Posts Tagged ‘Helheim’

Helheim PR2

Norwegian Viking Metallers HELHEIM are streaming the whole of their eighth full-length album “raunijaR” ahead of the 4th December release date on Dark Essence Records.  You can listen to “raunijaR”, which is being  streamed exclusively on Terrorizer Magazine, at http://www.terrorizer.com/news/helheim-stream-new-album-raunijar

The follow up to 2011’s “Heiðindómr ok Mótgangr”, “raunijaR” brings to a close the “Åsgards Fall ” storyline that began with the EP of that name in 2010, and also completes the themes that have woven their way in and out of HELHEIM’s music since the very beginning.  Featuring  ALFAHANNE’s Pehr Skjoldhammer and Norwegian musician William Hut on guest vocals, as well as additional guest musicians on violin, piano and horns,  the album  was recorded at the Conclave & Earshot Studio by VULTURE INDUSTRIES’ Bjørnar Nilsen and mastered  by ENSLAVED’s Herbrand Larsen.  Artwork for the album is by HELHEIM’s  H’grimnir of www.coverart.no.   Track listing on “raunijaR” as follows:

  1. Helheim 9
  2. raunijaR
  3. Åsgards Fall III
  4. Åsgards Fall IV
  5. Odr

Helheim raujnaR ArtworkPR

“raunijaR” is available to pre-order from http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/product/helheim-rauniar-cd-t-shirt-bundle or https://helheim.bandcamp.com/

Over their twenty plus years of existence, HELHEIM’s lineup of  V’gandr on bass and vocals, H’grimnir on  guitar and vocals, Hrymr on  drums and Noralf on guitars have made use not just of story lines taken from folklore, but they have enhanced these with the use of traditional instruments to give a realistic Viking feel to their epic music, which many acknowledge to be one of the most authentic , if not the most authentic, in the genre.  They have spent their time wisely between their last release and the recording on “raunijaR” , honing and developing HELHEIM’s dark and atmospheric sound, and further enhancing it with  additional clean vocals by V’gandr , which now allows the two vocalists to combine their clean vocals to add yet another interesting new dimension to the  band’s sound.

V’gandr  recently gave his insights  on the new album:  “The  opening track “Helheim 9” is actually the last in the line of the HELHEIM tracks where Hrymr in particular has been the creative force.  He has  combined his unique creativity and symbolism in a way that overwhelms everything that came before, and  the result is a truly fitting closure.

“The title track “raunijaR”  continues on from Helheim’s “Heiðindómr ok Mótgangr”, and has a relentlessly driving sound that showcases the confrontational,  yet familiar,  black metal sound in the vein of “Dualitet og Ulver”.  “Åsgards Fall” Parts 3 and 4 will be the final and vital link in the completion of the theme that was begun in both lyrical and musical terms with the “Åsgards Fall” MCD. Closing the album is “Odr”, a solemn track that gives the album an ending full of the grandeur and respect that it deserves”.

More information about HELHEIM can be found on the band’s website at  http://www.helheim.com or on their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/helheimnorway

The official video for the track “Dualitet og Ulver” from HELHEIM’s MCD “Åsgards Fall”, which features a guest appearance from TAAKE’s Hoest, can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/P_fw_nsSHeA

Tracks from all of HELHEIM’s releases can be heard below and at https://soundcloud.com/helheimofficial/sets/helheim-player

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Helheim Website: http://www.helheim.com
Helheim Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/helheimnorway
Helheim  YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/frosjo
Helheim SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/helheimofficial
Band Contact: helheim@helheim.com
Dark Essence Records contact and promo: post@karismarecords.no
Dark Essence Records: www.darkessencerecords.no
Dark Essence Records Bandcamp: https://karismarecords.bandcamp.com/
Dark Essence SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records
Dark Essence on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/darkessencerecords
Dark Essence Records Webshop: http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/
Dark Essence KlickTrack Store:  http://shop.klicktrack.com/karismadarkessencerecords

Dark Essence Records have today debuted a track  from “raunijaR”, the upcoming album from Norwegian Viking Metallers HELHEIM.   With the album due to hit the streets on the 4th December, the title track “RaunijaR” can be heard below and at https://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records/helheim-raunijar

“raunijaR”  which will be the band’s eighth full-length release, is the follow up to 2011’s “Heiðindómr ok Mótgangr” and  was recorded at Conclave & Earshot Studio by VULTURE INDUSTRIES’ Bjørnar Nilsen and mastered  by ENSLAVED’s Herbrand Larsen.  Artwork for the album is by HELHEIM’s  H’grimnir of www.coverart.no.

