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JAZZ ROCKERS KROKOFANT REVEAL NEW SINGLE FROM UPCOMING ALBUM

Posted: December 13, 2024 in IS IT JAZZ? RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Free Improvisation, Free Jazz, Improv, Improvisation, IS IT JAZZ? RECORDS, Jazz, Jazz Rock, Krokofant, Norway, Norwegian Jazz

Widely regarded as one of the founders of the current progressive jazz movement that is sweeping their native Norway, KROKOFANT’s sound, whilst firmly rooted in the 70s, has a distinctive rare melodic flair, that makes it unmistakably theirs.

It conjures up one catchy phrase after another in a free jazz style where precise, heavy riffs are enhanced by strong improvisations, and where wild saxophone solos team up with hugely creative, virtuoso guitar playing, coupled with the kind of drumming that sounds like a turbocharged hybrid of Keith Moon and Elvin Jones .

With their 6th full-length album, titled “6” for obvious reasons, set for release on the 10th January, Is It Jazz? Records, have today revealed a new single from the album as a pre-Christmas treat for KROKOFANT fans.

The single, titled “Triple Dad”, can be streamed or downloaded from a variety of services at:

https://orcd.co/krokofant-tripledad

Here is what the band had to say about it:

Triple Dad is composed by Mathisen and has a bit of a different feel to it than the traditional Kroko thing. More jazz elements and chord movements, with a rather strange melody on top. And an intense sax solo, with a cleaner and jazzy guitar solo you would normally hear from Hasslan.

Founded in Oslo in 2011 as a trio consisting of Tom Hasslan on Guitar, Jørgen Mathisen on Saxophone and Axel Skalstad on Drums, KROKOFANT’s lineup did, for a time, include an additional two members. But today’s band is not so much a playground for Tom´s prog-rock compositions, as it is an expansion on the idea of being a “collective”, sculpting their music together rather than following the more rigid song structures that is by necessity required by a quintet.

“6” is therefore very much an album from a band that has rekindled the fun of making songs together, and revels in its ability to create a sound that requires a more intense, improvisational interplay.

With artwork by Maria Risa Bornes, tracklisting for “6” is as follows:

1. Harry Davidson
2. Triple Dad
3. Oh My Cod
4. Country Doom
5. The Ballade
6. Pretentious Woman

“6” will be available CD, Digital and Hot Pink LP formats, and can now be pre-ordered at:

Webshop: https://isitjazzrecords.no/shop/
Bandcamp: https://krokofant.bandcamp.com/album/6

Undoubtedly, “6” is an album whose appeal goes beyond genre boundaries, and will be of interest to rock fans, free jazzers and jazz-rock nostalgics alike. The chugging riffs and catchy melodies that long-time fans of KROKOFANT will recognise, are still there, but so are more spacey, atmospheric moments.

Interestingly, Tom Hasslan and Axel Skalstad are both also members of SOFT FFOG, and both happen to be past winners of the Kongsberg Jazzfestival Recruitment Scholarship. They originally met in a local record store and one year later they were joined by Jørgen Mathisen, a noted saxophonist known for his work with bands such as SHAGMA, THE CORE, ZANUSSI FIVE and HUMVEE.

And for those who are curious about the name “KROKOFANT”, it is the name of a mythical creature featured in a popular Norwegian children’s song – a cross between an elephant and a crocodile, “a lumbering trumpeting beast with a fearsome array of teeth in its snapping jaws…”

KROKOFANT’s next live appearance will be at the Kafé Hærverk in Oslo, Norway, on the 10th January 2025. More dates to be announced.

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

Is It Jazz? Records recently released the track “Harry Davidson” from “6” and it can be streamed or downloaded from a variety of services at:

https://orcd.co/harrydavidson

Additional Information
KROKOFANT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krokofantmusic
Band Contact: jazztom@hotmail.com
IS IT JAZZ? RECORDS
Website: https://isitjazzrecords.no/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IsItJazzRecords/
Bandcamp: https://isitjazzrecords.bandcamp.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isitjazzrecords/
Contact: post@isitjazzrecords.no
Promo and other information: post@isitjazzrecords.no

POST METALLERS FEVERSEA SET TO JOIN DARK ESSENCE RECORDS

Posted: November 22, 2024 in DARK ESSENCE RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Atmospheric, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Dark Essence Records, Ethereal, Extreme Metal, Feversea, Norway, Norwegian Black Metal, Post Metal, Ritualistic, Shoegaze, Sludge

With a world-wide reputation for being able to find some of the best newcomers on the Extreme Metal scene, whilst at the same time attracting iconic exponents of the genre, Dark Essence Records have once again put their uncanny ability to use, and have welcomed Post Metallers FEVERSEA to their roster.

