Editing Gorgoroth (section)

===Tenure with Nuclear Blast (1997–2003)===
The move to [[Nuclear Blast]] was controversial among many black metal enthusiasts who pertained to the tenets of an 'underground black metal scene'.<ref name="nuclear-blast-dis">{{cite web |url=http://www.tartareandesire.com/interviews/gorgoroth.html |title=Interview with Gaahl @ Tatareandesire |publisher=Tartareandesire.com |date=7 October 2004 |access-date=10 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214650/http://www.tartareandesire.com/interviews/gorgoroth.html |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> The first album recorded and released for Nuclear Blast was ''[[Destroyer (Gorgoroth album)|Destroyer]]'' (1998). New singer [[Gaahl]] joined the band at this time, but was heard on only one song, the title track "Destroyer". The music and lyrics on the album were mainly written by Infernus, but guitarist Tormentor also contributed as composer, most notably on the title track, and former vocalist Pest wrote the lyrics on 4 tracks. In May 1998, Gorgoroth played five dates in Germany on [[Cradle of Filth]]'s European tour, with support from [[Old Man's Child]] and [[Einherjer]].<ref>[http://www.cradleoffilth.com/History.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004144811/http://www.cradleoffilth.com/History.html|date=4 October 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pushposters.co.uk/cgi/pcart/showitem.cgi?item=a14391 |title=CRADLE OF FILTH posters & t-shirts - Buy CRADLE OF FILTH posters & t-shirts at Pushposters.com |publisher=Pushposters.co.uk |date=28 March 1998 |access-date=10 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331150727/http://www.pushposters.co.uk/cgi/pcart/showitem.cgi?item=a14391 |archive-date=31 March 2009 }}</ref> Gorgoroth also performed at [[Wacken Open Air]] in summer 1998,<ref>[http://www.wacken.com/typo3temp/pics/e0b6ef8a8a.jpg] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927210100/http://www.wacken.com/typo3temp/pics/e0b6ef8a8a.jpg|date=27 September 2013}}</ref> and performed at the [[Tuska Open Air Metal Festival]] in [[Helsinki, Finland]], and in [[Oslo, Norway]] with Gehenna and [[Dødheimsgard]].<ref>[http://www.ludewigs.net/gehenna/bio.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205234832/http://www.ludewigs.net/gehenna/bio.htm|date=5 February 2012}}</ref>

In 1999, Gorgoroth began journeying into unknown territory with the recording of ''[[Incipit Satan]]''. Though mainly written by Infernus once again, the album delved into musical ideas not expanded upon by the group in previous recordings. Songs such as "Will to Power" showcased strong [[Industrial music|industrial]], [[dark ambient]] and [[Noise music|noise]] influences (more so than on ''Destroyer'' and ''Under the Sign of Hell'', both of which showed signs of experimentation). The song "When Love Rages Wild in My Heart" featured clean, [[blues]]y vocals. Overall, the album displayed [[Progressive metal|progressive]] tendencies, yet still retained a traditional black metal edge and Infernus' signature sound. The album was recorded during 1999, after drummer Vrolok and bassist T-Reaper had left the band and been replaced by drummer [[Erlend Erichsen]] (a.k.a. Sjt. Erichsen) and bassist [[King ov Hell]]. Drummer Erlend Erichsen left the band after the recordings were finished, and ''[[Incipit Satan]]'' was released in 2000, preceded by a European tour in December 1999, supporting [[Morbid Angel]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.morbidangel.com/press.html |title=Press Releases |publisher=MorbidAngel.com |access-date=10 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715075417/http://www.morbidangel.com/press.html |archive-date=15 July 2009 }}</ref> In May 2000, Gorgoroth headlined a European tour, with bands like [[Old Man's Child]] and [[Krisiun]] as supporting acts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sweetslyrics.com/bio-Krisiun.html |title=Krisiun Biography |publisher=Sweetslyrics.com |access-date=10 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002152220/http://www.sweetslyrics.com/bio-Krisiun.html |archive-date=2 October 2011 }}</ref> In early June 2000, Gorgoroth performed at the first [[Hole in the Sky (festival)|Hole in the Sky]] festival in Bergen, Norway. This festival was arranged in memory of former Gorgoroth drummer Grim, and also included bands such as [[Immortal (band)|Immortal]], [[Enslaved (band)|Enslaved]], [[Obtained Enslavement]], [[Hades Almighty]] and [[Aeternus]]. On 23 June 2000, Gorgoroth headlined the "Knüppelnacht" stage at the [[With Full Force]] festival in [[Leipzig, Germany]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.withfullforce.de/english/2000/framehaupt.html |title=With Full Force – Summer Open Air |publisher=Withfullforce.de |access-date=10 August 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080622235524/http://www.withfullforce.de/english/2000/framehaupt.html |archive-date = 22 June 2008}}</ref>

