Posts Tagged ‘Prog Rock’

KARISMA RECORDS RELEASES NEW SINGLE FROM UPCOMING WIZRD ALBUM

Posted: November 15, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
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Set for release on the 6th December, “Elements”, the sophomore full-length album from Norwegian Rockers WIZRD, shows a band eager to build on their already genre-defying style, and expand into new directions. 

But all those fans who have already taken the band into their hearts need not have any worries, because, the elements that make WIZRD what it is, will still be there.  And how best to illustrate this?  With the release of the single “Fire & Flames” about which the band have this to say:

Are we shooting ourselves in the foot when we choose the album’s longest track as the second single? Well, it’s possible! But still, it felt just right. We think “Fire & Flames” sums up “what is WIZRD” in a great way, it is in many ways the quintessential WIZRD song. It captures the calm, meditative and psychedelic nature of several of our songs, while the last half has the rawness, wildness and improvisation that we are perhaps best known for. Therefore, we felt that the song was an obvious single choice, as it represents the band and the album so well.

“Fire & Flames” can be downloaded or streamed from a variety of sources at:

https://orcd.co/fireflames

Those who have already had a taste of what to expect from “Elements” in the shape of the recently released double single (available for streaming or download at https://orcd.co/nationalday), will also realise that WIZRD will always be a band that pushes boundaries, successfully  blending all the more interesting aspects  of rock, indie, jazz and prog. But this time they have taken it further, experimenting with new styles, going in fresh melodic directions, and adding both extended and condensed song structures to their repertoire.

Recorded at the legendary Athletic Sound studio in Halden, “Elements” is an eclectic album, whose  sound is cohesive and unified –  an unmistakable trait  in all of WIZARD’s  work.   It was co-produced, recorded, and mixed by Dag Erik Johansen alongside the band, who are keen to stress that his contribution was vital to shaping the final sound of “Elements”.

Working closely together this formidable team has created an album that feels organic yet unpredictable. With a mix of carefully crafted and spontaneous elements, it is clear that every decision that was taken in the making of the album influenced its outcome. Change  one single thing and “Elements” would have been something entirely different.

With album cover art by Steph Hope and layout by Maja Markegård,  and featuring additional vocals by Sara Fjeldvær, Rohey Taalah, Rikke Normann & Nadia Warholm Essahli, “Elements” will be released in CD, Digital and Limited Edition Red Vinyl formats, and is now available to pre-order from:

Bandcamp:  https://wizrd.bandcamp.com/album/elements
WebShop: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/   
US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com/band/wizrd

Track listing for “Elements” is as follows:

  • GT, Me & My 6610
  • Mesmerized
  • The Void
  • Fylkesvei 33
  • National Day
  • You’re Exposed!
  • !!!
  • Fire & Flames
  • Kaleidoskop


WIZRD was formed when Hallvard Gaardløs (SPIDERGAWD, DRAKEN) on bass and lead vocals, Karl Bjorå (MEGALODON COLLECTIVE) on guitar and vocals, Vegard Lien Bjerkan (SOFT FFOG) on keyboards and vocals, and Axel Skalstad (KROKOFANT, SOFT FFOG) on drums attended the Jazz Conservatory in Trondheim. Together, they form a diverse and dynamic unit marked by a fearless creativity.

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

A video of WIZRD in the studio, rehearsing the track “All Is As It Should Be”, from their 2022 album “Seasons”, by Norwegian film score composer and JAGA JAZZIST drummer Martin Horntveth,  can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/kzP2VOduRCU?si=GwdMBmZGgU6B4x0z   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
WIZRD
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/WIZRDTHEBAND/
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/wizrdtheband/
BandCamp: https://wizrd.bandcamp.com/
Band Contact:  hallvardgaardlos@hotmail.com
KARISMA RECORDS
Promo and other information: post@karismarecords.no
Karisma Records: http://www.karismarecords.no/
Karisma Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karismarecords
Karisma Records Bandcamp: https://karismarecords.bandcamp.com
Karisma Records on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/KarismarecordsNor
Karisma Records Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/karismarecords/
Karisma Records Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarismaRecords
Karisma on SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records
Karisma Records Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no
Karisma Records US Webshop:  https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

DETAILS OF UPCOMING ALBUM AND NEW SINGLE FROM NORWEGIAN ROCKERS WIZRD REVEALED

Posted: October 25, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
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Since its formation WIZRD has proved itself to be a band that is happy to colour outside any  genre-defining lines, pushing boundaries and effortlessly blending the more interesting aspects of genres that range from rock and indie to jazz and prog.

And on their upcoming sophomore full-length album “Elements” WIZRD have dived deeper into uncharted musical waters—experimenting with new styles, fresh melodic directions, and both extended and condensed song structures, all the while introducing Norwegian lyrics.

