in the Swiss Alps (National Park).]] in Stara Planina, Serbia.]]

A forest (also called a wood, woodland, wold, weald, holt, frith, or firth) is an area with a high density of trees. There are many definitions of a forest, based on the various criteria. These plant communities cover approximately 9.4% of the Earth's surface (or 30% of total land area), though they once covered much more (about 50% of total land area), in many different regions and function as habitats for organisms, hydrologic flow modulators, and soil conservers, constituting one of the most important aspects of the Earth's biosphere. Although a forest is classified primarily by trees a forest ecosystem is defined intrinsically with additional species such as fungi.

Etymology

The word "forest" comes from Middle English forest, from Old French forest (also forès) "forest, vast expanse covered by trees", believed to be a borrowing (probably via Frankish or Old High German) of the Medieval Latin word foresta "open wood". Foresta was first used by Carolingian scribes in the Capitularies of Charlemagne to refer specifically to the king's royal hunting grounds. The term was not endemic to Romance languages (e.g. native words for "forest" in the Romance languages evolved out of the Latin word silva "forest, wood"; cf. Italian, Spanish, Portuguese selva; Romanian silvă; Old French selve); and cognates in Romance languages, such as Italian foresta, Spanish and Portuguese floresta, etc. are all ultimately borrowings of the French word. The exact origin of Medieval Latin foresta is obscure. Some authorities claim the word derives from the Late Latin phrase forestam silvam, meaning "the outer wood"; others claim the term is a latinisation of the Frankish word *forhist "forest, wooded country", assimilated to forestam silvam (a common practise among Frankish scribes). Frankish *forhist is attested by Old High German forst "forest", Middle Low German vorst "forest", Old English fyrhþ "forest, woodland, game preserve, hunting ground", and Old Norse fýri "coniferous forest", all of which derive from Proto-Germanic *furχísa-, *furχíþja- "a fir-wood, coniferous forest", from Proto-Indo-European *perk^wu- "a coniferous or mountain forest, wooded height". Uses of the word "forest" in English to denote any uninhabited area of non-enclosure are now considered archaic. These hunting forests were not necessarily wooded much, if at all. However, as hunting forests did often include considerable areas of woodland, the word "forest" eventually came to mean wooded land more generally. By the start of the fourteenth century the word appeared in English texts, indicating all three senses: the most common one, the legal term and the archaic usage.

, Bihar, India]] Other terms used to mean "an area with a high density of trees" are wood, woodland, wold, weald, holt, frith and firth. Unlike forest, these are all derived from Old English and were not borrowed from another language. Some classifications now reserve the term woodland for an area with more open space between trees and distinguish among woodlands, open forests, and closed forests based on crown cover.

Distribution

in Brazil.]] in Tasmania's Hellyer Gorge.]]

found in all regions capable of sustaining tree growth, at altitudes up to the tree line, except where natural fire frequency or other disturbance is too high, or where the environment has been altered by human activity.

The latitudes 10° north and south of the Equator are mostly covered in tropical rainforest, and the latitudes between 53°N and 67°N have boreal forest. As a general rule, forests dominated by angiosperms (broadleaf forests) are more species-rich than those dominated by gymnosperms (conifer, montane, or needleleaf forests), although exceptions exist.

Forests sometimes contain many tree species only within a small area (as in tropical rain and temperate deciduous forests), or relatively few species over large areas (e.g., taiga and arid montane coniferous forests). Forests are often home to many animal and plant species, and biomass per unit area is high compared to other vegetation communities. Much of this biomass occurs below ground in the root systems and as partially decomposed plant detritus. The woody component of a forest contains lignin, which is relatively slow to decompose compared with other organic materials such as cellulose or carbohydrate.

Forests are differentiated from woodlands by the extent of canopy coverage: in a forest, the branches and the foliage of separate trees often meet or interlock, although there can be gaps of varying sizes within an area referred to as forest. A woodland has a more continuously open canopy, with trees spaced further apart, which allows more sunlight to penetrate to the ground between them (also see: savanna).

Among the major forested biomes are:

rain forest (tropical and temperate)

taiga

temperate hardwood forest

tropical dry forest

==Classification== forest in Montenegro]] , featuring various Adansonia (baobab) species, Alluaudia procera (Madagascar ocotillo) and other vegetation.]] of beech trees (Fagus sylvatica) prepared to be regenerated by their saplings in the understory, in the Brussels part of the Sonian Forest.]] during early autumn.]]

Forests can be classified in different ways and to different degrees of specificity. One such way is in terms of the "biome" in which they exist, combined with leaf longevity of the dominant species (whether they are evergreen or deciduous). Another distinction is whether the forests composed predominantly of broadleaf trees, coniferous (needle-leaved) trees, or mixed.

