Archive for the ‘OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES’ Category

As work on VESTINDIEN’s sophomore full-length album “Verdande” nears completion, Dark Essence Records has managed to give fans of the band an early Christmas present by releasing one of the finished tracks as a single. 

Almost three years on from the release of VESTINDIEN’s 2020 debut full-length “Null”, the new single, titled “Forbi Stillheten”, bridges the gap from where the band were then, to where they are today. 

“Null” served to introduce fans to VESTINDIEN’s unique approach to a dark, harsh and sinister old-school metal sound, and whilst “Forbi Stillheten”  is still very much rooted in metal, this time it also references 60s psych and 70s prog.

Described by the band as  “A hymn to the people who see the world as something they belong to, rather than something that belongs to them”,  “Forbi Stillheten” can be streamed or downloaded from a variety of services at:

https://link.darkessencerecords.no/Vestindien_ForbiStillheten

Formed in 2009 and named after the last known brothel (now a museum) in Bergen, VESTINDIEN  had a reputation as an up-and-coming hardcore band with a heavy metal twist, and a solid following eager to witness VESTINDIEN’s frenetic live shows.  But one year after the release of their 2011 EP “We are the Lords of Hellfire”, the band inexplicably called it a day.

Several years later VESTINDIEN re-emerged with a more introverted, and less hardcore and aggressive, approach to their music.  Hints of the band’s hardcore roots were still discernible, but VESTINDIEN’s sound had manifested itself into a dark shroud that conjured up the essence of black metal, punk and old school rock’n’roll. As a result “Null”  was filled with songs that were dark, desperate and desolate, but also packed hard punches of energy and groove.

Details of the new album itself are still being kept under wraps, but we can reveal that “Verdande” was written in a basement in Bergen, as well as  on a secluded island in the Barents Sea.  The latter’s location out in the open sea, has literally, and figuratively, given VESTINDIEN more air and space do develop their music, without sacrificing any of those claustrophobic and chaotic roots from the underground.

VESTINDIEN’s lineup is comprised of Slettsnok on vocals,  guitars and synth, Fader War and Henrik Paulsen on guitars, Karl Johan Johannessen on drums, Petter Beyer on synth and Pål Eirik Veseth on bass, and more information about the band can be found on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Vestindien/

Additional Information
VESTINDIEN
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vestindien/
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/vestindien/
Band contact and booking:  book.vestindien@gmail.com
DARK ESSENCE RECORDS
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/

Nobody watching the news could have failed to have noticed that the people of Iceland are on tenterhooks, wondering if the Fagradalsfjall Volcano will erupt and rain hell on the town of Grindavik, whose 4,000 souls have been evacuated.

 And, in the case of NYRST’s upcoming album “Völd” this does, indeed, seem to signify that there is a lot of truth to the saying “life imitating art”, because the band drew their inspiration from the ever-present danger of the countries’ volcanoes.  

Even the title itself, “Völd”, which means “force, power or might”,  implies the sense of violence and foreboding that pervades the album, and which is reflected in the dark melodies and intense vocals of NYRST’s lineup of Snæbjörn on vocals,  Eysteinn and Davíð on guitars, Egill on bass, and Sveinbjörn on drums.

With the release date of “Völd” fast approaching, Dark Essence Records have today released a second track from the album, a track whose title ” Hrímvíti” only serves to emphasise the brooding menace of the volcanoes against whose power humanity is helpless.

” Hrímvíti” can be streamed or downloaded from a number of service at https://link.darkessencerecords.no/Nyrst_Hrimviti

Right from the outset NYRST demonstrated a ferocious musical ability that was remarkable in a band so early in their career.  Not content on resting on the laurels they earned upon the release of the debut full-length “Orsök” in 2020, NYRST are fully committed to expanding and evolving the creation of  the coldest, most eerie, and barren of soundscapes possible, as the band explains:

This release marks a big milestone in our career as a band. We’ve developed a lot as musicians since the release of “Orsök” and we took a very different approach to writing and composition. Our intention was to bring all the best elements of our previous work and implement new ideas along with a different theme, which in turn resulted in a much heavier, grim but melodic album.

