Posts Tagged ‘Wizrd’

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

Having learned their craft at the Jazz Conservatory in Trondheim, WIZRD have completed work on their new album “Seasons”, and Karisma Records have today released the track “Lessons” from the album.

“Lessons” is a track that gives an insight into what we can expect from the debut album from this talented Norwegian quartet, 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.

The band’s Hallvard Gaardløs explains::

“Lessons” is somewhat the quintessential WIZRD song, at least for me. It is a good representation of what we intend to do on this album, mixing progressive and improvisational elements with rock & pop sensibilities. The lyrics are about the New Age movement, and the fact that I find it rather silly. I’m kind of just making fun of it all, comparing yoga to a sacrificing ritual for Satan. With that said, I practice yoga sometimes myself, so I guess that makes me a demon worshipper.. Oh well, why not! Hail Satan!

The single “Lessons” can be downloaded or streamed from a variety of services at

https://link.karismarecords.no/Wizrd_Lessons

“Seasons”  itself, is set for release on the 21st October, and showcases how WIZRD are more than happy to test their limits with a sound that encompasses  Rock and Indie to Jazz and Prog, whilst breaking a few rules along the way. The end result is a masterclass on how to produce a catchy  album that is filled with beautiful vocal harmonies, stunning melodies, quirky jazz grooves and a rock’n’roll drive to die for.

Produced by Norwegian film score composer and JAGA JAZZIST drummer Martin Horntveth, “Seasons” was recorded at the Studio Paradiso in Oslo by Marcus Forsgren (BROR FORSGREN, JAGA JAZZIST) and Horntveth, and mixed by Bergen based musician and producer Matias Tellez (YOUNG DREAMS, GIRL IN RED).

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

Rockers WIZRD, a band who happily dip their collective toes into all kinds of genres, from Rock and Indie to Jazz and Prog, have joined the roster of Karisma Records, with the label planning to release the band’s debut album during the latter half of 2022. A collaboration about which WIZRD had this to say:

We are super stoked to be working with Karisma Records for our upcoming debut album! To be working alongside such a skilled group of people is both a great pleasure and an honour for us. Together, we will take this music to the stars… and beyond!

Formed at the Jazz Conservatory in Trondheim, WIZRD’s four-piece line-up 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, Axel Skalstad (KROKOFANT, SOFT FFOG and more) on drums, are all musicians who definitely know all the rules, but deliberately set out to break them.

Since 2020, WIZRD have been hard at work on their album which will be produced by Norwegian film score composer and JAGA JAZZIST drummer Martin Horntveth. Recorded at the Studio Paradiso in Oslo by Marcus Forsgren (BROR FORSGREN, JAGA JAZZIST) and Horntveth, the album was mixed by Bergen based musician and producer Matias Tellez (YOUNG DREAMS, GIRL IN RED). More information regarding the album will be released in due time.

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/
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: http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/
Karisma Records US Webshop:  https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com