Manes (band)
Norwegian band that split into black metal and electronic projects.
Manes originated in Trondheim, Norway, in 1993 as a two-piece black metal outfit featuring Sargatanas on vocals and Cernunnus (also known as Cern) handling the rest of the instruments. The band’s early work, including the debut album *Under Ein Blodraud Maane* (1999), was considered atypical for Norwegian black metal and earned strong praise from genre fans. However, with the releases of *Vilosophe* (2003) and *How the World Came to an End* (2007), Manes completely abandoned that style for a blend of jazz, trip hop, electronica, and metal, incorporating clean vocals and progressive elements. While critics applauded this shift, it drove away most of their original audience.
In 2011, the band announced they were quitting due to health and family issues, but resurfaced the same year with a separate project called Manii, which returned to black metal. Manii released *Kollaps* in 2013, followed by *Sinnets irrganger* in 2018 and *Innerst i mørket* in 2023. Meanwhile, Manes also returned independently as an electronic project in 2013, signing with Debemur Morti Productions. The following year, they put out their fourth album, *Be All End All*, along with a reissue of their debut and a compilation of rarities titled *Teeth, Toes and other trinkets*. In 2018, Manes announced a comeback with a new album, *Slow Motion Death Sequence*.
The band’s history began in 1992 when Cernunnus started Manes as a side project of his band Atrox. After a few experimental lineups, it settled as a duo, releasing three demos—*Maanens Natt* (1993), *Ned i Stillheten* (1994), and *Til Kongens Grav de Døde Vandrer* (1995)—before the debut album on Hammerheart Records. Cernunnus then took a long break. Manes resurfaced in 2002 with a new lineup, sound, and image, releasing *Vilosophe* in 2003 on Code666. They played festivals like Inferno Metal Festival and Hole in the Sky, sharing stages with Isis, Katatonia, and others. After the *[view]* EP in 2006 and drummer Rune Hoemsnes’ brief departure, they released the web EP *Deprooted* and the album *How the World Came to an End* in 2007 on Candlelight Records, which further developed their new style with guest collaborators. No concerts followed that album, and the band took time off, releasing a series of digital singles or EPs in 2011.
After the formation of the separate project Manii, the original vocalist Sargatanas returned. Manii sign
- origin
- Trondheim, Norway
- formed
- 1993
- genres
- Norwegian black metal (early); jazz, trip hop, electronica, metal (later)
- labels
- Candlelight Records, Hammerheart Records, Code666, Debemur Morti Productions
- associated_acts
- Manii, Atrox
Lore & Background
Manes was started by Cernunnus in 1992 as a side-project of Atrox. After a few experimental lineups, the band settled as a two-man band with Sargatanas on vocals and Cernunnus handling the rest. Their early demos—Maanens Natt (1993), Ned i Stillheten (1994), and Til Kongens Grav de Døde Vandrer (1995)—led to the debut album Under Ein Blodraud Maane (1999) on Hammerheart Records. After that album, Cernunnus took a long break from music.
The band resurfaced in 2002 with a new lineup, new musical style, and new appearance. Their second album, Vilosophe (2003), released on Code666, was an abrupt change that alienated many fans. They played festivals like Inferno Metal Festival (2004) and shared stages with Isis, Katatonia, and others. The album How the World Came to an End (2007) on Candlelight Records further developed their new style. The later album *Be All End All* was a separate project with different material, not originally attempted during the sessions for *How the World Came to an End*.
Reader's Guide
Manes is significant for its dramatic and controversial evolution from a lauded Norwegian black metal act to an experimental hybrid of jazz, trip hop, electronica, and metal. This shift, beginning with Vilosophe (2003), was highly acclaimed by critics but alienated most of their original fan base, illustrating the tension between artistic exploration and audience expectations. The band's dissolution in 2011 and subsequent bifurcation into two projects—Manii (returning to black metal) and a revived Manes (pursuing electronic music)—further underscores their legacy as a band that refused to be confined to a single genre. Their discography includes five studio albums under the Manes name and three under Manii, with the latter continuing to release black metal into the 2020s. The band's history is a case study in how a group can fragment and reinvent itself while maintaining a core identity across different musical directions.
Did You Know?
- Manes started as a side-project of the band Atrox in 1992.
- The band released 15 web albums in 2011 before disbanding.
- Manes changed its name to Manii in 2011 and returned to black metal.
- The album Be All End All was originally attempted during the sessions for How the World Came to an End but was not released until 2014.
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