NIKLAS KVARFORTH, founder and frontman of Swedish Extreme Metallers SHINING, has announced details of the upcoming release of a solo project that will chart fifteen years of his often controversial musical career.  “Fifteen Years of Absolute Darkness”, scheduled for release on Spinefarm Records on the 7th December this year, will feature 15 tracks from various bands on which Kvarforth has guested on vocals.  Included are tracks from bands such as GRAVDAL, BETHLEHEM, THE VISION BLEAK, DEN SAAKALDTE, as well as a previously unreleased alternative version of SHINING’s “Förtvivlan, Min Arvedel”.  The double CD will come with a lavishly illustrated booklet which contains KVARFORTH’s comments on all the tracks.  Track listing for “Fifteen Years of Absolute Darkness” as follows:

Disc 1
1. KKOAGULAA – Excerpt 4
2. DIABOLICUM – Salvation Through Vengeance
3. MANES – Bli Med Mig
4. IN LINGUA MURTUA – Cold Void Messiah
5. MONUMENTUM – The Colour Of Compassion
6. SHINING – Förtvivlan, Min Arvedel (alternative version)
7. HJARNIDAUDI – A Darkblue Afternoon
8. LIVSNEKAD – Fobisk Sälta

Disc 2
1. THE VISION BLEAK – I Dined With The Swans
2. GLORIOR BELLI – The Night Scalp Challenger
3. FUNERAL DIRGE – Alpha Sans Omega
4. GRAVDAL – Mishandlet
5. NEKROS – The Black Serpent
6. BETHLEHEM – Yesterday I Still Died Today
7. DEN SAAKALDTE – Mesias

Three tracks of from “Fifteen Years of Absolute Darkness” can be heard below:

 

Kvarforth is currently working on the second SHINING music video which be filmed both during a live concert at the Club Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland, on the 5th October, and in a studio setting.  The video will be for the track “Tillsammans Är Vi Allt” from SHINING’s seventh full length album “VII / Född Förlorare”,  and the band will be joined on stage for the filming by  NORDMAN(Håkan Hemlin), one of Sweden’s top Pop stars, who originally guested on the track on the album.  Work is also underway on what will be the band’s eighth full-length album which will be produced by KING DIAMOND guitarist ANDY LA ROCQUE at his Sonic Train Studios in Varberg, Sweden.  More information about SHINING can be found on the band’s MySpace page at www.myspace.com/shininghalmstad

Below you can see the official video for “Förtvivlan Min Arvedel”

 

SHINING INFORMATION
Shining on MySpace: www.myspace.com/shininghalmstad
Shining on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shiningofficial
Official  YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/OfficialShining
Shining on ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/shining
PR: patriciathomas@btinternet.com
Management: nelli.ahvenlahti@gmail.com

Norway’s TROLLFEST has today released a video for the track “Karve” from the band’s latest album “En Kvest For Den Hellige Gral”.  Made by Manskow Productions, the video was filmed in Super 8, and shows scenes of the band performing at a neighbourhood barbeque in the company of family and friends, including members of PANTHEON I and DEAD TROOPER, as well as fans who had heard about the filming and turned up to enjoy the fun.  As Manskow himself is actually TROLLFEST’s accordionist, Oslo-based Romanian photographer and writer Andrea Chirulescu assisted with the video, which can be seen below:

 

“En Kvest For Den Hellige Gral”, was released on NoiseArt Records in April of this year, and since then TROLLFEST, whose line up drawn from bands such as URGEHAL, PANTHEON I, UNTIME, MELCH, SARKOM, HALLUCINATIONS and POWERSWORD has been sharing its particular brand of exuberance and fun with festival goers in Europe.  With members who between them are able to  play a selection of unusual instruments from a variety of countries which are more  typically used in folk music, as well as the more standard instruments you would expect from a metal band, TROLLFEST manages  to somehow blend folk music sounds from their native Norway and from the Balkans, with the sinuous and seductive melodies of the Middle East and lively Hispanic rhythms, all mixed in with a healthy dose of pure headbanging metal to produce what the band themselves define as “True Norwegian Balkan Metal”.  TROLLFEST will hit the road on the 30th September as part of this year’s Heidenfest tour along with FINNTROLL, TURISAS, ALESTORM, ARKONA and SKÁLMÖLD.  Tour itinerary as follows:

