PATRICIA THOMAS BAND MANAGEMENT

DARK ESSENCE RECORDS REVEALS NEW TRACK FROM UPCOMING VULTURE INDUSTRIES ALBUM

Posted: April 12, 2023 in DARK ESSENCE RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES, VULTURE INDUSTRIES
Tags: "Schizo" Metal, Avantgarde, Dark Essence Records, Extreme Metal, Norway, Progressive, Progressive Metal, Vulture Industries

Inspired by what I consider one of the most disturbing paintings ever made, the track deals with power-hungry old men and their ruthless disregard of life and consequence in their quest for a glorified place in history.

The above description by Bjørnar Erevik Nilsen’s of “Saturn Devouring His Young”, the newly released track taken from VULTURE INDUSTRIES upcoming album “Ghosts from the Past”, is certainly very apropos of the situation in which the world finds itself today, and you can hear it by either streaming or downloading it now from a variety of services at

https://link.darkessencerecords.no/VultureIndustries_SaturnDevouringHisYoung

Written at a time when the band was undergoing considerable changes in their personal lives, coupled with the arrival of the Pandemic, and all the turmoil that went with it, VULTURE INDUSTRIES’ fifth full-length album “Ghosts from the Past”, understandably took longer than normal to write.

Despite struggling to find a sense of direction, the band’s lineup of Bjørnar Erevik Nilsen on vocals and keys, Eivind Huse on guitars and vocals, Øyvind Madsen on guitars, Kyrre Teigen on bass and vocals, and Tor Helge Gjengedal on drums , have produced an album that is essentially a piece of their collective soul.

It was a struggle well worth undergoing because the band’s fifth full-length album is their strongest to date, and marks a new direction for VULTURE INDUSTRIES, one that tends more towards the darker side of hard rock but which still maintains their unique and unmistakable sound.

“Ghosts from the Past” draws on a kaleidoscope of influences; from dust-riddled Spaghetti Westerns accompanied by Ennio Morricone, past the monochrome melancholia of apocalyptic post punk, through deep valleys and steep hills shrouded in progressive darkness, and a Nordic Noir looking to solve the unexplained murder of the truth.

It mirrors all that was going on around it, and reflects the fear of a world spinning out of control, and the sense of powerlessness in the face of a world order that is falling apart. Only to be replaced by old ideas imposed by autocratic warlords with no goal in mind other than their own power and legacy.

Recorded at the Conclave & Earshot Studios “Ghosts from the Past” was produced by the band and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street. With album artwork by Kim Holm and artwork for the singles by Costin Chioreanu, track listing is as follows:

New Lords of Light
Saturn Devouring His Young
This Hell is Mine
Deeper
Right Here in the Dark
A Strangers Curse
Tyrants Weep Alone

Set for release on the 16th June on Dark Essence Records, “Ghosts from the Past! will be available in CD, Digital and Vinyl formats and can be pre-ordered now from the foillowing:

Webshop: https://darkessencerecords.no/kar255-vulture-industries-ghosts-from-the-past/
BandCamp: https://vultureindustries.bandcamp.com/album/ghosts-from-the-past
North American Webshop: https://darkessence.indiemerch.com

Over the years, VULTURE INDUSTRIES has been proven to have a wide appeal both on stage and with their studio output, and their stagecraft has earned them a reputation as a theatrical and hugely entertaining live act. With plans for extensive live shows and tours in the works for 2023, the following appearances have already been confirmed:

15 Apr – Kvarteret, Bergen: 20 year anniversary (NO)
28 Apr – Ogna Scene, Ogna (NO)
16 Jun – Vaterland, Oslo (NO)
17 Jun – Good Omens, Trondheim (NO)
28/29 Jul – Artmania Festival, Sibiu (RO)

Dark Essence Records recently released the single “New Lords of Light” from “Ghosts from the Past”, and a video for the track, filmed and edited by Jarle Hovda Moe and with stock video from Carnival of Souls, can be seen at https://youtu.be/FB4d8lMEeLg