Whilst “Elements” itself is set for release on the 6th December, Karisma Records have today released a double single taken from the album.  The single, which comprises the tracks  “National Day” and “Eternity’s Breath”,  and with artwork by Maja Markegård,  can be downloaded or streamed from a variety of services at:

https://orcd.co/nationalday

WIZRD explained something of the process that went into recording “National Day”:

“National Day” was a song that came together very quickly. Karl came up with the riff, and while we were jamming on it, I came up with the melody line. We wanted to push ourselves a little and see how “little” is needed to make a song. After all, we are prog fans, and happy with lots of different parts, but here we tried to see how we could rather vary a relatively short idea and get a song out of it. It basically went very well, but in the end we couldn’t quite help ourselves, and added the slightly extended solo part. A little three-minute adventure!

By contrast, “Eternity’s Breath” is a totally different beast, not an original, but a cover, and fans of the MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA will immediately recognise the title.  Indeed, WIZRD cite the legendary New Yorkers as one of the great inspirations behind their own music:

One of our favourite bands and greatest sources of inspiration is the Mahavishnu Orchestra. We have had a few concert nights in Oslo where we have had one set of our own songs, and one set of Mahavishnu covers. In particular, we have played a lot of the songs from the album “Visions of the Emerald Beyond”, so this time it was only natural for us to include a Mahavishnu song in the recording process. Eternity’s Breath is one of our favourite songs, it’s an insanely fun song to play. Joining the team this time we also got Rohey Taalah and Nadia Warholm Essahli on vocals, and that lifts it to astronomical heights. We hope the result gives you a real kick!
 
“Elements” itself was recorded at the legendary Athletic Sound studio in Halden, and the ambiance both within the studio, and within the city itself, left an indelible mark on the album, which, though eclectic, could not be anything other than WIZRD, whose distinctive sound is cohesive and unified.

Co-produced, recorded, and mixed by Dag Erik Johansen alongside the band, WIZRD are keen to stress that his contribution was vital to shaping the final sound of “Elements”. Working closely together this formidable team has created an album that feels organic yet unpredictable. With a mix of carefully crafted and spontaneous elements, it is clear that every decision that was taken in the making of the album influenced its outcome. Change  one single thing and “Elements” would have been something entirely different.

With album cover art by Steph Hope and layout by Maja Markegård,  and featuring additional vocals by Sara Fjeldvær, Rohey Taalah, Rikke Normann & Nadia Warholm Essahli, “Elements” will be released in CD, Digital and Limited Edition Red Vinyl formats, and is now available to pre-order from:

Bandcamp:  wizrd.bandcamp.com
WebShop: karismarecords.no/shop
US Webshop: karismarecords.indiemerch.com

Rrack listing for “Elements” is as follows:

  1. GT, Me & My 6610
  2. Mesmerized
  3. The Void
  4. Fylkesvei 33
  5. National Day
  6. You’re Exposed!
  7. !!!
  8. Fire & Flames
  9. Kaleidoskop


WIZRD was formed when Hallvard Gaardløs (SPIDERGAWD, DRAKEN) on bass and lead vocals, Karl Bjorå (MEGALODON COLLECTIVE) on guitar and vocals, Vegard Lien Bjerkan (SOFT FFOG) on keyboards and vocals, and Axel Skalstad (KROKOFANT, SOFT FFOG) on drums attended the Jazz Conservatory in Trondheim. Together, they form a diverse and dynamic unit marked by a fearless creativity.

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

A video of WIZRD in the studio, rehearsing the track “All Is As It Should Be”, from their 2022 album “Seasons”, by Norwegian film score composer and JAGA JAZZIST drummer Martin Horntveth,  can be seen at below and at https://youtu.be/kzP2VOduRCU?si=QSgNFb2L9X_VMWnw   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
WIZRD
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/WIZRDTHEBAND/
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/wizrdtheband/
BandCamp: https://wizrd.bandcamp.com/
Band Contact:  hallvardgaardlos@hotmail.com
KARISMA RECORDS
Promo and other information: post@karismarecords.no
Karisma Records: http://www.karismarecords.no/
Karisma Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karismarecords
Karisma Records Bandcamp: https://karismarecords.bandcamp.com
Karisma Records on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/KarismarecordsNor
Karisma Records Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/karismarecords/
Karisma Records Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarismaRecords
Karisma on SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records
Karisma Records Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no
Karisma Records US Webshop:  https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

DEBUT ALBUM FROM PROG ROCKERS SEVEN IMPALE SET FOR VINYL RE-RELEASE

Posted: October 18, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
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Ten years after its original release, Karisma Records is set to re-release a vinyl version of “City of the Sun”, the critically acclaimed debut full-length album from Norwegian Prog Rockers SEVEN IMPALE, which has long-been sold out.

Whilst “City of the Sun” is firmly based on classic progressive rock, SEVEN IMPALE’s use of elements usually found within the Metal genre, along with the inclusion of a Saxophone amongst their instruments,  is the perfect illustration of how unafraid SEVEN IMPALE is to veer away from what one would normally expect from a Progressive Rock band.  The resultant sound is, as you may expect, is not only much harder but it also contains a plethora of jazzy elements, thus appealing to a wider audience.

Commenting on the album itself, SEVEN IMPALE had this to say:

The process of making “City of the Sun” all those years ago put all seven of us into a rather confined space, recording it the good old-fashioned way. Not a click track or grid in sight! It was a sweaty, intimate experience that seems to have been the recipe for.. sweaty, intimate and jazzy prog rock..!