Boreal forests occupy the subarctic zone and are generally evergreen and coniferous.

Temperate zones support both broadleaf deciduous forests (e.g., temperate deciduous forest) and evergreen coniferous forests (e.g., Temperate coniferous forests and Temperate rainforests). Warm temperate zones support broadleaf evergreen forests, including laurel forests.

Tropical and subtropical forests include tropical and subtropical moist forests, tropical and subtropical dry forests, and tropical and subtropical coniferous forests.

Physiognomy classifies forests based on their overall physical structure or developmental stage (e.g. old growth vs. second growth).

Forests can also be classified more specifically based on the climate and the dominant tree species present, resulting in numerous different forest types (e.g., ponderosa pine/Douglas-fir forest).

A number of global forest classification systems have been proposed, but none has gained universal acceptance. UNEP-WCMC's forest category classification system is a simplification of other more complex systems (e.g. UNESCO's forest and woodland 'subformations'). This system divides the world's forests into 26 major types, which reflect climatic zones as well as the principal types of trees. These 26 major types can be reclassified into 6 broader categories: temperate needleleaf; temperate broadleaf and mixed; tropical moist; tropical dry; sparse trees and parkland; and forest plantations. Each category is described as a separate section below.

Temperate needleleaf

Temperate needleleaf forests mostly occupy the higher latitude regions of the northern hemisphere, as well as high altitude zones and some warm temperate areas, especially on nutrient-poor or otherwise unfavourable soils. These forests are composed entirely, or nearly so, of coniferous species (Coniferophyta). In the Northern Hemisphere pines Pinus, spruces Picea, larches Larix, silver firs Abies, Douglas firs Pseudotsuga and hemlocks Tsuga, make up the canopy, but other taxa are also important. In the Southern Hemisphere, most coniferous trees (members of the Araucariaceae and Podocarpaceae) occur in mixtures with broadleaf species that are classed as broadleaf and mixed forests.

Temperate broadleaf and mixed

Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests include a substantial component of trees in the Anthophyta. They are generally characteristic of the warmer temperate latitudes, but extend to cool temperate ones, particularly in the southern hemisphere. They include such forest types as the mixed deciduous forests of the United States and their counterparts in China and Japan, the broadleaf evergreen rain forests of Japan, Chile and Tasmania, the sclerophyllous forests of Australia, Central Chile, the Mediterranean and California, and the southern beech Nothofagus forests of Chile and New Zealand.

Tropical moist

Tropical moist forests include many different forest types. The best known and most extensive are the lowland evergreen broadleaf rainforests include, for example: the seasonally inundated várzea and igapó forests and the terra firma forests of the Amazon Basin; the peat swamp forests and moist dipterocarp forests of Southeast Asia; and the high forests of the Congo Basin. The forests of tropical mountains are also included in this broad category, generally divided into upper and lower montane formations on the basis of their physiognomy, which varies with altitude. The montane forests include cloud forest, those forests at middle to high altitude, which derive a significant part of their water budget from cloud, and support a rich abundance of vascular and nonvascular epiphytes. Mangrove forests also fall within this broad category, as do most of the tropical coniferous forests of Central America.

Tropical dry

Tropical dry forests are characteristic of areas in the tropics affected by seasonal drought. The seasonality of rainfall is usually reflected in the deciduousness of the forest canopy, with most trees being leafless for several months of the year. However, under some conditions, e.g. less fertile soils or less predictable drought regimes, the proportion of evergreen species increases and the forests are characterised as "sclerophyllous". Thorn forest, a dense forest of low stature with a high frequency of thorny or spiny species, is found where drought is prolonged, and especially where grazing animals are plentiful. On very poor soils, and especially where fire is a recurrent phenomenon, woody savannas develop (see 'sparse trees and parkland').

Sparse trees and parkland

in the northeast Ural Mountains, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug — Yugra, Russia. Trees include Picea obovata (dominant on right bank), Larix sibirica, Pinus sibirica, and Betula pendula.]] Sparse trees and parkland are forests with open canopies of 10-30% crown cover. They occur principally in areas of transition from forested to non-forested landscapes. The two major zones in which these ecosystems occur are in the boreal region and in the seasonally dry tropics. At high latitudes, north of the main zone of boreal forest or taiga, growing conditions are not adequate to maintain a continuous closed forest cover, so tree cover is both sparse and discontinuous. This vegetation is variously called open taiga, open lichen woodland, and forest tundra. It is species-poor, has high bryophyte cover, and is frequently affected by fire.