Based in Oslo, Norway, and drawing on influences that range from Black Metal to Sludge Metal to Shoegaze, FEVERSEA’s music lies at the intersection where the ferocity of Black Metal meets with ritualistic and ethereal soundscapes.

Starting out as a post punk project, FEVERSEA underwent a significant change in musical direction that culminated in the release of the well-received 2023 demo that highlighted the band’s atmospheric and varied post-metal direction.

For the past year FEVERSEA have been busy spent recording and producing their debut album, in which the band explores themes centred around the beginning and end of man, as well as mankind’s diminished position in the world. And it is this album that Dark Essence Records will be releasing.

As a part of Oslo’s Extreme Metal scene, FEVERSEA are no strangers to the stage, and this is what the band’s lineup of Ada Lønne Emberland on vocals, Isak Lønne Emberland on guitars and synthesizers, Alexander Fossen Lange on guitars, Aleksander Johnsen Solberg on bass guitar and Jeremie Malezieux on drums had this to say about joining the Dark Essence Records roster:

We are very much looking forward to working with Dark Essence. For us, this has always been the first choice when it comes to the record company we would like to work with, and we are proud and humbled to be part of their particularly eminent roster. We look forward to facing the end of humanity together.

More information about FEVERSEA can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/feverseaband

KARISMA RECORDS RELEASES NEW SINGLE FROM UPCOMING WIZRD ALBUM

Posted: November 15, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Indie, Jazz, Karisma Records, Norway, Norwegian Prog Rock, Norwegian Progressive Rock, Prog Rock, Progressive Rock, Rock, Wizrd

Set for release on the 6th December, “Elements”, the sophomore full-length album from Norwegian Rockers WIZRD, shows a band eager to build on their already genre-defying style, and expand into new directions.

But all those fans who have already taken the band into their hearts need not have any worries, because, the elements that make WIZRD what it is, will still be there. And how best to illustrate this? With the release of the single “Fire & Flames” about which the band have this to say:

Are we shooting ourselves in the foot when we choose the album’s longest track as the second single? Well, it’s possible! But still, it felt just right. We think “Fire & Flames” sums up “what is WIZRD” in a great way, it is in many ways the quintessential WIZRD song. It captures the calm, meditative and psychedelic nature of several of our songs, while the last half has the rawness, wildness and improvisation that we are perhaps best known for. Therefore, we felt that the song was an obvious single choice, as it represents the band and the album so well.

“Fire & Flames” can be downloaded or streamed from a variety of sources at:

https://orcd.co/fireflames

Those who have already had a taste of what to expect from “Elements” in the shape of the recently released double single (available for streaming or download at https://orcd.co/nationalday), will also realise that WIZRD will always be a band that pushes boundaries, successfully blending all the more interesting aspects of rock, indie, jazz and prog. But this time they have taken it further, experimenting with new styles, going in fresh melodic directions, and adding both extended and condensed song structures to their repertoire.

Recorded at the legendary Athletic Sound studio in Halden, “Elements” is an eclectic album, whose sound is cohesive and unified – an unmistakable trait in all of WIZARD’s work. It was co-produced, recorded, and mixed by Dag Erik Johansen alongside the band, who are keen to stress that his contribution was vital to shaping the final sound of “Elements”.

Working closely together this formidable team has created an album that feels organic yet unpredictable. With a mix of carefully crafted and spontaneous elements, it is clear that every decision that was taken in the making of the album influenced its outcome. Change one single thing and “Elements” would have been something entirely different.

With album cover art by Steph Hope and layout by Maja Markegård, and featuring additional vocals by Sara Fjeldvær, Rohey Taalah, Rikke Normann & Nadia Warholm Essahli, “Elements” will be released in CD, Digital and Limited Edition Red Vinyl formats, and is now available to pre-order from:

Bandcamp: https://wizrd.bandcamp.com/album/elements
WebShop: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/
US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com/band/wizrd

Track listing for “Elements” is as follows:

GT, Me & My 6610
Mesmerized
The Void
Fylkesvei 33
National Day
You’re Exposed!
!!!
Fire & Flames
Kaleidoskop

WIZRD was formed when Hallvard Gaardløs (SPIDERGAWD, DRAKEN) on bass and lead vocals, Karl Bjorå (MEGALODON COLLECTIVE) on guitar and vocals, Vegard Lien Bjerkan (SOFT FFOG) on keyboards and vocals, and Axel Skalstad (KROKOFANT, SOFT FFOG) on drums attended the Jazz Conservatory in Trondheim. Together, they form a diverse and dynamic unit marked by a fearless creativity.

