The Death Gospel wonder Louise Lemón is the kind of artist that can capture both the softness and the emptiness of loneliness and turn it into pure gold. She has a knack for conjuring beauty from disparity and her enchanting singing in which pain, desire, and desperation come together does not let you go. After greeting success with her 2018 album "Purge", Louise Lemón recently released her new album "A Broken Heart Is An Open Heart" which has been praised.
Louise Lemon has released a video for the tune “Montaña”, taken from the new album "A Broken Heart Is An Open Heart", released via Icons Creating Evil Art. Lemon says; “This song is about not being able to let go and fall down when you find yourself in a dark moment. I wrote this when I lived in Spain and this feeling is just like an attempt to climb your highest inner mountain”.
Moody piano chords and Lemon evokes a massive and fateful sound with vigorous and soul-esque vocals. Enjoy today's tune.
Amalie Bruun, best known as MYRKUR has always paved her own path, challenging underground preconceptions of heavy metal ever since the release of her debut "Myrkur" EP in 2014. Her first two full-length studio albums, 2015’s "M" and 2017’s "Mareridt", recast black metal in the most personal yet expansive of terms, their blending of Amalie’s Danish folk roots with tempestuous internal struggles breathing new life into a subgenre whose followers can be rigidly possessive.
"Folkesange", will be a journey “into the heart of Scandinavian culture”. "Folkesange" will launch on March 20 through Relapse Records and is said to relinquish “black metal for a refined yet far-reaching evocation of traditional folk, combining songs ancient and new to sublimely resonant effect.”
Today's tune "Ella" is the result of years of studying, playing and listening to traditional Nordic folk music, says Amalie Bruun, she also adds “This is my version of a new folk-song, with roots planted in history and in the past. It is my ode to mankind and our connection with nature – a rite of passage as a woman and a rebirth-ritual in the sea". Enjoy!
In the fall of 2019, 20th of September to be more exact did Lindy-Fay Hella release her debut solo album "Seafarer", via Ván Records!
If you’ve heard Lindy-Fay Hella sing with WARDRUNA, you’ll already know that whatever forces she’s calling upon, not all of them are rooted solely in this earthly plane.
"Seafarer" is a deeply personal path that she invites you to follow her down. Whilst undoubtedly there are some slivers of DNA that link her to her WARDRUNA compatriots, make no mistake, "Seafarer" is crafted entirely in the vision of its creator. She offers a magical mix of folk and electronica. She has allowed nature to take its course in more ways than one.
The genesis of "Seafarer" dates back to February 2017, when Hella’s solo experimentation led her to start recording. Gradually, she invited others into the world she was creating, starting with Herbrand Larsen and her cousin, Ingolf Hella Torgersen, then inching outward from there. Each new addition was given just one instruction – to choose the instrument they wanted and to join in how the felt was appropriate. The result is a tapestry of emotions; layer upon layer of small details creating a rich whole.
Today's tune "Two Suns" is taken from "Seafarer", enjoy!
The Forest child HELGA released her second album "The Autumn Lament" in September 2019. The follow up to 2018 debut EP “Nebulous”.
The music is a mixture of darkness and light with a lot of nature, classic folk boosted with metal. The lyrics is mixed between the native Swedish language and English. On the latest album she have worked with drummer Pedro Mercier, bassist Luan Moura, guitarist Luiz Felipe Netto, and a string quartet of violin Inah Pena, cello Gretel Paganini and viola Clara Lucia. The album "The Autumn Lament" was recorded at Estúdio Mata, Rio de Janeiro - Brazil.
On today's tune "Mörker" she has got some extra help on the "chants" of Daniel Joona Bergström, Mats Andersson and throat singing by D.S. The tune is taken from "The Autumn Lament", enjoy!
"Omens", ELDERs fifth full-length record is on the way, set to be released on April 24th. In the meantime we take a peak on the ELDER side-project "GOLD & SILVER" featuring Nick DiSalvo and Michael Risberg. It's an entirely instrumental project. 1 track each side. Side 1, "Azurite" a mesmerizing psychedelic rock journey clocking at almost 16 minutes and Side 2, "Malachite" captures your mind for slightly over 10 minutes.
The copper minerals from which GOLD & SILVERs two-song debut EP takes its name, "Azurite And Malachite", are blue and green, respectively.
The EP was released on limited vinyl (250 copies, tri-color platter, etc.) through Totem Cat Records. GOLD & SILVER began as Risberg and DiSalvo writing for acoustic guitar, and if “Azurite” (15:42) and “Malachite” (10:08) were constructed the same way, then they maintain that jam-based sensibility, despite being at least directionally plotted and recorded in layers (unless DiSalvo has concocted a way to play guitar and a full drum kit at the same time; live, GOLD & SILVER brings in ELDERs Jack Donovan on bass and John DiSalvo on drums).