Forest plantations

Forest plantations, generally intended for the production of timber and pulpwood increase the total area of forest worldwide. Commonly mono-specific and/or composed of introduced tree species, these ecosystems are not generally important as habitat for native biodiversity. However, they can be managed in ways that enhance their biodiversity protection functions and they are important providers of ecosystem services such as maintaining nutrient capital, protecting watersheds and soil structure as well as storing carbon. They may also play an important role in alleviating pressure on natural forests for timber and fuelwood production.

Forest categories

, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.]] , Marin County, California.]]

28 forest categories are used to enable the translation of forest types from national and regional classification systems to a harmonised global one:

Temperate and boreal forest types

# Evergreen needleleaf forest - Natural forest with > 30% canopy cover, in which the canopy is predominantly (> 75%) needleleaf and evergreen. # Deciduous needleleaf forests - Natural forests with > 30% canopy cover, in which the canopy is predominantly (> 75%) needleleaf and deciduous. # Mixed broadleaf/needleleaf forest - Natural forest with > 30% canopy cover, in which the canopy is composed of a more or less even mixture of needleleaf and broadleaf crowns (between 50:50% and 25:75%). # Broadleaf evergreen forest - Natural forests with > 30% canopy cover, the canopy being > 75% evergreen and broadleaf. # Deciduous broadleaf forest - Natural forests with > 30% canopy cover, in which > 75% of the canopy is deciduous and broadleaves predominate (> 75% of canopy cover). # Freshwater swamp forest - Natural forests with > 30% canopy cover, composed of trees with any mixture of leaf type and seasonality, but in which the predominant environmental characteristic is a waterlogged soil. # Sclerophyllous dry forest - Natural forest with > 30% canopy cover, in which the canopy is mainly composed of sclerophyllous broadleaves and is > 75% evergreen. # Disturbed natural forest - Any forest type above that has in its interior significant areas of disturbance by people, including clearing, felling for wood extraction, anthropogenic fires, road construction, etc. # Sparse trees and parkland - Natural forests in which the tree canopy cover is between 10-30%, such as in the steppe regions of the world. Trees of any type (e.g., needleleaf, broadleaf, palms). # Exotic species plantation - Intensively managed forests with > 30% canopy cover, which have been planted by people with species not naturally occurring in that country. # Native species plantation - Intensively managed forests with > 30% canopy cover, which have been planted by people with species that occur naturally in that country. # *Unspecified forest plantation - Forest plantations showing extent only with no further information about their type, This data currently only refers to the Ukraine. # *Unclassified forest data - Forest data showing forest extent only with no further information about their type.

Those marked * have been created as a result of data holdings which do not specify the forest type, hence 26 categories are quoted, not 28 shown here.

Tropical forest types

rainforest in Polynesia.]] # Lowland evergreen broadleaf rain forest - Natural forests with > 30% canopy cover, below altitude that display little or no seasonality, the canopy being >75% evergreen broadleaf. # Lower montane forest - Natural forests with > 30% canopy cover, between 1200–1800 m altitude, with any seasonality regime and leaf type mixture. # Upper montane forest - Natural forests with > 30% canopy cover, above altitude, with any seasonality regime and leaf type mixture. # Freshwater swamp forest - Natural forests with > 30% canopy cover, below altitude, composed of trees with any mixture of leaf type and seasonality, but in which the predominant environmental characteristic is a waterlogged soil. # Semi-evergreen moist broadleaf forest - Natural forests with > 30% canopy cover, below altitude in which between 50-75% of the canopy is evergreen, > 75% are broadleaves, and the trees display seasonality of flowering and fruiting. # Mixed broadleaf/needleleaf forest - Natural forests with > 30% canopy cover, below altitude, in which the canopy is composed of a more or less even mixture of needleleaf and broadleaf crowns (between 50:50% and 25:75%). # Needleleaf forest - Natural forest with > 30% canopy cover, below altitude, in which the canopy is predominantly (> 75%) needleleaf. # Mangroves - Natural forests with > 30% canopy cover, composed of species of mangrove tree, generally along coasts in or near brackish or seawater. # Disturbed natural forest - Any forest type above that has in its interior significant areas of disturbance by people, including clearing, felling for wood extraction, anthropogenic fires, road construction, etc. # Deciduous/semi-deciduous broadleaf forest - Natural forests with > 30% canopy cover, below altitude in which between 50-100% of the canopy is deciduous and broadleaves predominate (> 75% of canopy cover). # Sclerophyllous dry forest - Natural forests with > 30% canopy cover, below altitude, in which the canopy is mainly composed of sclerophyllous broadleaves and is > 75% evergreen. # Thorn forest - Natural forests with > 30% canopy cover, below altitude, in which the canopy is mainly composed of deciduous trees with thorns and succulent phanerophytes with thorns may be frequent. # Sparse trees and parkland - Natural forests in which the tree canopy cover is between 10-30%, such as in the savannah regions of the world. Trees of any type (e.g., needleleaf, broadleaf, palms). # Exotic species plantation - Intensively managed forests with > 30% canopy cover, which have been planted by people with species not naturally occurring in that country. # Native species plantation - Intensively managed forests with > 30% canopy cover, which have been planted by people with species that occur naturally in that country.

