Posts Tagged ‘Black Metal’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

https://shorturl.at/mqf9L

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

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

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

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

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

With a career spanning 30 years, Norwegian Black/Death Metallers CREST OF DARKNESS are back with a vengeance, with their upcoming ninth full-length album. 

Titled “My Ghost”, and set for release on My Kingdom Music on the 18th October, the album promises to be the heaviest, darkest and most personal work ever to have been envisioned by the band’s founder Ingar Amlien. As he explains:

“Structured as a ritual, “My Ghost” is a concept album, which, from an artistic standpoint, is meant to be heard as a whole. From the album’s evocative opening, the ritual leads us to its climax, embodied by the final song “The Ultimate Truth”. This is the point at which the listener completes the initiation into the dark world of CREST OF DARKNESS, and is thus ready to enter the “Ninth Portal”. With its varied and uncompromising lyrics underpinning its message, “My Ghost” is essentially a long journey into the darkest recesses of the mind. A place where Nature’s darkest forces breathe energy and vitality into those who have the courage, and the strength, to become their own Gods”.

As regards the creative process that lies behind the album, Ingar continued:

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

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

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

Cover art for “My Ghost” is by Roy Allan Larsen and tracklisting is as follows:

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

“My Ghost” is now available to pre-order in LP, digipak CD and digital formats, as wall as in  and in a special bundle edition limited to 50 copies from the following: 

https://shorturl.at/mqf9L

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

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

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

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

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

Fans of Norwegian Black Metal know that if you mention the name KOLDBRANN you are going to get a band that is respectful of its traditional True Norwegian Black Metal roots, but one that goes its own way, eschewing any trends, in order to deliver a fearsome sound that is raw and completely uncompromising.

Even the title of KOLDBRANN’s  upcoming fourth full-length album “Ingen Skånsel”, which translated means “No Mercy”,  draws a line in the sand, inviting those who like their Black Metal raw, aggressive, and defiant, to follow them into its fearsome depths.

With the album’s  release scheduled for the 23 August, Dark Essence  Records have today allowed us another glimpse into what to expect, with the release of the single  “Fortærer av Minne og Form”, which can be downloaded or streamed from a number of sources at:

https://orcd.co/koldbrann_famof

With its powerful and chaotic monotype cover art by Indonesian visual artist Bahrull Marta, here is what KOLDBRANN themselves had to say about it:

”Fortærer Av Minne Og Form’, translated to ‘Devourer Of Memory And Shape’, is a ravaging brute that will consume your soul and engulf your being – bones and all!

About his lyrics Kvass commented:  “The lyrics were pieced together back in 2018, with the aim of  conveying a feeling of paranoia and threat of annihilation. They are inspired by Roko’s Basilisk, the thought experiment about how a future all-powerful AI might seek to punish those who did not help it come into existence”.

Whilst songwriter Voidar gives us some insight into the music’s background: “The opening riff dates back to some odd hours scratch recording in 2019. You never know when inspiration strikes, so better utilize its immediacy to later let it fester for years on some cheaply acquired solid state silicon device. Perhaps to one day come back and seek its revenge – accidentally not unlike the lyrical theme. Come 2020 and we are putting an album together. At the time I had been listening to a lot of ELECTRIC WIZARD and HIGH ON FIRE while also sustaining several bartenders. Unclear of any inspiration or thereof I summoned this dredging riff for a middle section to remedy an otherwise invariant arrangement, topping it off with a somewhat inspired lead. Scriptum est”.

Produced by Mannevond, and mixed and engineered by Voidar at Voidsonic, ”Fortærer Av Minne Og Form” was mastered by Tom Kvålsvoll at Kvalsonic Lab. The drums were recorded by Ruben Willem at Amper Tone, Oslo, in August 2021, and guitars, bass and vocals were recorded by Voidar and Mannevond at Voidsonic and Industrigata, Oslo, during 2021-2022.