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

A video of WIZRD in the studio, rehearsing the track “All Is As It Should Be”, from their 2022 album “Seasons”, by Norwegian film score composer and JAGA JAZZIST drummer Martin Horntveth, can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/kzP2VOduRCU?si=GwdMBmZGgU6B4x0z

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
WIZRD
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WIZRDTHEBAND/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wizrdtheband/
BandCamp: https://wizrd.bandcamp.com/
Band Contact: hallvardgaardlos@hotmail.com
KARISMA RECORDS
Promo and other information: 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 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karismarecords/
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

JAZZ ROCKERS KROKOFANT REVEAL DETAILS AND NEW SINGLE FROM UPCOMING ALBUM

Posted: November 8, 2024 in IS IT JAZZ? RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Free Jazz, Improv, Improvisation, IS IT JAZZ? RECORDS, Jazz, Jazz Improv, Jazz Rock, Krokofant

With five highly rated albums to their credit, Norwegian Jazz Rockers KROKOFANT are set to celebrate the new year with the release their sixth full-length, titled “6”, which is scheduled to hit the streets on Is It Jazz? Records on the 10th January.

Founded in Oslo in 2011 as a trio consisting of Tom Hasslan on Guitar, Jørgen Mathisen on Saxophone and Axel Skalstad on Drums, KROKOFANT’s lineup did, for a time, include an additional two members. However, today it is back to its original format, and the new album very much reflects a band that has rekindled the fun of making songs together, and revelling in their ability to create a sound that requires a more intense, improvisational interplay.

To whet the appetite of KROKOFANT fans, Is It Jazz? Records has chosen to release the opening track “Harry Davidson” as a single, and the band’s Tom Hasslan has this to say about it:

“Harry” was composed some years ago, and has been sneaking into our repertoire whenever we performed live as a trio, which was during the period when we mostly performed as a quintet with Ståle Storløkken on keys and Ingebrigt Håker Flaten on bass.

With its heavy riffs and a catchy sax melody on top “Harry” comes off like a classic KROKOFANT tune with all the traits from our earlier releases as a trio. It drives into a shreddy/quasi skronki guitar solo, complemented by a deep synth bass and creative groove-based drums.

“Harry Davidson” can be streamed or downloaded from a variety of services at:

https://orcd.co/harrydavidson

It’s apparent from the moment you hear the opening track from “6”, with its chugging riff and catchy melody, that the classic KROKOPHANT sound is still intact. The more jazzy chord based tunes like “Triple Dad”, and the spacey, atmospheric, sounds of “The Ballade”, for example, make “6” an album that will appeal to rock fans, free jazzers and jazz-rock nostalgics alike.

With artwork by Maria Risa Bornes, tracklisting for “6” is as follows:

1. Harry Davidson
2. Triple Dad
3. Oh My Cod
4. Country Doom
5. The Ballade
6. Pretentious Woman

“6” will be available CD, Digital and Magenta Vinyl LP formats, and can now be pre-ordered at:

Webshop: https://isitjazzrecords.no/shop/
Bandcamp: https://krokofant.bandcamp.com/album/6

KROKOFANT’s sound is deeply rooted in the 70s, with subtle nods in the direction of KING CRIMSON and SOFT MACHINE. Whilst this is not necessarily a rare thing in the Norwegian jazz/rock scene, the band still manages to sound quite unique, and is regarded as one of the founders of the current progressive jazz movement that is sweeping the country.

Hasslan and Skalstad, both of whom are now also members of SOFT FFOG, and both of whom happen to be past winners of the Kongsberg Jazzfestival Recruitment Scholarship, first met in a local record store. One year later they were joined by Mathisen, a noted saxophonist known for his work with bands such as SHAGMA, THE CORE, ZANUSSI FIVE and HUMVEE.

Their resurrection as a trio has seen the band move from being more of a playground for Hasslan´s prog-rock compositions, which was much in evidence during its period as a quintet. THE KROKOFANT of today is much more focused on the “collective”, sculpting their music together rather than following the more rigid song structures required by a quintet.

Musically KROKOFANT demonstrates a rare melodic flair, conjuring up one catchy phrase after another in a free jazz style whose precise and heavy riffs are redeemed by strong improvisations. Its wild saxophone solos are teamed with hugely creative, virtuoso guitar playing, and drumming that sounds like a turbocharged hybrid of Keith Moon and Elvin Jones .