We can confirm that  recording and assembling “City of the Sun” was a valuable learning experience for us as a band, and we are forever thankful for the friendship we formed, and have since built upon, with our producer Iver Sandøy.  Iver will always be that “missing” seventh impala, and we will, without hesitation, return to Solslottet for the golden touches of the Sun King Himself.

 Set for release on the 29th November, the Tenth Anniversary edition of “City of the Sun” will be available as a Limited Edition LP in Solar Flare Vinyl, and  will include an insert sheet with the albums lyrics along with comments from both the band, and ENSLAVED’s Ivar Bjørnson.

It is now available to pre-order from:

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

Featuring its original artwork, track listing for “City Of The Sun” as follows:

1. Oh, My Gravity!                
2. Windshears                                      
3. Eschaton Horo                                 
4. Extraction          
5. God Left Us for a Black-Dressed Woman

Formed in Bergen, Norway in 2010, and featuring members from ENSLAVED, CLOUD PEOPLE, TROJKA and more,  SEVEN IMPALE’s lineup consists of Stian Økland on vocals and guitars, Fredrik Mekki Widerøe on drums, Benjamin Mekki Widerøe on sax, Tormod Fosso on bass, Erlend Vottvik Olsen on guitar and Håkon Vinje on keyboards.

It is a lineup that encompasses a diversity of musical disciplines ranging from classical orchestra to big band, metal to jazz and rock to electronic, SEVEN IMPALE have fused all their experience and influences and created a sound that is uniquely theirs. 

A video of SEVEN IMPALE playing the track “God Left Us for a Black-Dressed Woman” from “City of Sin” live at Festival Prog-Resiste in 2016 can be seen at https://youtu.be/254U6S0YO1U?si=4J1R88FWx-aJgkor

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
SEVEN IMPALE
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sevenimpale
Website: https://sevenimpale.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sevenimpale
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/56h6oZFC4GnKgMA3WQtj35
YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/sevenimpale
Twitter: https://x.com/sevenimpale
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/sevenimpale
KARISMA RECORDS
Band Contact: sevenimpale@gmail.com
Karisma Records contact: post@karismarecords.no
Karisma Records: http://www.karismarecords.no/
Karisma Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karismarecords
Karisma Records Bandcamp: https://karismarecords.bandcamp.com
Karisma Records on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/KarismarecordsNor
Karisma Records Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarismaRecords
Karisma on SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records
Karisma Records Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/
Karisma Records US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

DETAILS OF THE FOURTH OF SIX RELEASES FROM THE BACK CATALOGUE OF PROG LEGENDS WHITE WILLOW REVEALED

Posted: October 18, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
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WHITE WILLOW fans can look forward to a special Christmas treat this year when Karisma Records releases another album from its planned re-issue of the entire back catalogue of the legendary Norwegian Prog Rock pioneers.

This time it is the band’s fourth full-length album “Storm Season”, which was originally released in 2004 and was the first WHITE WILLOW album to sell over 10,000 copies.  Compared to their earlier releases, it marked a bold musical shift for WHITE WILLOW,  taking, as it does, a heavier, more metallic direction.  Blending their classical Prog and Folk Rock roots with a heavier, more streamlined side, “Storm Season” stands as WHITE WILLOWS’ most direct and impactful musical statement to date.

It is also very aptly named, because “Storm Season” was created in the chaotic epicenter of a perfect storm and reflected both the turbulence within the band itself, and of the world around them.   

Indeed, the intensity of the music would nearly tear apart the band, leading to the departure of Sylvia Erichsen who had been their vocalist for several years.  And yet, it was from this very turmoil that a breakthrough would emerge, as guitarist and bandleader Jacob Holm-Lupo explains:

We wanted to create an album that felt like a storm—a reflection of the turmoil in the world with climate change and political unrest, and also within our own lives.

This re-release of “Storm Season” has been meticulously remastered by Jacob Holm-Lupo himself, breathing new life into the album

Although “Storm Season had previously been released in LP format in 2015,  that version featured an alternative cover and has long since sold out, whilst this is the first vinyl release to feature the iconic original cover art.

Set for release on the 13 December, “Storm Season” will be available as a Limited Edition LP in Stormy Marble Vinyl, as well as in CD format.  It can now be pre-ordered from:

Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/
Bandcamp: https://whitewillow.bandcamp.com/album/storm-season-remaster
US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

Track listing for “Storm Season” is as follows:

CD
1. Chemical Sunset
2. Sally Left
3. Endless Science
4. Soulburn
5. Insomnia
6. Storm Season
7. Nightside of Eden

LP
1. Chemical Sunset
2. Sally Left
3. Soulburn
4. Endless Science
5. Insomnia
6. Storm Season
7. Nightside of Eden

WHITE WILLOW was formed in 1992 by guitarist Jacob Holm-Lupo, who at that time was a member of the POLICE/BRUCE HORNSBY-inspired pop band THE ORCHID GARDEN, and keyboard player Jan Tariq Rahman from local jazz-rock/prog rock band DUGGVÅTE DVE.