“Ingen Skånsel” will be available in CD, Digital, Cassette and Smoke Marble Vinyl formats and can can be pre-ordered now at:

Smartlink: https://orcd.co/ingen-skaansel
Webshop: https://darkessencerecords.no/shop
Bandcamp: https://koldbrann.bandcamp.com/album/ingen-sk-nsel

With layout  by Salowe Vision, track listing for “Ingen Skånsel” is as follows:

  1. Ingen Skånsel
  2. Et Uomtvistelig Falsum
  3. I Unaturens Vold
  4. Prosesjon Under Blyhimmel
  5. Det Kryper Kaldt
  6. Maskiner av Nihil
  7. Forstanden Seiler Sin Egen Sjø
  8. Fortærer av Minne og Form
  9. Rykk Skaperverket Opp med Roten
  10. Vorde Eders Farkost en Katafalk
  11. Serenade til Dødens Elende
  12. Elevert Hinsides Tilstand (CD only track)

KOLDBRANN’s live appearances have earned the band a well-deserved notoriety and 2024/2025 will see the lineup of Mannevond on Vocals, Kvass and Voidar on Guitars, Leonid Melnikov on Drums, and John Grave on live Bass appearing in the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, UK, Austria and Switzerland, as well as first-time performances in Canada, Turkey and Romania, with more to come!

Dark Essence Records recently released the single ‘I Unaturens Vold’ from the album, along with s video by Necrolust Productions (WHOREDOM RIFE, 1349, FURZE etc.), which was filmed at this year’s Inferno Metal Festival in Oslo, where KOLDBRANN played in front of a capacity crowd at the John Dee venue.  It can be seen below:

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
KOLDBRANN

Koldbrann on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/koldbrannofficial
Koldbrann on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koldbrann_offisiell
Koldbrann Webshop: https://koldbrann.bigcartel.com
Koldbrann Contact: kontakt@koldbrann.net
Koldbrann Booking: info@district-19.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/

Norwegian Black Metal veterans KOLDBRANN ended 2023 very much on their own terms, releasing a stand-alone, limited edition, 7″ vinyl single that proved itself to be a swaggering, defiant harbinger for the band’s upcoming  fourth full-length album “Ingen Skånsel”,  which is set for release on Dark Essence Records on the 23rd August.

It is a release that has been much anticipated by Black Metal fans, who recognize in KOLDBRANN  a band that has always sought to create a sound that is uniquely their own – fresh, raw, and completely  indifferent to whatever trend happens to be prevalent in the genre at the time.

But, significantly, KOLDBRANN have remained deeply rooted in the traditions of True Norwegian Black Metal, and this respect for their roots can be clearly heard on the track ‘I Unaturens Vold’, which has been released as a single.  Even the cold and uninviting cover image, shot at Haukelifjell, Norway, by the talented photographer Vildensky, serves to set the foreboding tone and atmosphere for the song.

Short and concise, with a fierce thread running through it ‘I Unaturens Vold’ stands  out from many of today’s trends in Black Metal, and can be downloaded or streamed from a number of services at:

https://orcd.co/i-unaturens-vold

The video for ‘I Unaturens Vold’ by Necrolust Productions (WHOREDOM RIFE, 1349, FURZE etc.), was filmed at this year’s Inferno Metal Festival in Oslo, where KOLDBRANN played in front of a capacity crowd at the John Dee venue.  It can be seen below:

KOLDBRANN themselves had this to say about ‘I Unaturens Vold’:

After the punishing previous single, ‘Den 6. Massedød (Manna fra en annen himmel)’, with the primitive necro & roll B-side, ‘Inhumanitær Inngripen’, comes the energetic and melodic ‘I Unaturens Vold’ – the first single taken from our upcoming new album! Fierce and concise, with clear references to classic Norwegian Black Metal, the song has already become an established highlight of KOLDBRANN’s live set

‘I Unaturens Vold’ (translated to ‘In Unnature’s Grasp’) has clear references to classic Norwegian Black Metal, displaying melodious riffs and associations to nature. “Unnature” is used here as a contrast, to point the finger at the fakeness and insincerity in people. It is one of more new songs that deal with standing tall on the outside, turning one’s back on society and the world.

Replete with Mannevond’s trademark blacker than black raw vocals, and Kvass’ clever Norwegian lyrics, the album itself is confirmation that KOLDBRANN is back with a vengeance – as fearsome, as defiant and as uncompromising as ever. 

Even the title “Ingen Skånsel”, which means “No Mercy”, lets everyone know that they are in for 12 tracks of pure aggression from a band that has never shown any mercy or taken any prisoners.