Track listing on “raunijaR” as follows:

1 – Helheim 9
2 – raunijaR
3 – Åsgards Fall III
4 – Åsgards Fall IV
5 – Odr

Since the release of “Heiðindómr ok Mótgangr”, HELHEIM have been busy expanding their unique take on VIking Metal.  The band have been building even further on what is over twenty years of experience and have created an album that not only  brings to a close the “Åsgards Fall ” storyline that began with the EP of that name in 2010, but also completes the themes that have woven their way in and out of HELHEIM’s music since the very beginning.

Along with HELHEIM’s lineup of  V’gandr on bass and vocals, H’grimnir on  guitar and vocals, Hrymr on  drums and Noralf on guitars, “raunijaR” features  ALFAHANNE’s Pehr Skjoldhammer and Norwegian musician William Hut on guest vocals, as well as additional guest musicians on violin, piano and horns,  giving the album an epic feel.  The band’s trademark dark and atmospheric sound has been further enhanced  by the fact that V’gandr himself has been expanding and perfecting his clean vocals, something that allows the two vocalists to combine their clean vocals to add yet another interesting new dimension to the  band’s sound.

V’gandr  recently gave his insights  on the new album:  “The  opening track “Helheim 9” is actually the last in the line of the HELHEIM tracks where Hrymr in particular has been the creative force.  He has  combined his unique creativity and symbolism in a way that overwhelms everything that came before, and  the result is a truly fitting closure.

“The title track “raunijaR”  continues on from Helheim’s “Heiðindómr ok Mótgangr”, and has a relentlessly driving sound that showcases the confrontational,  yet familiar,  black metal sound in the vein of “Dualitet og Ulver”.  “Åsgards Fall” Parts 3 and 4 will be the final and vital link in the completion of the theme that was begun in both lyrical and musical terms with the “Åsgards Fall” MCD. Closing the album is “Odr”, a solemn track that gives the album an ending full of the grandeur and respect that it deserves.”

HELHEIM will make a special appearance at  BlekkMetal Festival which runs from the 13th to the 15th November at USF Verftet in Bergen.  The one-off event is billed as a tribute to the birth of the Norwegian Black Metal scene, and will hark back to the atmosphere, bands, art and individuals from the scene pre 1994.  HELHEIM will perform their debut album “Jormundgand” on Saturday 14th to mark the 20th Anniversary of its release.   They will also be interviewed live on stage along with ENSLAVED, and will be discussing how their lyrical narratives and their musical craft have been influenced by their Viking roots and traditions.

Included on the BlekkMEtal  bill are veteran bands such as TAAKE, KAMPFAR, AETERNUS, HADES ALMIGHTY, GEHENNA, ENSLAVED, and brand new bands such GAAHLS WYRD, and a special onetime only reunion of the legendary OLD FUNERAL.   Also appearing will be The C.L.A.S.P. Ritual /Dirge Rep  – a tribute band  consisting of legendary musicians such as Dirge Rep himself, Skagg, Gaahl, Garm and many more.

