Mustis

For the ancient city also known as Mustis, see Musti (Tunisia).

Mustis is the pseudonym of Øyvind Johan Mustaparta (born 10 September 1979),^[1] a Norwegian keyboardist best known for his work in the symphonic black metal band Dimmu Borgir, as well as the black/thrash metal band Susperia.

Mustis
Mustis in 2007
Background information
Birth name	Øyvind Johan Mustaparta
Born	(1979-09-10) 10 September 1979 (age 44)
Origin	Norway
Genres	Symphonic black metal, hard rock
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)	Keyboard, piano, violin, pan flute, harmonica
Years active	1998-2011, 2018–present

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 Godless Savage Garden (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 (2003). His other studio work with Dimmu Borgir includes Spiritual Black Dimensions (1999), Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001), Death Cult Armageddon (2003), the re-release of Stormblåst (2005) and In Sorte Diaboli (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".^[2]

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 to represent Norway, but it was knocked out in the semi-final of the qualifying Melodi Grand Prix.^[3]

He has played keyboards as a session musician and appeared on singles by Art Of Departure and Lindsay Schoolcraft, respectively.^[4][5] 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.^[6]

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 (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)
• Death Cult Armageddon – 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)
• In Sorte Diaboli – Nuclear Blast (2007)

As session musician

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

References

1. https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Mustis/9297
2. . Blabbermouth. 30 August 2009. Archived from the original on 3 September 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
3. https://eurovisionworld.com/national/norway/melodi-grand-prix-2011/susperia-nothing-remains
4. "Art Of Departure Facebook". Facebook.com.
5. "Mustis Discography". Discogs.com.
6. "Odium Official Facebook". Facebook.com.