With album artwork by Nightjar Adam Burke, layout by Skaðvaldur, and photography by Þorsteinn Dagur Rafnsson, track listing for “Völd” is as follows:

  1. Völd
  2. Sundra skal sálu
  3. Hrímvíti
  4. Fjalli∂ andar
  5. Eilíft eldhaf
  6. Drottnari nafnlausra gu∂a
  7. Af fjarri ströndum    

Set for release on the 8th December, “Völd” will be available  in CD, Digital and Lava Smash Vinyl formats as well as on Cassette, and can now be pre-ordered from:

Webshop: https://darkessencerecords.no/shop
Bandcamp: https://nyrst.bandcamp.com/album/v-ld
US Webshop: https://darkessence.indiemerch.com
Webshop Updates on NYRST: https://darkessencerecords.no/kar269-nyrst-vold/

A video for the title track of “Völd” by Valhalla Artworks that perfectly encapsulates what NYRST is all about can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/hs1_nvxRQ0U?si=Jy5LdW5iRGhgcvj5 

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

Additional Information
NYRST
Nyrst on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Nyrst/
Nyrst on Bandcamp: https://nyrst.bandcamp.com/album/demo
Nyrst on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_nyrst_/
Band Contact & Booking:  nyrstofficial@gmail.com
DARK ESSENCE RECORDS
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/

Having announced their return to Dark Essence Records after a one-album absence, Swedish Rockers ALFAHANNE are ready to (rock n) roll out their fifth full-length album.  Titled “Vår tid är nu”, their latest release promises to be chock-full of ALFAHANNE’s very own “Alfapocalyptic Rock”, a sound that mixes Black Metal with Classic Rock and Punk and more than a large measure of Rock n Roll.

And, since ALFAHANNE is well known for being able to attract some very big names to appear both on studio albums and on stage, “Vår tid är nu” carries on that fine tradition, with Nattefrost (CARPATHIAN FOREST) and Doedsadmiral (NORDJEVEL) contributing their first ever guest vocals with the band, whilst Spellgoth (HORNA) and  Nattfursth (SORHIN) make a welcome return. 

With ALFAHANNE’s many fans chomping at the bit to see what their irrepressible heroes have got is store for them, Dark Essence Records have today released  a none-too-gentle introduction in the form of a single and video for the track “Alfa Omega” which features Nattefrost himself.

“Alfa Omega” is available to download or stream on a variety of services at https://link.darkessencerecords.no/Alfahanne_AlfaOmega

It is also available on YouTube at  https://youtu.be/xcz3w7bZOO4

ALFAHANNE had this to say about the single and the album:

Today we’re dropping the first bomb from our upcoming album: “Vår tid är nu” (“Our time is now”) in the form of the single “Alfa Omega”.  This was actually the first song that we wrote for the album, and is the foundation of the rest to come. It’s an up-tempo punk/metal song that includes the classic Alfa guitar melodies and features Nattefrost’s unmistakable vocals.

As to the album itself, “Our time is now” – this is the beginning of the end.

Set for release on February 9th 2024, and exactly ten years since the release of the band’s debut full-length, “Vår tid är nu” is ALFAHANNE’s heaviest album to date.  Filled with the band’s trademark catchy melodies and punk attitude, “Vår tid är nu” has an underlying bleak atmosphere that is reminiscent of both the 80s and the early days of Black Metal. 

