Stian Aarstad

Infobox musical artist
Name = Stian Aarstad

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Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = Stian Aarstad
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Origin = Norway
Instrument = Keyboards
Genre = Heavy metal, Black metal
Occupation = Musician, Songwriter, Soldier
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Associated_acts = Dimmu Borgir, Enthral
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Stian Aarstad is a Norwegian pianist and keyboard player best known for his four-year (1993-97) stint with the black metal band Dimmu Borgir during which he played keyboards and synthesizers while engendering criticism and controversy for appearing onstage and performing in a top-hat-and-cape outfit reminiscent of Jack the Ripper, while wearing minimal corpse makeup.

Subsequent stories indicated that during his period with Dimmu Borgir, Stian Aarstad did not even listen to any metal music, preferring classical music instead. His departure from the band came as a result of unresolved issues regarding compulsory service in the Norwegian Army, and some stories also include inability to perform live and not showing up for band rehearsals. In 1998 to 1999, he produced a demo-EP for the unblack metal band Vaakevandring.

In the 2000s, Stian Aarstad had been the pianist for the band Enthral, but left his regular position during the recording of the band's third album. Reports have mentioned that he has also performed as a session player and engineer for the band and, in 2007, has been working as a sound engineer.

Stian Aarstad "adapted" the melody "Sorgens Kammer", the fourth song on the "Stormblåst" album, from the Amiga game "Agony". Also he plagiarized the Alt Lys Er Svunnet Hen piano intro (the first song on the "Stormblåst" album) from the song "Sacred Hour" by Magnum. These songs couldn't be re-released on "Stormblåst 2005". This is the explanation for the disappearance of the Alt Lys Er Svunnet Hen intro on this release, and the recording of " Sorgens Kammer Del II" on "Stormblåst 2005".