GORGOROTH's GAAHL, KING Retain Ownership Of Band's Name And Logo

King Ov Hell (real name: Tom Cato Visnes) and Gaahl (real name: Kristian Eivind Espedal) from the Norwegian black metal band GORGOROTH have issued the following statement:

"Norwegian authorities at Patentstyret (Norwegian patent office) have made the verdict on the dispute over the further use of the trademark and logo 'GORGOROTH.' It has been legally determined that King and Gaahl retain the rightful ownership and use of the name and logo, now and in the future.

"King and Gaahl will not give a detailed public statement on this verdict however they have both remained confident this result would indeed be the final conclusion.

"Any third parties who use the name GORGOROTH will from now on be met with legal prosecution.

"GORGOROTH, King and Gaahl, will not continue to work with Regain Records given their disloyal acts concerning GORGOROTH and are currently carefully choosing a new label for the release of their next full-length album.

"King and Gaahl are now focused on making music for the next album and with planning some very special shows for 2008. As previously announced, GORGOROTH will headline at Wacken Open Air."

GORGOROTH's current touring lineup includes Gaahl on vocals, King ov Hell on bass, Nick Barker (ex-DIMMU BORGIR, CRADLE OF FILTH) on drums, and Teloch (NIDINGR, UMORAL, 1349) and Sykelig on guitars.

As previously reported, GORGOROTH guitarist Infernus (real name: Roger Tiegs) — who is involved in a legal dispute with his estranged bandmates over the rights to the group's name — has launched the "official" web site and MySpace page for his version of GORGOROTH. According to a posting on the site, GORGOROTH's lineup "has been subject to several changes — about 25 different musicians have been involved with the band since its inception . . . GORGOROTH at present consists of Infernus as the sole permanent member, which means that no live appearances are planned for the immediate future. Infernus is busy finishing the material for the next full-length album, 'Quantos Possund Ad Satanitatem Trahunt', to be released on Regain Records. Some members have already been added to GORGOROTH's future lineup, and an announcement concerning this will be issued before long."

Sweden's Regain Records issued a press release last week stating that it would continue its co-operation with the band's original member Infernus with a new lineup. Regain Records "recognizes Infernus as the rightful owner of the bands name, logo and trademark, and is prepared to take any legal steps necessary to prevent any third part from exploiting it, artistically and commercially," the label said.

René Ackermann of Contraband Candy conducted an interview with King Ov Hell and Gaahl during the UK leg of the group's recently completed European tour. Topics include new drummers, the band's upcoming live album, their legendary Polish gig in Krakow and talks of staging another blasphemous gig in the future. Watch the 10-minute chat below.