Some of the top Norwegian tattoo artists will be present at the event, and will be available for appointments, including, Colin Dale, Kai Uwe Faust and Tor Ola Svennevig, three Viking  tattooists who work entirely by hand, without the use of machines.   Art exhibitions, movies and guest speakers will also be featured at the event.  More information about the BlekkMetal Festival, as well as ticket details can be found at www.blekkmetal.com

More information about HELHEIM can be found on the band’s website at  http://www.helheim.com or on their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/helheimnorway

“raunijaR” is available to pre-order from http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/product/helheim-rauniar-cd-t-shirt-bundle or https://helheim.bandcamp.com/

The official video for the track “Dualitet og Ulver” from HELHEIM’s MCD “Åsgards Fall”, which features a guest appearance from TAAKE’s Hoest, can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/P_fw_nsSHeA

Tracks from all of HELHEIM’s releases can be heard at https://soundcloud.com/helheimofficial/sets/helheim-player

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Helheim Website: http://www.helheim.com
Helheim Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/helheimnorway
Helheim  YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/frosjo
Helheim SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/helheimofficial
Band Contact: helheim@helheim.com
Dark Essence Records contact and promo: post@karismarecords.no
Dark Essence Records: www.darkessencerecords.no
Dark Essence Records Bandcamp: https://karismarecords.bandcamp.com/
Dark Essence SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records
Dark Essence on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/darkessencerecords
Dark Essence Records Webshop: http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/
Dark Essence KlickTrack Store:  http://shop.klicktrack.com/karismadarkessencerecords

Over four years have passed since HELHEIM released their last album, and now the veteran Norwegian Viking metallers are set to release their eighth full-length album on the 4th December on Dark Essence Records.    Titled  “raunijaR”, the album was recorded at Conclave & Earshot Studio by VULTURE INDUSTRIES’ Bjørnar Nilsen and was mastered  by ENSLAVED’s Herbrand Larsen.

In the intervening years between 2011’s critically acclaimed “Heiðindómr ok Mótgangr” and the upcoming release of “raunijaR” , HELHEIM have been both experimenting with, and building on, their unique take on the Viking Metal genre.  As well as completing the themes that have woven their way through HELHEIM’s music since the very beginning,  it is with “raunijaR” that the band completes the “Åsgards Fall ” storyline that began with the EP of that name in 2010.

HELHEIM’s lineup comprises V’gandr on bass and vocals, H’grimnir on  guitar and vocals, Hrymr on  drums and Noralf on guitars.  V’gandr himself has been expanding and perfecting his clean vocals, and now, when the two vocalists combine to sing clean vocals new elements are added to the band’s sound.   Guest  vocals on “raunijaR” come from ALFAHANNE’s Pehr Skjoldhammer and Norwegian musician William Hut,  with additional guests performing on violin, piano and horns to further enhance HELHEIM’s dark and heavy atmospheres and create a truly epic masterpiece.

Artwork is by H’grimnir from www.coverart.no.  Track listing on “raunijaR” as follows:

  1. Helheim 9
  2. Raunijar
  3. Åsgards Fall III
  4. Åsgards Fall IV
  5. Odr

Commenting on “raunijaR” V’gandr had this to say:  “The  opening track “Helheim 9” is actually the last in the line of the HELHEIM tracks where Hrymr in particular has been the creative force.  He has  combined his unique creativity and symbolism in a way that overwhelms everything that came before, and  the result is a truly fitting closure.

“The title track “raunijaR”  continues on from Helheim’s “Heiðindómr ok Mótgangr”, and has a relentlessly driving sound that showcases the confrontational,  yet familiar,  black metal sound in the vein of “Dualitet og Ulver”.  “Åsgards Fall” Parts 3 and 4 will be the final and vital link in the completion of the theme that was begun in both lyrical and musical terms with the “Åsgards Fall” MCD. Closing the album is “Odr”, a solemn track that gives the album an ending full of the grandeur and respect that it deserves.”

In  November HELHEIM will make a special appearance at  BlekkMetal Festival which runs from the 13th to the 15th November at USF Verftet in Bergen.  The one-off event is billed as a tribute to the birth of the Norwegian Black Metal scene, and will hark back to the atmosphere, bands, art and individuals from the scene pre 1994.  HELHEIM will perform their debut album “Jormundgand” on Saturday 14th to mark the 20th Anniversary of its release.   They will also be interviewed live on stage along with ENSLAVED, and will be discussing how their lyrical narratives and their musical craft have been influenced by their Viking roots and traditions.