With album cover art by Roger Pettersson and photography by Uffe Sandin, tracklisting on “Vår tid är nu” is as follows:

  1. Intro
  2. 9:e cirkeln
  3. Eremiten (Feat. Doedsadmiral)
  4. Elden har vaknat
  5. Alfa omega (Feat. Nattefrost)
  6. Wolfman
  7. När allt faller-Kaiken Kaatuessa
    (Feat. Spellgoth)
  8. 213
  9. Vår tid är nu (Feat. Nattfursth)
  10. Outro

“Vår tid är nu” will be available in CD, Digital and Limited Edition Swamp Green Vinyl formats and can be pre-ordered now from:

Bandcamp: https://alfahanne.bandcamp.com/album/v-r-tid-r-nu
Webshop: https://darkessencerecords.no/shop/
US Webshop: https://darkessence.indiemerch.com/ 

Since bursting onto the scene in 2010 ALFAHANNE has, as previously mentioned, shared both the studio and the stage with a list of artists that reads like a who’s who of Scandinavian Extreme Metal and includes Hoest (TAAKE),  V’gandr (HELHEIM),  Dolk (KAMPFAR), Erlend Hjelvik (KVELERTAK), Spellgoth (HORNA, TURMION KÄTILÖT), Nattfursth (SORHIN), David Lindh (YVONNE and BRODER DANIEL),  Sanrabb (GEHENNA) and Niklas Kvarforth (SHINING).

Today’s lineup of Pehr Skjoldhammer on guitars and vocals, Fredrik Sööberg on guitars, Jimmy Wiberg on bass,  Niklas Åström on drums, and Stefan Eriksson on keyboards and guitars, display a full-on attitude and an exuberance that is infectious.  Pair this with an easy going, friendly  interaction with the fans (both on and off the stage) and you have a band that is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.

ALFAHANNE have already been confirmed to appear at 2024’s Karmoygeddon Festival to be held in Kopervik, Norway, 2-4 May.

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

A video of ALFAHANNE performing the track “Indiehora” from their album “Alfapokalyps”, live at Inferno Festival 2014, and featuring  V’gandr of TAAKE & HELHEIM can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/alOrLodpTGg  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ALFAHANNE
Alfahanne on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alfahanneofficial
Alfahanne on YourTube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzlnEhv8tEx2GNRAqVduRMQ
Alfahanne on Bandcamp: https://alfahanne.bandcamp.com
Alfahanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alfahanneofficial_
Alfahanne on SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/alfahanne
Band Contact: nickeastrom@hotmail.com
DARK ESSENCE RECORDS
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/

Three previously unreleased EPs from Alternative Rockers SEIGMEN are set to appear on Karisma Records on the 8th December. All three, titled “Rosa”, “Gul” and “Beige” respectively, will only be available in 12″ vinyl format, with each title strictly limited to 350 copies.

Founded in Tønsberg in 1989, SEIGMEN is one of Norway’s greatest and most recognized rock bands of all time, and, in 2019, they played a historic 4-day stint at the legendary Hulen in Bergen. Hulen is a venue that was very important to SEIGMEN in the early days, and this special set of shows gave the band the chance to reproduce four of their old 90s Hulen setlists. It was an occasion where a lot of songs were played for the first time in many, many years.

Motivated by this, SEIGMEN decided to record a few of their oldest songs – songs that dated back to the time when the band was known as KLISNE SEIGMENN. This would be the first time that these songs would actually be recorded in a studio, as, until now, they had only ever been played live. The tracks were recorded at Velvet Recording in Spydeberg, Norway. Which is the same studio where SEIGMEN’s legendary album “Total” was recorded back in 1994.

The A-sides of the EPs, will therefore contain the new studio recordings of those early songs, whilst the B-sides are made up of live performances recorded during those memorable 4 days at Hulen.

Kim Ljung, the band’s bass player/songwriter explains how those original songs first came about:

I remember that night in 1989 well. I was invited to Ubåtkaia by Sverre, Alex and Noralf – Klisne Seigmenn. They were only three guys, and needed a guy on bass.

They played the set that was going to be performed at Sjøormen in Tønsberg only a couple of months later. I was knocked to the ground. Blown away by the five songs presented and the power and intensity in the room. The songs are as good today as they were then. That it would take more than 30 years to get them recorded, is plain madness.

