Posts Tagged ‘Single Release’

In less than a month’s time WIZRD are set to release their debut full-length album  “Seasons” on Karisma Records, and, as a taste of things to come, the label has released a new single from the Norwegian Rockers. 

What is particularly interesting about the chosen track “Fire & Water” is that it is one that marks the very beginning  of WIZRD’s existence and therefore fans have the opportunity to trace the band’s progression in terms of writing and concept, from the ground up.   It is also a track on which WIZRD were lucky enough to attract WHITE DENIM’s JAMES PETRALLI to perform guest vocals.

As WIZRD’s Hallvard Gaardløs explains:

“Fire & Water” was one of the very first songs we wrote together as a group, even before the band was called WIZRD. I think this one and the track “All Is As It Should Be” dates all the way back to 2015! I have been a huge White Denim fan ever since I saw them at Hove Festivalen in 2008, so to have James Petralli sing this song was a big deal for me. I was nervous as hell when I called him on Zoom, but he turned out to be a great guy, and his performance is simply incredible. I hope you enjoy listening to “Fire & Water” as much as we enjoyed making it!

The single, “Fire & Water”, can be streamed or downloaded from a number of services at https://link.karismarecords.no/Wizrd_FireAndWater

Consisting of Hallvard Gaardløs (SPIDERGAWD, DRAKEN and more) on bass and lead vocals, Karl Bjorå (MEGALODON COLLECTIVE and more) on guitar and vocals, Vegard Lien Bjerkan (SOFT FFOG and more) on keyboards and vocals and Axel Skalstad (KROKOFANT, SOFT FFOG and more) on drums, WIZRD’s lineup met when they were all students at the prestigious Jazz Conservatory in Trondheim. 

By combining their respective musical interests and the skills they learned at the Conservatory, WIZRD have, with “Seasons”,  created a debut album that mixes progressive and improvisational elements, with Rock and Pop overtones.  In fact, “Seasons”  makes it very clear that the band is happy to test their limits and break a few rules in order to fill the album with  beautiful vocal harmonies, stunning melodies, quirky jazz grooves driven by a sense of rock’n’roll that is to die for.

“Seasons” is produced by Norwegian film score composer and JAGA JAZZIST drummer Martin Horntveth, and  was recorded at the Studio Paradiso in Oslo by Marcus Forsgren (BROR FORSGREN, JAGA JAZZIST) with vocals recorded at All Ape by Martin Horntveth. It was mixed by Bergen-based musician and producer Matias Tellez (YOUNG DREAMS, GIRL IN RED) at Blanca Records & Studio.

With artwork by Steph Hope,  tracklisting on “Seasons” is as follows:

1. Lessons
2. Free Will
3. Spitfire
4. All is as it should be
5. Show Me What You Got
6. Fire & Water
7. Divine
8. When You Call

“Seasons” will be available in CD, Digital and a Limited Edition LP in transparent magenta vinyl formats, and can now be pre-ordered from:

Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/kar239-wizrd-seasons/
Bandcamp: https://wizrd.bandcamp.com

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/WIZRDTHEBAND/
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/wizrdtheband/
BandCamp: https://wizrd.bandcamp.com/
Band Contact:  hallvardgaardlos@hotmail.com
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

You rarely, if ever, get Prog albums aimed at children, but then along came TUSMØRKE, a band that has  never been overly concerned with what is, and what is not, the norm, with not one, but three such albums – the third “Intetnett” due for release on Karisma Records on the 7th October.

As you would expect from a children’s album “Intetnett” has a very definite story line, and in it TUSMØRKE regale us with the adventures that ensue  when  two evil scientists plant a self-teaching system called Intetnett onto the computers of an unsuspecting school.  Intetnett then proceeds to use electronic impulses to take control of an ant colony that lives in the school kitchen.   The system soon jumps from the ants to human hosts, taking over the minds of both pupils and teachers. 

But every adventure has its heroes, quite often a group of misfits who,  in this case, happen to be one of the teachers who is a technophobe, a substitute teacher who does not yet have the necessary login info to access the computers, and a small group of pupils.

And now you can get another insight into the somewhat anarchic world of the Norwegian Prog Folk Rockers TUSMØRKE with the release of a third single taken from “Intetnett”.  The track, “Kunstig uintelligens”, or  “Artificial Unintelligence”, can be downloaded or streamed from a number of services at https://link.karismarecords.no/Tusmorke_Kunstig-Uintelligens

Commenting on the track, the band had this to say:

Are we happier now that we create avatars to simulate perfect lives and share doctored images of fake non-events online in order for these signs to be consumed by another simulacrum out there in the cold, vast cyberspace? Of course we are! What’s not to like and share?