For those who are curious about the name “KROKOFANT”, it is the name of a mythical creature featured in a popular Norwegian children’s song – a cross between an elephant and a crocodile, “a lumbering trumpeting beast with a fearsome array of teeth in its snapping jaws…”

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

DETAILS OF UPCOMING ALBUM AND NEW SINGLE FROM NORWEGIAN ROCKERS WIZRD REVEALED

Posted: October 25, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Indie, Jazz, Karisma Records, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Norway, Norwegian Prog Rock, Prog Rock, Rock, Wizrd

Since its formation WIZRD has proved itself to be a band that is happy to colour outside any genre-defining lines, pushing boundaries and effortlessly blending the more interesting aspects of genres that range from rock and indie to jazz and prog.

And on their upcoming sophomore full-length album “Elements” WIZRD have dived deeper into uncharted musical waters—experimenting with new styles, fresh melodic directions, and both extended and condensed song structures, all the while introducing Norwegian lyrics.

Whilst “Elements” itself is set for release on the 6th December, Karisma Records have today released a double single taken from the album. The single, which comprises the tracks “National Day” and “Eternity’s Breath”, and with artwork by Maja Markegård, can be downloaded or streamed from a variety of services at:

https://orcd.co/nationalday

WIZRD explained something of the process that went into recording “National Day”:

“National Day” was a song that came together very quickly. Karl came up with the riff, and while we were jamming on it, I came up with the melody line. We wanted to push ourselves a little and see how “little” is needed to make a song. After all, we are prog fans, and happy with lots of different parts, but here we tried to see how we could rather vary a relatively short idea and get a song out of it. It basically went very well, but in the end we couldn’t quite help ourselves, and added the slightly extended solo part. A little three-minute adventure!

By contrast, “Eternity’s Breath” is a totally different beast, not an original, but a cover, and fans of the MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA will immediately recognise the title. Indeed, WIZRD cite the legendary New Yorkers as one of the great inspirations behind their own music:

One of our favourite bands and greatest sources of inspiration is the Mahavishnu Orchestra. We have had a few concert nights in Oslo where we have had one set of our own songs, and one set of Mahavishnu covers. In particular, we have played a lot of the songs from the album “Visions of the Emerald Beyond”, so this time it was only natural for us to include a Mahavishnu song in the recording process. Eternity’s Breath is one of our favourite songs, it’s an insanely fun song to play. Joining the team this time we also got Rohey Taalah and Nadia Warholm Essahli on vocals, and that lifts it to astronomical heights. We hope the result gives you a real kick!

“Elements” itself was recorded at the legendary Athletic Sound studio in Halden, and the ambiance both within the studio, and within the city itself, left an indelible mark on the album, which, though eclectic, could not be anything other than WIZRD, whose distinctive sound is cohesive and unified.

Co-produced, recorded, and mixed by Dag Erik Johansen alongside the band, WIZRD are keen to stress that his contribution was vital to shaping the final sound of “Elements”. Working closely together this formidable team has created an album that feels organic yet unpredictable. With a mix of carefully crafted and spontaneous elements, it is clear that every decision that was taken in the making of the album influenced its outcome. Change one single thing and “Elements” would have been something entirely different.

Bandcamp: wizrd.bandcamp.com
WebShop: karismarecords.no/shop
US Webshop: karismarecords.indiemerch.com

Rrack listing for “Elements” is as follows:

GT, Me & My 6610
Mesmerized
The Void
Fylkesvei 33
National Day
You’re Exposed!
!!!
Fire & Flames
Kaleidoskop

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

A video of WIZRD in the studio, rehearsing the track “All Is As It Should Be”, from their 2022 album “Seasons”, by Norwegian film score composer and JAGA JAZZIST drummer Martin Horntveth, can be seen at below and at https://youtu.be/kzP2VOduRCU?si=QSgNFb2L9X_VMWnw

DEBUT ALBUM FROM PROG ROCKERS SEVEN IMPALE SET FOR VINYL RE-RELEASE

Posted: October 18, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Karisma Records, Norway, Norwegian Prog Rock, Norwegian Progressive Rock, Prog, Prog Rock, Progressive, Progressive Rock, Seven Impale

Ten years after its original release, Karisma Records is set to re-release a vinyl version of “City of the Sun”, the critically acclaimed debut full-length album from Norwegian Prog Rockers SEVEN IMPALE, which has long-been sold out.

Whilst “City of the Sun” is firmly based on classic progressive rock, SEVEN IMPALE’s use of elements usually found within the Metal genre, along with the inclusion of a Saxophone amongst their instruments, is the perfect illustration of how unafraid SEVEN IMPALE is to veer away from what one would normally expect from a Progressive Rock band. The resultant sound is, as you may expect, is not only much harder but it also contains a plethora of jazzy elements, thus appealing to a wider audience.