Included on the BlekkMEtal  bill are veteran bands such as TAAKE, KAMPFAR, AETERNUS, HADES ALMIGHTY, GEHENNA, ENSLAVED, and brand new bands such GAAHLS WYRD, and a special onetime only reunion of the legendary OLD FUNERAL.   Also appearing will be The C.L.A.S.P. Ritual /Dirge Rep  – a tribute band  consisting of legendary musicians such as Dirge Rep himself, Skagg, Gaahl, Garm and many more.

Some of the top Norwegian tattoo artists will be present at the event, and will be available for appointments, including, Colin Dale, Kai Uwe Faust and Tor Ola Svennevig, three Viking  tattooists who work entirely by hand, without the use of machines.   Art exhibitions, movies and guest speakers will also be featured at the event.  More information about the BlekkMetal Festival, as well as ticket details can be found at www.blekkmetal.com

More information about HELHEIM can be found on the band’s website at  http://www.helheim.com or on their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/helheimnorway

The official video for the track “Dualitet og Ulver” from HELHEIM’s MCD “Åsgards Fall”, which features a guest appearance from TAAKE’s Hoest, can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/P_fw_nsSHeA

Tracks from all of HELHEIM’s releases can be heard below and at https://soundcloud.com/helheimofficial/sets/helheim-player

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Helheim Website: http://www.helheim.com
Helheim Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/helheimnorway
Helheim  YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/frosjo
Band Contact: helheim@helheim.com
Dark Essence Records contact and promo: post@karismarecords.no
Dark Essence Records: www.darkessencerecords.no
Dark Essence Records Bandcamp: https://karismarecords.bandcamp.com/
Dark Essence SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records
Dark Essence on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/darkessencerecords
Dark Essence Records Webshop: http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/
Dark Essence KlickTrack Store:  http://shop.klicktrack.com/karismadarkessencerecords

On the eve of the release of their sophomore  full-length album “Livlaus”, Norwegian Black Metallers ORKAN have debuted a second track from the album.  The track “Uforgjengeleg” features TAAKE frontman and founder Hoest on guest vocals.  It can be heard below and at https://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records/orkan-uforgjengeleg-featuring-taakes-hoest

“Livlaus”, which is out on Dark Essence Records on the 11th September, is a concept album that takes as its subject the efforts of a lost soul to find peace in the Kingdom of the Dead, and was inspired by the forests and sulphur mines that surround Stord, the hometown of drummer Rune Nesse.  With a much darker and uncompromising feel than its predecessor “Crimson Canvas”, “Livlaus” was recorded live in the studio, with vocals added later, to create an album filled with atmospheric melodies, haunting vocals and intense blast beats.

The seven-track album was mixed by Iver Sandoy at the Solslottet Studio and mixed by ENSLAVED’s Herbrand Larsen at the Conclave and Earshot Studios in Bergen.  Aside from Hoest, “Livlaus” also features a guest appearance from TAAKE bassist V’gandr (HELHEIM).  Artwork is by Tom Korsvold.  Track listing as follows:

1.Fanden På Veggen
2.Brende Bruer, Svart Metall
3.Livlaus del 1: Evig
4.Livlaus del 2: Dødens Dal
5.Livlaus del 3: Tusen Sjeler
6.Uforgjengeleg
7.Skodde

ORKAN was originally founded in 2008 by TAAKE’s live guitarist Gjermund Fredheim and ex- BYFROST drummer Rune Nesse, and the lineup was completed with the addition of  former GRIMNORTH  bassist Sindre Hillesdal and frontman Einar Fjelldal (ex-GRAVEMACHINE).  It is this lineup that will join the upcoming TAAKE European tour along with Dark Essence Records label-mates KRAKOW and the 3RD ATTEMP, as well as DOMINANZ.  Routing as follows:

29 Sep TAAKE + KRAKOW + ORKAN – From Hell,  Erfurt (DE)
30 Sep: TAAKE + KRAKOW + ORKAN –  Viper Room,  Wien (AT)
01 Oct: TAAKE + KRAKOW + ORKAN – Gala Hala,  Ljubljana (SLO)
02 Oct: TAAKE + KRAKOW + ORKAN – Alchemica Club,  Bologna (IT)
03 Oct: TAAKE + KRAKOW + ORKAN – Circolo Colony,  Brescia (IT)
04 Oct: TAAKE + KRAKOW + ORKAN – Altherax,  Nice (FR)
05 Oct: TAAKE + KRAKOW + THE 3RD ATTEMPT + ORKAN – Razz 3,  Barcelona (ES)
06 Oct: TAAKE + THE 3RD ATTEMPT + ORKAN + DOMINANZ – Caracol,  Madrid (ES)
07 Oct: TAAKE + ORKAN + DOMINANZ – UBU,  Rennes (FR)
08 Oct: TAAKE + THE 3RD ATTEMPT + ORKAN + DOMINANZ – Glazart,  Paris (FR)
09 Oct: TAAKE + THE 3RD ATTEMPT + ORKAN + DOMINANZ – Underworld,  London (UK)
10 Oct: TAAKE + ORKAN + DOMINANZ – Neushoorn,  Leeuwarden (NL)
11 Oct: TAAKE + ORKAN + DOMINANZ – Luxor,  – Arnhem (NL)

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

Fan-filmed footage of ORKAN playing the track “Deus Vicit” from their debut album “Crimson Canvas”, at CCO in Lyon during their tour with TAAKE and HELHEIM in 2013 can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/farFAII2D-g

Two tracks from ORKAN’s “Livlaus” can be heard below and at https://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records/sets/orkan 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Orkan on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ORKANMETAL
Orkan on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/OrkanOfficial
Band Contact and Booking:  orkanband@gmail.com
Dark Essence Records contact and promo: post@karismarecords.no
Dark Essence Records: www.darkessencerecords.no
Dark Essence SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records
Dark Essence on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/darkessencerecords
Dark Essence Records G+: google.com/+DarkessencerecordsNo
Dark Essence Records Webshop: http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/
Dark Essence KlickTrack Store:  http://shop.klicktrack.com/karismadarkessencerecords

Formed in 2008 by TAAKE’s live guitarist Gjermund Fredheim and ex- BYFROST drummer Rune Nesse, and with a lineup that now includes former GRIMNORTH  bassist Sindre Hillesdal and frontman Einar Fjelldal (ex-GRAVEMACHINE),  Norwegian Black Metallers ORKAN are set to release a new full-length album, which will be titled “Livlaus”,  on Dark Essence Records on the 11th September.    As a taste of what to expect from an album that includes guest appearances from TAAKE’s Hoest and HELHEIM’s V’gandr, the track “Livlaus del 2: Dødens Dal” has been debuted on the label’s SoundCloud page and can be heard below and at https://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records/orkan-livlaus-del-2-dodens-dal

Unlike ORKAN’s debut full-length  “Crimson Canvas”,  which was, according to the band, “a self-financed, thrashy album”, “Livlaus” has a much darker, uncompromising feel, with atmospheric melodies, haunting vocals and intense blastbeats.  The concept of the album was inspired by the forests and sulphur mines found around Drummer Rune Nesse’s hometown of Stord, on the west coast of Norway, and deals with a lost soul trying to find peace in the Kingdom of the Dead.

With a Black Metal sound that features elements of Thrash and other Extreme genres, the   seven-track album was recorded live in the studio and no editing was carried out on the basic tracks.  Vocals and effects were added later.  Artwork for  “Livlaus”, which will be the band’s sophomore full-length album,  is by Tom Korsvold , and track listing is as follows:

1. Fanden På Veggen
2. Brende Bruer, Svart Metall
3. Livlaus del 1: Evig
4. Livlaus del 2: Dødens Dal
5. Livlaus del 3: Tusen Sjeler
6. Uforgjengeleg
6. Skodde

