Muzzarelas

Muzzarelas formed in 1999 in Ålesund, Norway, with Erlend Hjelvik on vocals and guitar, Tom Cato Visnes on bass, and Asgeir Mickelson on drums. They started playing local pubs and festivals, building a following with a sound that mixed hard rock with folk touches and what people called Viking chants. Their lyrics often drew from Norse mythology and warrior themes, which gave their shows a particular atmosphere.

In 2004 they put out their debut album 'Dolmen,' which included the song 'It's Hard To Be A Viking.' That track caught on with its mix of heavy riffs and a kind of wry humor about Nordic life, and it became their breakout hit. They followed it with albums like 'Armour of God' in 2006, keeping up the same rough, chant-driven rock style. Other songs like '7'o Clock' and 'I Came Here For The Beer' showed they could write straightforward, anthemic rock tunes alongside the more mythic material.

They never really crossed over to mainstream international fame, but they developed a solid cult audience, especially among listeners who liked their particular blend of rock energy and Norse-inspired themes. The band's sound stayed pretty consistent, Hjelvik's forceful vocals over heavy guitar work, with Visnes and Mickelson providing a pounding rhythm section. They kept playing and recording for years without dramatically changing their approach.