More information about VULTURE INDUSTRIES can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/vultureindustries/ and on the band’s website at http://www.vulture-industries.net/

PROG ROCKERS SEVEN IMPALE REVEAL DETAILS AND SINGLE FROM UPCOMING ALBUM

Posted: March 30, 2023 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Jazz, Karisma Records, Norway, Prog Rock, Seven Impale

Since the release of SEVEN IMPALE’s 2016 album “Contrapasso”, a lot of things have happened in the lives of the band’s members. Some of those things, like having kids and finishing your education, are the sort of things that happen to most people. Others, like Vocalist/Guitarist Stian graduating from the Grieg Academy as an opera singer and launching an international career, and Keyboard player Håkon joining ENSLAVED, are a little less run of the mill.

But, throughout these eventful seven years, SEVEN IMPALE was kept simmering in the background, and now, the long-awaited third full-length album is ready to make its very welcome appearance.

Titled “SUMMIT”, the album will be released on Karisma Records on the 26th May, but in the meantime, fans can remind themselves of what they have been missing with a track from the album.

Titled “IKAROS”, the track can be downloaded or streamed from a number of services at

https://link.karismarecords.no/SevenImpale_IKAROS

About the track, SEVEN IMPALE had this to say:

“IKAROS” is THE song from “SUMMIT” that will make you check if there is something wrong with your stereo. It is the “single” of the album. The shortest one… just shy of ten minutes…yes, we know. A radio hit. All joking aside, this track is us summoning some of our favourite bands; Alice in Chains, The Mars Volta, Enslaved etc. The keyword here is RIFFS.

“SUMMIT” itself features SEVEN IMPALE’S distinctive style which blends jazz and progressive rock with more heavy influences. By limiting itself to four juggernaut tracks, and, coming in at close to 45 minutes, “SUMMIT” doesn’t leave behind the madness of “City of the Sun” and “Contrapasso”, but rather gives the music and lyrics the space and time needed to captivate and dazzle its listeners.

Recorded in Solslottet, Bergen, and produced mixed and mastered by Iver Sandøy, track listing for “SUMMIT” is as follows:

1. HUNTER
2. HYDRA
3. IKAROS
4. SISYPHOS

With artwork by Erik Hølleland, “SUMMIT” will be released in CD, Vinyl and Digital formats, and is now available to pre-order from:

Bandcamp: https://sevenimpale.bandcamp.com/album/summit
Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/sevenimpale-summit/
US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com/

Formed in Bergen, Norway in 2010, the sheer diversity of musical disciplines its members brought with them meant that SEVEN IMPALE immediately stood out from the many other new arrivals on the scene. From classical orchestra to big band, metal to jazz and rock to electronic, SEVEN IMPALE’s lineup of Benjamin Mekki Widerøe onSaxophone, Erlend Vottvik Olsen on Guitars, Fredrik Mekki Widerøe on Drums, Guitars and Vocals, Håkon Mikkelsen Vinje on Keyboards and Vocals, Stian Økland on Guitars and Vocals, and Tormod Fosso on Bass, have successfully succeeded in fusing all their individual experiences and influences to form a sound that is unmistakably theirs.

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
SEVEN IMPALE
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sevenimpale
Website: https://sevenimpale.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sevenimpale/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SevenImpale
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SEVENIMPALE
Band Contact: sevenimpale@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

WOBBLER’S LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE REVEALS SINGLE FROM UPCOMING ALBUM

Posted: March 29, 2023 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Folk, Folk Prog Rock, Jazz, Lars Fredrik Frøislie, Norway, Prog Rock, Psychedelic Rock

Up until now, LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE was known as a member of Prog Rockers WOBBLER, but thanks to Karisma Records the keyboard player will release his debut solo album “Fire Fortellinger” on the 2nd June.