With cover design by Sigurd Kristiansen, tracklistings for the EPs are as follows:

Rosa
1. Rosa Boots
2. Monument (live)
3. Negativ (live)
4. Döderlein (live)
5. Korstoget (live)

Gul
1. Sure Tær
2. Monsun (live)
3. Sort Disippel (live)
4. Korsfarer (live)
5. Nemesis (live)

Beige
1. Mye dritt
2. Pappagutt
3. Performance Alpha (live)
4. Universal (live)
5. Neon Sun (live)
6. Performance Bravo (live)

All three EPs are now available to pre-order from:

https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/

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

A video for the title track from SEIGMEN’s 1995 album “Metropolis” can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/BT0ZfftLaXA

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
SEIGMEN
Seigmen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Seigmen/
Seigmen YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/SeigmenVEVO/videos
Seigmen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seigmen/
Seigmen Twitter: https://twitter.com/Seigmenofficial
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: https://www.karismarecords.no
Karisma Records US Webshop:  https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

Norway’s Karisma Records have welcomed fellow Scandinavian Prog Rockers RITUAL to its Roster, and will be releasing the band’s sixth full-length album in 2024.

RITUAL is a progressive rock band from Stockholm, formed in 1993. Influenced equally by progressive rock and hardrock of the 70s and contemporary bands like The Police, XTC and It Bites, RITUAL forged their own distinctive brand of progressive music.

The characteristics of the band’s sound were already prominent on their eponymous debut album, released in 1995: song based, melodic and intense, with a great stylistic variation, and plenty of folk music influences seeping in. The latter feature is not least due to the band’s frequent use of acoustic instruments like bouzouki, mandola, whistles and the Swedish nyckelharpa (a keyed fiddle).

Songs like “Seasong For The Moominpappa” also showed something that would become a hallmark of the band: lyrics inspired by Tove Jansson’s novels about the Moomins. This culminated in the album “The Hemulic Voluntary Band” from 2008, where five out of six songs drew inspiration from Tove Jansson, including the 26-minute long “A Dangerous Journey”.

Over the years, RITUAL have established themselves as a confident and powerful live band through numerous tours around Europe and appearances at international festivals such as Rites Of Spring Fest in the USA and Baja Prog in Mexico.

The band is currently putting the finishing touches to the upcoming epic “The Story of Mr. Bogd, Part I” and RITUAL’s lineup of Patrik Lundström on lead vocals and guitar, Fredrik Lindqvist on bass, mandola, dulcimer, recorder and vocals, Jon Gamble on keyboards and  vocals, and Johan Nordgren on drums, percussion and vocals, had this to say about teaming up with Karisma Records:

We are very excited to enter the warm cabin of Karisma Records and I think we will feel right at home there. As a band from Sweden, the Scandinavian connection feels reassuring, and Karisma’s line-up of good bands and artists feels absolutely right.

We want to collaborate with people who are dedicated music fans and who believe in what we do in RITUAL, and we feel that Karisma lives up to this and has the right focus. We look forward to releasing our sixth full-length album under the Karisma Records label!

More information about RITUAL can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ritual.se or on the band’s website at https://ritual.se

A short, tongue-in cheek documentary about RITUAL finally rehearsing together after a prolonged absence apart can be seen below and at  https://youtu.be/xLTXwEuFkNo?si=nbR13I-akJ798w6A

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
RITUAL
Ritual on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ritual.se
Ritual Website:  https://ritual.se
Band Contact:  ritual.se@gmail.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: https://www.karismarecords.no
Karisma Records US Webshop:  https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

Dark Essence Records have announced that Norwegian Doom Metallers BISMARCK will be joining the label, bringing with them a well-deserved reputation for being one of the heaviest bands from Norway, one that has been stirring things up in the Norwegian underground scene ever since the 2018 release of the acclaimed debut album “Urkraft”.  

BISMARCK’s trademark sound is an uncompromising mix of sludgy riffs and psychedelic nuances,  inspired by a wide array of genres and styles.  The end result is an amp melting form of stoner doom, combined with atmospheric post-rock, and  with a hint of Middle Eastern folk music and the Norwegian black metal they grew up listening to.

