Mustis is the

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true meaning ( orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individual's o ...

of Øyvind Johan Mustaparta (born 10 September 1979), a Norwegian keyboardist best known for his work in the

symphonic black metal Symphonic black metal is a subgenre of black metal that emerged in the 1990s and incorporates symphonic and orchestral elements. History One of the earliest forerunners in what would come to be the sound of symphonic metal was Celtic Frost ...

band

Dimmu Borgir Dimmu Borgir () is a Norwegian symphonic black metal band from Jessheim, formed in 1993. The name is derived from Dimmuborgir, a volcanic formation in Iceland, the name of which means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic lang ...

, as well as the

black Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...

/ thrash metal band Susperia.

Biography

Mustis was briefly an official member of Susperia (at the time named Seven Sins) from 1999 to mid-2000. He played keyboards on a demo EP the band released called ''Illusions of Evil'' (2000), shortly after which he left the band to focus on Dimmu Borgir. Mustis made his first appearance on a Dimmu Borgir release when he played keyboards on live tracks featured in the

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one Performing arts#Performers, performer or by several performers. If the recordings are from ...

Godless Savage Garden ''Godless Savage Garden'' is the first compilation album by Norwegian symphonic black metal band Dimmu Borgir. It was released in 1998 by Nuclear Blast and re-released on 3 October 2006 with 2 bonus tracks. Two of the five studio tracks on th ...

'' (1998). He has contributed to the further progression of their ambient, atmospherical, symphonic sound. This can be heard in songs such as "Progenies of the Great Apocalypse", which he composed, from the album ''

Death Cult Armageddon ''Death Cult Armageddon'' is the sixth studio album by Norwegian symphonic black metal band Dimmu Borgir, released on 9 September 2003. It has since sold over 100,000 copies in the United States; the first album under Nuclear Blast to do so; a ...

'' (2003). His other studio work with Dimmu Borgir includes '' Spiritual Black Dimensions'' (1999), '' Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia'' (2001), ''

'' (2003), the re-release of ''

Stormblåst ''Stormblåst'' (English: ''Stormblown'') is the second studio album by Norwegian symphonic black metal band Dimmu Borgir. It was released on 25 January 1996 through Cacophonous Records, re-released in 2001 by Century Media, and completely re-re ...

'' (2005) and ''

In Sorte Diaboli ''In Sorte Diaboli'' (Latin for "In league with the devil") is the seventh studio album by Norwegian symphonic black metal band Dimmu Borgir, released in 2007. It is the band's first concept album. A site on the Nuclear Blast website was created ...

'' (2007). After departing the band in 2009, he issued a statement in which he implied that he was being kept out of the proper registration for music he was writing. Likewise, according to his statement, he was fired by text message and he will be allowing "the resolution come from the lawyers instead of dealing with more dishonesty and lies on a one-on-one personal level". In 2010, Mustis made a return to Susperia, providing keyboards and orchestral arrangements on the album ''We Are The Ones'' (2011). The lead single, "Nothing Remains", was entered into 2011's

Eurovision Song Contest The Eurovision Song Contest (), often known simply as Eurovision, is an international Music competition, song competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) among its members since 1956. Each participating broadcaster ...

to represent Norway, but it was knocked out in the semi-final of the qualifying

Melodi Grand Prix Melodi Grand Prix (), commonly known as Grand Prix and MGP, sometimes as Norsk Melodi Grand Prix, is an annual music competition organised by Norwegian public broadcaster (NRK). It determines for the Eurovision Song Contest, and has been sta ...

. He has played keyboards as a

session musician A session musician (also known as studio musician or backing musician) is a musician hired to perform in a recording session or a live performance. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a reco ...

and appeared on singles by Art Of Departure and Lindsay Schoolcraft, respectively. In 2023, symphonic black metal band Odium welcomed Mustis as a member, after he joined them as second keyboardist for a performance at the

Inferno Metal Festival Inferno Metal Festival is an annual extreme metal festival that takes place every year during Easter in Oslo, Norway. The festival was founded by Borknagar guitarist Jens F. Ryland in cooperation with Radar Booking in 2001 and takes place at R ...

. After 15 years, he reunited with Dimmu Borgir to perform "The Insight and the Catharsis" at the Inferno Metal Festival 2024, along with other former bandmates

ICS Vortex Simen Hestnæs (born 4 March 1974), better known by his stage name ICS Vortex or simply Vortex, is a Norwegian musician. He is the vocalist of the similarly named band ICS Vortex, the avant-garde metal band Arcturus (band), Arcturus and the doom ...

and

Tjodalv Ian Kenneth Åkesson (born 1976), known professionally as Tjodalv, is a Norwegian drummer. He is a founding member of the black metal bands Dimmu Borgir and Old Man's Child. He now plays in Black Comedy and Susperia. Tjodalv played guitar on th ...

. Mustis' surname Mustaparta comes from Finnish. Literally translated, it means 'black beard'.

Discography

With Susperia

*'' Illusions of Evil'' (Demo) – (2000) *''Nothing Remains'' (Single) – NRK/MGP (2011) *''We Are the Ones'' – SMG Records (2011)

With Dimmu Borgir

*'' Spiritual Black Dimensions'' –

Nuclear Blast Nuclear Blast Records is a German record label with subsidiary, subsidiaries located in Germany, the United States and Brazil. It was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Donzdorf. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label moved on ...

(1999) (reissued in 2004) *'' Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia'' – Nuclear Blast (2001) *'' Alive in Torment'' (live EP) – Nuclear Blast (2001) *'' World Misanthropy'' (live EP) – Nuclear Blast (2002) *''

'' – Nuclear Blast (2003) *'' Vredesbyrd'' (single) – Nuclear Blast (2004) *''The Sacrilegious Scorn'' (single) – Nuclear Blast (2007) *''In Sorte Diaboli Sampler'' (single) – Nuclear Blast (2007) *''The Serpentine Offering'' (single) – Nuclear Blast (2007) *''

'' – Nuclear Blast (2007)

As session musician

*Art Of Departure – ''Art Of Departure'' (Single) – Destination Records (2020) *Lindsay Schoolcraft – ''Remember To Breathe'' (Single) – (2022)

References

1979 births Living people Musicians from Bærum Dimmu Borgir members Heavy metal keyboardists Norwegian atheists Norwegian black metal musicians Norwegian people of Kven descent Norwegian rock keyboardists Place of birth missing (living people) Susperia members {{Norway-musician-stub