Inspired by renaissance music, 70s prog rock, especially from Italy, Norwegian 90s black metal, British rock and heavy metal from the 60s and 70s, as well as folk music, jazz and psychedelic rock, Frøislie has created an album where each of its four tracks tells its own story, and today fans get to hear one of the tracks, “Et sted under himmelhvelvet”, which is available to stream or download from a number of services at

https://link.karismarecords.no/LFF_EtStedUnderHimmelvelvet

About the track, Frøislie explained that “Et sted under himmelhvelvet” is a dreamy song which is “Possibly set in a Renaissance Garden near Florence. But in principle it can be anywhere where it feels good to be. It is partly about travelling to a place and feeling that you have been there before – only to find out that you had ancestors who lived there long ago”.

For “Fire Fortellinger” Frøislie takes on vocals and drums, as well as a formidable array of instruments including and a few tons of old analogue keyboards such as Hammond C3, Mellotron M400, Minimoog Model D, Chamberlin M-1, Yamaha CP70B, William de Blaise spinet, Hohner Clavinet D6, Rhodes MkII and an Arp Pro Soloist. With him is Nikolai Hængsle (ELEPHANT9, NEEDLEPOINT, BIGBANG, BAND OF GOLD etc.) on Rickenbacker 4003, Fender Jazz Bass, Fender Precision and Fender Telecaster Bass.

Written during the pandemic “Fire Fortellinger” could well have been a totally different beast, one destined for a new WOBBLER album. However, circumstances being what they were, Frøislie had to work on the material alone, thereby being able to preserve a degree of spontaneity that would not have been possible had it had to pass through the band process of rehearsals and recording.

“Fire Fortellinger” thus succeeds in preserving the impulsiveness of the original, allowing the audience to hear a finished work that is partly improvised and recorded in one take, free of any click tracks, auto-tune, MIDI or too much technology.

Track listing for “Fire Fortellinger” is as follows:

01. Rytter av dommedag
02. Et sted under himmelhvelvet
03. Jærtegn
04. Naturens katedral

With artwork by Frøislie himself “Fire Fortellinger” will be released in CD, Limited Edition LP and Digital formats and is now available to pre-order from the following:

Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/kar253-lars-fredrik-froislie-fire-fortellinger/
Bandcamp: https://larsfredrikfroislie.bandcamp.com/album/fire-fortellinger
US shop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com
Webshop General: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/
All pre-order options & regularly updated all things album related: https://link.karismarecords.no/LFF_Fire-Fortellinger

Frøislie took advantage of the opportunities afforded by the pandemic to roam the countryside and draw inspiration from Norway’s past, which he then used to create the music and lyrics for “Fire Fortellinger”:

I dreamed myself back in time, and consumed music, art and literature from the old days. The music is characterized by this, and inspiration is drawn from, among other things, Snorre Sturlason, Sohlberg’s “Winter’s Night in the Mountains” and Hamsun’s “Growth of the Soil”. It is both a search back to an apparently more primitive time; as well as a quest back to nature and away from civilization and people.

I took many trips out to Raknehaugen in Romerike, as well as trips to an old cottage in Heidal and the home districts of Ringerike (with its many Viking graves and magical landscapes), and this can also be heard in the music.

It is this fascinating creative process that Frøislie explains in video series that describes the making of “Fire Fortellinger”. The first part can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/qApnt1EGBvM

And the second below and at at https://youtu.be/wl5fB6vDBBc

More information about LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE can be found at https://www.facebook.com/larsfredrikfroislie

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larsfredrikfroislie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larsfredrikfroislie/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fredfroi
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

IS IT JAZZ? RECORDS RELEASES NEW SINGLE FROM EXPERIMENTAL DUO LEAGUS

Posted: March 23, 2023 in IS IT JAZZ? RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Experimental, Experimental Jazz, Free Improvisation, Improv, Improvisation, Jazz, Leagus

With the release date of “Flora Eallin”, the upcoming album from Experimental Duo LEAGUS set for the 28 April, Is it Jazz? Records have today released a new single from the album.

The track, titled “Tendril” can be streamed or downloaded from various services at https://link.isitjazzrecords.no/Leagus_Tendril

LEAGUS had this to say about the track:

Tendril is a curly stem that some plants produce for support and climbing. The song is the fourth track of the “Flora Eallin” album, and introduces two vocalists. The lyrics concern collective and individual responsibility, and different aspects of the climate crises we have been facing for generations. Lyrics are by Frode Larsen.

