Rikard Sjöbloms Gungfly - He Held An Axe

You might know Rikard Sjöblom as the mutli-instrumentalist madman behind the microphone of the now-legendary BEARDFISH, who sang about everything from personal loss to dreams of sneaking into the backstreets of some sleazy '70s disco club. Wielding his keyboard like an 88-key progressive rock machine gun and a shoulder-slung guitar much in the same manner, Sjöblom truly was the face of the band. BEARDFISH came to an end in 2016, leaving room for new solo endeavors for Sjöblom.

With the same array of musical appendages, Sjöblom has carried on as a solo artist under the moniker GUNGFLY once more with his 2016 album “The Unbendable Sleep”, now followed by the new 2017 release "On Her Journey To The Sun", was released on InsideOutMusic on May 19th. Just like “The Unbendable Sleep” before, “On Her Journey To The Sun” features Sjöblom's incredible vocal range, intensely personal lyrics, signature sense of complex-yet-catchy keyboard melodies, and guitar work that spans the spectrum of folksy to downright face melting. Sjöblom comments:

“GUNGFLY was born out of necessity; songs came to life whenever there was downtime with BEARDFISH or if a song didn't quite fit within BEARDFISHs (otherwise quite broad and eclectic) frame of styles. I basically started recording songs, mainly pop-oriented material, but being the type of songwriter and musician I am some prog slipped through under the radar as well. With the break-up of BEARDFISH all of the prog-related material I write needed to go somewhere and GUNGFLY was ready and able for this step! Some background: I recorded what was to become the first GUNGFLY album between 2007-2008 and it was released in 2009. The name GUNGFLY is a Swedish word meaning unsecure ground, it came from a novel I read where it was used to describe that someone didn't have grounds to back up their statements, so I liked it and chose to call the project that! I've always been writing and recording lots of music and when I formed the live band to perform these songs for the first time I got to pick some of my oldest friends to play with and thankfully they wanted to be part of it! Petter and Rasmus Diamant (yes, they're brothers) on drums and bass have always been the backbone foundation in this line-up and sometimes we actually do gigs as the GUNGFLY trio. Sverker Magnusson has been behind the keys since the start and was recently joined by Martin Borgh too to be able to cover all of the keyboard work on the albums, so sometimes we do three keyboard players on stage at the same time! This is made possible by the fact that guitarist David Zackrisson (BEARDFISH) is in the band as well. Me then? I do what I've always done; sing, play guitars and a bunch of vintage keyboards (mainly Hammond organ) - and I have lots of fun :)” In addition to his solo work, Sjöblom is the most recent addition to English progressive titans Big Big Train, having performed keyboards, guitars, accordion, and backing vocals on the band's 2016 album “Folklore”.

Lineup on "On Her Journey To The Sun":

Rikard Sjöblom - vocals, acoustic and electric guitar
Petter Diamant - drums
David Zackrisson - lead guitar
Sverker Magnusson - piano
Rasmus Diamant - bass
Martin Borgh - Crumar organ

Today's tune "He Held an Axe", taken from the album "On Her Journey To The Sun". Written by Rikard Sjöblom. The Video was directed and produced by Peter Callow.



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Official Rikard Sjöbloms Gungfly Web

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Big Big Train - Folklore

The English progressive rock band BIG BIG TRAIN have recently released "Folklore".

BIG BIG TRAIN was founded in 1990. Based in Bournemouth, England, the band members are Nick D'Virgilio, Dave Gregory, Rachel Hall, David Longdon, Danny Manners, Andy Poole, Rikard Sjöblom and Gregory Spawton. Having released eight studio albums and three EPs, they were an independent band for most of their career (although they were signed to the Giant Electric Pea record label from 1993 to 1998), distributing releases through their own website. Up to 2009, BIG BIG TRAIN worked mostly as a studio project band headed by Spawton and Poole with changing line-ups and guest musicians. Since their sixth album "The Underfall Yard", which received critical acclaim from the progressive rock community, a more stable lineup has been established, and the band performed their first live concerts in seventeen years at Kings Place, London, in August 2015. The gigs were voted Event Of The Year by the readers of Prog magazine. Stone & Steel, a Blu-ray featuring the 2014 rehearsals at Real World Studios and four of the songs performed at Kings Place, was released on 21 March 2016. BIG BIG TRAIN were the winners of the Breakthrough Award at the Progressive Music Awards held at Kew Gardens, London on 3 September 2013, and have been nominated in several other categories in recent years.