Forest loss and management

Main articles: Forestry, Logging and Deforestation woodland in northwest Oregon.]] redwood forest, where many redwood trees are managed for preservation and longevity, rather than being harvested for wood production.]]

The scientific study of forest species and their interaction with the environment is referred to as forest ecology, while the management of forests is often referred to as forestry. Forest management has changed considerably over the last few centuries, with rapid changes from the 1980s onwards culminating in a practice now referred to as sustainable forest management. Forest ecologists concentrate on forest patterns and processes, usually with the aim of elucidating cause and effect relationships. Foresters who practice sustainable forest management focus on the integration of ecological, social and economic values, often in consultation with local communities and other stakeholders.

Anthropogenic factors that can affect forests include logging, urban sprawl, human-caused forest fires, acid rain, invasive species, and the slash and burn practices of swidden agriculture or shifting cultivation. The loss and re-growth of forest leads to a distinction between two broad types of forest, primary or old-growth forest and secondary forest. There are also many natural factors that can cause changes in forests over time including forest fires, insects, diseases, weather, competition between species, etc. In 1997, the World Resources Institute recorded that only 20% of the world's original forests remained in large intact tracts of undisturbed forest. More than 75% of these intact forests lie in three countries - the Boreal forests of Russia and Canada and the rainforest of Brazil. In 2006 this information on intact forests was updated using latest available satellite imagery.

Canada has about of forest land. More than 90% of forest land is publicly owned and about 50% of the total forest area is allocated for harvesting. These allocated areas are managed using the principles of sustainable forest management, which includes extensive consultation with local stakeholders. About eight percent of Canada’s forest is legally protected from resource development (Global Forest Watch Canada)(Natural Resources Canada). Much more forest land — about 40 percent of the total forest land base — is subject to varying degrees of protection through processes such as integrated land use planning or defined management areas such as certified forests (Natural Resources Canada).

in the United States; 1620, 1850, and 1920 maps: These maps represent only virgin forest lost. Some regrowth has occurred but not to the age, size or extent of 1620 due to population increases and food cultivation. From William B. Greeley's, The Relation of Geography to Timber Supply, Economic Geography, 1925, vol. 1, p. 1-11. Source of "Today" map: compiled by George Draffan from roadless area map in The Big Outside: A Descriptive Inventory of the Big Wilderness Areas of the United States, by Dave Foreman and Howie Wolke (Harmony Books, 1992).'']]

By December 2006, over 1,237,000 square kilometers of forest land in Canada (about half the global total) had been certified as being sustainably managed (Canadian Sustainable Forestry Certification Coalition). Clearcutting, first used in the latter half of the 20th century, is less expensive, but devastating to the environment and companies are required by law to ensure that harvested areas are adequately regenerated. Most Canadian provinces have regulations limiting the size of clearcuts, although some older clearcuts can range upwards of in size which were cut over several years. China instituted a ban on logging, beginning in 1998, due to the destruction caused by clearcutting. Selective cutting avoids the erosion, and flooding, that result from clearcutting.

In the United States, most forests have historically been affected by humans to some degree, though in recent years improved forestry practices has helped regulate or moderate large scale or severe impacts. However, the United States Forest Service estimates a net loss of about 2 million hectares (4,942,000 acres) between 1997 and 2020; this estimate includes conversion of forest land to other uses, including urban and suburban development, as well as afforestation and natural reversion of abandoned crop and pasture land to forest. However, in many areas of the United States, the area of forest is stable or increasing, particularly in many northern states. The opposite problem from flooding has plagued national forests, with loggers complaining that a lack of thinning and proper forest management has resulted in large forest fires.

Old-growth forest contains mainly natural patterns of biodiversity in established seral patterns, and they contain mainly species native to the region and habitat. The natural formations and processes have not been affected by humans with a frequency or intensity to change the natural structure and components of the habitat. Secondary forest contains significant elements of species which were originally from other regions or habitats.