When pianist Herborg Rundberg first formed LEAGUS in 2013 it was simply part of her Masters degree in Rhythmic Music at the Tromsø Conservatory. However when she was joined by guitarist Kristian Svalestad Olstad, who had himself received his Masters degree in the same subject two years earlier, LEAGUS became a fully fledged contemporary and experimental music duo.

Herborg’s Sami background, and her work with traditional and classical music, along with Kristian´s extended use of guitar and electronics, forms the basis of LEAGUS’ sound, which has, over time, developed into an exploratory and complex sonic universe. As for the name LEAGUS, the word itself originates in the area in which Herborg herself was born and is Sami slang for asking for something.

Having worked extensively on finding new, and different, interactions between the piano and the guitar, LEAGUS were able to develop a new and progressive kind of musical togetherness, creating a highly dynamic sound in which musical contrasts play a big part in the overall concept.

Alternating between formal composed parts, open structures and free improvisation that at times feel like subdued, minimalistic psalm-like pieces, whilst at other times features more rock-oriented improvised parts, LEAGUS released two albums, and were then approached by the NORTH NORWEGIAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE, who, in 2021 commissioned them to write a piece for the ten piece orchestra.

This resulted in Herborg and Kristian composing and arranging the piece “Flora Eallin”, which will be released in full on Is it Jazz? Records in CD, Digital and Double LP formats.

Featuring the NORTH NORWEGIAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE and with cover art and design by Martin Losvik, track listing for “Flora Eallin”, is as follows:

1. Kime
2. Flor
3. Vann
4. Tendril
5. Nihkui
6. Vind
7. Pripyat
8. Geo
9. Mykorrhyza
10. Eallin
11. Sol
12. Hyperion

“Flora Eallin” is now available to pre-order from:
Bandcamp: https://leagus.bandcamp.com/album/flora-eallin
Webshop: https://isitjazzrecords.no/shop/

On stage the duo are known for their energetic and visual concerts, and will be celebrating the release of “Flora Eallin” live at the Jazzahead Clubnight at the Achat Hotel in Bremen, Germany on the 28th April.

Details of the event and booking info can be found at https://jazzahead.de/en/program/leagus-no/

More information about LEAGUS can be found on the band’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/leagusleagus or on their website at http://www.leagusband.com

A video of LEAGUS performing the track “Hyperion” directed by Norwegian photographer and artist Martin Losvik, and featuring the NORTH NORWEGIAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE, can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/6lGg70cCYlA

Losvik is well known for his distinctive style that can contain elements of humour, surrealism and darkness. The video is the result of Martin being given free hands to do his visual interpretation of this musical project.

Additional Information:
LEAGUS
Website: http://www.leagusband.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leagusleagus
Instagram: instagram.com/_leagus_
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leagus3462
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/
Band Contact & Booking: kristian.s.olstad@gmail.com

DETAILS OF UPCOMING VULTURE INDUSTRIES ALBUM REVEALED ALONG WITH NEW SINGLE & VIDEO

Posted: March 22, 2023 in DARK ESSENCE RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES, VULTURE INDUSTRIES
Tags: "Schizo" Metal, Dark Essence Records, Norway, Progressive, Progressive Metal, Vulture Industries

Embracing a sound that was once described by a fan as “This is how Nick Cave would sound like if he made metal”, VULTURE INDUSTRIES has long since established itself as something singular, yet oddly familiar and strangely recognizable.

And, with the release of “Ghosts from the Past”, the band’s fifth full length album imminent, Dark Essence Records have today debuted a track from the album, along with an accompanying video.

The track, titled “New Lords of Light” can be streamed or downloaded from a variety of services at https://link.darkessencerecords.no/VultureIndustries_NewLordsOfLight

A video for the track, filmed and edited by Jarle Hovda Moe and with stock video from Carnival of Souls, can be seen at https://youtu.be/FB4d8lMEeLg

The band’s Bjørnar Erevik Nilsen gave us an insight into how the track evolved:

Starting life with the working title “For Roky”, I felt that this one had a haunting feel reminiscent of Roky Erickson. This was back during the pandemic summer of 2021, and I remember listening to early versions of the track in my car whilst driving up and down the west coast with my kids in the back. Processing the track in this way probably had a defining influence on the final result, so in the end it turned out upbeat and energetic, yet bound in a sombre atmosphere somehow reminiscent of the 80s.