The album was recorded at English Electric Studios, produced by Big Big Train, and mixed and mastered at Aubitt Studios by Rob Aubrey. It is the first studio album to feature Rachel Hall and BEARDFISHs lead vocalist Rikard Sjöblom as official members.

The album was released in multiple formats: standard and High Res downloads, as a single CD, and as a double-LP vinyl release that features two additional tracks, "Mudlarks" and "Lost Rivers of London", both of which were previously released on the 2015 EP Wassail. Both versions of the album contain the title track from Wassail, meaning that the vinyl release features all three of the original songs on the EP.

Today's tune is the title track of "Folklore", taken from the new album by BIG BIG TRAIN, was released in May 2016. The Folklore album is released on double gatefold 180gm vinyl, CD and download on 27th May 2016. Available from www.bigbigtrain.com, Amazon, iTunes, Bandcamp and all good retailers. Available to stream on Spotify and other streaming services from May 27th. Vinyl available from www.burningshed.com.



More info @

Official Big Big Train Web

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Tune Of The Day - Top 50 - 2015 (50-41)

Now we almost reached the end of this year, December 16th and during this time of the year it's time to sum it all up and present all the best that 2015 have given us.

Once again it has been a really decent year album wise. Shit loads of money have been spent on records that now is going to fight for the top spots on Tune of the days Top 50 list, yes top 50 this year :) I had really hard to choose this year, to many good records have been released. And of course many great records have unfortunately fallen off the list, but the music heart have decided and now when I look at it, it was not quite what I had expected from the beginning, but what the heck it's my choices and hope that some records might hook you up and that you soon might buy a few of them to support the artists that have put all their soul into the creation of all the wonderful tunes.

First up we present this year's best albums between 50 - 41. Where you get the first 10 at once. Today's tune will be publish later on this evening. So here we go!

50. Imperial State Electric - Honk Machine

"Honk Machine" is a blast of pure rock fun with cherry picks of the best elements of the 60’s & 70’s. classics.

49. Thunder - Wonder Days

The British veteran hard rockers THUNDER releases a real "Wonder" after six year hiatus. "Wonder Days"  is a real contemporary cool back to retro-rock. A great British rock album.

48. Refused - Freedom

After 17 years, REFUSED has returned with a new shape of Freedom that’s just as wild and eclectic as their last.

47. Blackberry Smoke - Holding all the Roses

"Holding All The Roses" is simply a great record that I enjoy listen to. This is the record that could expand their base exponentially.

46. Tallest Man on Earth - Dark Bird is Home

"Dark Bird is Home" is Kristian Matsson's darkest album, but still it's a grandiose master piece in the Singer Song Writer genre.

45. Vidunder - Oracles and Prophets

70's organ stoner rock with loads of raw wonderful riffs.

44. Enslaved - In Times

"In Times" is an experimental metal record with duelling solos and epic keyboard swells.

43. Danko Jones - Fire Music

"Fire Music" is stuffed with clichés but still it's a badass DANKO JONES record!

42. Iron Maiden - The Book Of Souls

"The Book of Souls" is collaborative mindset of 92 minutes of produced heavy metal heaven and it's easy the most confident work since "Brave New World".

41. Beardfish - +4626 - Comfortzone

The Swedish progressive rockers have released an complex and long-winded album that is full of real earworms.

Today's tune comes soonish.

Top 50 Album list at Spotify, follow it!

Converge - Trespasses

Now we almost reached the end of this year and as usual, it is time to sum it all up with this year's best albums and give thumbs up for nice concerts and other events. First up we present this year's top 20 albums. Where you get the first 10 at once.