September
30 DE – Geiselwind, Music Hall *EXTENDED*
October
01 DE – Gießen, Hessenhallen *EXTENDED*
02 DE – Berlin, Postbahnhof *EXTENDED*
03 PL – Warsaw, Progresja
04 PL – Krakow, Studio
05 DE – Hannover, Faust
06 DE- Hamburg, Markthalle
07 DE – Stuttgart, LKA Longhorn *EXTENDED*
08 DE – Oberhausen, Turbinenhalle *EXTENDED*
09 NL – Tilburg, O13 *EXTENDED*
10 NL – Leeuwarden, Romein
11 UK- London, HMV Forum
12 FR – Lille, Aeronef
13 CH – Pratteln, Z7
14 DE – Munich, Backstage
15 DE – Leipzig, Hellraiser
16 BE – Antwerpen, Trix
17 DE – Lindau, Vaudeville
18 IT – Bologna, Estragon
19 SI – Ljubljana, Cvetlicarna Mediapark
20 HU – Budapest, Club 202
21 AT – Vienna, Arena
22 AT – Linz, Posthof
23 AT – Innsbruck, Hafen
*EXTENDED SHOWS + WINTERSUN + DORNENREICH + TODGELICHTER

The band has also released another part of their Q&A videos where fans are invited to send in their questions for the members of TROLLFEST who then answer them on video. You can see the latest instalment  below:

More information about TROLLFEST can be found at http://www.trollfest.com

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Web Site: http://www.trollfest.com

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/trollfest

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/trollfestofficial

ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/trollfest
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/trollfest
WebShop: http://trollfest.bigcartel.com/

Band Contact: trollfest_@hotmail.com

Management: patriciathomas@btinternet.com

 

With the MCD “Kveld” released in April as a taster for the band’s fifth full-length album “Noregs Vaapen”, and with the album itself hitting the streets on DARK ESSENCE RECORDS on the 20th September in Europe, and a release date set for the 1st November in the USA, TAAKE has today released a music video for a track from the album. Directed by Torgeir Ness Sundli, the video, for song “Nordbundet”, is a mix of live footage of the band interspersed with scenes of the countryside around TAAKE’s home town of Bergen, which have been filmed by founder and front man Hoest, who also produced the video.   Audio production is by Bjornar E. Nilsen and the video can be seen below.

“Noregs Vaapen” was a much anticipated release from the band that is now seen as one of the leaders of the Norwegian Black Metal scene.  Whilst never losing TAAKE’s traditional sound and atmosphere with its icy riffs, its melodies redolent of Norway’s history, and distinctive vocals, Hoest has not hesitated to add a few twists that have taken everyone by surprise and kept the music fresh and original, including the use of the banjo on one track.  The addition of guest appearances by some of Black Metal’s elite including Nocturno Culto (DARKTHRONE), Attila Csihar (MAYHEM), Demonaz (IMMORTAL) and Skagg (GAAHLSKAGG, DEATHCULT) as well as producer and VULTURE INDUSTRIES front man Bjørnar E. Nilsen have added a further dimension to “Noregs Vaapen”.

TAAKE will celebrate the release of the album with a special live set at Det Akademiske Kvarter in Bergen on the 30th September, and will then head out for a European tour in October with fellow Bergen Blackened Metallers BYFROST and the UK’s DONN THE PHILOSOPHY.  Tour itinerary, including newly confirmed dates as follows:

October
14 –  The Rock, Copenhagen (DK)
15 – Die Werkstatt, Koln (DE)
16 – Baroeg, Rotterdam (NL)
17 – Gloppe, Leeuwarden (NL)
18 – Biebob, Vosselaar (BE)
19 – Underworld, London (UK)
20 – Glazart, Paris (FR)
21 – Club 45, Zug (CH)
22 – Hellraiser, Leipzig (DE)
23 – Melodka, Brno (CZ)

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

The video for “Nordbundet” from the album “Noregs Vaapen” can be seen below

 

Below you can hear “Hordalands Doedskvad 1” from the “Kveld” MCD

 

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

 

The following statement has been issued by Norwegian Black Metallers RAGNAROK:

“We confirm that RAGNAROK is ending its collaboration with REGAIN RECORDS and no further albums will be released on the label.  We are currently in the process of looking at various offers from labels, but no decision has yet been taken, and if any labels are interested in working with the band they are more than welcome to contact us via our management at patriciathomas@btinternet.com