With music that alternates between intense, fuzzed-out heaviness, and clean, atmospheric drones, and with a lyrical content that explores western esotericism, altered states of consciousness and a mystical apocalypse, BISMARCK are now ready for their latest full-length album to be unleashed upon the world.  

A follow up to 2020’s critically acclaimed sophomore album “Oneiromancer”,  the band’s third studio outing, which we can reveal will be named “Vourukasha” is scheduled for release in early 2024. 

Commenting on the fact that they will be joining one of Norway’s best known labels, BISMARCK had this to say:

We’re stoked to sign with Dark Essence Records! They have been, and still are, a crucial part of the heavy music scene both nationally and internationally!

This is an important signing for us, and we’re looking forward to working with professional and dedicated people.  Furthermore, they are people whom we consider our friends so we’re excited for the next chapter of our journey!

We would, though,  just like to apologise to our fans for the long wait you’ve had for new material.  We know it seems like you’ve been hanging on forever, but  the album is finally on the way!  We don’t want to say too much about it at the moment, but you will not be disappointed.  Let’s just say that it has all you would expect from BISMARCK – and then some.

BISMARCK’s lineup is comprised of Torstein Tveiten on Vocals, Leif Herland on Guitar and Backing Vocals, Eirik Goksøyr on Guitar,  Tomas Osland on Bass and Tore Lyngstad on Drums.

The band has been confirmed to appear at Oslo’s Desertfest in May 2024.

More information about BISMARCK can be found at https://www.facebook.com/Bismarckdoom

A video of BISMARCK live at the Vill Vill Vest festival at USF Verftet, Bergen,  Norway, in 2020 can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/jdTpWV43g0s?si=EyikFAW0lg290qBx

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
BISMARCK
Bismarck on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Bismarckdoom
Bismarck on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/bismarckdoom/
Bismarck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiU7rMi_xEVwGPtAi_V8NYQ
Band Contact and Booking: bismarckdoom@gmail.com
DARK ESSENCE RECORDS
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/

Black Metallers NYRST are a band whose pride in their native Iceland  is obvious in all that they do.  The country’s wild landscape, dotted with immense, still-active volcanoes, permeates NYRST’s music, whose dark melodies and intense vocals create a feeling that nature itself is a force to be reckoned with, and against whose power humanity is helpless.

The very title of the band’s sophomore full-length album “Völd”, which means “force, power or might” carries with it a sense of menace, and is indicative of what to expect from NYRST’s second outing on Dark Essence Records. And  never more so than on the title track, which has been released as a digital single today, and which can be downloaded or streamed from a number of sources at:

https://link.darkessencerecords.no/Nyrst_Vold

Accompanying the single is a video for the track by Valhalla Artworks, which perfectly encapsulates what NYRST is all about, and can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/hs1_nvxRQ0U?si=Jy5LdW5iRGhgcvj5 

Upon the release of the band’s debut full-length album “Orsök” in 2020, it was startlingly clear that NYRST’s lineup of Snæbjörn on vocals,  Eysteinn and Davíð on guitars, Egill on bass, and Sveinbjörn on drums, was possessed of a ferocious musical ability, unusual in a band at such an early stage in its career. 

Intent on creating the coldest, most eerie, and barren of soundscapes possible, and regardless of the positive reviews garnered by their debut, NYRST did not sit still, but rather built on the experience gained in the writing and recording of “Orsök”  to progress the band’s sound still further, as “Völd” will reveal.