It was a case of two musicians coming together see if they had any kind of songwriting chemistry, and, whilst sitting on the floor playing acoustic guitar and clavinet, produced the track “Snowfall” which convinced them that they could, indeed, come up with something worthwhile.

WHITE WILLOW’s history, however, was never simple, with members having come and gone over the years  and only Holm-Lupo having remained with the band since its inception, whilst WOBBLER’s Lars Fredrik Frøislie has been a mainstay since 2001.

The band’s  sound too has undergone changes, but it’s safe to say that it is frequently centered around female vocals and an expanded instrumentation that usually includes a host of analogue synthesizers, mellotron, woodwinds and strings, in addition, of course, to traditional rock instrumentation.

Now, exclusively a studio project, WHITE WILLOW is noted for featuring guest appearances from prominent musicians such as  Norway’s guitar hero Hedvig Mollestad, or internationally renowned klezmer clarinetist David Krakauer. 

By the time the re-release project is finished, Karisma Records will have released all six of the following albums:

Ignis Fatuus – 1995 (released Nov 2023)
Ex Tenebris – 1997 (released April 2024)
Sacrament – 2000  (released July 2024)
Storm Season – 2004 (due for release 13  December 2024)
Signal to Noise – 2006
Terminal Twilight – 2011

More information about WHITE WILLOW can be found at https://www.facebook.com/whitewillowband/

A video for the track “Kansas Regrets” from WHITE WILLOW’s 2011 album “Terminal Twilight” can be seen below

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
WHITE WILLOW
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitewillowband/
Holm-Lupo Lydproduksjon:   www.duderanchstudio.com
KARISMA RECORDS
Karisma Records contact: post@karismarecords.no 
Karisma Records: http://www.karismarecords.no/
Karisma Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karismarecords
Karisma Records Bandcamp: https://karismarecords.bandcamp.com
Karisma Records on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/KarismarecordsNor
Karisma Records Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarismaRecords
Karisma on SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records
Karisma Records Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/
Karisma Records US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

IS IT JAZZ? RECORDS REVEALS SINGLE AND DETAILS OF DEBUT FULL-LENGTH  ALBUM FROM JAZZ ROCKERS THE VERGE

Posted: August 8, 2024 in IS IT JAZZ? RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
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Having started to play together when they met at the legendary Norwegian Jazz school NTNU, the members of Jazz Rock quartet THE VERGE have, since then, forged individual careers with a number of significant bands within not just the local, but also the European Jazz, Improv and Rock scenes. 

 But now, thanks to Is It Jazz? Records,  the time has come to bring to the light of day THE VERGE’s vibrant and original debut album, which the still up-and-coming musicians  recorded at the Duper Studio on 2021, alongside  the equally young and aspiring producer Vegard Lemme.

The self-titled album, set to hit the streets on the 4th October, consists of seven original tracks composed by the different members of the band.  Unsurprisingly, this has resulted in an album where the tracks differ greatly one from the other. Indeed, “The Verge” encompasses sonic soundscapes that range from fiery melodic jazz to prog rock, from atmospheric free-improvisation to heavy riffs.

And today Is It Jazz? Records is letting us hear for ourselves what “The Verge” holds in store for us with the release of the first single from the album.  The track, titled ” Nessesse” can be downloaded or streamed from a number of services at:

https://orcd.co/nessesse

And this is what THE VERGE’s Aksel Rønning has to say about it:

 For multiple reasons “Nessesse” consists of just one ostinato. One reason for this is to treat the meditational spirit of THE VERGE to a free space of improvisation. Another is to pay tribute to our inspirations from the free jazz of the sixties. “Nessesse” is a place where our creativity runs free to make the composition’s small framework into a full song, with lots of energy, chaos and order. 

THE VERGE’s lineup of  Emil Storløkken Åse (PHOENIX, EMIL STORLØKKEN ÅSE SOLO) on Guitars , Aksel Rønning (COSMIC SWING ORCHESTRA, AKSEL RØNNING TRIO) on Saxophone and Flute, Alf Høines (CARAMEL 11, LEON RØSTEN TRIO) on Electric Bass,  and Ingvald Vassbø (KANAAN, JUNO) on Drums, demonstrates an uncanny ability to weave together all the album’s different elements into a coherent whole.

Drawing their inspiration from extreme improvisational rock and dreamy noise/dronescapes, and with their musical skills and spontaneous interplay,  THE VERGE’s  members display a joyful attitude towards making music together, creating a debut album that is vibrant and multifaceted.

With cover art by Annika Linn Verdal Homme, track listing for “The Verge” is as follows:

1. Nessesse
2. Hyperreality
3. Snake
4. Gratitude
5. Emils Låt / Postludium
6. The Blast Supper
7. Patterns for Meditation

“The Verge” will be available in CD, LP and Digital formats and can be pre-ordered now from:

Website:  https://isitjazzrecords.no/
BandCamp: https://the–verge.bandcamp.com/album/the-verge

More information about THE VERGE can be found on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065744882524

Additional Information
The Verge
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065744882524
Band Contact:  ingvaldvassboe@gmail.com
Is it Jazz? Records
Website:  https://isitjazzrecords.no/
BandCamp: https://the–verge.bandcamp.com/album/the-verge
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/IsItJazzRecords/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isitjazzrecords/
Contact:  post@isitjazzrecords.no

SWEDISH PROG ROCKERS RITUAL DEBUT VIDEO TRAILER FOR UPCOMING ALBUM

Posted: July 16, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
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Much curiosity was aroused when Karisma Records recently announced the details of the upcoming album from Swedish Prog Rockers RITUAL.  Primarily because this was to be the band’s first release in 17 years, but also because the title “The Story of Mr. Bogd – Part 1”, implied that therein there is a tale to be told!