Given that “Ghosts from the Past” was written at a time when the band was undergoing considerable changes in their personal lives, as well as the changes wrought by the Pandemic, the album inevitably took longer than normal to write. Whilst feeling lost and struggling to find a sense of direction, the combined process of writing and production proved to be the longest to date for VULTURE INDUSTRIES.

The end result, however, is VULTURE INDUSTRIES’ strongest album to date, because “Ghosts from the Past” represents what is essentially a piece of their soul. It succeeds in mirroring all that was going on around it, and reflects the fear of a world spinning out of control, and the sense of powerlessness in the face of a world order that is falling apart. Only to be replaced by old ideas imposed by autocratic warlords with no goal in mind other than their own power and legacy.

Whilst still maintaining their unique sound, “Ghosts from the Past” marks a new direction for VULTURE INDUSTRIES, one which leans towards the darker side of hard rock. Drawing on a wide range of influences; from dust-riddled Spaghetti Westerns accompanied by Ennio Morricone, past the monochrome melancholia of apocalyptic post punk, through deep valleys and steep hills shrouded in progressive darkness, and a Nordic Noir looking to solve the unexplained murder of the truth.

New Lords of Light
Saturn Devouring His Young
This Hell is Mine
Deeper
Right Here in the Dark
A Strangers Curse
Tyrants Weep Alone

“Ghosts from the Past” will be released on the 16th June in CD, Digital and Vinyl formats and is now available to pre-order from the foillowing:

VULTURE INDUSTRIES lineup has been together since the band’s beginning and comprises Bjørnar Erevik Nilsen on vocals and keys, Eivind Huse on guitars and vocals, Øyvind Madsen on guitars, Kyrre Teigen on bass and vocals, and Tor Helge Gjengedal on drums.

More information about VULTURE INDUSTRIES can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/vultureindustries/ and on the band’s website at http://www.vulture-industries.net/

VULTURE INDUSTRIES RETURN TO DARK ESSENCE RECORDS FOR FIFTH FULL-LENGTH ALBUM

Posted: March 20, 2023 in DARK ESSENCE RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES, VULTURE INDUSTRIES
Tags: Dark Essence Records, Metal, Norway, Progressive, Progressive Metal, Vulture Industries

Dark Essence Records have announced that VULTURE INDUSTRIES will be making a very welcome return back to the label’s roster, and that preparations are under way for the release of the band’s fifth full-length album.

Rising from out of the ashes of the Goth band DEAD ROSE GARDEN in 2003, VULTURE INDUSTRIES established a lineup formed of Bjørnar Erevik Nilsen on vocals and keys, Eivind Huse on guitars and vocals, Øyvind Madsen on guitars, Kyrre Teigen on bass and vocals, and Tor Helge Gjengedal on drums. It was a lineup that gelled right from the outset and has remained unchanged for two decades now.

Releasing two critically acclaimed albums, “Dystopia Journals” and “The Malefactor’s Bloody Register”, and touring extensively during their first four years, VULTURE INDUSTRIES perfected their stagecraft and forged a reputation as a theatrical and hugely entertaining live act.

The release of “The Tower” in 2013 and 2017’s “Stranger Times” demonstrated just what a wide appeal VULTURE INDUSTRIES has, both on stage and in the studio. The fact that the band collaborated with a variety of artists undoubtedly aided in their audience’s growing enthusiasm, but it also showed how many established names, both musical and artistic, wanted to be part of the VULTURE INDUSTRIES experience.

The only other official release since then was 2019’s single “Deeper” in 2019, which became the band’s most streamed song with 1,5 million plays on Spotify, and “Matpakkevise” on Jubaleumsplate, which was a tribute to the Norwegian artist Knudsen og Ludvigsen.

