Nattfrossa is a black/folk metal band from Sweden, formed in 1995. The group is known for its unique blend of Swedish folklore elements, featuring female soprano vocals alongside a clean male voice.
The band was established in late 1995 by two members of the death/black metal band Dimness, X-Ray Alex and Andy E. They initially sought to create black metal infused with operatic vocals. However, X-Ray Alex soon proposed incorporating folklore influences, a suggestion that Andy embraced enthusiastically. This creative shift led the duo to compose numerous pieces inspired by themes such as witches, trolls, and goblins.
The original lineup consisted of X-Ray Alex on guitars and backing grunts, and Andy E. on lead vocals, bass, and drum programming. As the new year approached, they recognized the need for a fast drummer. They approached Martin H.O.S., a drummer from Dimness, who offered to play second guitar, while Henning Stonehammer, formerly of Omen, took over on drums. The group also decided to add a female vocalist, discovering Anna, a classmate of Henning, whose voice resonated with the ethereal quality they sought.
This lineup persisted until the complexity of the drum parts became a challenge, leading to the only recordings from this period being low-quality rehearsal tapes. Consequently, Nattfrossa sought a new drummer.
During a Dimness concert in Kista with Somber, Andy approached Somber's drummer, Olle, about rehearsing with Nattfrossa. Olle agreed to try out for the band and eventually became a permanent member, bringing a different style to the group. His drumming, influenced by Somber’s melodic death metal, resulted in a grungier, slower sound for Nattfrossa.
By the summer, the band made the decision to part ways with Olle due to stylistic differences and his struggles with 3/4 and 6/8 time signatures. With no new drummer found, and a wealth of new music written, Nattfrossa opted to record their first demo using computer-generated drums. The recording of "En stilla dag vid Šlven" (A Calm Day by the River) began on September 13, 1996, featuring five songs and an outro that totaled 42 minutes. This demo showcased their blend of black metal and Scandinavian folk music, incorporating both clean male and female vocals. Although available to the public, the demo was not sent to any record labels.
In early 1997, Nattfrossa welcomed a new drummer, Evil Emil, whose exceptional speed and skill greatly enhanced the band's sound. They began rehearsals, and by April, they commenced recording their second demo, titled "Barnarov" (Child Prey), a 27-minute exploration into medieval themes. During this period, the band shifted away from black metal influences toward a fusion of folk music and heavy metal, which received positive feedback from fans, many of whom viewed the second demo as a marked improvement over the first.
Nattfrossa has performed live only twice. Their debut was at Viksjš TrŠffen, where they received strong support from friends and fans. Their second performance took place at D.A.S. in Bro, though it was marred by poor sound quality due to issues with the preceding band. Notable attendees included Ozzy Oskar and MŠrsta Micke, as well as Linus "Dusk" Ekstrom from Siebenburgen, who contributed a black metal scream during their set.
In June 1997, Andy began military service in northern Sweden, complicating the band's rehearsal schedule. This contributed to difficulties within the group, leading to Anna’s departure later that year due to rehearsal challenges. Nattfrossa then sought a new female vocalist, trying out various candidates, including a promising singer named Malin, who unfortunately could not join due to her pregnancy.
Eventually, the band found another talented female singer named Anna, who had experience in a church choir. This allowed Nattfrossa to continue their creative efforts, and they began writing and rehearsing material for a third demo. However, in early 1998, Evil Emil left the band, citing a lack of progress as his reason for departure. This left Nattfrossa facing yet another challenge in finding a drummer. After several months, they decided to proceed with the third demo using machine-generated drums, which was nearing completion.
