Posts Tagged ‘Progressive’

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

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

PROG ROCKERS AIRBAG REVEAL DETAILS, NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO FROM UPCOMING SIXTH FULL-LENGTH ALBUM

Posted: April 11, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
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It’s the news Prog fans have been waiting for since 2020 when AIRBAG released their last album “A Day at the Beach”, because, on  the 14th June 2024 Karisma Records will release “The Century of the Self”,  the sixth full-length album from the Norwegian masters of Prog.

With AIRBAG’s trademark fusion of mellow introspection and dynamic energy,  “The Century of the Self” promises to  carry the listener on an auditory journey like no other, and, for those eager to assuage their thirst for new material from the band, Karisma Records have released a single from the album.

Titled “Erase” this is what AIRBAG had to say about it:

“Erase” is probably one of the heaviest songs we’ve ever written and it was the first we wrote for the new album. It pretty much defined the mood and theme for the rest of the material. “Erase” is a comment on the whole cancel culture and how everything we don’t like just gets wiped out. It really is a frightening concept and we tried to capture some of that brutality and force in the music and production.

“Erase” is available to stream or download from a variety of services at https://fanlink.tv/Airbag-Erase

A lyric video for “Erase” by Crystal Media (known for their work with songwriter/producer Steven Wilson, amongst others) can be seen below

Delving into the themes of cancel culture and the rewriting of personal histories, AIRBAG’s lineup of Asle Tostrup on vocals, keyboards and programming, Henrik Bergan Fossum on drums, and Bjørn Riis on guitars, bass, keyboards and backing vocals,  have, with “The Century of the Self”, created much more than just a sonic odyssey. It is a reflection of our modern zeitgeist, offering a poignant commentary on a world steeped in fear and condemnation.

As the album unfolds, it transports the listener on a voyage through introspection and intensity. Starting with the mesmerizing depths of the opening track “Dysphoria”, each of the five tracks on “The Century of the Self” captivate the listener with the irresistible vocal hooks and virtuoso lead guitar work that has become synonymous with the Airbag sound.

From the haunting crescendo of “Tyrants and Kings,”  to the introspective balladry of “Awakening” we are led towards the foreboding depths of the single “Erase” with its  echoes of AIRBAG’s much-acclaimed work on the album “Disconnected”.

“Erase” builds from a hypnotic bass line into a powerhouse of heavy refrains, setting the stage for the epic conclusion of “Tear it Down.”  Clocking in at a staggering 14 minutes, this opus traverses serene moments of reflection towards the heaviest musical landscapes Airbag has ever produced.

Standing as a testament to AIRBAG’s enduring creativity and artistic vision,  “The Century of the Self” was recorded at Subsonic Society, Airbag Studio, and Riis Studio, and expertly produced, mixed, and mastered by Vegard Kleftås Sleipnes.  

With artwork by Asle Tostrup, and featuring Kristian Hultgren on bass on “Dysphoria” and “Tear it Down”, Ole Michael Bjørndal on  guitar on “Dysphoria”, “Tyrants and Kings” and “Tear it Down” and Simen Valldal Johannessen on keyboards on “Tear it Down”,  track listing on “The Century of the Self” is as follows:

01. Dysphoria
02. Tyrants and Kings
03. Awakening
04. Erase
05. Tear It Down

“The Century of the Self” will be released in CD,  Limited  Edition Digisleeve CD and Digital formats, as well as three different LP version -Black Vinyl LP,  Limited Edition Red Vinyl LP and  Limited Edition Black and Red Splatter Vinyl LP.

It is now available to pre-order from:

Bandcamp: https://airbagsound.bandcamp.com/album/century-of-the-self 
Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/ 
US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com/

More information about AIRBAG can be found on the band’s website at http://www.airbagsound.com/  or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/airbagsound

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
AIRBAG
Website: www.airbagsound.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/airbagsound
YouTube: www.youtube.com/airbagsound
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/airbagsound/
Airbag Booking: bjorn@airbag.no
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 INKS DEAL WITH SWEDISH PROG ROCKERS AGUSA

Posted: February 29, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
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Karisma Records have inked a deal with Swedish Prog Rockers AGUSA that will see the label re-release the band’s first five studio albums.

AGUSA has been at the forefront of the Swedish Psychedelic Prog scene since the band’s formation in 2013.  Based in Malmö, Sweden, 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 appeared live internationally both on the club circuit as well as at a variety of Prog festivals. 

They have, over the years, garnered a reputation for their ability to perform meditative soft parts, combined with epic interludes and the occasional trip to a rock hard darkness, all of which provide audiences with an unforgettable live experience.