It was then that the world as we knew it changed with the arrival of the pandemic and halted any plans any band may have had for tours and new albums. Although VULTURE INDUSTRIES did enter a state of creative hibernation, they did, nevertheless, manage to spread some happiness amongst their fans by producing and streaming shows from historic locations around Bergen, one from the town’s last public brothel and the other from a historical cloth factory, along with some Covid-Safe concerts in Norway.

With the world opening up again, VULTURE INDSTRIES played a number of festivals during 2022 which whetted the band’s appetite for creativity, and, with a renewed enthusiasm, they entered the studio and began finalizing the composing and recording of “Ghosts from the Past” which will be released in June of this year – more details will follow.

The following live appearances have so far been confirmed for VULTURE INDUSTRIES this year:

More information about VULTURE INDUSTRIES can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/vultureindustries/ and on the band’s website at http://www.vulture-industries.net/

A video of VULTURE INDUSTRIES performing the track “Strangers” from the “Strange Times” album can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/G8Cy1s4XNZU

THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN, A FULL BLOWN CONCEPTUAL PROG ROCK ADVENTURE WITH MEMBERS OF WOBBLER, TUSMØRKE, SAMUEL JACKSON FIVE AND JORDSJØ TO BE RELEASED ON KARISMA RECORDS IN JOINT VENTURE WITH OLD OAK RECORDS

Posted: March 17, 2023 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Adventure, Conceptual, Fantasy, Folk, Jordsjø, Karisma Records, Mythology, Norway, Prog, Progressive, Psychedelia, Samuel Jackson Five, The Chronicles of Father Robin, Tusmorke, Wobbler

Inspired by the classic bands and albums of the early 1970s progressive music scene, as well as contemporary bands ÄNGLAGÅRD, ANEKDOTEN, WHITE WILLOW and LANDBERK, THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN (TCOFR for short) was founded back in 1993-94 by WOBBLER frontman Andreas W. S. Prestmo together with childhood friends Jon and Henrik, who shared a joint interest in folk tales, mythology, fantasy literature, psychedelia and adventurous music.

It was an exhilarating time filled with fiery discussions where we introduced each other to our latest musical, philosophical or literary discoveries and tried to win each other over. After a while, we created our own world inspired by these discoveries that besieged us.

From this period of creativity the story of the entity known as Father Robin emerged, a creature that embodied all the members of the band. As the members experienced challenges in life and developed as human beings, so the story of Father Robin took root in the mythical world of Airoea.

The first recording sessions started at Bekk Studios in Jæren, and over a span of 13 years they recorded what would eventually become “The Songs & Tales of Airoea”, which tells the tale of Father Robin’s journey in Airoea through 16 songs spread out over three albums.

After a recording session we would typically walk down to the nearby beach. We discussed what we had done that day, but very often we started talking about what Father Robin would do next in the story we were continually writing. Where was he really going? Which implications and consequences did the choices we made that day have to say for the road and songs ahead? Holistic impulsivity and ideas, altruistic friendship, music, fantasies and coherent concept – all melded together in one pot.

The final pieces of the puzzle fell into place with the contributions of 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.

Thus “The Songs & Tales of Airoea” trilogy was finally complete, which is where Karisma Records comes in, because this summer they will join forces with the TCOFR’s own label, Old Oak Records, to unleash this beast onto an unsuspecting public.

Karisma Records will release CD, Digital and Black Vinyl versions, whilst Old Oak Records will release a Deluxe Limited Edition coloured triple vinyl box set, something TCOFR have been looking forward to for a long, long, time:

The impulsive creative process and “collective brainstorming” that started in 1993 has more or less been the same all along. The ideas and the becoming concept have matured like an old wine in an abandoned fortress. We are now what we set out to be 30 years ago, and it feels bloody fantastic.

We’re therefore thrilled to be able announce this joint venture with Karisma Records, and proud to be a part of their ever-growing roster of exciting and talented artists. Karisma’s professional set up, network, and standing among artists and music lovers is a perfect match for THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN. It’s been 30 years in the making, but now the dream finally comes true.