"Azurite And Malachite" are available once more on vinyl from Stickman Records - this time on 3 color, 180 gr. marbled vinyl including a download code. This album has been remastered and re-cut for a new pressing by Carl Saff and sounds better than ever!
Also, they are playing their first gig in years and also their first-ever European show at Hintertreffen 2020 in Berlin this March!
They are planning more music to be recorded this winter and will hopefully begin regular musical activity once again.
"Azurite And Malachite" was recorded july 2013 @ the soundbox by Clinton Lisaboa
Today's tune "Azurite" is recorded live in Providence, December 3, 2014, at AS220. (Poor Sound Quality)
The searing new album from Sweden's desert rock progenitors opens up this week. Before MONOLORD, TRUCKFIGHTERS, GREENLEAF or GRAVEYARD, one band blasted open the doors to announce Sweden's riff-heavy desert rock arrival.
Now, at long last, LOWRIDER is back to deliver on their much-deserved mythic status. And gives us this week's "Record Of The Week" with "Refractions"(released on February 21st, 2020 via Blues Funeral Recordings).
Finally, LOWRIDER has returned from a 20 yrs hiatus, "Refractions" is more than welcome, a brand spanking album from the Swedish stoner rockers and a superb follow up to the debut album "Ode To Io", that was released back in 2000.
"Refractions" is a six tune album with a playtime of 41 minutes of pure enjoyable low gear rock that please any rocker that like when the "muff‘s" cranked to the max. The album opens up with the monstrous "Red River", where the clocks stop and the calendar goes bananas and take you back in time to the mid-'90s where the desert rock was reaching the peak. With a big grin I enjoy and feel how the riff and melody plow into the soul, the goose skin slowly rises and reaches unseen sky in "Ode To Ganymede", the guitars give me shivers and I lose my self into the psychedelic part halfway true the tune. Holy freaking Moses the Hammond really knocks me off. The heaviness along with a cleaver guitar riffing is just pure craftsmanship of the highest level. "Sernanders Krog" (It's a vegetarian restaurant in the band's hometown Uppsala) follows in the same path, but with a jazzier approach and an amazing groove. "Ol’ Mule Pepe" is a groovy rocker with infectious Montone riffing that makes it really hard to sit still. "Sun Devil/M87" is a progressive instrumental doom piece, slow and heavy. "Pipe Rider" is a real beauty, that closes up this masterpiece in the best possible way, it opens up with a glorious guitar playing until the rest of the band joins in. The vocals are just superb. Eleven minutes of happiness. I guess it has nothing to do with this, but somehow I saw Clint Eastwood playing together with Mark Knopfler, hey it's the music that fingers on your unconsciousness. "Refractions" is an amazing album that explodes with all the churning fuzz and expansive riff-heaviness for which the band is beloved, shot through with re-energized purpose and maturity. The grooves swing, the bottom end rumbles, and the melodies growl and soar, delivering at last on LOWRIDERs longing-to-be-fulfilled promise.
The band consists of:
Bassist/vocalist Peder Bergstrand,
Lead guitarist/vocalist Ola Hellquist,
Guitarist Niclas Stålfors, and
Drummer Andreas Eriksson
The Postwax subscription version.
The only downside is the fade-out in "Sernanders Krog", I would love to hear it in the full. I really don't like fade-outs. LOWRIDER has released an album that would reach the highest points if I ever would hand them out. "Refractions" is an instant classic and will end high when 2020 is going to be summarized, this is far the best record so far this year.
Sum: "Refractions" is here to remind you what real desert/stoner rock is. Highly recommended.
Today's tune "Red River" is taken from "Refractions", enjoy!
Yesterday I was working with a Colombian singer Maluma, a Latino guy that looks to be very popular in Sweden, not really my kind of music.
But still, I was a little affected by it so I decided to have a classic from Colombia today.
1280 ALMAS is a Colombian rock band formed in Bogotá and active since the late '80s, considered one of the greatest exponents of Alternative Rock thanks to a differential proposal that involves subgenres such as Punk or Post Hardcore fused to Latin and Afro-Caribbean rhythms like salsa and skate. His discourse that mixes the social with the invitation to brotherhood and joy has given him a very important place within the Bogotana and Colombian scene.
Today's tune "Antipatriota" is taken from the sixth studio album "Pueblo Alimaña", released September 29, 2012, produced by the band on the independent label La Coneja Ciega. It was produced by Juan Carlos Rojas, Bassist of the group and mastered by Felipe López, The album cover shows the independence leaders surrounded by symbols alluding to "souls". Enjoy!
