Jorn Lande will celebrate a quarter century of his band Jorn with Return of the Jorniverse, a career-spanning compilation out December 11 via Black Lodge Records. The release brings original Jorn material back to physical formats after years out of print, and arrives on triple vinyl with a vinyl-sized booklet, double CD and double cassette.
Pre-order Return of the Jorniverse here.
Hand-Picked by Jorn Himself
Every song on the collection was personally selected by Lande, and many of them are his own favorites from the catalogue. The label promises a journey through the full spectrum of the Jorn sound, from epic, majestic heavy metal anthems to darker, heavier tracks and melodic classics, along with the contributions of the many musicians who have passed through the band over the years.
The timing is no accident. Jorn marked its 25th anniversary in 2025. Since the debut Starfire in 2000, the project has released 21 titles: 11 studio albums, five compilations, three live albums and two covers albums, Heavy Rock Radio and Heavy Rock Radio II: Executing the Classics. Highlights include Worldchanger (2001), The Duke (2006), Lonely Are the Brave (2008), Traveller (2013) and the most recent studio album, Over the Horizon Radar (2022). Jorn has charted around the world since 2000, Billboard included.
Fresh From Working With Tony Iommi
The compilation follows one of the biggest collaborations of Lande’s career. He wrote all the lyrics and vocal melodies for From The Dark, Tony Iommi’s first solo album in over two decades, released October 23 via BMG, and sings throughout the record, including the lead single “World Alone.” Iommi has said he first noticed Lande’s voice when the singer performed at the Ronnie James Dio tribute at the 2010 High Voltage festival.
One of Rock’s Great Voices
Beyond his own band, the Norwegian singer has more than 50 releases to his name. He has toured with Avantasia since 2008, recorded with Masterplan and on the Allen/Lande albums with Russell Allen, and even voices Karthus in League of Legends’ virtual metal band Pentakill. The current Jorn lineup features Tore Moren and Adrian Sunde Bjerketvedt on guitars, Øyvind Strømen on bass, Francesco Jovino on drums and Alessandro Del Vecchio on keyboards. Black Lodge also expects a third Heavy Rock Radio volume of classic covers.
Our Take
Compilations can feel like filler, but this one fills a real gap. Much of the Jorn catalogue has been hard to find on CD and vinyl, and having Lande pick the songs himself gives it a personal stamp. Coming right after From The Dark has put his voice in front of a whole new audience, it is the perfect entry point into the Jorniverse.