Full details of “The Songs & Tales of Airoea” trilogy will be released soon, and in the meantime a teaser for the album can be heard at www.fatherrobin.com

Lots of 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: http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/
Karisma Records US Webshop: http://karismarecords.aisamerch.com/

PROGRESSIVE JAZZ ROCKERS KROKOFANT JOIN THE IS IT JAZZ? RECORDS ROSTER

Posted: March 14, 2023 in IS IT JAZZ? RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: IS IT JAZZ? RECORDS, Jazz, Norway, Progressive Jazz, Progressive Jazz Rock, Soft Ffog

Originally consisting of Tom Hasslan on Guitar, Jørgen Mathisen on Saxophone and Axel Skalstad on Drums, KROKOFANT was founded in Kongsberg, Norway, in 2011 when Hasslan and Skalstad, both of whom are now also members of SOFT FFOG and who both happen to be past winners of the Kongsberg Jazzfestival Recruitment Scholarship, 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, and together they performed an impressive debut set at the Kongsberg Jazz Festival.

Playing a free jazz style with precise and heavy riffs that are redeemed by jarring and strong improvisations, KROKOFANT’s 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 .

They were later joined by two guest members, Ståle Storløkken (ELEPHANT9, SUPERSILENT) on keys and Ingebrigt Håker Flaten (ATOMIC) on bass, forming what is quite possibly one of the most “prog” ensembles amongst Norway’s Prog Jazz Rock bands.

KROKOFANT went on to release several full length albums that garnered much praise and won the band a considerable fan base.

Musically KROKOFANT demonstrates a rare melodic flair, conjuring up one catchy phrase after another. Combine this with lengthy improvisations, and you have a band that will satisfy the jazz hats of the toughest hard rockers. And it is this sound that KROKOFANT will bring to Is it Jazz? Records, when the band’s sixth full-length album will be released. A prospect that KROKOFANT are very enthusiastic about:

Krokofant is super excited with signing on the Is It Jazz? Records label, and are really looking forward to the collaboration. Krokofant is buckling up in the spacecraft and getting ready for takeoff to the eternal cosmos!

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

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/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isitjazzrecords/
Contact: post@isitjazzrecords.no

DARK ESSENCE RECORDS REVEALS DOUBLE SINGLE FROM FOLK PROG ROCKERS LUMSK UPCOMING ALBUM

Posted: March 10, 2023 in DARK ESSENCE RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Dark Essence Records, Folk, Folk Metal, Folk Prog Rock, Lumsk, Norway, Prog, Prog Folk, Prog Folk Rock

When Dark Essence Records recently announced the details of “Fremmede Toner”, the upcoming release from Norwegian Folk Prog Rockers LUMSK, it was clear that this was going to be a very unusual album, as the band explained:

We stumbled upon «Fremmde Toner», a collection of poems the by Norwegian Author André Bjerke in which he had translated and re-created poems from different English and German speaking poets, and we realised that not only did we want to write music for the Norwegian poems, but also to write music for the original poems themselves. The idea of the concept was not to create the same songs twice, but to make the songs mirror each other in a way, trying to somehow recreate the idea of a translation or re-creation. Thus, as with the poems themselves, the songs are not the same, but are, nevertheless familiar.

In keeping with this concept, Dark Essence Records will be debuting a double single from the album, with Andre Bjerke´s “Det Døde Barn” and Conrad Ferdinand Meyer´s “Das Tode Kind” being the first pair to be released, and, according to LUMSK, this will be the first time that the band can be heard singing in German.

The two tracks can be streamed or downloaded from a variety of services at

https://link.darkessencerecords.no/Lumsk_DetDodeBarn_DasTodeKind

When LUMSK were formed in 1999 it was a time when metal bands and fans alike were exploring the use regional folk traditions within music. Already sure that this was the direction in which they wanted their music to go, and with their use of heavy guitars, keyboard and organs, violins, session horns and female vocals, LUMSK were therefore ideally placed to build themselves from the ground up, and take their place in what was to become a sub-genre all of its own.