Friday and it's time for Batman and KOOBA TERCU. A Greek band that plays exotic psychedelic noisy rock that will blow your mind.
Johnny Tercu and his crew spend time in a moist, rat & cockroach infested basement playing something loud and heavy. He ventures pointlessly into nothingness with the same sense of no future as most people in Athens these days.
After endless hours of jamming, KOOBA TERCU has distilled the ideas developed over a couple of years in ten songs resulting in something that sounds incredibly familiar but maybe not quite like anything you've heard before.
Today's soundtrack pick is "Batman", taken from KOOBA TERCU album "Bakla Horani", released December 8, 2016. Recorded by Ilias Flammos at Moist Studios, Athens. Mixed & mastered by Wayne Adams at Bear Bites Horse studios, London. Cover by Voltage Hazard
"Unsainted" is a song by American heavy metal band SLIPKNOT. It was released as the lead single from their sixth studio album "We Are Not Your Kind" on May 16, 2019, accompanied by its music video, see it below. This is the first SLIPKNOT single released since "All Out Life", which was released on October 31, 2018, as well as their first single without their former percussionist Chris Fehn who was fired from the band due to a lawsuit earlier in 2019.
A music video directed by Shawn "Clown" Crahan was released alongside the song on May 16 and has, as of December 2019 over 67 million views on YouTube. Blistein characterized the video as full of "creepy, cultish imagery". It ends with Corey Taylor walking out of a church to find he and the other members of the band turned into statues, then proceeding to light his statue on fire. Luke Morton of Kerrang! called the video "a lot to take in", writing that it is "full of kaleidoscopic visuals, religious iconography, and fire".
"Oh, I’ll never kill myself to save my soul/I was gone but how was I to know?
I didn’t come this far to sink so low/I’m finally holding on to letting go"
SLIPKNOTs tour supporting their new record, "We Are Not Your Kind", began in Europe earlier this year and the group has announced their 2020 return, this time bringing BEHEMOTH with them.
The tour begins on Jan. 14 in Dublin, Ireland and will hit over 20 cities before wrapping up on Feb. 24 in Helsinki, Finland, see all the dates below for Europe and the upcoming Knotfest Roadshow. For fans in Europe, it's a partial taste of the Knotfest Roadshow that's currently sweeping through North America, which features BEHEMOTH as well as VOLBEAT and GOJIRA.
Head to Slipknot's website for more ticketing information and see the complete list of dates below.
Tonight they play in Sweden, yes I'm not there this evening, have a family business to attend to as to oldest girl is turning one year older.
So in the meanwhile, we spin a tune with SLIPKNOT, taken from their latest record and wish them all the luck tonight and send a big hug to BEHEMOTH aswell.
Upcoming Tourdates:
Feb 21 Stockholm, Sweden, Ericsson Globe
Feb 22 Oslo, Norway, Telenor Arena
Feb 24 Helsinki, Finland, Hartwall Arena
Mar 20 Tokyo, Japan, Knotfest Japan
Mar 24 Singapore, Singapore, Fort Canning Park
Mar 27 Jakarta, Indonesia Hammersonic Festival
Mar 29 Quezon City, Philippines Amoranto Stadium
May 15 Columbus, OH, US, Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival
May 22 Pryor, OK, US, Rocklahoma Festival
May 30 Syracuse, NY, US, St. Joseph's Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
May 31 Mansfield, MA, US, Xfinity Center
Jun 2 New York (NYC), NY, US, Madison Square Garden
Jun 4 Québec, QC, Canada, Centre Videotron
Jun 5 Montreal, QC, Canada, Bell Centre
Jun 6 Toronto, ON, Canada, Budweiser Stage
Jun 8 Clarkston, MI, US, DTE Energy Music Theatre
Jun 10 Nashville, TN, US, Bridgestone Arena
Jun 12 Memphis, TN, US, FedEx Forum
Jun 14 Orlando, FL, US, Amway Center
Jun 15 West Palm Beach, FL, US, Knotfest Roadshow
Jun 17 Charlotte, NC, US, PNC Music Pavilion
Jun 18 Alpharetta, GA, US, Ameris Bank Amphitheater
Jun 20 Pelham, AL, US, Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
Jun 22 Dallas, TX, US, Dos Equis Pavilion
Jun 23 Austin, TX, US, Knotfest Roadshow
Jun 25 The Woodlands, TX, US, Knotfest Roadshow
Jun 27 Monterrey, Mexico, Machaca
Jul 15 Oshkosh, WI, US, Rock USA
Jul 16 Cadott, WI, US, Rock Fest
Jul 17 Cadott, WI, US, Rock Fest
Jul 26 Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Hills of Rock
Jul 27 Bucharest, Romania, Romexpo
Jul 29 Bratislava, Slovakia, Ondrej Nepela Arena
Jul 30 Wacken, Germany, Wacken Festival
Jul 31 Cologne, Germany, RheinEnergieStadion
Aug 2 Skanderborg, Denmark, Smukfest
Aug 4 Gdansk, Poland, Ergo Arena
Aug 7 Berlin, Germany, Waldbühne
Aug 10 Barcelona, Spain, KNOTFEST At Sea
Aug 14 Fuengirola, Spain, Metal Paradise Fest
Aug 17 Lisbon, Portugal, Altice Arena
Aug 20 Charleville-Mézières, France, Festival Cabaret Vert
Aug 22 Milton Keynes, UK, The National Bowl
"D.o.a" is a tune by the American hard rock band VAN HALEN and is taken from the second studio album "Van Halen II", released on March 23, 1979. As of 2004, it has sold almost six million copies in the United States.
