Archive for October, 2022

DARK ESSENCE RECORDS ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM AND SINGLE FROM TOTAL OCCULTIC MECHANICAL BLASPHEMERS T.O.M.B.

Posted: October 21, 2022 in DARK ESSENCE RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
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US Total Occultic Mechanical Blasphemers T.O.M.B, are back with their seventh full-length  album which is due to hit the streets on the 2nd December.  Titled “Terror Winds”, the album is a follow up to 2020’s “The Thin Veil”, which marked the beginning of the legendary band’s collaboration with Norway’s Dark Essence Records.

It is an album imbued with spellbinding symphonic ambience and necromantic noise soundscapes  that sees T.O.M.B return to their graveyard roots of old, raw Black Metal.  And today, Dark Essence Records have released the track “In The Ugly Dark”  from the album, which, according to the band serves as a very apt window into the heart of “Terror Winds” Itself, as they explain:

“In the Ugly Dark” serves as a introduction to the fierce song writing style representative throughout the new six song album. Its scorching guitar sound and barbaric drum beats coincide with the concept of a darkness unknown or experienced within the limitations of human existence.

It is an experience that will transport the listener back to the glory days of extreme dangerous black metal. 

“In the Ugly Dark” can be downloaded or streamed from a number of services at https://link.darkessencerecords.no/TOMB_In_The_Ugly_Dark

As well as on YouTube at https://youtu.be/qqqaCFRzzZM

“Terror Winds”  carries with it the authentically dangerous feel of early 90s Black Metal, combined with a powerful wave of ambient keyboards and classic T.O.M.B. noise.  Recorded live at the Ossuary Studios in New York City and mastered by Tore Stjerna at Necromorbus Studios in Sweden, and with artwork by Nestor Avalos, tracklisting for “Terror Winds” is as follows:

1. Terror Winds
2. In the Ugly Dark
3. Wraiths
4. Hatred to All
5. Frost Tyrants
6. Reincarnation

“Terror Winds” will be available in CD, LP and Digital formats, and is now available to pre-order from:

Webshop: https://darkessencerecords.no/kar243-tomb-terror-winds/
Bandcamp: https://tombnoise.bandcamp.com/album/terror-winds
US Webshop: https://darkessence.indiemerch.com/ 
Updatable Pre-Order Links: https://link.darkessencerecords.no/TOMB_Terror_Winds

The history of T.O.M.B. spans over two decades,  since 1998, in fact, when, inspired by bands such as ABRUPTUM, HAVOHEJ, SAMAEL and SUNNO))), musicians No-One, B. Zimimay, Tyler B and Samantha Viola first got together to form the entity that would become T.O.M.B. Together they would astonish fans with a trademark sound that would prove to be be both horrific, and, at the same time, hypnotically spell-binding. 

Dealing with esoteric matters  such as death, paranormal activity and occult practices, T.O.M.B. has used its twenty plus years of experience well,  with the band able to hone its ability to craft a sound that combines Black Metal with elements of  Dark Ambient, Doom, Death, Industrial and Power Electronics. The end result is a unique brand of terrifying black metal noise that has earned T.O.M.B. the reputation as one of the top innovators in the field of modern-day Black Metal.

More information about T.O.M.B can be found on the band’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/totalocculticmechanicalblasphemy/

The official video for the track “Pestilence” from T.O.M.B’s 2020 album “The Thin Veil” can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/HIhfl_raDlE

Additional Information
T.O.M.B on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/totalocculticmechanicalblasphemy/
Band contact and booking: macabrenoize@gmail.com
Dark Essence contact: post@karismarecords.no
Dark Essence Records: www.darkessencerecords.no
Dark Essence on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/darkessencerecords
Dark Essence Records Bandcamp:  http://karismarecords.bandcamp.com/
Dark Essence Records YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/DarkEssenceRecords
Dark Essence Records Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darkessencerecords/
Dark Essence Records Twitter: https://twitter.com/DarkEssenceRec
Dark Essence SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records
Dark Essence Records Webshop: https://www.darkessencerecords.no
Dark Essence Records North American Webshop:  https://darkessence.indiemerch.com
Dark Essence Records Australian Webshop:  https://www.heavymetalmerchant.com/bands/d/dark-essence-records/

KARISMA RECORDS RELEASES SECOND  SINGLE FROM UPCOMING OAK ALBUM

Posted: October 12, 2022 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
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Karisma Records have released a second single from “The Quiet Rebellion of Compromise”, the upcoming third full-length album from Progressive Pop/Rockers OAK. 