Set for release on the 8th December, “Völd” will be available  in CD, Digital and Lava Smash Vinyl formats as well as on Cassette, and can now be pre-ordered from:

Webshop: https://darkessencerecords.no/shop
Bandcamp: https://nyrst.bandcamp.com/album/v-ld
US Webshop: https://darkessence.indiemerch.com
Webshop Updates on NYRST: https://darkessencerecords.no/kar269-nyrst-vold/

With album artwork by Nightjar Adam Burke, layout by Skaðvaldur, and photography by Þorsteinn Dagur Rafnsson, track listing for “Völd” is as follows:

  1. Völd
  2. Sundra skal sálu
  3. Hrímvíti
  4. Fjalli∂ andar
  5. Eilíft eldhaf
  6. Drottnari nafnlausra gu∂a
  7. Af fjarri ströndum    

From their base in Reykjavik, NYRST recently had this to say about “Völd” :

This release marks a big milestone in our career as a band. We’ve developed a lot as musicians since the release of “Orsök” and we took a very different approach to writing and composition. Our intention was to bring all the best elements of our previous work and implement new ideas along with a different theme, which in turn resulted in a much heavier, grim but melodic album.

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

Additional Information
NYRST
Nyrst on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Nyrst/
Nyrst on Bandcamp: https://nyrst.bandcamp.com/album/demo
Nyrst on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_nyrst_/
Band Contact & Booking:  nyrstofficial@gmail.com
DARK ESSENCE RECORDS
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/

In the second instalment of the trilogy that make up his “Chronicles”, the intrepid Father Robin continues on his journey through the fantastical world of Airoea, this time making a trip to the underwater city of Oriasaleah and over the Sea of Ayrouhr to the Grand Reef , where he inevitably faces grave danger at the hands of the island people.

What awaits him there will be fully revealed on the 8th December, when “The Songs & Tales of Airoea – Book II “Ocean Traveller – Metamorphosis”   by Prog Rockers THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN (TCOFR for short), is released on Karisma Records.

But before then, the label has granted us another insight into Father Robin’s latest adventures with the release of the single “Ocean Traveller”, a firm favourite of everyone who hears it

“Ocean Traveller” can be downloaded or streamed from a variety of sources at

https://link.karismarecords.no/TCOFR_OceanTraveller

Having risen from the ashes of FANGORN back in 1993- 94, THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN sprang into existence when  WOBBLER frontman Andreas W. S. Prestmo was joined in a new musical endeavor by childhood friends Jon and Henrik, with whom he shared an interest in folk tales, mythology, fantasy literature, psychedelia and adventurous music.

Featuring  members from some of the most revered progressive rock bands from Norway, WOBBLER, JORDSJØ, TUSMØRKE, and seasoned post-rockers THE SAMUEL JACKSON FIVE TCOFE set about creating a whole world which they bring to life with the kind of lush and varied soundscapes that evoke memories of the golden era of progressive rock.

Like most good things, “The Songs & Tales of Airoea” Trilogy did not happen overnight, but rather over a period of three decades.  Time enough to perfect the use of a variety of  instruments, such as flute, mellotron and glockenspiel, alongside more traditional rock instruments, coupled with a production that is both dynamic and organic.

The resultant Airoea trilogy  forms a concept album that features 18 songs spread out over the three albums, with Book II following on directly from Book I which was released in September of this year.  Contributors on the trilogy include the likes of Thomas Kaldhol (MT. MELODIÉ, THE SAMUEL JACKSON FIVE), Lars Fredrik Frøislie (WOBBLER, IN LINGUA MORTUA, WHITE WILLOW), folksinger Aleksandra Morozova (MT. MELODIE, OSLO PHILHARMONIC CHOIR), Kristoffer Momrak (ALWANZATAR, TUSMØRKE, LES FLEURS DU MAL), Håkon Oftung (JORDSJØ) and illustrator Lars Kvernberg.

“The Songs & Tales of Airoea – Book II will be released in CD, Digital and LP formats, and the entire Trilogy is available as a Deluxe Limited Edition Triple Coloured Vinyl Box Set on Old Oak Records.