It's a tune that first saw it's lite on the demo that was sent to Warner Brothers. The lyrics were in some instances completely different from the final version, and some parts that were mumbled, that could be the reason why it wasn't on the first album.
The tune is written by and Edward Van Halen.
Today's version is by the American stoner rock band FU MANCHU, taken from the EP "The Hung Out to Dry". It was released in 2006 on Liquor and Poker Music/Century Media Records. It contains a CD with four songs and a 7" with two songs. Both are in one special package called "The Deuce". It looks basically like a double-LP but is single-sized. The artwork was by John McGill who later designed We Must Obey. FU MANCHU will head out on a 30th Anniversary Tour, that including dates in West Coast US, Canada, UK and Europe, see all the dates below and enjoy today tune!
Upcoming Tourdates:
Mon, APR 27
The Rebel Lounge
Phoenix, AZ
Thu, APR 30
Barracuda
Austin, TX
Fri, MAY 1
House of Blues Dallas
Dallas, TX
Sat, MAY 2
The Secret Group
Houston, TX
Tue, MAY 5
Motorco Music Hall
Durham, NC
Wed, MAY 6
Baltimore Soundstage
Baltimore, MD
Thu, MAY 7
Bowery Ballroom
New York, NY
Sat, MAY 9
Underground Arts
Philadelphia, PA
Sun, MAY 10
The Sinclair
Cambridge, MA
Tue, MAY 12
Grog Shop
Cleveland, OH
Wed, MAY 13
Bottom Lounge
Chicago, IL
Sat, MAY 16
Gothic Theatre
Englewood, CO
European dates:
Thu, JUN 11
Freak Valley Festival
Netphen, Germany SOLD OUT
Sun, JUN 14
Gruenspan
Hamburg, Germany
Tue, JUN 16
Patronaat
Haarlem, Netherlands
Wed, JUN 17
Cabaret Sauvage
Paris, France
Sat, JUN 20
Azkena Rock Festival
Gasteiz / Vitoria, Spain
Sun, JUN 21
Graspop Festival
Dessel, Belgium
Mon, JUN 22
Laiterie
Strasbourg, France
Wed, JUN 24
Santeria Toscana 31
Milano, Italy
Thu, JUN 25
Les Docks
Lausanne, Switzerland
Fri, JUN 26
Kulturzentrum Schlachthof
Wiesbaden, Germany
Sat, JUN 27
Backstage Halle
Munich, Germany
Tue, AUG 11
Great American Music Hall
San Francisco, CA
Thu, AUG 13
Hawthorne Theatre
Portland, OR
Fri, AUG 14
Neumos
Seattle, WA
Sat, AUG 15
Imperial Vancouver
Vancouver, Canada
Tue, AUG 18
The Ritz
San Jose, CA
Thu, SEP 24
Club Academy
Manchester, United Kingdom
Fri, SEP 25
Shepherd's Bush Empire
London, United Kingdom
Sat, SEP 26
Garage
Glasgow, United Kingdom
Mon, SEP 28
Button Factory
Dublin, Ireland
Tue, SEP 29
o2 Institute 2
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Thu, OCT 1
KUFA
Esch-sur-sûre, Luxembourg
Fri, OCT 2
Up In Smoke Festival
Pratteln, Switzerland
Fri, OCT 2
Up In Smoke Festival
Pratteln, Switzerland
Sun, OCT 4
Pumpehuset
Copenhagen, Denmark
Mon, OCT 5
Pustervik
Göteborg, Sweden
Tue, OCT 6
Rockefeller Music Hall
Oslo, Norway Wed, OCT 7
Nalen
Stockholm, Sweden
Fri, OCT 9
FESTSAAL KÜCHE
Berlin, Germany
Mon, OCT 12
Substage
Karlsruhe, Germany
Tue, OCT 13
Effenaar
Eindhoven, Netherlands
Wed, OCT 14
AB
Bruxelles, Belgium
Back to the states dates:
Sat, NOV 7
Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA
Sat, NOV 14
The Wayfarer
Costa Mesa, CA
Sat, DEC 12
Casbah
San Diego, CA
THE NEW DEATH CULT was initiated on the planet Earth by the Supreme Democratic Fellowship of Netuluna in the Andromeda galaxy, to help disrupt the zeitgeist of big-money interest in widespread environmental destruction, corrupt politics, plastic muzak, and fake idols, through the superior medium of Rock Music.
