This article series is about the tools of popular guitarists. What are their favorite guitars and how is it related to them? This time with Storm (Leo Davadi Sundl & Eirik Bergset)
Who are we?
We’re STORM – an alternative artist project from Norway.
I’m Leo Davadi Sundl, but I go by STORM. I’m 16, and music’s always been a huge part of my life. My first time on stage was at my dad’s old nightclub, dancing in just a diaper when I was two. Since then, performing has just been a part of me.
Eirik Bergset is the guitarist in the live band and joined STORM in 2023 — that moment changed everything. “I’m the guy with the pink hair from Norway’s beautiful west coast” He had been doing his own thing for years, but when he joined STORM, it sparked a whole new direction in how he created and understood music. “In many ways, being part of this project has been life-changing for me. Since joining, we’ve built a strong connection musically, especially when it comes to crafting guitar riffs and tones”
Pic : Ingelin Klubben Berg
How did we get into guitar?
Leo: I started out playing the ukulele in fifth grade for a summer show at school. When I came home and told my dad, he didn’t even hesitate, straight to the guitar store. He bought me my first guitar, a Beaton Legend Mini. That moment kind of sealed it for me. From that day, I couldn’t stop playing.
Eirik: I started when I was 10. Borrowed my sister’s acoustic, and she never got it back. I’m 30 now. My first electric was this cheap Fender Telecaster Custom with humbuckers — no clue what I was doing, but I loved the sound. Over the years, it turned into an obsession. Joining STORM really shifted how I approach everything. It gave me a renewed purpose, like I found the right place to put all my passion and ideas. My relationship with music evolved a lot after becoming part of this project.
Influences and favorite guitarists?
We’re both huge fans of Falling In Reverse. Their ability to blend genres and stay unpredictable is a big reason why we feel so free to experiment.
Leo: Personally, Magnus Børmark from the Norwegian folk rock band Gåte had a huge impact on me. I grew up watching them live, and the way he moved, the energy he brought was insane. He climbed on top of the stage, did wild things with his guitar. I remember thinking: „That’s how I want to be.“ At my first concert, when I was nine, I even asked the stage crew to stack amps at the end of the show so I could climb them like Magnus. That memory’s always stuck with me.
Eirik: For me, Alexi Laiho from Children of Bodom will always be the one who pulled me into heavier music. That band opened my eyes to how brutal and beautiful guitar playing could be. Lately, I’ve been influenced by Meshuggah, Spiritbox, Humanity’s Last Breath, and yeah — Falling in Reverse again. I love heavy, technical, atmospheric stuff.
How many guitars do we own — and favorites?
Leo: One acoustic, one bass, and two electrics. One is a 6-string I’m borrowing from my stepmom’s family – they found it in a basement, and it surprisingly still rips. My main one is an ESP E-II Telecaster 7-string. That thing is a weapon.
Eirik: I own 8 guitars in total. My two main ones are both baritone 6-strings with a 27” scale and humbuckers. My number one is a Halo Custom Guitars Salvus with an Evertune bridge and Bareknuckle Black Hawk pickups. That guitar is a tank. I also use a baritone from Spira Guitars – it’s cheap as hell, but it’s perfect as a backup when something goes wrong live. And let’s be real, it always does at some point.
What makes the perfect guitar and amp?
Eirik: It really depends on the person. Everyone changes their mind every few weeks, and we’re guilty of that too. But when you find something that fits your hands, your tone, your vibe, you just know.
For me, the Halo Salvus and the Spira backup cover everything I need. As for amps, we use Neural DSP’s Quad Cortex. No exaggeration, it’s unbeatable. The convenience, the tone, the consistency, especially on the road, make it a no-brainer.
Modelers vs tube amps?
We’re all in on amp modelers. They’ve come so far, and the benefits are huge. Lighter gear, way faster setup, no risk of broken tubes on tour, and honestly? The tone is just as good. We wouldn’t be dragging around cabs in 2025 anyway.
Gear used on the album?
We usually write most of the guitar riffs and arrangements together, but the final tracking was handled by Martin Selen from Fixation. He’s not just a killer guitar player, but also handles bass, MIDI drums, and mixing. He used amp plugins like Neural DSP’s Archetype: Nolly and tracked with his LTD Eclipse with Evertune, going into a UAD Apollo.
Martin always brings a little extra to the songs. The way he tweaks riffs, adjusts small parts, and makes things tighter, it’s fr inspiring. Every time he sends us a new version of a track, it sounds even better. He’s a wizard haha.
If we could only take one guitar?
Eirik: Definitely the Halo Salvus. It’s been with me through everything for over a year, and I’m seriously considering getting a custom build from Halo down the line. That guitar just feels like an extension of me at this point.