Written for, and first performed at, the Aktivitetsskolen Nordstrand,  the album is actually comprised of  two original musicals – “Intetnett” and “Når Enden er Golem” and will quite possible be the band’s final children’s release. It was recorded  at Det Ytre Rommet, Holy Space! and the Nordstrand Skole by a lineup that includes Benediktator (bass, vocals, guitars, synths, percussion, whistling), Krizla (flute, vocals, piano, synths, percussion) and HlewagastiR (drums).

Tracklisting as follows:

  1. Satt i system                                      12. Den nye tida
  2. Det beste for budsjettet                    13. Synth etisk
  3. Han er litterær                                  14. Kunstig uintelligens
  4. Varslerduett                                      15. Gudenes krig
  5. Vikaren                                               16. Verdensarvingen
  6. Jakelstigen                                          17. Enki Dumuzi Absu (CD only)
  7. Vi drikker ikke melk                       18. Før flommen
  8. Vi er elever                                         19. Enkis sang
  9. Maurenes Jenka                              20. Golem
  10. Undringstimen (CD only)              21. Kontakten brytes
  11. Kunstig Intelligens

With artwork by the legendary Norwegian artist Thore Hansen, “Intetnett” features a  whopping total of 21 tracks and  will be available in CD, Digital, and Limited Edition White Vinyl formats, the latter of which will come with a 12-page lyric booklet. 

Various services updated regularly: https://link.karismarecords.no/Tusmorke_Intetnett
Webshop:  https://www.karismarecords.no/kar224-tusmorke-intetnett/
Bandcamp:  https://tusm-rke.bandcamp.com/album/intetnett

Unwary adult  listeners (because this album is for them too) should definitely keep in mind the fact that  that while TUSMØRKE may aim some of their albums at children, and entertaining though those albums may be, the band also has a serious message to impart to its adult listeners. And, by introducing a fascinating mix of subjects ranging from  artificial intelligence, to advancements in technology, to the Singularity, and  Mesopotamian gods,  TUSMØRKE reminds us all of our old, long-forgotten histories.

In fact, “Intetnett” serves as a warning about the direction mankind is taking with technology, where our world is becoming a totalitarian nightmare where no one thinks for themselves, no one dreams anymore, and human culture itself is in peril. But all in not lost, because, long-ignored by humans, and consequently fading away, the old Mesopotamian Gods want to help humankind regain its freedom, and the only way to do so is by using Magic – better known as the old technology from a bygone era.  

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/Tusmorke/
Bandcamp:  https://tusm-rke.bandcamp.com 
Band contact: tusmorke.booking@gmail.com
Promo and other information: post@karismarecords.no
Promo and other information: post@karismarecords.no
Karisma Records: http://www.karismarecords.no/
Karisma Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karismarecords
Karisma Records on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/KarismarecordsNor
Karisma on SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records
Karisma Records on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karismarecords/
Karisma Records Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/
Karisma Records US Webshop:  https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com
Karisma Records BandCamp: http://karismarecords.bandcamp.com/music

Karisma Records has announced that the 11th November will be the release date for the third full-length album from Norway’s Progressive Pop/Rockers OAK.  Titled “The Quiet Rebellion of Compromise”, it is an album in which the band has decided to write about the important, but controversial ,subjects of suicide in particular and mental health in general.  

Knowing that music as an art form is very open to interpretation, and knowing how emotive the subject matter is, OAK wanted to be sure that the message comes across clearly, and consequently sought advice from experienced scholars on the matter.  

Even the cover design by Remi Juliebø / Deformat for “The Quiet Rebellion of Compromise” is a very poignant reference to the concept, in that it is based on the death mask of “L’Inconnue de la Seine”,  an unknown drowning victim from 1880s Paris (photographed by Anne-Marie Forker), whilst the font is partially based on handwriting from two real suicide notes. 

And, with the release of the single “Dreamless Sleep”,  Karisma Records has given us a first taste from “The Quiet Rebellion of Compromise”.  It can be downloaded or streamed from a variety of services at https://link.karismarecords.no/Oak_Dreamless-Sleep

OAK originated as a folk-rock duo, which expanded into today’s lineup of Simen Valldal Johannessen on vocals, piano and keys, Øystein Sootholtet on bass, acoustic and electric guitars, Sigbjørn Reiakvam on drums, percussion, programming, keys and guitars, and Stephan Hvinden on lead, rhythm and slide guitars. The fact that OAK’s members come from diverse backgrounds, which range from classical piano, to electronica, to prog and hard rock, with references to both the  alternative scene as well as the progressive rock scene, has  allowed OAK to create a unique sound.