THE NEW DEATH CULT is here to crush hate, greed and environmental destruction through the superior medium of rock music. A force more powerful than anything in the universe: HEAVY ROCK MUSIC
Dubbed a brilliant cross-over between QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, BIFFY CLYRO, and PINK FLOYD, THE NEW DEATH CULT drives heavy rock in a forward direction primed for the 21st century, while sonically staying true to the greatest 90’s rock acts. Aesthetically, the band explores a unique melting point where solid ’desert rock’ collides with heavy riffs, ear-tingling melodies, and choruses of cosmic grandeur. The lyrics inspire a true universal love and peaceful activism towards anti-war, anti-environmental destruction and anti-corruption movement in music, to make the world a better and safer place for present and future generations. Visually, the band consists of four masked humanoid aliens who go by their pseudonyms ALPHA (vocals + guitar), BETA (lead guitar), GAMMA (bass) and DELTA (drums).
Their debut album is engineered and produced by Stamos Koliousis (KAMPFAR, KEEP OF KALESSIN, FIGHT THE FIGHT, DJERV) and was recorded in Røffsound Studios, Oslo, using only the finest vintage equipment the band could get their hands on. The record stands out as startingly organic, authentic and relevant in the vast ocean of contemporary heavy rock music.
Today's tune "Light Spills Over" is taken from their self titled debut album was released on 06.09.2019 through Indie Recordings, enjoy 👂!
Time for round two, the second single "Superblood Wolfmoon" by PEARL JAM, taken from the upcoming 11th album "Gigaton", out March 27th.
The sonically upbeat garage pop-rocker tune sees frontman Eddie Vedder reflecting on a relationship that went south. The song is a bit more traditional than "Dance Of The Clairvoyants," the highly experimental lead single that was released in mid-January.
"Gigaton" it’s their first album of new material since 2013’s "Lightning Bolt", marking the longest period of time they’ve ever gone between albums. So far the band has dropped single “Dance of the Clairvoyants” ahead of release, along with three music videos for the track.
The group will also hit the road for a 16-date North American tour in March and April to promote the album. The trek kicks off March 18th in Toronto, Ontario and wraps April 18th and 19th in Oakland, California, then a short break before it's time for Europe, PIXIES, IDLES and WHITE REAPER will be supporting the band across the dates in Europe. The European leg will include several indoor shows as well as outdoor festival shows at Rock Werchter, Lollapalooza in Stockholm and Paris, and the BST Hyde Park concert in London. The show at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen will be on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Roskilde tragedy, see the upcoming tour stops below.
On Thursday (Feb. 13), the band instructed fans to use the PEARL JAM app and to direct their cell phone camera toward the moon, which would then trigger the teaser clip.
March 18 – Toronto, Ontario @ Scotiabank Arena
March 20 – Ottawa, Ontario @ Canadian Tire Centre
March 22 – Quebec City, Quebec @ Videotron Centre
March 24 – Hamilton, Ontario @ FirstOntario Centre
March 28 – Baltimore, Md. @ Royal Farms Arena
March 30 – New York, N.Y. @ Madison Square Garden
April 02 – Nashville, Tenn. @ Bridgestone Arena
April 04 – St. Louis, Mo. @ Enterprise Center
April 06 – Oklahoma City, Okla. @ Chesapeake Energy Arena
April 09 – Denver, Colo. @ Pepsi Center
April 11 – Phoenix, Ariz. @ Gila River Arena
April 13 – San Diego, Calif. @ Viejas Arena
April 15 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ The Forum
April 16 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ The Forum
April 18 – Oakland, Calif. @ Oakland Arena
April 19 – Oakland, Calif. @ Oakland Arena
Europe
June 23 – Frankfurt, Germany @ Festhalle
June 25 – Berlin, Germany @ Waldbühne
June 27 – Stockholm, Sweden @ Gärdet
June 29 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Royal Arena
July 2 – Werchter, Belgium @ Rock Werchter
July 5 – Imola, Italy @ Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
July 7 – Vienna Austria Wiener @ Stadthalle
July 10 – London, England @ Hyde Park
July 13 – Kraków, Poland @ Tauron Arena
July 15 – Budapest, Hungary @ Budapest Arena
July 17 – Zürich, Switzerland @ Hallenstadion
July 19 – Paris, France @ Lollapalooza
July 22 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Ziggo Dome
July 23 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Ziggo Dome
"Splid" is the fourth studio album by the Norweigan punk rockers KVELERTAK. It's also the first release for its new lead singer Ivar Nikolaisen (of SILVER AND THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE ZUGLY). The rest of the guys are intact, like the drummer Håvard Takle Ohr’s, bass handler Marvin Nygaard’s alongside the flavorful guitar playing of Vidar Landa, Bjarte Lund Rolland, and Maciek Ofsad.