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

Fan-filmed footage of ORKAN playing the track “Deus Vicit” from their debut album “Crimson Canvas”, at CCO in Lyon during their tour with TAAKE and HELHEIM in 2013 can be seenbelow and at

Tracks from all of DARK ESSENCE RECORDS releases can be heard below and at http://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records/sets/dark-essence-records

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Orkan on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ORKANMETAL
Orkan on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/OrkanOfficial
Band Contact and Booking:  orkanband@gmail.com

Dark Essence Records contact and promo: post@karismarecords.no
Dark Essence Records: www.darkessencerecords.no
Dark Essence SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records
Dark Essence on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/darkessencerecords
Dark Essence Records G+: google.com/+DarkessencerecordsNo
Dark Essence Records Webshop: http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/
Dark Essence KlickTrack Store:  http://shop.klicktrack.com/karismadarkessencerecords

With a release date set for the 11th September, Dark Essence Records have revealed details for the upcoming sophomore full-length album from Norwegian Black Metallers ORKAN.  Titled “Livlaus”, the seven-track album was recorded live in the studio, with no editing of the basic tracks, whilst vocals and effects were added later. Hoest (TAAKE) and V’gandr (HELHEIM) perform guest vocals on two of the tracks.

“Livlaus” promises to be an uncompromising album, whose Black Metal influenced sound features elements from Thrash and  other Extreme genres,  and creates atmospheric melodies with haunting vocals and intense blastbeats.   With Norwegian lyrics, the whole album is loosely based on the concept of a lost soul trying to find peace in the Kingdom of the Dead, and was inspired  by the forests and old sulphur mines in the area around drummer Rune Nesse’s hometown of Stord, on the west coast of Norway.

Artwork for the album is by Tom Korsvold and track listing on “Livlaus” as follows:

1. Fanden På Veggen
2. Brende Bruer, Svart Metall
3. Livlaus del 1: Evig
4. Livlaus del 2: Dødens Dal
5. Livlaus del 3: Tusen Sjeler
6. Uforgjengeleg
7. Skodde

ORKAN’s four-man lineup was formed in 2008 by TAAKE’s live guitarist Gjermund Fredheim and ex- BYFROST drummer Rune Nesse, joined by former GRIMNORTH  bassist Sindre Hillesdal and frontman Einar Fjelldal (ex-GRAVEMACHINE) to complete the line-up.  ORKAN’s debut full-length album “Crimson Canvas”, which the band themselves describe as a ” self-financed, thrashy album” appeared in 2012, and is far removed from the much darker direction taken on “Livlaus”.

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

Fan-filmed footage of ORKAN playing the track “Deus Vicit” from their debut album “Crimson Canvas”, at CCO in Lyon during their tour with TAAKE and HELHEIM in 2013 can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/farFAII2D-g 

Tracks from all of DARK ESSENCE RECORDS releases can be heard below and at http://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records/sets/dark-essence-records

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Orkan on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ORKANMETAL
Orkan on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/OrkanOfficial
Band Contact and Booking:  orkanband@gmail.com
Dark Essence Records contact and promo: post@karismarecords.no
Dark Essence Records: www.darkessencerecords.no
Dark Essence SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records
Dark Essence on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/darkessencerecords
Dark Essence Records G+: google.com/+DarkessencerecordsNo
Dark Essence Records Webshop: http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/
Dark Essence KlickTrack Store:  http://shop.klicktrack.com/karismadarkessencerecords

 

Sweden’s self-styled Alfapokalyptic Rockers ALFAHANNE, whose debut full-length album was released earlier this year on Dark Essence Records, are back in the studio preparing for their next album.  With guest vocalists like TAAKE’s Hoest, SHINING’s Niklas Kvarforth and HELHEIM’s V’gandr on their debut “Alfapokalyps” – names that make most fans of extreme metal sit up and take notice – many are wondering what the band will pull out of its bag for its follow up, so guitarist Fredrik Sööberg took time out from working on the new material to give a hint about what to expect.