With layout  by Salowe Vision, track listing for “Ingen Skånsel” is as follows:

  1. Ingen Skånsel
  2. Et Uomtvistelig Falsum
  3. I Unaturens Vold
  4. Prosesjon Under Blyhimmel
  5. Det Kryper Kaldt
  6. Maskiner av Nihil
  7. Forstanden Seiler Sin Egen Sjø
  8. Fortærer av Minne og Form
  9. Rykk Skaperverket Opp med Roten
  10. Vorde Eders Farkost en Katafalk
  11. Serenade til Dødens Elende
  12. Elevert Hinsides Tilstand (CD only track)

“Ingen Skånsel” will be available in CD, Digital, Cassette and Smoke Marble Vinyl formats and can to pre-ordered now at:

Smartlink: https://orcd.co/ingen-skaansel
Webshop: https://darkessencerecords.no/shop
Bandcamp: https://koldbrann.bandcamp.com/album/ingen-sk-nsel

KOLDBRANN’s live appearances have earned the band a well-deserved notoriety and 2024/2025 will see the lineup of Mannevond on Vocals, Kvass and Voidar on Guitars, Leonid Melnikov on Drums, and John Grave on live Bass appearing in  the Czech Republic, Poland, UK, Austria and Switzerland, as well as first-time performances in Canada and Romania, with more to come!

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

A video of KOLDBRANN live at Wacken in 2023 can be seen below

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Koldbrann on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/koldbrannofficial
Koldbrann on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koldbrann_offisiell
Koldbrann Webshop: https://koldbrann.bigcartel.com
Koldbrann Contact: kontakt@koldbrann.net
Koldbrann Booking: info@district-19.com
Dark Essence contact: post@karismarecords.no 
Dark Essence Records: www.darkessencerecords.no
Dark Essence on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/darkessencerecords
Dark Essence Records Bandcamp:  http://karismarecords.bandcamp.com/
Dark Essence Records YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/DarkEssenceRecords
Dark Essence Records Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darkessencerecords/
Dark Essence Records Twitter: https://twitter.com/DarkEssenceRec
Dark Essence SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records
Dark Essence Records Webshop: https://www.darkessencerecords.no
Dark Essence Records North American Webshop:  https://darkessence.indiemerch.com
Dark Essence Records Australian Webshop:  https://www.heavymetalmerchant.com/bands/d/dark-essence-records/

When Dark Essence Records announced that Norwegian Black Metal veterans KOLDBRANN would be joining the label for the release of the band’s fourth full-length album “Ingen Skånsel”, they also gave fans a taste of what they could expect from the band who had effectively been on  hiatus for almost a decade.

That taste came in the form of a limited edition 7″, two-track vinyl “Den 6. Massedød (Manna fra en annen himmel)” that showed that KOLDBRANN had lost neither their edge, nor their defiant, “backs to the world” swagger, and that they were just as fearsome, and just as uncompromising, as they had ever been.

Or, as Distorted Sound Magazine put it:

“the band have re-asserted themselves as one of the undisputed masters of Norwegian black metal, cramming more frenetic moments and musical twists into just two songs than many of their contemporaries could manage on a whole album”.

Since the two tracks had been recorded at the same time as the album itself, it was fairly safe to assume that “Ingen Skånsel” would contain more of that same ferocity that has kept KOLDBRANN at the forefront of Norwegian Black Metal underground scene since 2001.

And, indeed, anyone hearing “Ingen Skånsel” for the first time will instantly recognise  Mannevond’s trademark blacker than black raw vocals, which, combined with Kvass’ clever Norwegian lyrics, and the band’s unique riffs, confirm that KOLDBRANN have carved out their own individual sound.

It is a sound which, whilst deeply rooted in the True Norwegian Black Metal Tradition, nevertheless manages to remain fresh, raw and different, and, more importantly, completely untainted by whatever “play it by numbers” trend happens to be current on any particular day. 

The title “Ingen Skånsel”, which means “No Mercy” says it all really, because this is a merciless, deeply aggressive album, that offers no quarter and takes no prisoners.   With layout  by Salowe Vision, track listing for “Ingen Skånsel” is as follows:

  1. Ingen Skånsel
  2. Et Uomtvistelig Falsum
  3. I Unaturens Vold
  4. Prosesjon Under Blyhimmel
  5. Det Kryper Kaldt
  6. Maskiner av Nihil
  7. Forstanden Seiler Sin Egen Sjø
  8. Fortærer av Minne og Form
  9. Rykk Skaperverket Opp med Roten
  10. Vorde Eders Farkost en Katafalk
  11. Serenade til Dødens Elende
  12. Elevert Hinsides Tilstand (CD only track)

The track “I Unaturens Vold” will be released as a single on the 20th June.