RAGNAROK is currently coming to the end of a very successful 14 date tour of Brazil and Mexico, and on their return the band will continue working on what will be their seventh full-length album.  Formed in 1994, the last album, “Collectors of the King”, was released in 2010 after a six-year hiatus, during which time RAGNAROK underwent an almost total line up change, with drummer and founder member Jontho being the only original member left.  Aside from Jontho on drums, the line up today consists of Hans Fyrste (Vocals), DezeptiCunt (Bass and Backing Vox) and Bolverk (Guitars).  More information about the band can be found on their website at http://www.ragnarokhorde.com/

The following video is the official video for the title track from the “Blackdoor Miracle” album, which features TAAKE’s Hoest on vocals.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ragnarokofficial
Website: http://www.ragnarokhorde.com
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/ragnarokofficial
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/ragnarok
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/ragnarokhorde
Management: patriciathomas@btinternet.com

Danish Black Metallers BLODARV have contributed two tracks to the “Shadows of Tragedy” compilation CD which was released this week on Self Mutilation Services.  Along with BLODARV, other contributors to the release are NOCTURNAL DEPRESSION, BLACK HATE, ACEDI and GRIMLAIR.  “Shadows of Tragedy” is released in a 500 copies only limited edition CD, which hit the streets on the 16th September.

The two tracks contributed by BLODARV are both previously unreleased songs written at the same time as the band’s “Civitas Diaboli” album, which was itself released on Self Mutilation Services in 2009.  The first track, “Sharpstone Mountain”, is effectively a prelude to the tale recounted in the “Blood Red Rocks” track from “Civitas Diaboli”, whilst the second track, “I Hulernes Rige” is a melancholy acoustic song, which gives BLODARV’s female backing vocalist Satinae Ma a chance to take the lead on vocals.

BLODARV founder and front man Hugin has only recently been allowed to return to performing, following an accident that resulted in extensive surgery to his jaw.  It was also  revealed this week that he would be collaborating with Norway’s  Elenyx (NÅE , COMBATH)  and Sweden’s It (ABRUPTUM, VONDUR, OPTHALAMIA) on a new album from NÅE, which is to be recorded partly in BLODARV’s own HammerArt and Studios on the Danish island of Bornholm, and partly in Elenyx’s own recording facilities in Oslo.  Commented the front man: “Being out of action so long would have been frustrating if I hadn’t been able to work on writing for the next BLODARV release and record some of the music for it in the studio, as well as drafting out ideas for the NÅE collaboration.  All in all, you could say that it’s been quite a productive time out”.

BLODARV is due to support ENDSTILLE at The Rock, in Copenhagen on the 26th November, and more information about the band can be found at at http://www.myspace.com/blodarv

The video below is a collage of photos of BLODARV in concert in May of 2011 with the track “Natteskarn” from the “Civitas Diaboli” album.

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – BLODARV
MySpace : http://www.myspace.com/blodarv
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/blodarvofficial
YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/huginofblodarv
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/blodarv
Booking: stafahugin@hotmail.com or patriciathomas@btinternet.com
Management: patriciathomas@btinternet.com

 

 

With over 96,000 views on YouTube for SHINING’s first ever music video in just over three months of its release , the band have today announced that they will start work on a second video in October of this year.  The video, for the track “Tillsammans Är Vi Allt” from SHINING’s seventh full length album “VII / Född Förlorare”, will be filmed both during a live concert and in a studio setting.  Martin Strandberg, who directed the band’s first video, “Förtvivlan Min Arvedel”, will once again be directing, together with SHINING founder and front man Niklas Kvarforth.  Production will be handled by Jussi Hyttinen of FLC415. The live footage will be filmed at a SHINING concert at the Club Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland, on the 5th October, when the band will end the evening by playing “Tillsammans Är Vi Allt” several times in order for it to be filmed.  Fans wanting to attend the show and the filming will be able to get low-priced tickets at www.tiketti.fi.

Joining SHINING live on stage for the filming will be Nordman (Håkan Hemlin), one of Sweden’s top Pop stars, who originally guested on the track on the album, which was release on Spinefarm records earlier this year.  No information has been revealed yet as to what the studio footage will consist of, but given SHINING’s reputation and the fact that their first video had to be released in both uncensored and censored versions due to the graphic nature of its content, the new footage is expected to be “interesting” as a spokesperson for the band commented.

SHINING’s first single, “Förtvivlan Min Arvedel”, which featured as its B side a never before released cover version of ALICE COOPER’s “Prince of Darkness” recently went Gold in the band’s home country of Sweden, having sold 10,000 copies.