Smaller areas of woodland in cities may be managed as Urban forestry, sometimes within public parks. These are often created for human benefits; Attention Restoration Theory argues that spending time in nature reduces stress and improves health, while forest schools and kindergartens help young people to develop social as well as scientific skills in forests. These typically need to be close to where the children live, for practical logistics.

Gallery

See also

Agroforestry

Ancient Woodland, an official classification of ancient forest in the United Kingdom.

Biomass

Biomass (ecology)

Bioproduct

Biosphere

Boreal forest

Canopy

Cloud forest

Chase (land)

Deforestation

Dendrometry

Ecological succession

Forest management

Forest migration

Forest pathology

Intact forest landscape

Jungle (terrain)

Kelp forest (A forest made mostly if not entirely of Kelp; an underwater forest)

Monsoon forest

Natural environment

Natural landscape

Old growth forest (ancient forest, virgin forest, primary forest)

Permaforestry

Primeval forest, a term often used interchangeably with old growth forest

Rainforest

Red forest

REDD-plus

Rocky Mountains

Silviculture

Subalpine forest

Taiga, a biome characterized by coniferous forests

Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests

Temperate coniferous forests

Tree allometry

Tropical rainforest

Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests

Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests

Wildcrafting

Woodland management

References

Further reading

2006-01-13, Sciencedaily: Deep-rooted Plants Have Much Greater Impact On Climate Than Experts Thought Citat: "...The tap roots transfer rainwater from the surface to reservoirs deep underground and redistribute water...increases photosynthesis and the evaporation of water...by 40% in the dry season...During the wet season, these plants can store as much as 10% of the annual precipitation as deep as underground, to be tapped during the dry months...tree roots acting like pipes to allow water to shift around much faster than it could otherwise percolate through the soil..."

Hédl, M. Svátek, M. Dancak, Rodzay A.W., M. Salleh A.B., Kamariah A.S. A new technique for inventory of permanent plots in tropical forests: a case study from lowland dipterocarp forest in Kuala Belalong, Brunei Darussalam, In Blumea 54, 2009, p 124–130. Publié 30. 10. 2009.

External links

Forests in danger

Roadmap to Recovery: The World's Last Intact Forest Landscapes

Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005 by the FAO

CoolForests.org - Conservation Cools the Planet

Google - public data "Forest area (sq. km)"

Category:Habitats Category:Trees Category:Ecosystems Category:Climate change mitigation

For the basketball player, see Daniel Gibson

Dan Gibson (Montreal, January 19, 1922 – March 18, 2006) was a Canadian photographer, cinematographer and sound recordist.

During the late 1940s, Dan Gibson took photographs and made nature films, including Audubon Wildlife Theatre. He produced many films and television series. It was through this film-making that Dan learned how to record wildlife sound. He pioneered techniques of recording, and also helped design equipment to optimize results, including the “Dan Gibson Parabolic Microphone”. Some of his early recordings of the 1950s and 1960s were released on LP records, and started his Solitudes series, which was introduced in 1981.

Dan is well regarded for his contributions to the Friends of Algonquin Park, and his ongoing support for the Algonquin Park Residents Association. Having a lease of land in Algonquin Provincial Park gave Dan and his family (Wife: Helen, Children: Mary-Jane or "Kirkie," Holly, Dan, and Gordon) a unique opportunity to connect with nature, and it certainly fueled his passion for the study, preservation and interaction with wildlife.

In 1994, Dan was awarded The Order of Canada for his environmental works. In 1997, Dan was awarded the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award at the Juno Awards ceremony in Hamilton, Ontario.

In 2004, he released his first DVD, Natural Beauty, which was originally shot in High Definition.

Major productions

Wings In The Wilderness - Feature Film (Narrated by Lorne Greene)

Audubon Wildlife Theatre - 78 episode TV series

Wildlife Cinema - multiple episode TV series

To The Wild Country - 10 episode TV series (Narrated by Lorne Greene)

Wild Canada - multiple episode TV series

Film awards

Whitethroat - Golden Gate Award - 1965 San Francisco Film Festival

Land of the Loon - Best TV Film of the Year and Certificate of Honour for outstanding contribution to the art of cinematography from the CSC, 1967 Canadian Film Awards

Adventure Trent Severn - Award of Merit, 1967 Canadian Film Awards

Winter Potpourri - Michigan Outdoor Writers Award of Merit 1969

Sounds of Nature - Etrog for Best Sound in a Non-theatrical Film, 1971 Canadian Film Awards

Fly Geese F-L-Y - Blue Ribbon Award for Best Children’s Film, 1972 American Film Festival

Golden Autumn - Teddy Award, 1973 U.S. National Outdoor-Travel Film Festival

Dan Gibson’s Nature Family - Best Wildlife Film of the Year, 1972 Canadian Film Awards

