SUSPERIA will represent Norway and compete in the Norwegian Eurovision song contest 201, taking place May 14th, 2011 in Germany. For the performance, Susperia will join forces with former DIMMU BORGIR keyboardist Mustis.

Says Susperia frontman Athera: "We are not afraid to lose credibility, a competition needs variation. We know how good our music is, with great melodies, energy and hooks in the songs. With this in mind, we want to let the big masses discover our music, and enjoy our hidden treasures."

Susperia has released 5 albums and 1 EP, and has done extensive touring in Europe. The band are proud to be the first Norwegian metal band to hit the official top 20 single charts in Norway with their EP, Devil May Care. Musically they have developed from what people used to define as black metal, to play more heavy metal, hard rock and melodic metal with clean vocals. "It is natural to develop and have new approaches", Athera states.

The band started in 1999 and has had the same members to this day. Athera, Cyrus, Elvorn, Tjodalv and Memnock are Susperia. With the reintroduction of Mustis, a new aspect has been added to the sound. Unknown to most, Mustis actually played synth on the demo back in 99. They are currently discussing a potential collaboration for a new album as well.

Mustis states: "It has been a new gift for me and very inspiring to gather with Susperia. Since Elvorn and I established our first band in 1995 as kids, then meeting Memnock and knowing Tjodalv from my early days in Dimmu Borgir, it felt very natural to sit down and start to be creative again together with my old friends. I don't think keyboard is for just any kind of metal band or band in general, but Susperia have the open mind for this and the right elements for sure, and we agree that something really good can come out of this. We made a killer song together that`s going to be performed at the Norwegian Eurovision!! I really can't wait to perform again with a band that in a very dynamic way lift each other’s instruments and Atheras amazing vocals all together."

Athera is also busy with CHROME DIVISION with a new album release early next year, and Cyrus is currently touring with Dimmu Borgir in US handling the bass, but the guys promise to give the Eurovison song contest the highest priority.

(Photo: Fredrik Arff/NRK)