As well as the gig in Helsinki, SHINING is also set to appear at this year’s Firebox Metal Festival at the Seinäjoen Rytmikorjaamo, Seinäjoki (FI) on the 30th September and at Satan’s Convention at the Headbanger’s Ballroom, Osnabrück (DE) on the 3rd December.   More information about SHINING can be found at http://www.myspace.com/shininghalmstad

You can hear both A and B sides of SHINING’s gold single On the SoundCloud player below:

 

 

SHINING INFORMATION
Shining on MySpace: www.myspace.com/shininghalmstad
Shining on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shiningofficial
Official  YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/OfficialShining
Shining on ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/shining
PR: patriciathomas@btinternet.com
Management: nelli.ahvenlahti@gmail.com

Several years of sharing musical ideas and visions have finally borne fruit with BLODARV front man and founder HUGIN joining forces with ELENYX (COMBATH) on the upcoming album from her NÅE project.   In what has become a Nordic alliance, Norway’s ELENYX, who founded NÅE, and Denmark’s HUGIN are being joined on the album, which will be called “Heksevind”, by Sweden’s IT (ABRUPTUM, VONDUR, OPTHALAMIA).  With ELENYX herself working on composition, lyrics, and vocals and playing various instruments on the album, Hugin is expected to provide vocals and lyrics while IT will participate both musically and with written material.   The exact details of the collaboration will be known as the work progresses.

NÅE, which in the Old Norwegian language means “corpse” or “the dead”, is an experimental project based on mind images and visions.  Using elements of Black Metal, ELENYX creates dark and demonical ambient pieces that are filled with visions of ghosts and are swirling with sinister dark tales, and the band’s first album, the 14-track demo “Nåedroem”, will be released on Concept Machine.  “Heksevind”, which will be recorded both at BLODARV’s HammerArt and Studios on the Danish island of Bornholm and at ELENYX’s own recording facilities in Oslo, takes as its theme occultism and witchcraft, and the summoning of the dark magic that lives inside some of us.  Demo material from “Nåedroem” can be heard at http://www.reverbnation.com/nåe

HUGIN himself, who has been out of action for a few months following an accident that necessitated extensive surgery to his jaw, is now fit and able to resume performing live again, with his return to the stage set for the 26th November when BLODARV will support ENDSTILLE at The Rock in Copenhagen.    He is currently working on the next BLODARV album, and in the interim the band will appear on the “Shadows of Tragedy” split CD with ACEDI, GRIMLAIR, BLACK HATE & NOCTURNAL DEPRESSION, which is due for release in September 2011 on Self Mutilation Services.  More information about BLODARV can be found at http://www.myspace.com/blodarv

The video below is a collage of photos of BLODARV in concert in May of 2011 with the track “Natteskarn” from the “Civitas Diaboli” album.

 


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – BLODARV
MySpace : http://www.myspace.com/blodarv
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/blodarvofficial
YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/huginofblodarv
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/blodarv
Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/blodarv
ReverbNation : http://www.reverbnation.com/blodarv
Web Shop:  http://www.blodarvshop.bigcartel.com/
HammerArt Studios: http://www.myspace.com/hammerartstudios
Management: patriciathomas@btinternet.com
Booking: stafahugin@hotmail.com or patriciathomas@btinternet.com

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NÅE
NÅE MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/naaelys
NÅE ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/nåe
NÅE Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NÅE/142139942487990
Contact: elenyx.hellraiser@gmail.com

The first ever single released by Extreme Metallers SHINING, has gone gold  in the band’s home country of Sweden with 10,000 copies sold –  a feat made more extraordinary due to the fact that the single was only released in Sweden itself.  The two-track CD single, which sold out virtually instantaneously, was released by Spinefarm Records and  featured “Förtvivlan, Min Arvedel”, taken from the new album “VII / Född Förlorare”, on the  “A Side”, whilst a previously un-released cover of ALICE COOPER’s “Prince of Darkness” featured on the “B Side”.

Amidst rumours that a new single would appear shortly with a world-wide release this time, SHINING front man and founder NIKLAS KVARFORTH said “I never thought I would have a SHINING gold record hanging on my bathroom wall. I want thank all our past, present and future fans for helping us turn our world into a worse place to live, and pray for the day we will be able to infect other countries on such a big scale!”

Earlier this year “Förtvivlan, Min Arvedel” also featured on SHINING’s first video to be produced in 15 years of their frequently controversial career.  Despite having to be released in both censored and uncensored versions because of the graphic nature of some of the scenes, and despite having an age restriction slapped on it, the video has so far received over 94,000 views since its release a little over three months ago.