AGUSA’s sound is one that effortlessly ranges from majestic beauty to violent outbursts. It blends tripped-out psychedelic and progressive rock structures aimed at instilling visions of nature and the cosmos.  Whilst dreamlike passages meander into realms of a possibly supernatural or parallel existence. This is instrumental music where the instruments, and the people playing them,  communicate directly with the hearts and minds of the listener.

Drawing on influences from Nordic and Latin American folk music, AGUSA’s roots run deep into the ambits of space rock, kraut rock and jazz. Combine these varied aspects with the band’s traditional foundation, and you get a group of musicians  who interpret things their own way, and,  whilst AGUSA’s music takes you back to the 70s,  it is, at the same time,  something new and unexplored. It is the sound of a band that has forged a strong musical identity for itself.  One that is unmistakably its own.

The five albums that will be released on Karisma Records are HÖGTID (2014), TVÅ (2015), AGUSA (2017), EN ANNAN VÄRLD (2021) and PRIMA MATERIA (2023).  More details to follow.

Of their upcoming collaboration with Karisma Records, AGUSA had this to say:

Karisma is the most interesting and ambitious record label for progressive rock music in Scandinavia right now. We are happy and proud to join their roster of talented artists and bands. Great things ahead. Hold on to your hats!

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 Minnuendö festival in Spain in 2023 can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/GUEzvccjGgA?si=NzP6iWj7d0u772Ay

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

KARISMA RECORDS REVEALS ALBUM DETAILS AND SINGLE FROM THE FINAL PART OF THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN’S AIROEA FANTASY TRILOGY

Posted: December 15, 2023 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
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The 23 February sees the release of “Book III: Magical Chronicle (Ascension)”,  the final album in the CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN’s Airoea fantasy trilogy. 

Chronicling the journeys of Father Robin through the mystical world of Airoea, the trilogy tracks the adventures of our indomitable hero who finally reaches the end of his travels, (or should that be travails?) in “The Songs & Tales of Airoea – Book 3: Magical Chronicle (Ascension)” in which he explores the Cloud Lands in the Sky.

With fans of Prog Rockers CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN (TCOFR for short) curious to see what will befall Father Robin as he embarks on his final trek, Karisma Records have today released a single from the album. 

Titled “Empress of the Sun” the track can be downloaded or streamed from a variety of services at

https://link.karismarecords.no/TCOFR_EmpressoftheSun

“Book III” makes a fitting closing chapter to the trilogy, starting off as it does with the upbeat  “Magical Chronicle”, a vocal driven track full of lush harmonies and clear references to prog classics such as GENTLE GIANT, YEZDA URFA and the Canterbury Scene.  Followed by  the atmospheric “Skyslumber”, and “Cloudship”, the soaring prog ballad that YES never wrote, the album then explodes into the dynamic psych-rocker “Empress of the Sun”, a song full of energy and contrast that eventually slides into a keyboard lead middle part that is reminiscent of THE DOORS at their most adventurous.

The closing part of “Book III” begins with “Lost in the Palace Gardens” a track that starts off with a beautiful acoustic guitar part that not only brings to mind British folk bands such as STEELEYE SPAN, but also the guitar work of a certain JIMMY PAGE.  The track follows up with vocal parts where the voices of Andreas Prestmo and Aleksandra Morozova flawlessly complement each other, making it a perfect culmination of this highly ambitious body of work.

Tracklisting on “The Songs & Tales of Airoea – Book III” (which follows on directly from Books I and II) is as follows:

13. Magical Chronicle
14. Skyslumber
15. Cloudship
16. Empress of the Sun
17. Lost in the Palace Gardens
18. Epilogue

Rising  from the remains of the band FANGORN, and Inspired mainly by the classic bands and albums that were part of the 1970s progressive music scene, THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN emerged during 1993 – 94, coming up alongside contemporaries such as ÄNGLAGÅRD, ANEKDOTEN, WHITE WILLOW and LANDBERK.

Featuring  a veritable all-star team of members drawn from some of the most revered progressive rock bands from Norway –  WOBBLER, JORDSJØ, TUSMØRKE and seasoned post-rockers THE SAMUEL JACKSON FIVE, it took thirty years for TCOFR to complete their concept Trilogy.

The result is a cohesive triple concept album spanning three decades and featuring a total of 18 songs, spread out over three albums. Contributors to the Trilogy include Thomas Kaldhol (MT. MELODIÉ, THE SAMUEL JACKSON FIVE), Lars Fredrik Frøislie (WOBBLER, IN LINGUA MORTUA, WHITE WILLOW), folksinger Aleksandra Morozova (MT. MELODIE, OSLO PHILHARMONIC CHOIR), Kristoffer Momrak (ALWANZATAR, TUSMØRKE, LES FLEURS DU MAL), Håkon Oftung (JORDSJØ) and illustrator Lars Kvernberg.