And indeed there is, because, as fans of the band will know, RITUAL are quite adept at storytelling, as their previous five albums have shown, and this time they have chosen to tell the tale of Mr Bogd, an affluent,  well-established member of society who comes to the realisation that his life holds no satisfaction for him.  But what else can he do?  Well, he can leave his job and his comfortable urban life, and seek out an alternative. 

So, together with his coachman Parkhurst, and, riven with doubts, but convinced of the rightness of what he is doing, off he sets on a journey through an increasingly wild and dangerous environment.

And now, thanks to the vivid imagination of artist Javier “Canelito” Herbozo, we are being afforded not just a musical glimpse into “The Story of Mr. Bogd – Part 1”, but also a visual one, in the form of a Video Trailer that can be seen below and on YouTube at https://youtu.be/cbTn7wNk7yM

At its heart, “The Story of Mr. Bogd – Part 1” is a story about maintaining ones innocence, and finding sanity and self- esteem, and deciding what we are prepared to give up in order to do so. It is a blissful blend of road movie, classic fairytale, buddy movie and adventure epic, set in an imaginary land in an era reminiscent of late 19th century Europe. And its musical soundtrack covers a large amount of stylistic ground. Ground that ranges from intense and powerful rock, to musically elaborate and intricate tracks, along with some odd and even quirky moments, and of course some acoustic, folky songs.

“The Story of Mr. Bogd – Part 1” will be released in CD, Digital and Limited Edition Transparent Violet Vinyl LP formats, and is now available to pre-order from:

Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop
US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com/pre-orders
Bandcamp: https://ritualsweden.bandcamp.com/album/the-story-of-mr-bogd-part-1

Tracklisting on “The Story of Mr. Bogd – Part 1”, which features artwork by Javier “Canelita” Herbozo,  is as follows:

01. A Hasty Departure
02. The Inn of the Haunted Owl
03. Dreams in a Brougham
04. Chichikov Bogd
05. Mr. Tilly and his Gang
06. Through a Rural Landscape
07. The Feline Companion
08. Read all about it!
09. Forgotten Qualities
10. The Three Heads of the Well

When they formed in 1993, RITUAL immediately established a distinct progressive style that is very much their own.  Influenced by the progressive rock and hardrock of the ‘70s, as well as contemporary bands, RITUAL’s sound has always been song-based, melodic and intense, with a great stylistic variation, and plenty of folk music influences seeping in. The latter feature is not least due to the band’s frequent use of acoustic instruments like bouzouki, mandola, whistles and the Swedish nyckelharpa (a keyed fiddle).

With a  lineup composed of Patrik Lundström on lead vocals and guitar, Fredrik Lindqvist on bass, mandola, dulcimer, recorder and vocals, Jon Gamble on keyboards and  vocals, and Johan Nordgren on drums, nyckelharpa and vocals, RITUAL have established themselves as a confident and powerful live band through numerous tours around Europe and appearances at international festivals such as Rites Of Spring Fest in the USA and Baja Prog in Mexico.

RITUAL’s next live appearance will be on the 20th July at the Night of the Prog Festival, at the Loreley Amphitheater, in Bornich, Germany.

RITUAL recently debuted the track “Chichikov Bogd” from the album “The Story of Mr. Bogd – Part 1”, and it can be downloaded or streamed from a number of services at https://orcd.co/chichikovbogd

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
RITUAL
Ritual on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ritual.se
Ritual Website:  https://ritual.se
Band Contact:  ritual.se@gmail.com
KARISMA RECORDS
Promo and other information: post@karismarecords.no
Karisma Records contact: post@karismarecords.no 
Karisma Records: http://www.karismarecords.no/
Karisma Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karismarecords
Karisma Records Bandcamp: https://karismarecords.bandcamp.com
Karisma Records on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/KarismarecordsNor
Karisma Records Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarismaRecords
Karisma on SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records
Karisma Records Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no
Karisma Records US Webshop:  https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

KARISMA RECORDS RELEASES FIVE ALBUMS FROM BACK CATALOGUE OF SWEDISH PROG ROCKERS AGUSA

Posted: June 21, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
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Karisma Records have today released the first five studio albums from Swedish Prog Rockers AGUSA, a band that has been at the forefront of the Swedish Psychedelic Prog scene since its formation in 2013. 

Over the years, AGUSA’s lineup of Simon Ström on bass, Nicolas Difonis on drums, Mikael Ödesjö on guitar, Roman Andrén on keys, and Jenny Puertas on Flute, have demonstrated a remarkable ability to communicate with their listeners on both an emotional, as well as a visceral, level.