ALFHANNE  has never been a band that does things the way others do them. So when it comes to the process of recording a follow up album to “Alfapokalypse” we do it our way, regardless of expectations.  We  do not record demos or pre-productions. We just jam the shit out of our equipment until we have a song we feel we can perform properly on an album. Then we record it.  As with “Alfapokalyps” we record the material  live and most often it is the first take that ends up on the album. We believe that if we can’t get it right straight away, who are we to call ourselves musicians?

“ALFAHANNE is not about perfection and order.  Quite the opposite. We are about emotions and chaos. The process of writing new material is as always quite easy for us. After releasing our first album we had so much inspiration left in us that we  just kept going. Always inspired by the darkness that lies within the depth of humanity and the rotten illusion of our society. The songs just pop up like a big middle finger in the face of the world.

“As I write this, August has come to a close and we are about halfway through the recording, which, again as with “Alfapokalyps”, we are doing on our own, in our own Dödskult Studio, and we will continue the recording process  during this fall/winter when we are not busy playing live. We can also reveal that our new album will have guest appearances by vocalists who we find suitable for our particular style of music, which we call Alfapokalyptic rock.  As far as the sound is concerned  we just have one thing to say:  ALFAHANNE is always ALFAHANNE and we will always have our own distinctive  sound. One thing we can safely say, however, is that this  album will for sure be the best album released since “Alfapokalyps”.

ALFAHANNE can claim a  lineup of musicians that have been on the Black Metal scene since the early ’90’s in bands such as VINTERLAND and early MAZE OF TORMENT , and Pehr Skioldhammer on Vocals and Guitar, Fredrik Sööberg on Guitars, Niklas Åström on Drums and Jimmy Wiberg on Bass have proved well-able to win over audiences wherever they have played, which includes a series of festival appearances during 2014.  Formed in 2010, ALFAHANNE’s sound is a high energy mix of Black Metal, Classic Rock and Punk, a sound that was interesting enough to convince SHINING to join the band on the 2013 7″ split “Grym” release, after which, ALFAHANNE  joined the formidable roster of Norway’s Dark Essence Records.

Upcoming appearances confirmed for ALFAHANNE as follows:

12 Sept, John Dee, Oslo (supporting VULTURE INDUSTRIES)
27 Sept, Morkaste Smaland Festival, Metropol, Hultsfred, Sweden
07 Nov, On the Rocks, Helsinki, Finland
08 Nov, Dog’s Home, Tampere, Finland
19-21 Feb, Blastfest, Bergen, Norway (exact running order TBA)
09 May, Incineration Festival, London, England

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

Fan-filmed video of ALFAHANNE performing the track “Indiehora”  from their 2014 album “Alfapokalypse”,   live on stage with HELHEIM’s V’gandr  can be seen below and at http://youtu.be/ZUZpioeW_Gk

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Alfahanne on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alfahanneofficial
Alfahanne on Reverbnation: www.reverbnation.com/alfahanne
Alfahanne on YourTube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzlnEhv8tEx2GNRAqVduRMQ
Alfahanne on SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/alfahanne
Band Contact: nickeastrom@hotmail.com
Management & PR: patriciathomas@btinternet.com
Booking: toni@thedamager.com
Dark Essence Records Contact and Promo: post@karismarecords.no
Dark Essence Records: www.darkessencerecords.no

 

DARK ESSENCE RECORDS plans to make their annual Inferno Festival event a little different this yea when they join forces with sister label KARISMA RECORDS to showcase two of their bands each at Blå on Wednesday 16th April.  “We are always conscious of the fact that while many of Dark Essence’s artists such as TAAKE tour frequently, and fans in Europe have a good chance of seeing them live, the Karisma artists tend to tour much less, so we thought that this year we would open up the event to give their fans a chance to see some of them, and introduce them to Dark Essence’s fans at the same time”, commented the label’s Martin Kvam.

