Archive for January, 2013

Danish Black Metallers BLODSARV have released a video for “A Snowy Night In November”, a track from their newly released album “Gâst”.   The video was filmed during January of this year in the Northland region of Bornholm, the island home of founder and frontman Hugin,  and features appearances from BLODARV members Satinae Ma (clean vocals) and Pestilens (lead guitars), as well as Hugin himself.  “A Snowy Night In November” can be seen on the band’s YouTube channel at http://youtu.be/9Y9CRabYO8Q and below.

 

“Gâst”, which is the band’s fourth full-length album, was released on Self Mutilation Services at the end of last year, and, like all of BLODARV’s releases, contains a mix of tracks in both Danish and English. Drawing his inspiration from the myths and legends and rich history of Bornholm, Hugin’s lyrics take the listener on a journey through a world inhabited by powerful demons, haunted souls and tragic destinies.  The title, “Gâst”, is in the Bornholmsk (Burgundian) dialect and refers to a type of a ghost demon or energy which has the ability to possess mortals and inspire in much the same way as a muse.

BLODARV recently expanded its lineup with the addition of Fjorgynn on drums and HUUL on live session bass.  The band is pretty much self-sufficient when it comes to recording both albums and videos as well as producing artwork, with all the work being done at Hugin’s purpose-built Hammer and Art Studios, which also provides a multitude of services for bands wanting to record in the spectacular settings that the island of Bornholm provides.  More information about BLODARV can be found on the band’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/blodarvofficial

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Facebook: www.facebook.com/blodarvofficial
Youtube: www.youtube.com/huginofblodarv
Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/blodarv
Webshop: http://blodarvshop.bigcartel.com/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/blodarv
Reverbnation: www.reverbnation.com/blodarv
Myspace: www.myspace.com/blodarv
Management: www.patriciathomasmanagement.com
SELF MUTILATION SERVICES: www.selfmutilationservices.com
For Interviews & booking, contact
BLODARV: stafahugin@hotmail.com
Or PATRICIA THOMAS BAND MANAGEMENT:
patriciathomas@btinternet.com

Thrashers DEAD TROOPER have completed work on their third-full length album and have released a teaser to give fans a taste of what they can expect.  The nine-track album, for which a label is currently being sought, will be titled “Erector” and features a formidable array of guests from bands such as KEEP OF KALESSIN, MORBID ANGEL, 1349, PANTHEON I and TROLLFEST – names which give  a clear indication of DEAD TROOPER’s reputation  both in the studio and as a live band.  Artwork for “Erector” is by the Norwegian photographer Haakon Hoseth. The teaser can be heard on the band’s SoundCloud page at http://soundcloud.com/deadtrooper/dead-trooper-teaser-for-the

Formed in 2002 in Oslo, Norway, DEAD TROOPER is a powerhouse trio comprising Morten Müller (DEATH INJECTOR, TROLLFEST, METAL MILITIA, ex-GRIMFIST) on vocals and guitars, Andreas Stenvoll (BLODSPOR, ex TROLL) on bass and vocals and Jon Eirik Bokn (BREED, AUTUMN INSPIRATION, ex ZEROZONIC) on drum.  Together they combine their impressive musical skills and considerable experience to produce their own brand of aggressive thrash metal.  As a live band they have earned a reputation for charismatic, high energy shows that have garnered them a loyal following wherever they have appeared.

DEAD TROOPER’s next live appearances will be at Betong in Oslo, Norway, on the 8th February and the Kvinesdal Metal Fest at the Harvest Bar in Knivesdal, Norway on the 16th February.  More information about DEAD TROOPER can be found on the band’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/deadtrooper

Any labels wanting to find out more about DEAD TROOPER and “Erector” are invited to contact the band’s management at patriciathomas@btinternet.com

A video of DEAD TROOPER’s set at Inferno Festival can be seen at http://youtu.be/Px4XbedFeCE or embedded using the following code:

 

Additional Information
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/deadtrooper
Website: http://www.deadtrooper.com/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/DeadTrooperOfNorway
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/deadtrooper
WebShop: http://deadtrooper.bigcartel.com/
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/deadtroopermetal
Band Contact & Booking: band@deadtrooper.com
Management & Booking: patriciathomas@btinternet.com

Progressive/Atmospheric Black Metallers FEN have been confirmed to support the USA’s AGALLOCH on a 28 date European Tour during April and May of this year. Commenting on the addition of FEN to the lineup AGALLOCH had this to say: “We are proud to announce that joining us on our upcoming European tour will be our long time friends FEN (UK). We’ve played with FEN numerous times already in the UK, Belgium, and the US and are very pleased they’ll be with us for this extensive European tour…We are confident that our European fans will be blown away by the band’s fierce live show and their genuine and emotionally powerful music”.  FEN, who will be the only support on the tour, will be promoting their newly released album “Dustwalker”.  AGALLOCH will play a set of around 2 hours which will include a performance of their new EP “Faustian Echoes” in full for the first time in Europe.