With “Book I” having been released in September and “Book II” in December of 2023, “Book III” will be available in CD, Digital and LP formats, whilst the complete Trilogy is available as a Deluxe Limited Edition Triple Coloured Vinyl Box Set on Old Oak Records.

Pre-orders are now available from:

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

More  information about THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN can be found on the band’s website www.fatherrobin.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheChroniclesofFatherRobin 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN
Website: www.fatherrobin.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChroniclesofFatherRobin
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thechroniclesoffatherrobin?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
KARISMA RECORDS
Promo and other information: post@karismarecords.no
Karisma Records contact: post@karismarecords.no
Karisma Records: http://www.karismarecords.no/
Karisma Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karismarecords
Karisma Records Bandcamp: https://karismarecords.bandcamp.com
Karisma Records on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/KarismarecordsNor
Karisma Records Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarismaRecords
Karisma on SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records
Karisma Records Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no
Karisma Records US Webshop:  https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

KARISMA RECORDS TO RELEASE THREE PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED EPS FROM ALTERNATIVE ROCKERS SEIGMEN

Posted: November 20, 2023 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
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Three previously unreleased EPs from Alternative Rockers SEIGMEN are set to appear on Karisma Records on the 8th December. All three, titled “Rosa”, “Gul” and “Beige” respectively, will only be available in 12″ vinyl format, with each title strictly limited to 350 copies.

Founded in Tønsberg in 1989, SEIGMEN is one of Norway’s greatest and most recognized rock bands of all time, and, in 2019, they played a historic 4-day stint at the legendary Hulen in Bergen. Hulen is a venue that was very important to SEIGMEN in the early days, and this special set of shows gave the band the chance to reproduce four of their old 90s Hulen setlists. It was an occasion where a lot of songs were played for the first time in many, many years.

Motivated by this, SEIGMEN decided to record a few of their oldest songs – songs that dated back to the time when the band was known as KLISNE SEIGMENN. This would be the first time that these songs would actually be recorded in a studio, as, until now, they had only ever been played live. The tracks were recorded at Velvet Recording in Spydeberg, Norway. Which is the same studio where SEIGMEN’s legendary album “Total” was recorded back in 1994.

The A-sides of the EPs, will therefore contain the new studio recordings of those early songs, whilst the B-sides are made up of live performances recorded during those memorable 4 days at Hulen.

Kim Ljung, the band’s bass player/songwriter explains how those original songs first came about:

I remember that night in 1989 well. I was invited to Ubåtkaia by Sverre, Alex and Noralf – Klisne Seigmenn. They were only three guys, and needed a guy on bass.

They played the set that was going to be performed at Sjøormen in Tønsberg only a couple of months later. I was knocked to the ground. Blown away by the five songs presented and the power and intensity in the room. The songs are as good today as they were then. That it would take more than 30 years to get them recorded, is plain madness.

With cover design by Sigurd Kristiansen, tracklistings for the EPs are as follows:

Rosa
1. Rosa Boots
2. Monument (live)
3. Negativ (live)
4. Döderlein (live)
5. Korstoget (live)

Gul
1. Sure Tær
2. Monsun (live)
3. Sort Disippel (live)
4. Korsfarer (live)
5. Nemesis (live)

Beige
1. Mye dritt
2. Pappagutt
3. Performance Alpha (live)
4. Universal (live)
5. Neon Sun (live)
6. Performance Bravo (live)

All three EPs are now available to pre-order from:

https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/

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

A video for the title track from SEIGMEN’s 1995 album “Metropolis” can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/BT0ZfftLaXA

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
SEIGMEN
Seigmen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Seigmen/
Seigmen YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/SeigmenVEVO/videos
Seigmen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seigmen/
Seigmen Twitter: https://twitter.com/Seigmenofficial
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

SWEDISH PROG ROCKERS RITUAL INK DEAL WITH KARISMA RECORDS

Posted: November 17, 2023 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
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Norway’s Karisma Records have welcomed fellow Scandinavian Prog Rockers RITUAL to its Roster, and will be releasing the band’s sixth full-length album in 2024.

RITUAL is a progressive rock band from Stockholm, formed in 1993. Influenced equally by progressive rock and hardrock of the 70s and contemporary bands like The Police, XTC and It Bites, RITUAL forged their own distinctive brand of progressive music.

The characteristics of the band’s sound were already prominent on their eponymous debut album, released in 1995: 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).