Return of the Giants - Best Wildlife Film of the Year, 1973 Canadian Film Awards

Land of the Big Ice - Best Wildlife Film of the Year, 1974 Canadian Film Awards

Wings In The Wilderness - Etrog for Best Sound in a Non-theatrical Film and Certificate of Honour for outstanding contribution to the art of cinematography from the CSC, 1975 Canadian Film Awards

Return of the Winged Giants - John Muir Award fo Best Ecological Film, 1977 National Educational Film Festival, USA and Best Wildlife Film, 1977 Saskatchewan International Film Festival

Album awards

Solitudes albums have sold over 20,000,000 worldwide

15 Solitudes albums have been Certified Gold (50,000 units sold) in Canada

11 Solitudes albums have been Certified Platinum (100,000 units sold) or multi-Platinum status.

Discography

Some popular albums are:

Solitudes 25: Silver Anniversary Collection Best of Solitudes: 20th Anniversary Listen to the Mockingbird Loon Echo Lake Natural Beauty DVD Rolling Thunder Wildlife Identification by Sound

Notes

External links

Solitudes website

Category:1922 births Category:2006 deaths Category:Canadian naturalists Category:Upper Canada College alumni

Name	Carpathian Forest |
Background	group_or_band
Origin	Norway
Genre	Black metal|
Years active	1990–present
Label	Avantgarde MusicSeason of Mist
Associated acts	Grimm, Nattefrost, Blood Red Throne, VRANGSINN, Bloodline, Green Carnation, Emperor, Solefald, World Destroyer, Hatepulse, SECHT, Neetzach, Taake, Aura Noir, A Waste of Talent, In the Woods..., Kvelertak
Url	tnbm.no
Current members	NattefrostVrangsinnAnders KobroBlood Perverter
Past members	J. NordavindLazareTchortMothörsenKulde

Carpathian Forest is a Norwegian black metal band formed by Nattefrost and Nordavind in 1990.

Carpathian Forest's lyrics deal with themes such as Satanism, evil and anti-Christianity

Biography

Carpathian Forest emergied with the demo tape "Bloodlust & Perversion" (1992). In 1993 the band released a second demo "Journey Through the Cold Moors of Svarttjern". One year later, Forest signed to Avantgarde Music and recorded their first mini album, Through Chasm, Caves and Titan Woods (1995), followed by the debut album ;;Black Shining Leather'' in 1998.

In 1998, Carpathian Forest came back with a successful release, after three years of silence. Carpathian Forest are to play the first concert in 1998 at the Quart Festival, Kristiansand Norway supporting Immortal and Satyricon. And for that occasion Tchort (bass), A Kobro (drums) and Vrangsinn (synth) are brought in as session musicians for that concert. The Under the Black Sun festival in Germany holds CF as headliners and both founder members were interested in continue with the new line-up on the coming recordings. A short studio session December 1998 with Tchort and A Kobro now being permanent members in CF, resulting in He's Turning Blue 7" picture ep, shortly after followed by the recordings titled "Strange Old Brew & Morbid Fascinations of Death" (recorded at the same time and is produced by Terje Refsnes in Sound Suite studio in Sandnes), Strange Old Brew containing the oldest material being released first through Avantgarde Music and Morbid Fascinations of Death coming out one year later . : Nordavind left the band after the Strange/Morbid studio session of personal reasons with Tchort being promoted as guitarist and Vrangsinn went to play the bass-guitar and now introducing Bloodpervertor for keyboard duties on the following tours.

Discography

Studio albums

Through Chasm, Caves and Titan Woods (1995)

Black Shining Leather (1998)

Strange Old Brew (2000)

Morbid Fascination of Death (2001)

Defending the Throne of Evil (2003)

Fuck You All!!!! Caput tuum in ano est (2006)

Compilation albums

Bloodlust and Perversion (1997)

We're Going to Hell for This (2002)

We're Going to Hollywood for This - Live Perversions (2004, video release)

Skjend Hans Lik (2004)

Demos

Bloodlust & Perversion (1992)

Journey through the Cold Moors of Svarttjern (1993)

Band members

Current members

"Hellcommander" Nattefrost (Roger Rasmussen) - vocals, guitar, arrangements, production, bass guitar (1990-)

Vrangsinn -Backing vocals, bass guitar, guitar, keyboards, arrangements, production and engineering (1999-)

Anders Kobro - drums (1999-)

BloodPervertor (Goran Boman) - guitar (2003-)

Former members

Tchort (Terje Vik Schei) - guitar, bass guitar (1999–2009)