The five albums to be released are:

HÖGTID: first released in 2014


TVÅ: first released in 2015


AGUSA: first released in 2017


EN ANNAN VÄRLD: first released in 2021


PRIMA MATERIA: first released in 2023

All five of the albums have initially been re-released in digital formats, whilst the physical versions will be released in the near future, with details to be revealed.

 The digital formats are available to stream or download on all streaming platforms.

AGUSA is a band whose roots lie deep within the fertile ambients of space rock, kraut rock and jazz, and who draw their influences from Nordic and Latin American folk music.  When you listen to AGUSA’s music, you get a sense of being transported back to the 70s, but this time the decade has a whole new slant, because this is a group of musicians who interpret things in their own way, and have come together to forge a strong musical identity that is unmistakably AGUSA.

Blending tripped-out psychedelic and progressive rock structures aimed at instilling visions of nature and the cosmos, AGUSA’s sound ranges effortlessly from majestic beauty to violent outbursts. Dreamlike passages meander into realms that hint at a supernatural or parallel existence.

On stage too, AGUSA’s lineup is able to perform meditative soft parts, and seamlessly combine them with epic interludes and the occasional trip to a rock hard darkness, all of which provide audiences with an unforgettable live experience, and which fans will be able to witness for themselves on the following dates:

29 June:  Stationen Röstånga, Röstånga, Sweden
13 July:  Summer Fog Festival, Spodek, Katowice, Poland
08 August: Kuudes Linja, Helsinki, Finland
14 August: Malmöfestivalen, Malmö, Sweden
28 Sept: Progressive Circus, Babel,

More information about AGUSA can be found on the band’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/agusaband

A video of AGUSA performing live at the Festival Crescendo, France, in 2023 can be seen below

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
AGUSA
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/agusaband
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agusa.band/
Bandcamp: https://agusaband.bandcamp.com/
Email: agusaband@gmail.comP
KARISMA RECORDS
Promo and other information: post@karismarecords.no 
Karisma Records: http://www.karismarecords.no/
Karisma Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karismarecords
Karisma Records Bandcamp: https://karismarecords.bandcamp.com
Karisma Records on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/KarismarecordsNor
Karisma Records Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarismaRecords
Karisma on SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records
Karisma Records Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no
Karisma Records US Webshop:  https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

SWEDISH PROG ROCKERS RITUAL ANNOUNCE DETAILS AND SINGLE FROM UPCOMING ALBUM

Posted: June 6, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
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It’s been 17 long years since RITUAL released their last album, but finally  there’s a new one on the way.  It will be here on the 16 August 2024 to be precise, which is when Karisma Records will release “The Story of Mr. Bogd – Part 1”, the long-awaited sixth full-length album from the legendary Swedish Prog Rockers.  

And fans need wait no longer to find out what the album has in store for them because Karisma Records have released  the track “Chichikov Bogd”.

Here is what the band had to say about it:

What is Chichikov Bogd? Well, that’s the name of the protagonist in Ritual’s upcoming musical epic “The Story of Mr. Bogd, part 1”. It is also the name of one of the songs on the album, and tells a bit about the main character’s background. The song was previously released on the 2020 EP “Glimpses”  but here it comes in a thunderous, remixed and remastered single version. Mr. Bogd has arrived!

” Chichikov Bogd” can be streamed or downloaded from a number of services at

https://orcd.co/chichikovbogd

With  “The Story of Mr. Bogd – Part 1” RITUAL has created a blissful blend of road movie, classic fairytale, buddy movie and adventure epic, set in an imaginary land and era reminiscent of late 19th century Europe. All delivered with music that covers a large amount of stylistic ground, ranging from intense and powerful rock, to musically elaborate and intricate tracks, along with some odd and even quirky moments, and of course some acoustic, folky songs.

Tracklisting on “The Story of Mr. Bogd – Part 1”, which features artwork by Javier “Canelita” Herbozo,  is as follows:

01. A Hasty Departure
02. The Inn of the Haunted Owl
03. Dreams in a Brougham
04. Chichikov Bogd
05. Mr. Tilly and his Gang
06. Through a Rural Landscape
07. The Feline Companion
08. Read all about it!
09. Forgotten Qualities
10. The Three Heads of the Well

No strangers to the art of the “concept” album, indeed they have often been inspired by Tove Jansson’s novels about the Moomins,  RITUAL’s new album forms the first part of the story of Mr Bogd, the oddly named protagonist who, as an established member of society and an affluent individual, realises that the life he is living is deeply unsatisfactory.   The result of this revelation is that our Mr. Bogd suffers a mid-life crisis so deep that he sees no other alternative than to leave his job and his comfortable urban lifestyle. 

It is an act of pure desperation – a decision taken without having any clear idea of what it is he is actually looking for. He therefore frequently falls prey to moments of doubt, yet, deep inside of him, there are insistent memories and strong sensations that constantly drive him forward on a journey that, together with coachman Parkhurst, leads Mr. Bogd through an increasingly wild, imaginative and dangerous environment.