The album “Ingen Skånsel” will hit the streets on the 23rd August in CD, Digital, Cassette and Smoke Marble Vinyl formats. It is now available to pre-order at:

Smartlink to various services: https://orcd.co/ingen-skaansel
Webshop: https://darkessencerecords.no/shop
Bandcamp: https://koldbrann.bandcamp.com/album/ingen-sk-nsel

KOLDBRANN’s live appearances have earned the band a well-deserved notoriety and 2024/2025 will see the lineup of Mannevond on Vocals, Kvass and Voidar on Guitars, Leonid Melnikov on Drums, and John Grave on live Bass appearing in  the Czech Republic, Poland, UK, Austria and Switzerland, as well as first-time performances in Canada and Romania, with more to come!

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

A video of KOLDBRANN live at Wacken in 2023 can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/2pVczr09ULU?si=bfzczi7igRcwd4wI

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Koldbrann on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/koldbrannofficial
Koldbrann on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koldbrann_offisiell
Koldbrann Webshop: https://koldbrann.bigcartel.com
Koldbrann Contact: kontakt@koldbrann.net
Koldbrann Booking: info@district-19.com
Dark Essence contact: post@karismarecords.no 
Dark Essence Records: www.darkessencerecords.no
Dark Essence on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/darkessencerecords
Dark Essence Records Bandcamp:  http://karismarecords.bandcamp.com/
Dark Essence Records YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/DarkEssenceRecords
Dark Essence Records Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darkessencerecords/
Dark Essence Records Twitter: https://twitter.com/DarkEssenceRec
Dark Essence SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records
Dark Essence Records Webshop: https://www.darkessencerecords.no
Dark Essence Records North American Webshop:  https://darkessence.indiemerch.com
Dark Essence Records Australian Webshop:  https://www.heavymetalmerchant.com/bands/d/dark-essence-records/

When you name your band after the last known brothel (now a museum) in your home town, you’d better be able to deliver something special with your music, and without a doubt VESTINDIEN do just that with their sophomore full-length album “Verdande”.

Set for release on Dark Essence Records on the 10th of May, fans had already been given a glimpse into what to expect at the end of last year, when VESTINDIEN released a freshly mixed single even before the album was fully completed. 

But now, with the album ready to go, Dark Essence Records are expanding that glimpse with a brand new single titled “Etter ilden”, a track which, according to VESTINDIEN, has undergone a series of iterations before having been deemed ready:

The demo was first written and recorded in the summer of 2021 in a location where the view from our windows was of the Urd, Skuld and Verdande mountains at Bjørnøya.  It would be re-recorded several times before it finally came together as intended, at Underschön Studio in the fall of 2023.

“Etter ilden” is about taking the time to find calm and beauty in a world that is chaotic and full of suffering. We acknowledge that it is a privilege to be able to do so, whilst at the same time, we believe it is necessary to keep moving forward.

“Etter ilden” can be streamed or downloaded from a variety of sources at https://fanlink.tv/etterilden

“Verdande”  comes three years on from the release of VESTINDIEN’s debut full-length “Null”, an album that served as an introduction to the band’s unique take on old-school metal but which hinted at something dark and harsh and sinister.

The fact that it was written both in a basement in Bergen, as well as on a secluded island in the Barents Sea, gives “Verdande” a unique feel, allowing its chaotic, claustrophobic underground roots to gain a more spacious, airy feel, that no doubt comes from being written out in the open sea.   

With cover art by Geir Wallem and cover design by Sondre Krum Dahl,  “Verdande” delivers eight tracks of psychedelic proto-metal with a gloomy twist, and whose song titles are in Norwegian, but whose lyrics are in English.

Track listing is as follows:

  1. Humus
  2. Evig Lys
  3. Etter ilden
  4. I en hule under berget
  5. Alt vårt
  6. Forbi stillheten
  7. Verdande
  8. Innover

“Verdande” will be released in Digital and LP formats, and is now available to pre-order from:

Webshop: https://darkessencerecords.no/shop/vestindien-verdande-black-vinyl/
Bandcamp: https://vestindien.bandcamp.com/album/verdande

VESTINDIEN, whose lineup today 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,  was originally formed in 2009 and quickly earned itself  a well-deserved  reputation as an up-and-coming hardcore band with a heavy metal twist.   

Their frenetic live shows gained the band a solid following, yet one year after the release of their 2011 EP “We are the Lords of Hellfire”, VESTINDIEN inexplicably called it a day. Their emergence several years  later saw VESTINDIEN with a more introverted, and less hardcore and aggressive, approach to their music.  