Johnny Nordavind - vocals, guitar, bass, keyboard, arrangements (1990–2000)

Lazare (Lars Are Nedland) - session drums (1997)

Mothörsen (Arvid Thorsen) saxophone 2000 - 2004

Kulde (Eivind Kulde) live session on keyboards 2002

Nina Hex - Backing vocals 2000-2001 I.K. Hellslut - words, counting to 4 on Bloodlust & Perversion (We're going to hell for this - Over a decade of perversions"

See also

Season of Mist - Carpathian Forest's record label

External links

Official myspace page

Official homepage

Carpathian Forest at MusicMight

Category:Norwegian black metal musical groups Category:Norwegian heavy metal musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1990 Category:1990s music groups Category:2000s music groups Category:2010s music groups Category:Musical quartets

Name	Blind Guardian
Landscape	Yes
Background	group_or_band
Origin	Krefeld, Germany
Genre	Power metal, progressive metal, speed metal
Years active	1984–present
Label	No Remorse, Virgin, Century Media, Nuclear Blast
Associated acts	Demons & Wizards, Gamma Ray, Helloween, Iced Earth, Iron Savior, Savage Circus, Schattentantz, Power Quest
Url	Official website
Current members	Hansi KürschAndré OlbrichMarcus SiepenFrederik Ehmke
Past members	Thomas "Thomen" StauchMarkus DörkChristof TheißenHans-Peter Frey

Blind Guardian is a German metal band formed in the mid-1980s in Krefeld, West Germany. They are often credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in the power metal and speed metal subgenres. Blind Guardian is a part of the German heavy metal scene that emerged in the mid-1980s.

The band's lyrics, written by vocalist Hansi Kürsch, are inspired by the fiction of fantasy authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien, Stephen King, and Michael Moorcock, as well as traditional legends and epics. Over the years, a running theme has developed associating the band members with travelling bards.

Biography

Blind Guardian formed in 1984 in Krefeld, Germany, by Hansi Kürsch (vocals, bass) and Andre Olbrich (guitar) under the name Lucifer's Heritage. The band first released two demos in 1985 and 1986, despite undergoing chaotic lineup changes: Markus Dörk (guitar) and Thomen Stauch (drums) were replaced by Christof Theißen and Hans-Peter Frey, respectively. Finally, in 1987, Marcus Siepen joined and Thomen came back to form the lineup which would stay consistent for the next 18 years.

After Lucifer's Heritage signed a contract with No Remorse Records, the band changed their name to Blind Guardian to avoid any speculations about Satanism (in a bio it was stated that they also wanted to distance themselves from the black metal movement, as their demos were placed in with black metal albums at local record shops). They released their debut album Battalions of Fear in 1988, which was essentially a speed metal album heavily influenced by Helloween. These two German bands had close ties, and Helloween founder Kai Hansen made a guest appearance on Blind Guardian's second LP, Follow the Blind (1989), where the band revealed some thrash metal influence. Their third LP, Tales from the Twilight World (1990), had a much more melodic and "epic" feeling, with usage of choir and classical music influence.

Blind Guardian signed with Virgin Records in 1991, and released their fourth studio album Somewhere Far Beyond in 1992 and the live album Tokyo Tales in 1993. Flemming Rasmussen, former Metallica producer, began working with the band in 1994, producing their fifth studio album Imaginations from the Other Side, released in 1995, and The Forgotten Tales, an album that contained half covers and half original work, released in 1996.

In 1998, Blind Guardian released their epic album Nightfall in Middle-Earth. "Complete with anthemic choruses, spoken word story lines, and plenty of bombastic power metal punctuating every dramatic turn", says Allmusic's Vincent Jeffries, "Nightfall in Middle-Earth is perhaps Blind Guardian's most triumphant". A concept album based on J. R. R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion, Though not a true concept album, many of the lyrics dealt with the common themes of religion and relations between human and divine powers. It was followed by a live album in 2003 and a DVD, Imaginations Through the Looking Glass (2004), which was the last recorded Blind Guardian material to feature Thomen Stauch on drums. He left the band due to musical differences and was replaced by Frederik Ehmke. The first album with Ehmke was A Twist in the Myth, which came out in 2006.

Blind Guardian recently participated in the soundtrack for the fantasy movie (Uwe Boll), which came out in 2008. The band also recorded a theme song for Sacred 2 Fallen Angel RPG video game, the prequel to Sacred.