There is a bit of tension that the record is set loose and get aired, the first impression is really good, given the extremely nice cover, made by John Dyer Baizley of BARONESS. The tension increases when it lets loose on its own and the first notes in "Rogaland" sneak out of the speaker. Sure it sounds familiar and you feel a little at home with the sound and melody, the goose skin grows slowly but surely. Then it's time for Nikolaisen to make his entrance and hey, this sounds really good, he has a brighter tone than the former vocalist Erlend Hjelvik and sounds a bit punkier. KVELERTAK sounds punkier than ever and a bit more rock 'n roll, but still heavy like shit, great things. For the first time, they leave the native language and offer two tunes where the lyrics are in English. The punkish and heavy frenetic riffing piece "Discord" and the "Crack Of Doom" which features Troy Sanders of MASTODON, who roars nicely with Nikolaisen and provides an extra boost to this high energy rocker "Crack Of Doom" which features Troy Sanders of MASTODON, who roars nicely with Nikolaisen and provides an extra boost to the tune. There are many great pieces on the album, some with a large dose of humor and liberating self-distance like the tune "Stevnemøte Med Satan" (Date With Satan) in English. The blistering rocker "Necrosoft" swings wildly and the foot-stomping rocker "Bråtebran" where the intensity is really high. To the more odd and interesting tunes like the frenetic and a bit far-out and partly totally furious madness in "Fanden Ta Dette Hull!" alongside "Delirium Tremens" that flirts with classic prog rock. The album closes with a real beauty a blackened metal punk rocker "Ved Bredden Av Nihil".
Alternate Cover
"Splid" is a wonderfully rich album that rewards those who are willing to give it the time and attention it truly deserves. The album has a broad and colorful palette even by KVELERTAK standards. But with impressive creativity, the band has risen again, with dignity and new loaded energy. A really fun record that will stampede all over you. "Splid" is masterly handed by the producer Kurt Ballou.
Sum: "Splid" is a wonderfully rich album of friendly rage-out music.
Today's tune "Crack Of Doom" feat. Troy Sanders is taken from "Splid", released on the 14th of February on Rise Records.
A few days ago did the debut self-titled studio album by the English rock band BLACK SABBATH turn 50 years. It was released on 13 February 1970 in the United Kingdom. Additionally, the opening track of the album, "Black Sabbath", is widely considered to be the first doom metal song.
According to BLACK SABBATHs guitarist and founder member Tony Iommi, the group's debut album was recorded in a single day on 16 October 1969. The session lasted twelve hours. Iommi said: "We just went in the studio and did it in a day, we played our live set and that was it. We actually thought a whole day was quite a long time, then off we went the next day to play for £20 in Switzerland."
Aside from the bells, thunder and rain sound effects added to the beginning of the opening track, and the double-tracked guitar solos on "N.I.B." and "Sleeping Village", there were virtually no overdubs added to the album. Iommi recalls recording live: "We thought, 'We have two days to do it and one of the days is mixing.' So we played live. Ozzy (Osbourne) was singing at the same time, we just put him in a separate booth and off we went. We never had a second run of most of the stuff."
The key to the band's new sound on the album was Iommi's distinctive playing style that he developed after an accident at a sheet metal factory where he was working at the age of 17 in which the tips of the middle fingers of his fretting hand were severed. Iommi created a pair of false fingertips using plastic from a dish detergent bottle and detuned the strings on his guitar to make it easier for him to bend the strings, creating a massive, heavy sound. "I'd play a load of chords and I'd have to play fifths because I couldn't play fourths because of my fingers," Iommi explained to Phil Alexander in Mojo in 2013. "That helped me develop my style of playing, bending the strings and hitting the open string at the same time just to make the sound wilder." In the same article bassist Geezer Butler added, "Back then the bass player was supposed to do all these melodic runs, but I didn't know how to do that because I'd been a guitarist, so all I did was follow Tony's riff. That made the sound heavier."