More information about SHINING can be found on the band’s MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/shininghalmstad

You can hear both A and B sides of SHINING’s gold single On the SoundCloud player below:

Shining on MySpace: www.myspace.com/shininghalmstad
Shining on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shiningofficial
Official  YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/OfficialShining
Shining on ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/shining
PR: patriciathomas@btinternet.com

Karisma Records are set to release a digital single from Prog Rockers AIRBAG on the 5th of September in advance of the scheduled October 17 release of the band’s sophomore album “All Rights Removed”.    The single, “Homesick (Part I)”, is a special edit of the closing track from “All Rights Removed”, and will be available from all the usual digital distributors.

Formed in Oslo, Norway, in 2005, AIRBAG, whose line up includes front man Asle Tostrup, Bjørn Riis on guitars and vocals, Jørgen Hagen on keyboards, Henrik Fossum on drums and Anders Hovdan on bass, has created its own unique sound by taking elements from classic and progressive rock, chill and jazz, and melded them into what Classical Rock Magazine described as “prog at its most chilled, honeyed and soothing”.  Since AIRBAG’s inception, the band has continued to expand its stage performances, with strong visuals and the extensive use of backdrop film to underline the music.

AIRBAG’s first album “Identity” was released on Karisma Records in 2009, and was hailed as one of the best progressive releases of that year.  The upcoming second album, “All Rights Removed”, sees AIRBAG take a more conceptual direction, with long, epic pieces and dramatic instrumentation.  It is very much the product of a strong collaboration within the band that focuses on both the lyrics and the music, and has taken almost two years to write, record and produce, and the result is a massive sound and stronger than ever musical performances.

The band will launch “All Rights Reserved” at a release concert at the John Dee in Oslo on the 23rd September, and more information about AIRBAG can be found on the band’s website at http://www.airbagsound.com

Below you can see the official video of AIRBAG playing “Homesick (Part I)” live at a recent concert in Oslo.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Karisma Records: http://www.karismarecords.no/
Promo and other information: post@karismarecords.no
Website: www.airbagsound.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Airbag/21137836128
MySpace: www.myspace.com/airbagsound
YouTube: www.youtube.com/airbagsound
Airbag management: Jørn Terje Larsen,  jt@airbagsound.com

Two generations of Bergen bands are set to tour Europe in October, bringing with them the blackened sounds and performances that makes Norway’s second largest city one of the foremost producers of extreme metal.   Headlining will be TAAKE, formed in 1993 by Hoest, one of the most dynamic front men in Black Metal.  With a plethora of releases and a wealth of stage experience behind them TAAKE has become one of the leading Black Metal bands playing today.  Supporting will be BYFROST who already have two full length albums to their credit, and whose aggressive black ‘n roll, combined with elements of thrash, have earned them a large fan base following recent appearances at some of the top European festivals.  Also on the tour will be the UK’s DONN THE PHILOSOPHY.  Tour dates as follows:

October
Fri 14 – The Rock, Copenhagen (DK)
Sat 15 – TBA
Sun 16 – Baroeg, Rotterdam (NL)
Mon 17 – Werkstat, Cologne (DE)
Tue 18 – Biebob, Vosselaar (BE)
Wed 19 – Underworld, London (UK)
Thu 20 – Glazart, Paris (FR)
Fri 21 – Club 45, Zug (CH)
Sat 22 – Init, Rome (IT)
Sun 23 – Rock Planet, Ravenna (IT)

Both bands will be touring with new releases.  TAAKE’s “Noregs Vaapen” is due for release on Dark Essence Records in mid September, whilst BYFROST’s “Of Death” was released on AFM records in June of this year.  More information about TAAKE can be found at http://taake.svartekunst.no/ and BYFROST at http://www.myspace.com/byfrostmetal

Below you can see the official video for TAAKE’s “Umenneske”

 

Below you can see fan-filmed footage of BYFROST performing “Horns to the Sky” live at the Bloodstock Festival this year.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – TAAKE
Website: http://taake.svartekunst.no
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taakeofficial
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/taakeofficial
Svartekunst Produksjoner: http://svartekunst.no
Management & Booking: Propulsion Music http://www.propulsionmusic.no
email: bjornar.erevik.nilsen@gmail.com

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – BYFROST
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/byfrostmetal
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BYFROST
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/byfrost
Twitter: www.twitter.com/byfrostmetal
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/byfrost
Management & Booking: Patricia Thomas Band Management http://patriciathomasmanagement.com
email: patriciathomas@btinternet.com