In short, it’s a story about forsaking what we know, what is safe, and what is all mapped out, in favour of an ideal of what constitutes the natural world. That distant, unlit, unknown, destination, whilst at the same time exploring why anyone would want to do such a thing. At its  heart it is a story about maintaining your innocence, and finding sanity and self- esteem, and what one is ready to give up in order to do so.

“The Story of Mr. Bogd – Part 1” will be released in CD, Digital and Limited Edition Transparent Violet Vinyl LP formats, and is now available to pre-order from:

Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop
US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com/pre-orders
Bandcamp: https://ritualsweden.bandcamp.com/album/the-story-of-mr-bogd-part-1

When they formed in 1993, RITUAL immediately established a distinct progressive style that is very much their own.  Influenced by the progressive rock and hardrock of the ‘70s, as well as contemporary bands, RITUAL’s sound has always been song-based, melodic and intense, with a great stylistic variation, and plenty of folk music influences seeping in. The latter feature is not least due to the band’s frequent use of acoustic instruments like bouzouki, mandola, whistles and the Swedish nyckelharpa (a keyed fiddle).

With a  lineup composed of Patrik Lundström on lead vocals and guitar, Fredrik Lindqvist on bass, mandola, dulcimer, recorder and vocals, Jon Gamble on keyboards and  vocals, and Johan Nordgren on drums, nyckelharpa and vocals, RITUAL have established themselves as a confident and powerful live band through numerous tours around Europe and appearances at international festivals such as Rites Of Spring Fest in the USA and Baja Prog in Mexico.

RITUAL’s next live appearance will be on the 20th July at the Night of the Prog Festival, at the Loreley Amphitheater, in Bornich, Germany.

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

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
RITUAL
Ritual on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ritual.se
Ritual Website:  https://ritual.se
Band Contact:  ritual.se@gmail.com
KARISMA RECORDS
Promo and other information: post@karismarecords.no
Karisma Records contact: post@karismarecords.no 
Karisma Records: http://www.karismarecords.no/
Karisma Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karismarecords
Karisma Records Bandcamp: https://karismarecords.bandcamp.com
Karisma Records on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/KarismarecordsNor
Karisma Records Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarismaRecords
Karisma on SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records
Karisma Records Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no
Karisma Records US Webshop:  https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

DETAILS OF THE THIRD OF SIX RELEASES FROM THE BACK CATALOGUE OF PROG LEGENDS WHITE WILLOW REVEALED

Posted: June 4, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
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The year is 2000, and it is the year that Norwegian Prog Legends WHITE WILLOW released what would be the band’s third full-length album.  Titled “Sacrament” the album would undergo a long, painstaking creative process, one that would ensure that the arrangements of each song were inventive, dynamic, and above all, beautiful. 

After a lengthy period of rehearsals at the Norwegian Institute for Scene and Studio, WHITE WILLOW entered Lydkjøkkenet, a brand new studio run by Øystein Vesaas, a talented engineer whose patience and personality were a perfect fit for the band, allowing them time to experiment and try out different variations.

Recorded over an extended period of time, due to the fact that WHITE WILLOW’s founder Jacob Holm-Lupo was holding down a full-time job, the sessions for “Sacrament” would often run from the evening until well into the night. Despite the punishing schedule,  the whole band felt energized and believed totally in the material they were working on, so that instead of feeling onerous, the whole experience is remembered by them as an enjoyable time.

It is creation about which Holm-Lupo says:

“Sacrament” is the first album where I think we did everything really well” 

It was during the making of “Sacrament”, that the Prog scene itself was undergoing a period in which certain elements of the genre were beginning to filter through into mainstream music, which in itself gave WHITE WILLOW somewhat of a motivational boost.  The end result was an album  that not only received glowing reviews world-wide and healthy sales figures, it also received some mainstream recognition.

Now, as part of Karisma Records plans to re-release six albums from WHITE WILLOWS’ back catalogue, “Sacrament” has been  meticulously remastered by Holm-Lupo himself to become the third of the six scheduled releases. 

Set to appear on the 5th July, this will be the first time that “Sacrament” will be released in vinyl format, and, along with the Limited Edition White Vinyl, it will also be available in CD and Digital formats.  

Presented with the classic original cover art, track listing on “Sacrament” is as follows:

1. Anamnesis
2. Paper Moon
3. The Crucible
4. The Last Rose of Summer
5. Gnostalgia
6. The Reach

“Sacrament” is now available to pre-order from:

Smartlink to various services: https://orcd.co/ww-sacrament
Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/
Bandcamp: https://whitewillow.bandcamp.com/album/sacrament-remaster

WHITE WILLOW was formed in 1992 by guitarist Jacob Holm-Lupo, who at that time was a member of the POLICE/BRUCE HORNSBY-inspired pop band THE ORCHID GARDEN, and keyboard player Jan Tariq Rahman from local jazz-rock/prog rock band DUGGVÅTE DVE.

It was a case of two musicians coming together see if they had any kind of songwriting chemistry, and, whilst sitting on the floor playing acoustic guitar and clavinet, produced the track “Snowfall” which convinced them that they could, indeed, come up with something worthwhile.