Musically, OAK’s upcoming “The Quiet Rebellion of Compromise” is the band’s most dynamic album yet, demonstrating a wide range of influences.  There are some sharper edges, and some surprising  twists and turns to be found amongst the familiar Oak territory.  Interestingly, after the release of their previous album “False Memory Archive”, the band set out to write some shorter songs for a change – and ended up with their longest songs yet!  

“The Quiet Rebellion of Compromise” was recorded in Ljugekroken and was  mixed at the Ghostward Studio by David Castillo (KATATONIA, LEPROUS OPETH, etc.). It was mastered by Tony Lindgren at the Fascination Street Studio, and, as with their other albums, “The Quiet Rebellion of Compromise” offers subtle hints to both past and future songs in the Oak universe.

Tracklisting on “The Quiet Rebellion of Compromise” is as follows:

1. Highest Tower, Deepest Well
2. Quiet Rebellion
3. Dreamless Sleep
4. Sunday 8 AM
5. Demagogue Communion
6. Paperwings
7. Guest of Honour

“The Quiet Rebellion of Compromise” will be available in CD, Digital and Limited Edition white vinyl formats, and can now  be pre-ordered from:

Various Services (regularly updated) https://link.karismarecords.no/Oak_The-Quiet-Rebellion-of-Compromise

Webshop:  https://www.karismarecords.no/kar225-oak-the-quiet-rebellion-of-compromise/
Bandcamp: https://oakinoslo.bandcamp.com/album/the-quiet-rebellion-of-compromise
US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com/band/oak

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

Additional Information
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/oakinoslo/
Bandcamp:  https://oakinoslo.bandcamp.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oakinoslo/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OakInOslo
Band contact and Booking: contact@oakinoslo.com
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

With their third-full length album “In the Hollow of a Wave” having hit the streets on Karisma Records almost year ago, Norwegian rockers MONSTEREO have decided that, on the 7th September, they will celebrate with a new, never -before released digi single. 

As the band explains:

We decided to mark the occasion of the anniversary of the release of “In the Hollow of a Wave”  with a B-side taken from the original recordings. The tune is called “The Mirror Black” and it has a late summer-ish ’90s vibe, layered with electric guitars and tons of acoustic guitars, some mellow piano and tasteful mellotron. And of course, the bendy solo guitar that can be heard running through a Leslie speaker.

Written by our guitarist and vocalist Ola Utaaker Segadal , it was a hard tune to have to omit from the album and we  discussed it for weeks, but eventually we had to accept that we needed to remove two tracks in order to fit the record on one vinyl, so there you go!

The initial idea was to include the song on  our  fourth album, which is scheduled to be recorded some time during 2023, but, as it transpired, Ola and Øyvind had written so many new songs that it would have been hard to fit these two in. But we really like the track, so it is nice to release “The Mirror Black” in this way instead of just hiding it away.

“The Mirror Black”  is produced, mixed and mastered by Iver Sandøy, who also plays mellotron and percussions on the track, and was recorded at the Duper Studio in January 2020. With additional recordings in the  Solslottet studio and in Ola’s house later the same year, and with artwork by Robert Høyem, “The Mirror Black” can be downloaded or streamed from a number of services at

https://link.karismarecords.no/Monstereo_The_Mirror_Black

To further mark the occasion MONSTEREO are scheduled to play the following two shows:

Fri 9 Sept at Hulen in Bergen
Details at https://www.facebook.com/events/3320304674869731

Sat 10 Sept at Revolver in Oslo
Details at https://www.facebook.com/events/413196497294559

Supporting  MONSTEREO in Bergen will be GREEN SKY ACCIDENT, whilst joining them at the Oslo show will be fellow Karisma Records artists KOSMODOME.

MONSTEREO’s lineup includes Ola Utaaker Segadal on lead vocals and electric guitars, Øyvind Aase Fluge on electric guitars, Jørgen Stangeland Bach on Bass guitar, and Jon Bolstad on Drums and more details about the band can be found on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/monstereobergen, or on their website at http://www.monstereo.no/ 

A  video for the track “A Sudden Rush”, from MONSTEREO’s 2021 album “In the Hollow of a Wave” can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/GXaW8vat4p8

Additional Information
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monstereobergen  
Website: http://www.monstereo.no/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MONSTEREOBERGEN/ 
Band Contact:  monstereo.bergen@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
Karisma Records US Webshop:  https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com