Tracklisting on “The Songs & Tales of Airoea – Book II” is as follows:

07. Over Westwinds
08. Orias & the Underwater City
09. Ocean Traveller
10. Lady of Waves
11. Green refreshments
12. The Grand Reef

Pre-orders are now available from:

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

More  information about THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN can be found on the band’s website www.fatherrobin.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheChroniclesofFatherRobin 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN
Website: www.fatherrobin.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChroniclesofFatherRobin
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thechroniclesoffatherrobin?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
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: https://www.karismarecords.no
Karisma Records US Webshop:  https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

The 1st December will see Karisma Records release the final three albums from the Back Catalogue of Prog Rockers ARABS IN ASPIC, and, as a prequel, the label has released, the title track from the band’s sixth album “The Magic of Sin” as a digi single. 

The single, can be downloaded or streamed from a number of services at:

https://link.karismarecords.no/AIA_TheMagicOfSin

“The Magic of Sin” itself  was an album that marked a turning point in the band’s career, setting the parameters, both musically and structurally, for the direction that ARABS IN ASPIC would take going forward. Like all the albums in the Back Catalogue re-releases, it has been re-mastered  by Jacob Holm-Lupo (WHITE WILLOW, OPIUM CARTEL, SOLSTEIN etc), and features artwork by the band’s long-time collaborator Julia Proszowska.

Following on from the 2021 re-release of the first three albums from the band’s back-catalogue, those included in this, the final trilogy of releases, are:

“Pictures in a Dream” which was originally released in 2013, and will now be available in CD, Digital and Limited Edition Blue/Yellow marble Vinyl formats.

2015’s “Victims of your Father’s Agony” which will be available in CD, Digital and Limited Edition Yellow/Blue Marble Vinyl formats.

And, of course, the afore-mentioned “The Magic of Sin”. First released in 2017, it is a very special album for ARABS IN ASPIC, for reasons too numerous to go into. Suffice it to say that its re-release deserves a special treatment.  Thus,  aside from the usual CD and Digital formats, “The Magic of Sin” will also be available in the form of a limited first pressing of the LP version in orange/black marble vinyl which comes in a unique tri-fold cover revealing more of Julia Proszowska’s striking cover art. If its  combined with the original  “Syndenes Magi” LP, all five panels of the painting will be visible.

All three albums will also be available as a Limited Edition Box Set vinyl titled “IV – VI”

All  versions of all the albums can now be pre-ordered from:

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

Full details and history of each of the individual releases can be found at https://www.karismarecords.no/blog/2023/10/10/karisma-records-announces-details-of-three-back-catalogue-re-releases-from-arabs-in-aspic/

With a lineup  consisting of Jostein Smeby on Guitars + vocals, Stig Jørgensen on Organs + vocals, Erik Paulsen on Bass + vocals, Eskil Nyhus on Drums + cymbals and Alessandro G. Elide on Percussion + gongs,  and based  in Trondheim, Norway, the band’s roots can be traced back to the Golden Era of rock.

Given that they have seven full-length albums to their name (their seventh, “Madness and Magic” having been released on Karisma Records in 2020), ARABS IN ASPIC are certainly not newcomers to the prog scene.  Indeed, they have  been at  the forefront of 70’s inspired progressive rock and proto-hard rock for fifteen years. 

ARABS IN ASPIC’s unmistakable sound is mix of loud, heavy guitars and drums, 12 string acoustics, funky bass and percussion, screaming Hammond organs, soft Rhodes, Mellotrons and 70’s Synths, topped with plentiful vocal harmonies.  It’s an all-encompassing sound that includes aspects of classic rock, funk, pop, prog, heavy rock, bossanova, and a capella.  

ARABS IN ASPIC’s next live appearance will be on the 11th November, alongside Dark Essence Records artist LUMSK, at the Verkstedhallen & Lobbyen in Trondheim, Norway.

More information about ARABS IN ASPIC can be found on the band’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/arabsinaspic/ or on their website at  http://www.arabsinaspic.org/

A video of Arabs in Aspic live can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/v3jekw2m19c

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ARABS IN ASPIC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arabsinaspic/
Website: http://www.arabsinaspic.org/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/arabsinaspic YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/dragedraug
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: https://www.karismarecords.no
Karisma Records US Webshop:  https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com