WHITE WILLOW’s history, however, was never simple, with members having come and gone over the years  and only Holm-Lupo having remained with the band since its inception, whilst WOBBLER’s Lars Fredrik Frøislie has been a mainstay since 2001.

The band’s  sound too has undergone changes, but it’s safe to say that it is frequently centered around female vocals and an expanded instrumentation that usually includes a host of analogue synthesizers, mellotron, woodwinds and strings, in addition, of course, to traditional rock instrumentation.

Now, exclusively a studio project, WHITE WILLOW is noted for featuring guest appearances from prominent musicians such as  Norway’s guitar hero Hedvig Mollestad, or internationally renowned klezmer clarinetist David Krakauer. 

By the time the re-release project is finished, Karisma Records will have released all six of the following albums:

Ignis Fatuus – 1995 (released Nov 2023)
Ex Tenebris – 1997 (released April 2024)
Sacrament – 2000  (due for release July 2024)
Storm Season – 2004
Signal to Noise – 2006
Terminal Twilight – 2011

More information about WHITE WILLOW can be found at https://www.facebook.com/whitewillowband/

A video for the track “Kansas Regrets” from WHITE WILLOW’s 2011 album “Terminal Twilight” can be seen below

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitewillowband/
Holm-Lupo Lydproduksjon:   www.duderanchstudio.com
Karisma Records contact: post@karismarecords.no 
Karisma Records: http://www.karismarecords.no/
Karisma Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karismarecords
Karisma Records Bandcamp: https://karismarecords.bandcamp.com
Karisma Records on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/KarismarecordsNor
Karisma Records Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarismaRecords
Karisma on SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records
Karisma Records Webshop: http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/
Karisma Records US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

WOBBLER’S  LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE TEAMS UP WITH MUSEO ROSENBACH’S LEGENDARY VOCALIST STEFANO “LUPO” GALIFI FOR THE RELEASE OF A SPECIAL TRACK

Posted: May 30, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
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When WOBBLER’s keyboard player LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE released his debut solo album “Fire Fortellinger” on Karisma records in 2023, he had always had a certain vision in mind for the track “Et sted under himmelhvelvet”, and now, thanks to Karisma Records, that vision is about to become a reality, with the release of the track as a very special single featuring STEFANO “LUPO” GALIFI, the legendary vocalist from the equally legendary Italian Prog band MUSEO ROSENBACH.

FRØISLIE who is himself a huge fan of Italian Prog in general and of MUSEO ROSENBACH in particular,  explains:

When I wrote “Et sted under himmelhvelvet”, I imagined an Italian version in my head with just STEFANO “LUPO” GALIFI’S vocals. Not so surprising, perhaps, since he is one of my my  favourite vocalists. I have loved his slightly raspy, but powerful and soulful vocals, ever since I discovered MUSEO ROSENBACH as a teenager.  

When the opportunity presented itself, I thought it couldn’t hurt to ask him, and it gave me much joy that he was actually willing to sing on this one. Especially since he sings just as well today as he did 50 years ago.  

For me, it was both emotional and surreal to hear a voice I have known and loved throughout much of my life, singing one of my songs.  

Finally, I must thank Sergio Lombardi, who both put me in touch with Stefano, and translated the text into Italian for me. 

 The song “Et sted under himmelhvelvet” itself is a dreamy piece that conjures up images of a Renaissance garden near Florence or Arcadia. But, in fact,  it could be anywhere where it feels good to be. It is partly about travelling to a place and feeling that you have been there before – only to find out that you had ancestors who lived there long ago.

Set for release on the 20th June, the single will only be available as a Limited Edition 10″ Vinyl, strictly limited to 200 copies worldwide, as well as a digital version. 

Side A features STEFANO ‘LUPO’ GALIFI singing “Un Posto Sotto il Cielo”, the Italian language version of “Et sted under himmelhvelvet”,  whilst side B features the original Norwegian version.

The 10″ Vinyl will come with a  single in brown kraft paper sleeve, reminiscent of the good old 78 RPM gramophone records, and is now available to pre-order from:

Smartlink: https://orcd.co/lff-cielo
Bandcamp: https://larsfredrikfroislie.bandcamp.com/album/un-posto-sotto-il-cielo
Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/
Additional Info: https://www.karismarecords.no/blog/2024/05/30/wobblers-lars-fredrik-froislie-teams-up-with-museo-rosenbachs-legendary-vocalist-stefano-lupo-galifi-for-the-release-of-a-special-track/

The Norwegian version of the track “Et sted under himmelhvelvet” from LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE’s  2023 album “Fire Fortellinger”  can be heard below and at Cps://youtu.be/1cVzpXzBLrg?si=sA8MVwCYNNBaAbGK

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/larsfredrikfroislie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larsfredrikfroislie/
KARISMA RECORDS
Promo and other information: post@karismarecords.no
Karisma Records contact: post@karismarecords.no 
Karisma Records: http://www.karismarecords.no/
Karisma Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karismarecords
Karisma Records Bandcamp: https://karismarecords.bandcamp.com
Karisma Records on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/KarismarecordsNor
Karisma Records Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarismaRecords
Karisma on SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records
Karisma Records Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no
Karisma Records US Webshop:  https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

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