After a couple of Norwegian concerts in 2000 and 2001, Gorgoroth made their hitherto only live appearance in the US at the Milwaukee Metalfest in August 2001. In September and October 2001, the band went on two mini tours of Mexico and Colombia. In 2001, Gorgoroth was also featured on a [[tribute album]] to the Norwegian [[black metal]] band Mayhem, with a [[cover version]] of that band's "Life Eternal" from the ''[[De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas]]'' album. This song had been recorded in 1998, and featured [[Gaahl]] on vocals, as well as Infernus and Tormentor on rhythm guitars, T-Reaper on lead guitar and bass, and Vrolok on drums.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gorgoroth.info/tribute.htm |title=Gorgoroth – Albums |publisher=Gorgoroth.info |access-date=10 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326112331/http://www.gorgoroth.info/tribute.htm |archive-date=26 March 2009 }}</ref> This is the only released Gorgoroth recording which has not appeared on a full-length Gorgoroth album. In February 2002, vocalist Gaahl was taken into custody after being accused of having beaten a man at an after-party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ba.no/nyheter/article1472479.ece |title=Gorgoroth-vokalist må i fengsel – ba.no |date=22 February 2005 |publisher=ba.no<! |access-date=10 August 2009}}</ref> The singer was sentenced to 12 months in prison in 2002, due to an already existing unserved 1-year sentence for previously committed acts of violence.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Kim |date=2015-06-04 |title=Blood, Black Metal, and Torture: The A to Z of Gorgoroth |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/r3zkak/gorgoroth-az |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=Vice |language=en}}</ref>

In 2002, Tormentor decided to quit the band due to no longer being able to cooperate with King,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=5578 |title=GORGOROTH Commence Recording New CD |work=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=10 August 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rocknballs.com/?choix=interviews&old=interviews&id_interview=33&PHPSESSID=7de87b14418f567ea9ba1475b54b43a7#english |title=ROCK 'N BALLS &#124;&#124;&#124; Webzine Metal-Rock |publisher=Rocknballs.com |date=13 September 2007 |access-date=10 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715195026/http://www.rocknballs.com/?choix=interviews&old=interviews&id_interview=33&PHPSESSID=7de87b14418f567ea9ba1475b54b43a7#english |archive-date=15 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ending the stable 5-piece line-up of Gaahl, Infernus, Tormentor, King ov Hell and [[Kvitrafn]], which had been formed in 2000. Following Tormentor's departure, Gorgoroth began recording their new album, ''[[Twilight of the Idols (Gorgoroth album)|Twilight of the Idols]]'', in Bergen. The album showed a return to a more solidified black metal style, but was still quite different from early Gorgoroth releases, mainly due to the fact that most of the album's songs were written by bassist King and drummer Kvitrafn rather than Infernus. The band played their first live gig in a year and a half at Garage in Bergen in April 2003, with Tormentor returning as guitarist for a one-off show.<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite web |url=http://site.voila.fr/NIHILISTIC/Reviews/Gigs/taakegorgoroth.htm |title=GORGOROTH, TAAKE, Live at "Garage", Bergen (Norway) |publisher=Site.voila.fr |access-date=10 August 2009 |archive-date=16 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116075248/http://site.voila.fr/NIHILISTIC/Reviews/Gigs/taakegorgoroth.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''Twilight of the Idols'' was released by Nuclear Blast in May 2003,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=9549 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130413161927/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=9549 |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 April 2013 |title=GORGOROTH Complete Work On New Album |work=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=10 August 2009 }}</ref> and the band subsequently performed at Hole in the Sky in Bergen in August 2003. This marked the first Gorgoroth live appearance of session guitarist [[Apollyon (musician)|Apollyon]] of [[Aura Noir]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metalmessage.de/Interviews/gorgoroth-engl.htm |title=Gorgoroth – Interview @ Metalmessage |publisher=Metalmessage.de |access-date=10 August 2009}}</ref>