A Voice in the Dark was the next single from Blind Guardian that was released 25 June 2010. On July 30, 2010 the album followed, called At the Edge of Time. The band started "The Sacred Worlds and Songs Divine Tour 2010", the European dates will have the opening acts Enforcer and Steelwing. The 22 October in Gothenburg, Sweden only Steelwing was the opening act. The US dates will have Holy Grail and Seven Kingdoms and later they were announced that they would play at Wacken Open Air in 2011.

Musical style

Blind Guardian's first two albums, Battalions of Fear and Follow the Blind, were more in the style of speed metal than their following works. Beginning with their third album Tales from the Twilight World, Blind Guardian gradually began to write more complicated compositions focusing less on speed. As of their sixth album, Nightfall in Middle Earth, Hansi stopped playing bass to focus on singing. At this point the band began to incorporate large amounts of orchestral arrangements, and utilized the technique of overdubbing, heavily influenced by the English rock band Queen.

Blind Guardian's music features the staccato guitars and double bass drumming characteristic of power metal, as well as the use of overdubs and numerous backing vocals to create a dense sound. This technique, especially notable in the guitar and vocal tracks, creates the impression of a vast army of musicians playing in unison and singing in harmony. This proved significant on all albums after the first two but most particularly on A Night at the Opera.

Another definitive feature of Blind Guardian music is frequent use of folk tunes and instruments, especially in power ballads such as "Lord of the Rings", "The Bard's Song", "A Past and Future Secret", "Skalds and Shadows" and "Curse My Name", among others.

Side projects

Along with Jon Schaffer, the leader and founder of Iced Earth, Kürsch is a member of Demons & Wizards, where he is the lead singer.

Blind Guardian have been working on and off for eight years on an orchestral project writing music about The Lord of the Rings (negotiations failed to be included on the famous The Lord of the Rings film trilogy as the soundtrack, because the band wanted to concentrate on their next album). Although it will not be a power metal album, it will be published under the name of Blind Guardian because it matches the theme of the band's lyrics, according to Hansi.

Line-up

Current members

Hansi Kürsch – Lead vocals (1984–), Bass guitar (1984–1996)

André Olbrich – Lead guitar (1984–)

Marcus Siepen – Rhythm guitar (1987–)

Frederik Ehmke – Drums, Percussion, Flute and Bagpipes (2005–)

With:

Oliver Holzwarth – Bass guitar (Sessional Member) (1997–)

Michael Schüren – keyboards, Grand piano (Sessional Member) (1997–)

Pat Bender – Keyboards, Sound effects (Sessional Member) (2002–)

Thomas Hackmann – Backing vocals (1990–)

Olaf Senkbeil - Backing vocals (1998–)

Former members

Thomas "Thomen" Stauch – Drums (1984–1985, 1987–2005)

Mathias Wiesner – keyboards, effects (studio) (1989–2002)

Markus Dörk – Guitars (Lucifer's Heritage) (1984–1985)

Christof Theißen – Rhythm guitar (Lucifer's Heritage) (1986)

Hans-Peter Frey – Drums (Lucifer's Heritage) (1986)

Guest musicians

Dirim Ceseroglu - solo violin (Wheel of Time) (2010)

Rolf Köhler – backing vocals, lead vocals (1990–2007—his death)

Martin G. Meyer – Keyboards (2006–2008)

Alex Holzwarth – drums (live) (2002–2003)

Billy King – backing vocals (1992–2002)

Boris Schmidt, Sascha Pierro – Keyboards and sound effects (2002)

Max Zelzner – flute & alto-flute (1998)

Norman Eshley, Douglas Fielding – narration (1998)

Piet Sielck – guitar, backing vocals, effects (1990–1996)

Kalle Trapp – backing vocals, lead vocals, lead guitar (1990–1996)

Otto Sidenius – organ (1996)

Stefan Will – piano (1992–1996)

Jacob Moth – acoustic guitar on (1996)

Ronnie Atkins, Aman Malek – backing vocals (1996)

Kai Hansen – lead vocals, guitar solos, backing vocals (1989–1992)

Peter Rübsam – Scottish and Irish bagpipes (1992)

Niko Trznadl – bass (live) (1988)

Thomas Kelleners – vocals (Lucifer's Heritage) (1984)

Discography

Battalions of Fear (1988)

Follow the Blind (1989)

Tales from the Twilight World (1990)

Somewhere Far Beyond (1992)

Imaginations from the Other Side (1995)

Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998)

A Night at the Opera (2002)

A Twist in the Myth (2006)

At the Edge of Time (2010)

References

External links

Official website

Blind Guardian on MySpace

Category:1980s music groups Category:1990s music groups Category:2000s music groups Category:2010s music groups Category:German power metal musical groups Category:Middle-earth music Category:Musical groups established in 1984 Category:Musical quartets Category:Speed metal musical groups