Routing for “Lucifer Over Europe” tour, which includes 16 countries throughout Central and Eastern Europe and Scandinavia is as follows:

21.04.2013 DE – Berlin / K17
22.04.2013 BE – Aalter / Kadans
23.04.2013 FR – Nantes / Le Ferrailleur
24.04.2013 ES – Bilbao / Sala Rockstar
25.04.2013 PO – Barroselas / SWR-Fest
26.04.2013 ES – Madrid / Sala Caracol
27.04.2013 ES – Barcelona / Sala Apolo 2
28.04.2013 FR – Luynes / Le Korigan
30.04.2013 DE – Stuttgart / Club Zentral SOLD OUT
01.05.2013 DE – Leipzig / Moritzbastei
02.05.2013 PL – Wroclaw / Asymmetry-Fest (AGALLOCH only)
03.05.2013 LT – Vilnius / New York Club
04.05.2013 EE – Tallinn / Tapper
05.05.2013 FI – Tampere / Klubi
06.05.2013 FI – Helsinki / Korjaamo
07.05.2013 FI – Oulu / Nuclear Nightclub
08.05.2013 SW – Umea / Scharinska Villan
09.05.2013 NO – Trondheim / Familien
10.05.2013 NO – Oslo / Parkteatret
11.05.2013 SW – Göteborg / Sticky Fingers
12.05.2013 NL – Arnhem / Willemeen
13.05.2013 DE – Köln / Werkstatt
14.05.2013 DE – München / Backstage
15.05.2013 SL – Nova Gorica / Mostovna
16.05.2013 IT – Roma / Traffic Club
17.05.2013 IT – Travagliato / Circolo Colony
18.05.2013 AT – Vienna / Viper Room
19.05.2013 CZ – Ostrava / Barrak

“Dustwalker”, which is FEN’s third full-length album, was released this month on the Code666 label to almost universal critical acclaim from both critics and fans.  FEN’s style of Black Metal has been variously described as “progressive”, “atmospheric”, “post-rock” and “shoegaze”.  But however you choose to describe it, the sound created by the trio of The Watcher (guitars and vocals), Grungyn (bass and vocals) and Derwydd (drums) is hauntingly and unmistakeably FEN. It is a sound and an atmosphere that is uniquely influenced by the desolate, windswept region of England known as the Fens and conjures up feelings of isolation, abandonment, loss and yearning.

More information about FEN can be found on the band’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/fenofficial

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FEN
Website:  www.fenband.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fenofficial
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/fenband
Webshop: http://fenmerchandise.bigcartel.com/
Band Contact & Booking: fenbanduk@gmail.com
Management & Booking: patriciathomas@btinternet.com
Aural Music/Code666: http://www.auralmusic.com
Promos: promotion@auralmusic.com
AGALLOCH
www.agalloch.org
www.facebook.com/AgallochOfficial

After 18 years, one EP and five full-length albums which have placed CREST OF DARKNESS firmly at the top of the Extreme Metal genre, the Norwegian masters are back with their most complete, extreme and intense release so far. The ten-track album, titled “In the Presence of Death”, is the band’s sixth full-length release and will appear on My Kingdom Music on the 25th February.   A video teaser for “In the Presence of Death” has been released by My Kingdom Music and can be seen below and  at http://youtu.be/oKrzVD0RUbg

Track listing for “In the Presence of Death”, which is set for release on My Kingdom Music on the 25th February is as follows:

1. Intro
2. In The Presence Of Death
3. Demon Child
4. Redemption
5. The Priest From Hell
6. Welcome To My Funeral
7. Womb Of The Wolf
8. Vampire Dreams
9. From The Dead
10. The Day Before She Died

Formed in the mid-nineties by frontman Ingar Amlien, CREST OF DARKNESS is a totally different beast from his former band CONCEPTION, which at that time was at the peak of its popularity.  Whilst CONCEPTION tended towards the Progressive side of Power Metal, CREST OF DARKNESS allowed Amlien to indulge his passion for sonic brutality and his interest in vampirism and Satanic ideology, both of which are reflected in the band’s lyrics.   Aside from Amlien on bass and vocals CREST OF DARKNESS’ lineup includes  Rebo on guitars, Kjetil Hektoen on drums and the recently recruited DJEVELKULT guitarist Jan Fredrik Solheim.   More information about CREST OF DARKNESS can be found on the band’s website at http://www.crestofdarkness.com/