Titled  “Quiet Rebellion”, the single  can be downloaded or streamed from a number of services at
https://link.karismarecords.no/OAK_QuietRebellion

“The Quiet Rebellion of Compromise” is easily OAK’s  most dynamic album yet, and showcases the wide range of influences that have gone into developing the band’s sound.  With a sharper edge and some surprising  twists and turns, the album is still unmistakably OAK, with its members making ample use of their diverse backgrounds ranging from classical piano, to electronica, to prog and hard rock, thereby creating music that references both the  alternative scene as well as the progressive rock scene.

Recorded  in Ljugekroken and mixed at the Ghostward Studio by David Castillo (KATATONIA, LEPROUS OPETH, etc.) “The Quiet Rebellion of Compromise” was mastered by Tony Lindgren at the Fascination Street Studio.  Offering  subtle hints to both past and future songs in the OAK universe,  track listing is as follows:

1. Highest Tower, Deepest Well
2. Quiet Rebellion
3. Dreamless Sleep
4. Sunday 8 AM
5. Demagogue Communion
6. Paperwings
7. Guest of Honour

“The Quiet Rebellion of Compromise” is set for release on the 11th November in CD, Digital and Limited Edition white vinyl formats, and is now available to pre-order from the following:

Various Services (regularly updated) https://link.karismarecords.no/Oak_The-Quiet-Rebellion-of-Compromise
Webshop:  https://www.karismarecords.no/kar225-oak-the-quiet-rebellion-of-compromise/
Bandcamp: https://oakinoslo.bandcamp.com/album/the-quiet-rebellion-of-compromise
US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com/band/oak

“The Quiet Rebellion of Compromise” is an extraordinary album  in respect of its subject matter, because, in it, the band explores the subject of mental health, concentrating particularly on the aspect of suicide. Having chosen to write about two highly important, but very controversial subjects, and cognisant of the fact that music as an art form is very open to interpretation, OAK did not want to treat the matter in the  “sensationalist” way it is so often tackled.  Rather, wanting to make sure  that the message came across clearly and respectfully, they sought advice from experienced scholars.  

Even the cover design by Remi Juliebø / Deformat for “The Quiet Rebellion of Compromise” is a very poignant reference to the concept, in that it is based on the death mask of “L’Inconnue de la Seine”,  an unknown drowning victim from 1880s Paris (photographed by Anne-Marie Forker), whilst the font is partially based on handwriting from two real suicide notes. 

Starting out as a folk-rock duo, OAK’s lineup has expanded to include Simen Valldal Johannessen on vocals, piano and keys, Øystein Sootholtet on bass, acoustic and electric guitars, Sigbjørn Reiakvam on drums, percussion, programming, keys and guitars, and Stephan Hvinden on lead, rhythm and slide guitars.

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

Additional Information
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/oakinoslo/
Bandcamp:  https://oakinoslo.bandcamp.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oakinoslo/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OakInOslo
Band contact and Booking: contact@oakinoslo.com
Promo and other information: post@karismarecords.no
Karisma Records contact: post@karismarecords.no
Karisma Records: http://www.karismarecords.no/
Karisma Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karismarecords
Karisma Records Bandcamp: https://karismarecords.bandcamp.com
Karisma Records on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/KarismarecordsNor
Karisma Records Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarismaRecords
Karisma on SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records
Karisma Records Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no
Karisma Records US Webshop:  https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

IS IT JAZZ? RECORDS INKS DEAL WITH INDIE-JAZZ BAND SHAKAI

Posted: October 3, 2022 in IS IT JAZZ? RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
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It might, on occasion, cross your mind that perhaps sister-labels, Karisma Records, and Is it Jazz? Records have an A&R team permanently camped outside prestigious Norwegian music conservatories  since so many of the younger bands signed to the labels have graduated from those hallowed halls.   And indeed,  SHAKAI, the latest signing to Is it Jazz? Records, are no exception to the rule, with members having studied at either Bergen or Trondheim conservatories.