Songs like “Seasong For The Moominpappa” also showed something that would become a hallmark of the band: lyrics inspired by Tove Jansson’s novels about the Moomins. This culminated in the album “The Hemulic Voluntary Band” from 2008, where five out of six songs drew inspiration from Tove Jansson, including the 26-minute long “A Dangerous Journey”.

Over the years, 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.

The band is currently putting the finishing touches to the upcoming epic “The Story of Mr. Bogd, Part I” and RITUAL’s lineup 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, percussion and vocals, had this to say about teaming up with Karisma Records:

We are very excited to enter the warm cabin of Karisma Records and I think we will feel right at home there. As a band from Sweden, the Scandinavian connection feels reassuring, and Karisma’s line-up of good bands and artists feels absolutely right.

We want to collaborate with people who are dedicated music fans and who believe in what we do in RITUAL, and we feel that Karisma lives up to this and has the right focus. We look forward to releasing our sixth full-length album under the Karisma Records label!

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

KARISMA RECORDS DEBUTS NEW SINGLE FROM  BOOK II OF THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN’S AIROEA FANTASY TRILOGY

Posted: November 8, 2023 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
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In the second instalment of the trilogy that make up his “Chronicles”, the intrepid Father Robin continues on his journey through the fantastical world of Airoea, this time making a trip to the underwater city of Oriasaleah and over the Sea of Ayrouhr to the Grand Reef , where he inevitably faces grave danger at the hands of the island people.

What awaits him there will be fully revealed on the 8th December, when “The Songs & Tales of Airoea – Book II “Ocean Traveller – Metamorphosis”   by Prog Rockers THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN (TCOFR for short), is released on Karisma Records.

But before then, the label has granted us another insight into Father Robin’s latest adventures with the release of the single “Ocean Traveller”, a firm favourite of everyone who hears it

“Ocean Traveller” can be downloaded or streamed from a variety of sources at

https://link.karismarecords.no/TCOFR_OceanTraveller

Having risen from the ashes of FANGORN back in 1993- 94, THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN sprang into existence when  WOBBLER frontman Andreas W. S. Prestmo was joined in a new musical endeavor by childhood friends Jon and Henrik, with whom he shared an interest in folk tales, mythology, fantasy literature, psychedelia and adventurous music.

Featuring  members from some of the most revered progressive rock bands from Norway, WOBBLER, JORDSJØ, TUSMØRKE, and seasoned post-rockers THE SAMUEL JACKSON FIVE TCOFE set about creating a whole world which they bring to life with the kind of lush and varied soundscapes that evoke memories of the golden era of progressive rock.

Like most good things, “The Songs & Tales of Airoea” Trilogy did not happen overnight, but rather over a period of three decades.  Time enough to perfect the use of a variety of  instruments, such as flute, mellotron and glockenspiel, alongside more traditional rock instruments, coupled with a production that is both dynamic and organic.

The resultant Airoea trilogy  forms a concept album that features 18 songs spread out over the three albums, with Book II following on directly from Book I which was released in September of this year.  Contributors on the trilogy include the likes of Thomas Kaldhol (MT. MELODIÉ, THE SAMUEL JACKSON FIVE), Lars Fredrik Frøislie (WOBBLER, IN LINGUA MORTUA, WHITE WILLOW), folksinger Aleksandra Morozova (MT. MELODIE, OSLO PHILHARMONIC CHOIR), Kristoffer Momrak (ALWANZATAR, TUSMØRKE, LES FLEURS DU MAL), Håkon Oftung (JORDSJØ) and illustrator Lars Kvernberg.

“The Songs & Tales of Airoea – Book II will be released in CD, Digital and LP formats, and the entire Trilogy is available as a Deluxe Limited Edition Triple Coloured Vinyl Box Set on Old Oak Records.

Tracklisting on “The Songs & Tales of Airoea – Book II” is as follows:

07. Over Westwinds
08. Orias & the Underwater City
09. Ocean Traveller
10. Lady of Waves
11. Green refreshments
12. The Grand Reef

Pre-orders are now available from:

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

More  information about THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN can be found on the band’s website www.fatherrobin.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheChroniclesofFatherRobin 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN
Website: www.fatherrobin.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChroniclesofFatherRobin
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thechroniclesoffatherrobin?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
KARISMA RECORDS
Promo and other information: post@karismarecords.no
Karisma Records contact: post@karismarecords.no
Karisma Records: http://www.karismarecords.no/
Karisma Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karismarecords
Karisma Records Bandcamp: https://karismarecords.bandcamp.com
Karisma Records on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/KarismarecordsNor
Karisma Records Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarismaRecords
Karisma on SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records
Karisma Records Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no
Karisma Records US Webshop:  https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

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