Answering only to their own their own standards and expectations, VESTINDIEN’s music  today still hints at the bands hardcore roots but it has evolved into a sound that conjures up the essence of black metal, punk and old school rock’n’roll, all of which are enveloped in a dark shroud.

VESTINDIEN are confirmed to play a series of dates in the Spring.  Routing as follows:

12 April:  Blå, Oslo, Norway
13 April:  Fängelset , Gøteborg, Sweden
19 April:  Tou,  Stavanger, Norway
27 April:  T2, Ålesund, Norway
10 May:   Landmark , Bergen, Norway

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/

With a trademark sound that is an uncompromising mix of sludgy riffs and psychedelic nuances, BISMARCK’s lineup 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, have earned themselves a reputation as one of the heaviest bands in Norway.

With the band having completed their latest album, Dark Essence Records have today announced details of what will be BISMARCK’s third full-length release.  Slated to hit the streets on the 3rd May, “Vourukasha” promises to be 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 the band grew up listening to.

As a hint of what to expect, Dark Essence have today released a single from the album.  Titled “Sky Father”, the single can be downloaded or streamed from a variety of services at:

https://link.darkessencerecords.no/Bismarck_Sky-Father

This is what BISMARCK had to say about the single:

 “Sky Father” is the divine wrath, the flood to come, and the fall of man. Its aggressive nature and ferocity coming to life with the help of Aslak (Ondt Blod), as he summons the unavoidable calamity.

“Vourukasha” is an album that amply showcases BISMARCK’s music. With its exploration of western esotericism, altered states of consciousness and a mystical apocalypse, “Vourukasha’s” lyrical content acts as the perfect foil to the band’s sound, which alternates between intense, fuzzed-out heaviness, and clean, atmospheric drones. 

As the band explained

“Vourukasha” is a work born from curiosity, hard work, and sheer determination.  It will take you on a metaphysical journey through space and time. From the darkest depths of the sea to the endless cosmic void. Join us, and dive into the Heavenly Sea.

With artwork by Vaderetro,  track listing for “Vourukasha” is as follows:

  1. Sky Father
  2. Echoes
  3. Kigal
  4. The Tree of All Seeds
  5. Vourukasha
  6. Ocean Dweller

“Vourukasha” will be available in CD, Digital and Limited Edition Splatter Vinyl formats and can now be pre-ordered from:

Webshop: https://darkessencerecords.no/shop/
US Webshop: https://darkessence.indiemerch.com

BISMARCK has been confirmed to appear at Oslo’s Desertfest and the Valo Rock Festival 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 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/

Sweden’s ALFAHANNE, whose ability both on and off stage to produce their own infectious, crowd-pleasing “Alfapocalyptic Rock” has endeared the band to a legion of fans since the 2013 release of their debut full-length “Alfapokalyps“,  will be back this year with their fifth album “Vår tid är nu”.

 But, although fans will have to wait until the 9th February to hear the album in its entirety, Dark Essence Records have today released a new single taken from the album.  Titled  “Wolfman” the track can be streamed or downloaded from a variety of services at

https://link.darkessencerecords.no/Alfahanne_Wolfman

Whilst the video, by Necrolust Productions, can be seen below and on YouTube at  https://youtu.be/wCayoki-82U

Commenting on the track, ALFAHANNE noted that:

 The song includes brilliant Steel guitar work which is something different for us, but make no mistake, “Wolfman”  is as “Alfahanne” as it gets. It’s a classic Rock song but it comes with a twist because we have never been afraid of turning left when the road turns right.  

Whilst “Vår tid är nu” is unmistakably ALFAHANNE, replete with the band’s mix of Black Metal, Classic Rock,  Punk and a healthy dose of Rock n Roll, it is, nevertheless, their heaviest album to date.  The catchy melodies and the punk swagger are all present, but so too is a an underlying bleak atmosphere that is reminiscent of both the early days of Black Metal and the 80s. 

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

Known for their ability to attract a veritable who’s who of Scandinavian Extreme Metal icons to guest both on their albums and on stage – artists such as 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), ALFAHANNE carry on this tradition with “Vår tid är nu”.

This time CARPATHIAN FOREST’s legendary Nattefrost himself makes an appearance, along with Doedsadmiral (NORDJEVEL), both of whom contribute their first ever guest vocals with the band, whilst Spellgoth (HORNA) and  Nattfursth (SORHIN) make a welcome return. 

“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/ 

ALFAHANNE’s lineup is comprised 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,  and more information about the band can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/alfahanneofficial

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

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 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/

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/