Green Carnation - 6 Albums (2000-2006) (Re-up)

Green Carnation are from Kristiansand, Norway. They formed in 1990, but did not release their first album until 2000. This is because shortly after having formed as Green Carnation, main composer Tchort left the band to join Emperor. The rest of the band continued/restarted under a new name: In the Woods. Tchort decided to restart the band after In the Woods disbanded, including some old In the Woods members back into the band. They released their debut, "Journey to the End of the Night" in 2000, a 70 minute concept album, inspired by the tragic loss of Tchort's daughter. The result was an emotionally laden, folk-inspired, Progressive/Doom opus which took over 6 months of rehearsals before recording began, then a further 2 years before it was finally released, through German label, Prophecy Productions. After recording, the other band members departed, leaving Tchort to find a completely new line-up for the follow-up.
Happily, Anders Kobro returned to join up with Tchort, providing the foundation and arrangements for the whole song which, after 2 years in the making, became "Light of Day, Day of Darkness" (2001). Endre Kirkesola (bass) was drafted in during pre-Production to help out, convincing former In the Woods. guitarist Bjorn HarStad, Stein Roger Sordal (bass) and Kjetil Nordhus (vocals) to join the band in time for the studio recording for the album, a single 60-minute track, this time inspired by the birth of Tchort's son. Employing thirty musicians as well as a children's choir, there is no denying the audacious scope and ambition of a project, producing arguably the longest single progressive metal track ever recorded.
Strong sales, critical acclaim and a growing reputation within the festival circuit encouraged the band to sign for French record label 'Season of Mist', for whom they released their third album "A Blessing In Disguise" (2003). The album marked a stylistic departure from their earlier albums, consisting of a blend of progressive metal/heavy rock elements, underpinned with gothic tinges, and more mainstream, stripped down hard rock elements.
Their fourth album "The Quiet Offspring" (2005) marked yet another change in musical direction, the band employing a darker, heavier sound, bringing Sordal's bass work to the fore, within a further stripped down hard-rock style, which as a consequence is considered by many to be their most commercial-sounding release.
"The Acoustic Verses" (2006) proved to be yet another seismic stylistic shift for the band, who played all acoustic instruments, showing off a softer, warmer style for the band while retaining the progressive and darker feel, they had established since their debut. Aided by a guest, classical string trio (violin, viola & cello), the band released an acoustic album of significant emotional depth, which is considered by many of their fans to be their finest achievement.