Commenting on the album itself, SEVEN IMPALE had this to say:

The process of making “City of the Sun” all those years ago put all seven of us into a rather confined space, recording it the good old-fashioned way. Not a click track or grid in sight! It was a sweaty, intimate experience that seems to have been the recipe for.. sweaty, intimate and jazzy prog rock..!

We can confirm that recording and assembling “City of the Sun” was a valuable learning experience for us as a band, and we are forever thankful for the friendship we formed, and have since built upon, with our producer Iver Sandøy. Iver will always be that “missing” seventh impala, and we will, without hesitation, return to Solslottet for the golden touches of the Sun King Himself.

Set for release on the 29th November, the Tenth Anniversary edition of “City of the Sun” will be available as a Limited Edition LP in Solar Flare Vinyl, and will include an insert sheet with the albums lyrics along with comments from both the band, and ENSLAVED’s Ivar Bjørnson.

It is now available to pre-order from:

Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/
US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

Featuring its original artwork, track listing for “City Of The Sun” as follows:

1. Oh, My Gravity!
2. Windshears
3. Eschaton Horo
4. Extraction
5. God Left Us for a Black-Dressed Woman

Formed in Bergen, Norway in 2010, and featuring members from ENSLAVED, CLOUD PEOPLE, TROJKA and more, SEVEN IMPALE’s lineup consists of Stian Økland on vocals and guitars, Fredrik Mekki Widerøe on drums, Benjamin Mekki Widerøe on sax, Tormod Fosso on bass, Erlend Vottvik Olsen on guitar and Håkon Vinje on keyboards.

It is a lineup that encompasses a diversity of musical disciplines ranging from classical orchestra to big band, metal to jazz and rock to electronic, SEVEN IMPALE have fused all their experience and influences and created a sound that is uniquely theirs.

A video of SEVEN IMPALE playing the track “God Left Us for a Black-Dressed Woman” from “City of Sin” live at Festival Prog-Resiste in 2016 can be seen at https://youtu.be/254U6S0YO1U?si=4J1R88FWx-aJgkor

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
SEVEN IMPALE
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sevenimpale
Website: https://sevenimpale.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sevenimpale
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/56h6oZFC4GnKgMA3WQtj35
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/sevenimpale
Twitter: https://x.com/sevenimpale
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/sevenimpale
KARISMA RECORDS
Band Contact: sevenimpale@gmail.com
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/shop/
Karisma Records US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

DETAILS OF THE FOURTH OF SIX RELEASES FROM THE BACK CATALOGUE OF PROG LEGENDS WHITE WILLOW REVEALED

Posted: October 18, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Jacob Holm-Lupo, Karisma Records, Norwa, Norwegian Prog, Norwegian Prog Rock, Prog, Prog Rock, Progressive, White Willow

WHITE WILLOW fans can look forward to a special Christmas treat this year when Karisma Records releases another album from its planned re-issue of the entire back catalogue of the legendary Norwegian Prog Rock pioneers.

This time it is the band’s fourth full-length album “Storm Season”, which was originally released in 2004 and was the first WHITE WILLOW album to sell over 10,000 copies. Compared to their earlier releases, it marked a bold musical shift for WHITE WILLOW, taking, as it does, a heavier, more metallic direction. Blending their classical Prog and Folk Rock roots with a heavier, more streamlined side, “Storm Season” stands as WHITE WILLOWS’ most direct and impactful musical statement to date.

It is also very aptly named, because “Storm Season” was created in the chaotic epicenter of a perfect storm and reflected both the turbulence within the band itself, and of the world around them.

Indeed, the intensity of the music would nearly tear apart the band, leading to the departure of Sylvia Erichsen who had been their vocalist for several years. And yet, it was from this very turmoil that a breakthrough would emerge, as guitarist and bandleader Jacob Holm-Lupo explains:

We wanted to create an album that felt like a storm—a reflection of the turmoil in the world with climate change and political unrest, and also within our own lives.

This re-release of “Storm Season” has been meticulously remastered by Jacob Holm-Lupo himself, breathing new life into the album

Although “Storm Season had previously been released in LP format in 2015, that version featured an alternative cover and has long since sold out, whilst this is the first vinyl release to feature the iconic original cover art.