Iommi began recording the album with a white Fender Stratocaster, his guitar of choice at the time, but a malfunctioning pickup forced him to finish recording with a Gibson SG, a guitar he had recently purchased as a backup but had "never really played". The SG was a right-handed model which the left-handed Iommi played upside down. Soon after recording the album, he met a right-handed guitarist who was playing a left-handed SG upside down, and the two agreed to swap guitars; this is the SG that Iommi modified and later "put out to pasture" at the Hard Rock Cafe.
BLACK SABBATHs vocalist Ozzy Osbourne has always spoken fondly of the recording of the band's debut album, stating in his autobiography I Am Ozzy, "Once we'd finished, we spent a couple of hours double-tracking some of the guitar and vocals, and that was that. Done. We were in the pub in time for last orders. It can't have taken any longer than twelve hours in total. That's how albums should be made, in my opinion." Drummer Bill Ward agrees, telling Guitar World in 2001, "I think the first album is just absolutely incredible. It's naïve, and there's an absolute sense of unity – it's not contrived in any way, shape or form. We weren't old enough to be clever. I love it all, including the mistakes!" In an interview for the Classic Albums series in 2010 Butler added, "It was literally live in the studio. I mean, (producer) Rodger Bain, I think he's a genius the way he captured the band in such a short time." In his autobiography Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven & Hell with BLACK SABBATH, Iommi plays down the producer's role, insisting, "We didn't choose to work with Rodger Bain, he was chosen for us ... He was good to have around, but we didn't really get a lot of advice from him. He maybe suggested a couple of things, but the songs were already fairly structured and sorted."
The cover of BLACK SABBATHs self-titled debut, which came out 50 years ago today, has become one of rock’s most iconic and captivating album sleeves. A witchy-looking woman stands alone in the woods in a haunted underworld, staring out at you, clutching something — her cloak? a cat? The cover features a depiction of Mapledurham Watermill, situated on the River Thames in Oxfordshire, England. Standing in front of the watermill is a figure dressed in black. The name of the woman pictured on the front cover is Louisa Livingstone.
The inner gatefold sleeve of the original release was designed by Keith McMillan (credited as Marcus Keef) and featured an inverted cross with a poem written inside of it. Allegedly, the band were upset when they discovered this, as it fuelled allegations that they were satanists or occultists; however, in Osbourne's memoirs, he says that to the best of his knowledge nobody was upset with the inclusion. "Suddenly we had all these crazy people turning up at shows," Iommi remembered in Mojo in 2013. "I think Alex Sanders (high priest of the Wiccan religion) turned up at a gig once. It was all quite strange, really." The album was not packaged with a gatefold cover in the U.S. In the liner notes to Reunion, Phil Alexander states, "Unbeknownst to the band, Black Sabbath was launched in the U.S. with a party with the head of the Church of Satan, Anton Lavey, presiding over the proceedings...All of a sudden Sabbath were Satan's Right Hand Men."
Today's tune "The Wizard" is a song taken from their 1970 album "Black Sabbath". It is the second track on the record. The song was composed by all four members of the group and was produced by Rodger Bain. "The Wizard" was the B-side to the title track of the band's second album "Paranoid".
"The Wizard" is about a wizard who uses his magic to encourage people he encounters. In a 2005 interview with Metal Sludge, BLACK SABBATH bassist and lyricist Geezer Butler said the song's lyrics were influenced by the wizard Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings. It was also believed to be about the band's drug dealer at the time.
Swedish heavy metal masters WOLF strike back with their 8th studio album “Feeding The Machine”, the first one after 6 long years. The album that offers intense and addictive headbanger anthems covering the straight-up speedy attack on the singles ("Shoot To Kill"), the infectious hooks ("Midnight Hour"). It will be interesting to spin it on the release date.
WOLF states: “This is the first video from ”Feeding the Machine”, directed by Daniel Wahlström of Heavy Groove Media. Apparently we have a tradition in WOLF to have Niklas half naked and tormented in the videos and this fine tradition we still uphold. You got to suffer for the art, right? Seriously, it has been a blast working with Daniel, who is full of crazy ideas and there will be a second video from him later on.
Oil your neck joints, let your inner animal out and howl at the moon. We give you: ”Midnight Hour”!”