The Official video for the track “Druj Nasu” from the CREST OF DARKNESS album “Give Us The Power To Do Your Evil” can be seen below or at http://youtu.be/_vYJcNXs55A

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Website:  http://www.crestofdarkness.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/crestofdarknessofficial
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/crest-of-darkness
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/CRESTOFDARKNESSOFFIC
MySpace:  http://www.myspace.com/crestofdarkness
My Kingdom Music:  info@mykingdommusic.net
http://www.mykingdommusic.net/
Band Contact and Booking: contact@crestofdarkness.com
Management and Booking:  patriciathomas@btinternet.com
https://patriciathomasmanagement.com/

With a catalogue of releases that includes five full-length albums and exuberant live performances that have earned them an ever increasing  and dedicated fan base throughout the world, TROLLFEST, the inventors of True Norwegian Balkan Metal are set to celebrate their 10th Anniversary with the release of a limited edition 12” picture vinyl.  The band has been busy in the studio preparing the 16 track album, to be named “A Decade Of Drekkadence”, which will include a completely new song, three covers, two b-sides and the band’s 2004 demo which has never previously been released, and which has been long-sought after by TROLLFEST fans.  Also included are re-recordings of acoustic versions of three of Trollfest’s signature songs.  According to the band, they had such a great time performing a special acoustic set at MetalCamp that they couldn’t resist adding them to their Anniversary release.

Swedish Cartoonist Jonas Darnell and designer Terje Johnsen, who have worked with TROLLFEST for a long time, will produce the artwork for the Picture Disc.  It was Darnell who created the iconic Iron Duck from the 2009 album “Villanden”.  The striking and humorous depiction of the TROLLFEST universe which Darnell and Johnsen create is inhabited by a crazy cast of Trolls who feature in the band’s songs, and who each have their own individual characters and roles, has become an integral part of the band, and one much-loved by fans.

“A Decade Of Drekkadence” will go into production in February, and is expected to be released in time for the band’s first North American tour in March, when they will hit the road with ENISFERUM, TYR, HEIDEVOLK and HELSOTT for the Paganfest America tour. Anyone wishing to pre-order the limited edition picture disc may do so already from the TROLLFEST webshop at http://trollfest.bigcartel.com/product/12-picture-disc-decade-of-drekkadence

Track listing for “A Decade Of Drekkadence” as follows:

SIDE A:
01. På Beruselsens Vinger (new song)
02. Gods Away On Business (Tom Waits cover)
03. Toxic (Britney Spears cover)
04. Drekkadag (Drekkameratene cover)
05. Selvforherligende Vås (B-side from ”En Kvest For Den Hellige Gral” recording)
06. Drekkaekspedisjon (B-side from ”Brumlebassen”recording)

SIDE B:
01. TrollfesT (På Veg Til Vorspiel) (Demo 2004)
02. Drekka Konkurransen! (Demo 2004)
03. Drekka Mer!!! (Demo 2004)
04. …Skogsfest… (Demo 2004)
05. Nachspiel In Ein Baum (Demo 2004)
06. Heimferd (Demo 2004)
07. Brakebein (acoustic re-recording)
08. Rundt Bålet (acoustic re-recording)
09. Karve (acoustic re-recording)
10. Gitarharding bromleskandinav (song from the Brumlebassen teaser)

More information about TROLLFEST can be found on the band’s website at http://www.trollfest.com

Below you can see the Official Video for the track “TrinkenTroll” from the album “Brumlebassen” which can be seen below or at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VRw58QeGr8

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Web Site: http://www.trollfest.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/trollfestofficial
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/trollfest
WebShop: http://trollfest.bigcartel.com/
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/trollfest
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/trollfest

 

Norwegian Black Metallers TAAKE today announced the dates for the upcoming European tour which is part of the band’s 20th Anniversary celebrations.  Supporting TAAKE on the tour will be Viking Metallers HELHEIM, who themselves celebrated their own 20th Anniversary last year.  Also on the tour will be Thrashers ORKAN whose line up includes members of TAAKE, BYFROST and GRAVEMACHINE.  Routing for the 10 date tour as follows:

FEBRUARY
Thu 21, Baroeg, Rotterdam (NL)
Fri 22, Iduna, Drachten (NL)
Sat 23, Helvete, Oberhausen (DE)
Sun 24, Magasin 4, Brussels (BE)
Mon 25, Glazart, Paris (FR)
Tue 26, Ferrailleur, Nantes (FR)
Wed 27, CCO, Lyon (FR)
Thur 28, United Club, Turin (IT)
MARCH
Fri 01, Z7, Pratteln (CH)
Sat 02, Nifflheim Festival (DE) (HELHEIM only)

Formed in 1993, TAAKE’s contribution to the Norwegian Black Metal Scene has been considerable; with founder Hoest remaining true to his Black Metal roots, whilst still being able to breathe life and originality into the genre even after twenty years.  The band recently announced the impending  release of a  double Anniversary CD which will not only feature exclusive new tracks, but also rare and previously unreleased material as well as alternative versions and recordings that have, until now, only been available on vinyl. “Gravkamre, Kroner og Troner” (Tombs, Crowns and Thrones), will be released on Dark Essence Records on the 1st of March in Norway and the 4th of March world-wide.

More information about TAAKE can be found on the band’s website at http://taake.svartekunst.no/

The official video for the track “Nordbundet” from the TAAKE album “Noregs Vaapen” can be seen below and at http://youtu.be/OAIIbnrYC7Q

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

TAAKE
Taake Website: http://taake.svartekunst.no/
Taake on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taakeofficial
Taake on MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/taakeofficial
Taake WebShop: http://svartekunst.bigcartel.com/
Svartekunst Produksjoner: http://svartekunst.no
Taake & Helheim Management & Booking: Propulsion Music http://www.propulsionmusic.no/
email: bjornar.erevik.nilsen@gmail.com

HELHEIM
Helheim Website: http://www.helheim.com
Helheim Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/helheimnorway
Helheim  YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/frosjo
Helheim
www.myspace.com/helheimnorway

ORKAN
https://www.facebook.com/ORKANMETAL

DARK ESSENCE RECORDS
Dark Essence Records: http://www.darkessencerecords.no
Promos and Information: post@karismarecords.no

After three years of silence and much speculation Norwegian Black Metallers SLAGMAUR are back in the studio and are currently putting the finishing touches to the follow up to 2009’s “Von Rov Shelter”.  The new six-track full-length album, which the band has been working on for three years,  will have the title of “Thill Smitts Terror” and is expected to be completed in the spring for release later this year. A label is currently being sought.  A pre-production version of the “Drummer of Tedworth”, a track from the album can be heard on the band’s SoundCloud page at http://soundcloud.com/slagmaur/slagmaur-the-drummer-of

“Thill Smitts Terror” will continue where “Von Rov Shelter” left off, delving more and more deeply into the  disturbing world that SLAGMAUR conjures up by combining modern and classical instruments  with children’s nursery rhymes and fairy tales.  It is a world where classically constructed melodies blend seamlessly with aggressive black metal to create a nightmare scenario straight from the pit of hell.

All artwork for the album is by the band’s founder General Gribbsphiiser (guitars, bass, cello, keys) and, according to the band’s manager, art, as well as music, is an integral part of the whole that is SLAGMAUR.  Each individual part of the artwork that will be used on the album will also be available separately as limited editions stand-alone pieces of art, samples of which can be seen on the band’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/slagmaurofficial.  Anyone wishing for more information about the artwork should contact kriger88@hotmail.com

Mysterious and secretive, SLAGMAUR was formed in the remote reaches of North Western Norway, in 2006.  The band have never revealed their true identities, always appearing heavily costumed and disguised.  Nor have they ever revealed how they create the sinister music that invades the listeners mind with layer upon layer of sound, revealing a different facet each time depending on the listener’s current mood.  “Thill Smitts Terror” sees Gribbsphiiser himself take on vocal vocal duties following the death of Steingrim and the departure of Åtselgribb.  Wardr (drums, keys) has also left the band to pursue other projects, but remains an honorary member, and is replaced by Dominaus Kracker who hails from the band’s home island of Fosen, and had previously contributed to “Von Rov Shelter” and worked on the production side of MARE.  Guest appearances by musicians from Fosen and Nidaros will also be featured.