Representing Dark Essence will be two bands whose recent releases have been getting rave reviews from press and fans alike.  First up will be SLEGEST, the new project from former VREID guitarist Ese, who has skilfully blended classic heavy rock and old-school black metal to produce a sound that is both dark and sinister, and with an unmistakably  down and dirty catchy groove  that weaves its way through the music.  Originally started as a one-man project, once the debut full-length album “Løyndom” was released at the end of 2013,  it quickly became clear that the demand from fans to see SLEGEST perform live was such that Ese was persuaded to form a fully functioning band.  More information about SLEGEST can be found at https://www.facebook.com/slegest

The official video for the track “Ho Som Haustar Aleine” from SLEGEST’s “Løyndom” can be seen below and at http://youtu.be/ti8XokQakEw

 

Joining them will be Sweden’s ALFAHANNE, whose lineup includes members of bands such as VINTERLAND and early MAZE OF TORMENT, and who have come together to play what they themselves have called ”Alfapocalyptic Rock”, a fascinating and hard-hitting mix of Black Metal, Classic Rock and Punk with some Goth influences .  Their high-energy live performances have garnered them much praise.   Making a guest appearance on stage with ALFAHANNE, will be HELHEIM’s V’gandr who performed vocals on one of the tracks from the band’s new album “Alfapokalyps” .  It is a tribute to ALFAHANNE that they were able to attract not only V’gandr to make a guest appearance on the album, but also Dark Essence label-mates Hoest from TAAKE and Niklas Kvarforth from SHINING.  More information about ALFAHANNE can be found at https://www.facebook.com/alfahanneofficial

The track “Såld På Mörkret” from ALFAHANNE’s album ”Alfapocalyptic Rock” and  which features TAAKE’s Hoest on guest vocals can be heard below and at http://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records/alfahanne-s-ld-p-m-rkret

 

Making an appearance for Karisma will be two bands, representing the new and the established.  Lovers of Prog Rock cannot fail to recognise the name of AIRBAG, a band known the world-over for an exquisite musical craftsmanship that enables its musicians to create a sonic experience ranging from massive walls of sound, to ambient textures and soulful soundscapes, both in the studio and on stage.  The release of AIRBAG’s third full-length album “The Greatest Show on Earth” at the end of last year confirmed the band’s status in the world of prog, earning them many accolades.   Inferno will be one of the very few chancesthat to catch this incredible band live this year so it is an opportunity that should not be missed.  One for fans of ANATHEMA. More information about AIRBAG can be found at http://www.airbagsound.com/

The title track from AIRBAG’s album “The Greatest Show on Earth” can be heard below and at:  http://soundcloud.com/karisma-records/airbag-the-greatest-show-on

 

The second of the Karisma bands is one of their latest signings, SEVEN IMPALE.  The release of the digital EP “Beginning/Relieve” last year gave an indication of the multi-faceted nature of these young musicians.  With its member drawn from a range of disciplines including classical orchestra, big band, metal, jazz, rock and electronic music, their sound ranges from progressive and jazzy to the softer and more melodic  to the harder and edgier.  They bring a freshness and enthusiasm to their live performances, and it is anticipated that their debut full-length album later this year  will more than meet expectations, setting them apart from many other new arrivals on the scene.  If you are a fan of Norway’s SHINING, SEVEN IMPALE is definitely a band you will want to check out.  More information about SEVEN IMPALE can be found at https://www.facebook.com/sevenimpale

The title track from SEVEN IMPALE’s  “Beginning/Relieve”  EP can be heard below and at http://soundcloud.com/karisma-records/seven-impale-begining-relieve

 

Scheduled performances for the Dark Essence Records / Karisma Records artists at Inferno Festival, which will take place at Blå, Brennereiven 9C, Oslo, Norway, on Wednesday 16th April as follows:

Seven Impale: 20:20
Slegest: 21:25
Alfahanne:  22:30
Airbag: 23:45

SLEGEST

ALFAHANNE

 

AIRBAG

SEVEN IMPALE

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Dark Essence Records: http://www.darkessencerecords.no/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darkessencerecords
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records
Karisma Records: http://karismarecords.no/www.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sevenimpale
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/sevenimpale
Contact and Promo Requests: post@karismarecords.no