author Stig Sæterbakken. A year later, and after a series of shows around Europe, Rygg stood in front of a full house at the main stage of Oslo's National Opera & Ballet. A video album from the event was released commercially, and includes liner notes by Rygg and Sæterbakken.[1]
SCN: Features Rygg on Rise Above off the Inside Out album (2001).
Zyklon: Features Rygg on the two tracks Chaos Deathcult and Transcendental War – Battle between Gods of the World ov Worms album (2001).
Kåre João: Rygg does backing vocals on the Sideman album (2002).
Magenta: Features Rygg on the two tracks Vandalistvirgin and Backstabber Nation on the All Over single (2002). Rygg is also featured on the tracks I need my Love, Vandalistvirgin and Mermaid off the Little Girl Lost album (2003).
Star of Ash: Features Rygg on the two tracks The Nudity of Light and In the Throws of Guilt off the Iter.Viator album (2002) which he also co-produced. He is also featured on the songs Blood, Bones and a Skull and Crossing Over off the album The Thread (2008).
1349 Rykkinn: Unspecified appearance on the Brown Ring of Fury album (2003).
Virus: Rygg is credited with "Backyard barks" on the song Queen of the Hi-Ace off the Carheart album (2003) and provided guest vocals on the song "Call of the Tuskers" off the album "The Agents That Shape The Desert" (2011).
Tuner: Rygg appears with a 'single growl' on the first track White Cake Sky on the Pole album (2007), recorded in US (2005–2006).
Ava Inferi's third album Blood of Bacchus contains guest vocals by Garm on the track Black Wings (2009).
Dimmu Borgir's Abrahadabra (2010): Rygg sings clean vocals on the last track "Endings and Continuations".
Zweizz & Joey Hopkins: Zweizz & Joey Hopkins (2011): Vocals on the track "The Goat".
Mothlite: Dark Age (2012): Vocals on the track "The Underneath".
Nidingr – Garm sings vocals on the end of "Baldrs Draumar" on the album "Wolf Father" and clean vocals on "Ash Yggdrasil" on the album "The High Heat Licks Against Heaven".