The Official video for the track “Klokker Tramp” from SLAGMAUR’s album “Von Rov Shelter”, which includes an especially composed tribute to Steingrim, can be seen below or at http://youtu.be/F49BG4AvgyI

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/slagmaurofficial
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/slagmaur
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/slagmaur
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/slagmaur
Management: https://patriciathomasmanagement.com/
Contact: patriciathomas@btinternet.com

After 18 years, one EP and five full-length albums which have placed CREST OF DARKNESS firmly at the top of the Extreme Metal genre, the Norwegian masters are back with their most complete, extreme and intense release so far. The ten-track album, titled “In the Presence of Death”, is the band’s sixth full-length release and amply demonstrates that CREST OF DARKNESS are masters of the genre both in terms of writing and musicianship.  It is, in fact, an album that has been described by many as the very essence of Extreme Metal.

Track listing for “In the Presence of Death”, which is set for release on My Kingdom Music on the 25th February is as follows:

1. Intro
2. In The Presence Of Death
3. Demon Child
4. Redemption
5. The Priest From Hell
6. Welcome To My Funeral
7. Womb Of The Wolf
8. Vampire Dreams
9. From The Dead
10. The Day Before She Died

Formed in the mid-nineties by frontman Ingar Amlien, CREST OF DARKNESS is a totally different beast from his former band CONCEPTION, which at that time was at the peak of its popularity.  Whilst CONCEPTION tended towards the Progressive side of Power Metal, CREST OF DARKNESS allowed Amlien to indulge his passion for sonic brutality and his interest in vampirism and Satanic ideology, both of which are reflected in the band’s lyrics.   Aside from Amlien on bass and vocals CREST OF DARKNESS’ lineup includes  Rebo on guitars, Kjetil Hektoen on drums and the recently recruited DJEVELKULT guitarist Jan Fredrik Solheim.   More information about CREST OF DARKNESS can be found on the band’s website at http://www.crestofdarkness.com/

The Official video for the track “Druj Nasu” from the CREST OF DARKNESS album “Give Us The Power To Do Your Evil” can be seen below or at http://youtu.be/_vYJcNXs55A

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Website:  http://www.crestofdarkness.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/crestofdarknessofficial
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/crest-of-darkness
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/CRESTOFDARKNESSOFFIC
MySpace:  http://www.myspace.com/crestofdarkness
My Kingdom Music:  info@mykingdommusic.net
http://www.mykingdommusic.net/
Band Contact and Booking: contact@crestofdarkness.com
Management and Booking:  patriciathomas@btinternet.com
https://patriciathomasmanagement.com/

Progressive Black Metallers FEN have debuted a track from their upcoming album “Dustwalker”.  Set for release on Code666 on the 21st of January, “Dustwalker” will be the third full-length album from the three-piece whose line up comprises The Watcher (guitars and vocals), Grungyn (bass and vocals) and Derwydd (drums).  “Consequence”, the opening track from the album, can be heard on the player above or on the band’s SoundCloud page at http://soundcloud.com/fen-uk/fen-consequence

FEN’s music fits into the Black Metal genre, but the exact categorisation is hard to define, having been variously described as “progressive”, “atmospheric”, “post-rock” and “shoegaze”.  Drawing their name and inspiration from the desolate, windswept, other-worldly  Fen region of the UK from whence founder members The Watcher and Grungyn hail, there is no doubt that the band’s music fits into all the afore-mentioned categories, and more besides, to form a unique sound that is hauntingly and unmistakeably FEN.   As the Watcher recently commented about the new album: “If “Epoch” embodies a lonely walk into the deepening twilight of the fens in Autumn, then “Dustwalker” represents the cold, sharp greys of a bleak winter’s dawn.  An expression of isolation, abandonment and a gradual detachment from the material realm, this album is a starker, more direct representation of the Fen sound.”

FEN have previously released two albums on Code666 – their debut full length album “The Malediction Fields” in 2009 and the follow up “Epoch” in 2011, and the band recently announced that they had re-signed with the label for the release of a further three albums following the release of “Dustwalker”.  “Dustwalker” will be available in both CD format, and as a limited edition Clambox which will feature a bonus track and include a pendant with the band’s distinctive logo, which is currently available to pre-order.  Artwork for the album is by Grungyn.  Track listing for “Dustwalker” as follows:

I. Consequence
II. Hands of Dust
III. Spectre
IV. Reflections
V. Wolf Sun
VI. The Black Sound
VII. Walking the Crowpath
VIII. Epilogue (special edition bonus track)

More information about FEN can be found on the band’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/fenofficial

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fenofficial
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/fenband
Webshop: http://fenmerchandise.bigcartel.com/
Band Contact & Booking: fenbanduk@gmail.com
Management & Booking: patriciathomas@btinternet.com
Aural Music/Code666: http://www.auralmusic.com
Promos: promotion@auralmusic.com