Having garnered a considerable reputation, both at home and internationally, LUMSK took a hiatus which lasted sixteen years from the release of their last album, but now they are back with “Fremmede Toner” which will be the band’s fourth full-length release.

Mixed by Rhys Marsh at Autumnsongs Recordings, and Mastering by Arnstein Fossvik at AudioMaster, “Fremmede Toner” is the LUMSK’s most varied and intriguing work to date , demonstrating how the band’s unique blend of metal and Nordic folk music melds together with rich textures and clever arrangements.

Featuring works by some of the most famous European and North American poets, such as Nietzsche, Goethe, Swinburne etc., the “dual” concept of “Fremmede Toner” is also reflected on the album cover by Per Spjøtvold, someone with whom the band has worked since the beginning.

Track listing is as follows:

Det Døde Barn
En Harmoni
Avskjed
Under Linden
Fiolen
Dagen er Endt
Das Tode Kind
A Match
Abschied
Under der Linden
Das Veilchen
The Day is Done

“Fremmede Toner” will be released on the 5th May in CD, Limited Edition Double LP in Gold and Turquoise vinyl and Digital formats, and is now available to pre-order from the following:

BandCamp: https://lumsk.bandcamp.com/album/fremmede-toner
Webshop: https://darkessencerecords.no/kar215-lumsk-fremmede-toner/
US Webshop: https://darkessence.indiemerch.com/

Having undergone a number of changes over the years, LUMSK’s seven-piece lineup today includes Mari Klingen on Vocals, Siv Lena Laugtug Sæther on Violin, Eystein Garberg on Guitar, Roar Grindheim on Guitar, Espen Warankov Godø on Keyboards, Espen Hammer on Bass, and Vidar Berg on Drums, and more information about the band can be found on Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/lumskmusic

A video for the track “Trolltind” from LUMSK’s 2005 album “Troll” can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/qoifbhyp2BU

DARK ESSENCE RECORDS INKS DEAL WITH GENRE-DEFYING DUO LETHE

Posted: March 8, 2023 in DARK ESSENCE RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Dark Essence Records, Electronic, Experimental, Lethe, Metal, Norway, Pop, Triphop

You can try and define LETHE and their music, but the probability that you will fall wide of the mark is pretty much guaranteed, because this duo don’t care about genre expectations or boundaries. What they do care about, deeply, is that there should be no rules, no expectations and no compromises.

Formed at the end of 2012 by Tor-Helge Skei (MANES, MANII etc.) and Anna Murphy (CELLAR DARLING, ex-ELUVEITIE), LETHE is a “home” for Anna and Tor-Helge’s musical and artistic experiments, which have developed into something personal and unique, and quite “different”.

Both lyrically and conceptually LETHE is, according to the band:

Like a journey through the ‘back alleys of the human mind/psyche’, through dreams and nightmares, paranoia, mental breakdown, inner darkness.. No religion, fantasy, or pretend play.. Real life, real experiences, real horror.

In an attempt to categorise LETHE’s heady brew of metal / triphop / electronic / pop / experimental sounds, terms such as “genre-bending”, “style-bastardization”, “eclectic”, and even “just plain weird” have been bandied around. But none of these can encompass what the duo, along with a long list of external contributors, have produced on their first two full-length albums: 2014’s “When Dreams Become Nightmares” and 2017’s “The First Corpse on the Moon”.

What LETHE’s third full-length album will produce will become clear later this year when it is set to be released on Dark Essence Records. Delayed due to the pandemic, the band are currently mixing, mastering and putting the finishing touches on the album, and all anyone will say about it is that fans should “Expect the unexpected”

More information about LETHE can be found on the band’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LetheProject or on their website at https://torhelgeskei.com/lethe/

A video for the LETHE’s 2020 single “Gamma” can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/RbRs3l5EXZY

Additional Information
LETHE
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LetheProject
Website: https://torhelgeskei.com/lethe/
Band Contact: tor.helge.skei@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/

PATRICIA THOMAS BAND MANAGEMENT

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