Set for release on the 13 December, “Storm Season” will be available as a Limited Edition LP in Stormy Marble Vinyl, as well as in CD format. It can now be pre-ordered from:

Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/
Bandcamp: https://whitewillow.bandcamp.com/album/storm-season-remaster
US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

Track listing for “Storm Season” is as follows:

CD
1. Chemical Sunset
2. Sally Left
3. Endless Science
4. Soulburn
5. Insomnia
6. Storm Season
7. Nightside of Eden

LP
1. Chemical Sunset
2. Sally Left
3. Soulburn
4. Endless Science
5. Insomnia
6. Storm Season
7. Nightside of Eden

WHITE WILLOW was formed in 1992 by guitarist Jacob Holm-Lupo, who at that time was a member of the POLICE/BRUCE HORNSBY-inspired pop band THE ORCHID GARDEN, and keyboard player Jan Tariq Rahman from local jazz-rock/prog rock band DUGGVÅTE DVE.

It was a case of two musicians coming together see if they had any kind of songwriting chemistry, and, whilst sitting on the floor playing acoustic guitar and clavinet, produced the track “Snowfall” which convinced them that they could, indeed, come up with something worthwhile.

WHITE WILLOW’s history, however, was never simple, with members having come and gone over the years and only Holm-Lupo having remained with the band since its inception, whilst WOBBLER’s Lars Fredrik Frøislie has been a mainstay since 2001.

The band’s sound too has undergone changes, but it’s safe to say that it is frequently centered around female vocals and an expanded instrumentation that usually includes a host of analogue synthesizers, mellotron, woodwinds and strings, in addition, of course, to traditional rock instrumentation.

Now, exclusively a studio project, WHITE WILLOW is noted for featuring guest appearances from prominent musicians such as Norway’s guitar hero Hedvig Mollestad, or internationally renowned klezmer clarinetist David Krakauer.

By the time the re-release project is finished, Karisma Records will have released all six of the following albums:

Ignis Fatuus – 1995 (released Nov 2023)
Ex Tenebris – 1997 (released April 2024)
Sacrament – 2000 (released July 2024)
Storm Season – 2004 (due for release 13 December 2024)
Signal to Noise – 2006
Terminal Twilight – 2011

More information about WHITE WILLOW can be found at https://www.facebook.com/whitewillowband/

A video for the track “Kansas Regrets” from WHITE WILLOW’s 2011 album “Terminal Twilight” can be seen below

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
WHITE WILLOW
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitewillowband/
Holm-Lupo Lydproduksjon: www.duderanchstudio.com
KARISMA RECORDS
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/shop/
Karisma Records US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

EXTREME METAL VETERANS CREST OF DARKNESS RELEASE NEW VIDEO AND SINGLE FROM UPCOMING ALBUM

Posted: October 7, 2024 in CREST OF DARKNESS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Black Metal, Black/Death Metal, Crest of Darkness, Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Metal, music, My Kingdom Music, new-music, news, Norway, Norwegian Black Metal, review, reviews

With their ninth full-length album “My Ghost” set to hit the streets on the 18th October on My Kingdom Music, Norwegian Extreme Metallers, CREST OF DARKNESS have today released a second single from the album.

Titled “The Ultimate Truth” the track is a demonstration of the versatility of the band, whose particular take on Extreme Metal pulls in fans from genres that range from Black to Death to Thrash to Metal.

“The Ultimate Truth” can be streamed or downloaded from a variety of services at https://song.link/COD_truth

Accompanying the track is a video by videographer and editor Caroline Kløvrud of Litt Films, who has been able to capture the darkness inherent within the band’s music and its founder Ingar Amlien’s lyrical concepts.

It can be seen below and at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qYaplQj1Kg

CREST OF DARKNESS’ career spans over 30 years, and “My Ghost” will be the heaviest, darkest and most personal work that Amlien has created to date. As he recently explained:

“Structured as a ritual, “My Ghost” is a concept album, which, from an artistic standpoint, is meant to be heard as a whole. From the album’s evocative opening, the ritual leads us to its climax, embodied by the final song “The Ultimate Truth”. This is the point at which the listener completes the initiation into the dark world of CREST OF DARKNESS, and is thus ready to enter the “Ninth Portal”.

With its varied and uncompromising lyrics underpinning its message, “My Ghost” is essentially a long journey into the darkest recesses of the mind. A place where Nature’s darkest forces breathe energy and vitality into those who have the courage, and the strength, to become their own Gods”.

