Despite their critical praise, they had to work hard and play gigs all over Norway to attain a fanbase Ompa til du dør slowly climbed to the top of the Norwegian album charts, and would eventually become the best-selling Norwegian rock album of all time. The album, Ompa til du dør, was released to outstanding critical praise, but the release party attracted few attendants regardless. After securing a recording contract with Remo Rehder of BroilerFarm, they recorded their first studio album in Duper Studio in Bergen in the spring of 2001 in the span of six days (leaving the seventh and last day "for partying"). In 2001, Terje Vinterstø joined the band as their now-lead guitarist, upsetting Sjøen who had specifically asked that they not become a "guitar band". As they led a daily struggle to find a gigs and a recording contract, they recorded a demo as a five-piece band that fall. The upstart group managed to record the distinct yellow Kaizers Orchestra EP in time for that year's By:larm arrangement they were never put on the official bill for the arrangement, but managed to find a venue and performed an "unofficial" By:larm concert anyway. The band was officially founded on 1 January 2000, retaining gnom members Rune Solheim, Helge Risa and Jon Sjøen (who had eventually replaced gnom's original bassist Rolf Prestø). Using "Bastard" as a point of reference, Ottesen and Zahl begun composing songs in the same style. However, there was song written for the project that was not recorded for the album and had a decidedly different sound than their other offerings " Bastard", featuring a dissonant sound, a raucous vocal delivery, and bizarre storyteller lyrics similar to that of Tom Waits lastly, it featured the unusual inclusion of oil barrels beaten by various implements as a form of percussion. Despite all the effort and time they put into the gnom project, their only studio album, Mys, did not sell, nor did they seem to be able to attain any sort of a fanbase beyond friends and relatives. The Kaizers Orchestra project began after the dissolution of gnom, the previous band formed by Janove Ottesen and Geir Zahl. Main articles: Blod, snått og juling and gnom The lyrical content of their material usually manifests as interconnected stories told through song.
Their work spans a variety of genres, from gypsy punk to bluegrass to surf rock, and is constantly changing. With their energetic live performances and critically praised recordings, they are amongst the most well-renowned and popular acts in their homeland, and have also gained international sccess and recognition. The band consists of Janove Ottesen, Geir Zahl, Terje Winterstø Røthing, Rune Solheim, Øyvind Storesund, and Helge Risa. Kaizers Orchestra is a Norwegian alternative rock band, founded by Janove Ottesen and Geir Zahl in Bryne, Rogaland, Norway on 1 January 2000. Terje Winterstø Røthing (lead guitar, backing vocals) Geir Zahl (second guitar, backing vocals)