[2] Gaahl became involved with black metal in 1993, when he co-formed the band Trelldom with guitarist Tyrant and bassist Taakeheim.

Gaahl and Tyrant recorded and released Trelldom's first album, Til Evighet, in early 1995, with help from drummer Ole Nic.

He made his live debut in May that year, when Gorgoroth played five dates in Germany alongside Cradle of Filth.

In February 2004, Gorgoroth staged a concert in Kraków, Poland, which featured impaled sheep heads, satanic symbols, and a mock-crucifixion performed by naked models doused in blood.

A police investigation took place with allegations of religious offense (which is prosecutable under Polish law) and cruelty to animals.

The controversy led to the band being dropped from the Nuclear Blast Tour and the footage of the concert being confiscated by the police.

[9] He appealed for a reduced sentence, and in February 2005 he was re-sentenced to fourteen months in prison and ordered to pay the victim 190,000 NOK (about US$30,400) in compensation.

[9] The incident happened in February 2002 during a late-night party at Gaahl's house in Espedal, when he became involved in a confrontation with a man.

Gaahl was accused of severely beating the man, torturing him for long periods of time and collecting his blood into a cup and threatening to make him drink it.

[9] In March 2006, Gaahl recorded vocals for Gorgoroth's next album, Ad Majorem Sathanas Gloriam.

Gaahl was the band's only founding member to appear on the album, which featured guitarist Valgard, bassist Stian, drummer Are and hardingfele player Egil Furenes.

In October 2007, Gaahl and King ov Hell tried to remove founding member Infernus from Gorgoroth.

In July 2008, Gaahl revealed in an online interview that he was involved in the launch of Wynjo, an upcoming fashion collection for women, together with Norwegian modeling agent Dan De Vero and designer Sonja Wu.

[15] Shortly thereafter, De Vero said that he had received threats from black metal fans, both at his door and by phone and email.

[15] When asked by the webzine FaceCulture if he thinks people will see him and his music differently now that he has publicly acknowledged his homosexuality, Gaahl answered: "Mankind is known to be narrow-minded, so ... maybe some [will have a negative reaction].

"[17]In March 2009 the name dispute ended when Oslo City District Court ruled that Infernus was the rightful owner of the Gorgoroth name.

[19] King stated in an interview that Gaahl had been spending time in Spain working on lyrics and vocal arrangements for the debut God Seed album.

[20] However, in another interview in April 2009, King stated that: "We have recorded everything in the studio and are just waiting for Gaahl to put vocals on it.

[22] His bandmate King later clarified that Gaahl had in fact chosen to retire from metal music for the time being.

[24] Gaahl appeared in the 2012 Norwegian historical action-thriller film Flukt (Escape), starring as archer 'Grim'.

"[2] In an interview for the documentary Metal: A Headbanger's Journey—at which time he was Gorgoroth's vocalist—Gaahl was asked what inspired the band's music, to which his sole reply was "Satan."

[...] When I use the word 'Satan' it means the natural order, the will of a man, the will to grow, the will to become the superman and not to be oppressed by any law such as the church, which is only a way to control the masses.

"[36] Gaahl has expressed opposition to the Church of Satan, describing it as a group of "weak people flocking like rats, afraid of standing alone" and adding: "Anton LaVey and his followers are incredibly ridiculous.

"[35]However, in a controversial interview from 1995 he also said of the church burnings: "Well, personally I don't mind it at all, but I fear that it might cause among people fear of nihilism and [the] anti-Christian views that black metal represents, and in that way lead neutral people to succumbing to Christendom because that is what they accept and don't want to lose.

"[34][37]Gaahl maintains that he has no deep set of political beliefs, and that his circle of friends includes both right-wingers and left-wingers.