Formed in 2016 with band leader and bassist Eline Rafteseth at the helm, SHAKAI, which translates from the Japanese as “public” or “society”, released a very successful debut album in 2018, and followed it with various festival appearances that solidified the band’s growing reputation. 

Now, with 2022 waning, and 2023 on the horizon, SHAKAI is back with a new lineup to go with its brand new record deal, and is ready to begin work on the band’s  sophomore full-length album.  At the same time, SHAKAI are determined not to let the grass grow beneath their collective feet, so, before entering Bergen’s Duper Studio with producers Jørgen Træen and Iver Sandøy, SHAKAI is set to play a series of dates around Norway.

Of the upcoming collaboration with Is it Jazz? Records SHAKAI had this to say:

We are very excited to announce that we have been signed with Is it jazz? Records. Not only because of their passion and devotion to music – but also because they are a local label that really cares about their artists!

As is usually the case with graduates from music conservatories, SHAKAI’s lineup of bassist,  band leader and original founder Eline Rafteseth (QUORUM TRIO, MADS BERVEN, BOREALIS UNG KOMPONIST), Elisabeth Lid Trøen on saxophones (BERGEN BIG BAND, TRØEN/ARNESEN KVARTETT), Gabriela Garrubo on vocals (METTESON, AMALIE HOLT KLEIVE, GABRIELA GARRUBO), guitarist Simen Walle (ATARI, GUILTY GARDEN, WALLE) and Amund Nordstrøm on drums and modular synth (DATADYR, AVIAN ART, TOMAS LOSSIUS SEPTET), brings with it a plethora of musical disciplines and backgrounds, firmly rooted in Jazz and Improvisation, along with a sound grounding gleaned from working with other bands and projects. 

Inspired by artists that include DEERHOOF, PORTISHEAD, DOFFS POI, SOLVEIG SLETTAHJELL, BROEN and whilst musically they identify as indie-jazz, the quintet doesn’t really pay much attention to genre definitions, nor  to those unwritten rules that try to shackle musicians to a set formula that only serves to  stifle creativity.   SHAKAI would much rather invite the listener in to their strange universe of unexpected elements and unusual instruments, and let the music speak for itself, describing their creative process as being “almost like making pastries without a recipe”.

Whilst appearance-wise, SHAKAI present an image of studied ease, almost, at times, of introspection on stage, there is no  hint of navel gazing as the band skilfully brings its music to life,  drawing the audience in and surprising them with unexpected turns.  Fans will be able to see for themselves what SHAKAI is all about live on the following dates:

OCTOBER

Tue 4: Progkjeller, Hærverk Oslo
Sat 8: Bajazz, Bergen
Fri 14: Jazz på Jølst, Jølster
Sat 15: Vestnes Jazzklubb
Sun 16: Søndagsjazzen på Ila
Wed 19: Uhørt! Victoria Nasjonal Jazzscene – splittkonsert med Joakim Rainer Trio.

More information about SHAKAI can be found on the band’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/shakaimusic 

A video of SHAKAI playing live at Landmark in Bergen can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/UmnJRCU5vqE

Additional Information
SHAKAI
Facebook: www.facebook.com/shakaimusic
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3I4SiHR9WzNlaQo8d0izWj?si=TWH_T7hCTfabG8zYXF9-Lw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shakai.band/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuUp5Dqip-xDG91_uOVrL6g
Band Contact:  shakaibooking@gmail.com
IS IT JAZZ RECORDS
Promo and other information: post@isitjazzrecords.no
Website:  https://isitjazzrecords.no/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/IsItJazzRecords/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isitjazzrecords/