With cover art by Roy Allan Larsen, tracklisting for “My Ghost” is as follows:

1. My Ghost
2. Infected
3. The Will Of God
4. Call Of The Moon
5. Satanic
6. Sacrificed To The Sun
7. The Awakening
8. Under My Spell
9. The Ultimate Truth

Amlien describes the painstaking creative process that went into the making of “My Ghost”:

“My Ghost” is the result of two years worth of blood and sweat, which began with me working alone to mould my very personal thoughts and beliefs into musical ideas. Then, together as a band, with myself on bass and vocals, Rebo Rebolee on Guitars, and Bjørnar Jenssen on drums, we developed those ideas, each contributing our own ideas to the process.

The end result is an extremely personal journey that defines the very essence of CREST OF DARKNESS.

“My Ghost” features special guest appearances by renowned Norwegian trumpet player Roy Nikolaisen, and long-term collaborator Kristian Wentzel on keyboards. It was recorded at the MLP Studios with Nils H. Maehlum at the helm and was mastered by Giuseppe Nicolò (aka Buzz) at Lost Soul Studio.

“My Ghost” is available to pre-order in LP, Digipak CD, Tape and Digital formats, as well as in a special bundle edition limited to 50 copies from the following:

https://shorturl.at/mqf9L

CREST OF DARKNESS will be celebrating the release of “My Ghost” at Friscena, in Govik, Norway, on the 19th October.

More information about CREST OF DARKNESS can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/crestofdarknessofficial and on the band’s website at http://www.crestofdarkness.com/

The single “Call of the Moon” from “My Ghost” was recently released in 7″ EP and Digital formats which are available from a number of services at https://album.link/COD_moon

The video for “Call of the Moon” can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/n0_XISysdMo?si=WMMIMBA8Za8wkumd

Additional Information
Website: http://www.crestofdarkness.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/crestofdarknessofficial
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/CRESTOFDARKNESSOFFIC
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crestofdarkness/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CrestofDarkness
BandCamp: https://crestofdarkness.bandcamp.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/67dTHBWfRi3CkmwdodcAxz
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/crest-of-darkness
My Kingdom Music: https://linktr.ee/mykingdommusic
Band Contact and Booking: contact@crestofdarkness.com
Management and Booking: patriciathomas@btinternet.com

JAZZ ROCKERS THE VERGE REVEAL NEW SINGLE FROM UPCOMING ALBUM

Posted: September 5, 2024 in IS IT JAZZ? RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Drone, Free Improv, Improv, IS IT JAZZ? RECORDS, Jazz, Jazz Improv, Jazz Rock, Melodic Jazz, Norway, Prog, The Verge

Scheduled for release on the 4th October, the self-titled debut album from Norwegian Jazz Rockers THE VERGE, offers up a veritable palette of sounds. Drawing on extreme improvisational rock and dreamy noise/dronescapes, it ranges from fiery melodic jazz to prog rock, from atmospheric free-improvisation to heavy riffs.

Having recently released a single from the album, Is It Jazz? Records now bring us a second taste of what to expect with the release of the track “Snake”, which can be downloaded or streamed from a variety of services at

https://orcd.co/theverge-snake

Commenting on the track, THE VERGE’s Emil Storløkken had this to say:

“Snake” started as a slightly strange ostinato, with an odd numbered time signature, that curls its way through the song. Then came the melody, with faster movements in the guitar and saxophone, adding something concrete but with an unsafe character.

We worked for a long time to find the perfect groove to drive the song. When we finally found this, we jammed out the powerful unison riff that breaks the circular motion. Like a snake leaping forth from the bushes and striking.

Consisting of seven original tracks composed by the different members of the band, “The Verge”, is, not surprisingly, an album where each track differs significantly one from the other. It serves to showcase THE VERGE’s ability to take their considerable musical skills and create an opportunity for spontaneous interplay, with the ensembles joyful attitude towards making music together leading to an album that is vibrant and multifaceted.

Recorded at the Duper Studio in 2021, and produced by Vegard Lemme, “The Verge”, whose cover art is by Annika Linn Verdal Homme, will be available in CD, LP and Digital formats and can be pre-ordered now from:

Webshop: https://isitjazzrecords.no/
BandCamp: https://the–verge.bandcamp.com/album/the-verge

Track listing for “The Verge” is as follows:

1. Nessesse
2. Hyperreality
3. Snake
4. Gratitude
5. Postludium
6. The Blast Supper
7. Patterns for Meditation

THE VERGE’s lineup of Emil Storløkken Åse (PHOENIX, EMIL STORLØKKEN ÅSE SOLO) on Guitars , Aksel Rønning (COSMIC SWING ORCHESTRA, AKSEL RØNNING TRIO) on Saxophone and Flute, Alf Høines (CARAMEL 11, LEON RØSTEN TRIO) on Electric Bass, and Ingvald Vassbø (KANAAN, JUNO) on Drums, first began playing together when they all attended the legendary Norwegian Jazz school NTNU.