The album is also featuring a gloriously morbid artwork by the legendary Thomas Holm (MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND), WOLF knows how to deliver the goods after letting fans wait for a new opus since "Devil Seed" in 2014.
Recorded at SolnaSound (guitarist Simon’s own studio), mixed and mastered by Fredrik Nordström at Studio Fredman (AT THE GATES, IN FLAMES, ARCH ENEMY), "Feeding The Machine" is a bit of a fresh start for WOLF as vocalist Niklas Stålvind and guitarist Simon Johansson now have been joined by Pontus Egberg (KING DIAMOND) on bass and drummer Johan Koleberg (ex-THERION, ex-LIONs SHARE, ex-HAMMERFALL) to bring an extra dose of reinvigorated energy and focus to the table.
They will head out on tour together with GRAND MAGUS in March 2020 where Europe and the UK is on the schedule, see the dates below.
"Feeding The Machine" will be released as 180gram black vinyl plus CD, limited CD digipak including an ANGEL WITCH cover version and on all digital platforms!
Today's tune "Midnight Hour", taken from the upcoming album “Feeding The Machine”, out March 13th, 2020. Order now!
See WOLF on tour with GRAND MAGUS
05.03.2020 (UK) Bristol – The Fleece
06.03.2020 (UK) Manchester – Academy 3
07.03.2020 (IRE) Dublin – The Grand Social
08.03.2020 (UK) Belfast – Limelight
10.03.2020 (UK) Glasgow – The Audio
11.03.2020 (UK) Sheffield – The Foundry
13.03.2020 (UK) Birmingham – The Asylum
14.03.2020 (UK) Norwich – Waterfront
15.03.2020 (UK) London – The Dome
17.03.2020 (FR) Paris – Petit Bain
19.03.2020 (NL) Utrecht – Helling
20.03.2020 (GER) Cologne – Essigfabrik
21.03.2020 (GER) Aschaffenburg – Colos-Saal
22.03.2020 (GER) Munich – Backstage Halle
24.03.2020 (GER) Stuttgart – Im Wizemann
25.03.2020 (GER) Berlin – Lido
26.03.2020 (GER) Hamburg – Logo
Friday and it's Valentine's Day, it's celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Western Christian feast day honoring one or two early saints named Valentinus and is recognized as a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world.
Today I send my love to my family, kids and my beloved wife and of course all the readers of the site.
So to step out from the normal comfort zone and offer a version of a tune by a classic rocker like Tommy Nilsson is nothing you do every day. But Tommy who is known as the great singer behind TALK OF THE TOWN did a solo thing back in the day and one of his biggest love tunes was "Öppna Din Dörr" (in English: "Open Your Door") is a song written by Tommy Nilsson, and released as a single from his 1994 album, "En Kvinnas Man" (A Woman's Man). The single peaked at number 2 in Sweden and number 10 in Norway.
In 2016 Jill Johnson performed the song in English, as "Open Your Heart", during "Så Mycket Bättre" and that is the version I have chosen for today's tune. Jill is out touring atm were a few of my friends are assisting her with the technique. Enjoy today's tune and send some love to your closest.
Upcoming tour dates.
Sat, FEB 15
The Tivoli
Helsingborg, Sweden
Sun, FEB 16
Grand Theater
Göteborg, Sweden
Wed, FEB 19
Folkets Hus i Östersund
Östersund, Sweden
Thu, FEB 20
Gävle Konserthus
Gävle, Sweden
Fri, FEB 21
Uppsala Concert & Congress
Uppsala, Sweden
Sat, FEB 22
Södra Teatern
Stockholm, Sweden
Sun, FEB 23
Lokomotivet
Eskilstuna, Sweden
Sat, JUL 4
Villa Belparc
Göteborg, Sweden
The decrepit house erupts for a short moment as the crows flee their home and sanctuary. Cobwebs dance in their wingbeats. The paint is flaking of the outer panels and the windows are all broken in unthinkable patterns. The blackest smoke seeps from a door that gently creeks open to lure you in. Gloom grips and lingers as you step inside. A soft whistle grows into a painful song. A song about witchcraft. And demons chant the end of worlds.
KRÅKSLOTT, founded in 2018, is a heavy doom trio from Stockholm, Sweden. Their sound is dark and very heavy, slow with massive guitar drones with classic stoner doom vibes. The band name is actually a Swedish word, which roughly translates to "old dilapidated building".
Band Members:
David Nyström - Bass
Per-Robin Eriksson - Guitar & Vocals
Nisse Härdfeldt - Drums
In 2019 they released their first single "Feathered Dragon Snake", the debut album arrived on January 17, 2020.
Today's tune "Häxsabbat" is taken from the self-titled debut.