Since then, their individual careers have branched off into various significant bands, giving them the chance to hone their skills not just in Norway, but also the within the European Jazz, Improv and Rock scenes. And it is now, thanks to Is It Jazz? Records, that this eclectic cast of musicians have been given the opportunity to demonstrate their uncanny ability to weave together so many different elements into one cohesive whole.

More information about THE VERGE can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065744882524

Additional Information
The Verge
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065744882524
Band Contact: ingvaldvassboe@gmail.com
Is it Jazz? Records
Website: https://isitjazzrecords.no/
BandCamp: https://the–verge.bandcamp.com/album/the-verge
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IsItJazzRecords/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isitjazzrecords/
Contact: post@isitjazzrecords.no

ALTERNATIVE POP ORCHESTRA MEER RELEASE NEW SINGLE FROM UPCOMING ALBUM

Posted: August 9, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Alternative, Alternative Pop, Alternative Pop Orchestra, Karisma Records, Meer, Pop, Pop Orchestra, Symphonic Prog

With less than two weeks to go before the release of “Wheels Within Wheels”, the third full-length album from the Norwegian Alternative Pop Orchestra MEER, Karisma Records have released another single from an album that epitomises the band’s eclectic sound.

Titled “Today Tonight Tomorrow”, the track can be downloaded or streamed from a variety of services at:

https://orcd.co/todaytonighttomorrow

It is a song that many listeners will be able to relate to, and this is what the band had to say about it:

Set against a backdrop of shadows and light, “Today Tonight Tomorrow” captures the essence of longing and desire. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a protagonist on the edge of the light, yearning to be a part of something greater than themselves. With haunting vocals and ethereal instrumentation, the song beckons listeners to join the journey, as the protagonist grapples with feelings of isolation and uncertainty.

The album itself represents a large step forward for MEER. It is an ambitious and immersive work that blends symphonic prog with intelligent pop, and allows the band to showcase an exceptional level of musicianship that is accentuated by intricate vocal harmonies and majestic melodies.

Set for release on the 23rd August, “Wheels Within Wheels” will be available in CD, Digital, and Ltd Edition Double LP in Neon Magenta / Grimace Purple Vinyl formats, and can now be pre-ordered from:

Bandcamp: https://meer.bandcamp.com/album/wheels-within-wheels
Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/
US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com/pre-orders

With each individual member of MEER bringing their own musical styles and interests to bear in “Wheels Within Wheels”, the album is a testament to the band’s ability to effortlessly transcend genre-boundaries by blending introspective lyrics with enthralling musical arrangements.

With artwork by Helena Haglund and Simen Sandbæk Skari, and a running time of just over an hour, “Wheels Within Wheels” reunited MEER with producer Lars Gärtner Fremmerlid and was recorded at Ocean Sound Recordings in 2023.

Track listing for “Wheels Within Wheels” is as follows:

01. Chains of Changes
02. Behave
03. Take Me to the River
04. Come to Light
05. Golden Circle
06. Today Tonight Tomorrow
07. World of Wonder
09. Mother
10. Something in the Water
11. This is the End

Formed in Hamar, Norway, in 2008, MEER’s lineup now consists of eight members, including Johanne Kippersund on vocals, Knut Kippersund on vocals, Eivind Strømstad on guitar, Åsa Ree on violin, Ingvild Nordstoga Eide on viola, Ole Gjøstøl on keyboards, Morten Strypet on bass and Mats Lillehaug on drum.

Fans will be able to see MEER live at the following events (more to follow):

8 Sept: Two Days Prog +1 Festival, Campo Sportivo, Novara, Italy
20-21 Sept: Pulterkammer Festival, Hamar Teater, Hamar, Norway
https://www.facebook.com/events/960010719085265
27 Sept: Hunsfos Rock Festival, Hunsfos Bryggeri og Destilleri, Hunsfos, Norway
https://www.facebook.com/events/730511715879709

A video by Birk Rønningsbakken Groven, with its moody lighting by Kåre Nordseth, for the track “Golden Circle” from “Wheels Within Wheels”, can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/K9pQ1bz2c20

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
MEER
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MEERmusikk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meermusic/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOPFSGuj-8Grx2_1_A8m2kA
Band contact: post@meerband.com
KARISMA RECORDS
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: http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/
Karisma Records US Webshop: http://karismarecords.aisamerch.com/

PATRICIA THOMAS BAND MANAGEMENT

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ALTERNATIVE POP ORCHESTRA MEER RELEASE NEW SINGLE FROM UPCOMING ALBUM

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