Since we can not quite agree on a common list for this year's top 10 albums, we will do as we did last year, but Thetania will only do a top five since she is pretty busy with work. This mean that it will be a list from each one of us on the same day, one list position in the morning and same in the evening, it will generate a lot of music here at the Tune Of The Day during these days. This year's list has been super difficult to tie together, started with a Top 50 and was freaking hard to remove tunes, ended up that I had to go on the most listening records and many that, in the beginning was obvious was removed. Right or wrong, judge yourself, hard as hell, I must say. However, I miss some records which I unfortunately did not had time to listen to and whereby they are not included. I think this year has been absolutely crazy on the album releases, has broken my purchasing budget by horse lengths. Really hope next year will be calmer, so one have time to catch up a bit.

We start by presenting the positions outside the Top 10 that I, Stones have, that is 11-20 just like last year.

Top 11 - 20 on Tune Of The Day

11. Beardfish - The Void

12. The Sword - Apocryphon

13. Meshuggah - Koloss

14. Black Country Communion - Afterglow

15. Converge - All We Love We Leave Behind

16. Testament - Dark Roots Of Earth

16. Paradise Lost - Tragic Idol

17. Mando Diao - Infruset

18. Ne Obliviscaris - Portal Of I

20. Horisont - Second Assault

Today I pick a song from an album that has grown a lot recently, but unfortunately it has got too little playing time in order to stretch higher and pinch a position in the Top 10. Converge "All We Love We Leave Behind" is a record that invites you to dance in a little more violent way than usual. This record is actually really good and I recommended this highly. Converge is an American progressive hardcore band from Salem, Massachusetts formed in 1990. The group comprises vocalist Jacob Bannon, guitarist Kurt Ballou, bassist Nate Newton and drummer Ben Koller. Playing a blend of hardcore punk and heavy metal, Converge has helped to define many of the elements of the metalcore genre. According to Allmusic, Converge are "regarded as one of the most original and innovative bands to emerge from the punk underground".

Todays tune "Trespasses" is taken from the eighth studio album "All We Love We Leave Behind". The album was released on October 9, 2012 through Epitaph Records.



More info @

Official Converge Web

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Beardfish - Voluntary Slavery

Monday! That means it's time to present this week's album! Today it's the Swedish progressive rock band "Beardfish" and their latest album "Void" that receiving the honor to take place on the Tune Of The Days Record of the Week.

But first some history, Beardfish is a Swedish progressive rock band formed in 2001. Their style resembles progressive rock bands from the 1970s, such as Yes and Genesis. The band was signed by InsideOut Music after releasing two albums independently; they have since released five more albums, so seven in total!

Beardfish is comprised of Rikard Sjoblom (vocals/guitars/keyboards), David Zackrisson (guitars), Magnus Ostgren (drums) and Robert Hansen (bass).

The band is out touring atm, the started Sept. 9 2012, Beardfish will be the support act for all European dates for the band Flying Colors.

This weeks album "Void" As previous releases a unique experience which gives the listener memorable melodies, brilliant playing, often very clever lyrics. Since 2006, the band has released seven albums, more than one each year, pretty good in my eyes! And every album is very good in their own way. The Void is just another excellent album in the band’s ever-expanding catalogue.

I will not be particularly deep about this album, but will leave you to dig down in it. It's is released on Spotify, to hook it up and listen. The Void demands attention. Each song differs from the last, offering focal points of an endless variety to keep you interested throughout. The Void is born in to a line of great albums with fantastic reputations, and fails to break tradition. Beardfish push the boundaries of progressive rock delivering their most hard-edged and ominous record to date. Seven albums deep and keeping the musical dialogue going strong!

Studio albums:

Från En Plats Du Ej Kan Se (2003)
The Sane Day (2006)
Sleeping in Traffic: Part One (2007)
Sleeping in Traffic: Part Two (2008)
Destined Solitaire (2009)
Mammoth (2011)
The Void (2012)


Todays tune "Voluntary Slavery" taken from The Void, kicks off with heavy metal guitar playing, thumping bass lines, wailing drum fills and enticing vocal harmonies. Enjoy!



Beardfish plays "Voluntary Slavery" at Crescendo Festival 20/08/2011



More info @

Official Beardfish Web

Listen to "Beardfish- Voluntary Slavery" on Spotify here!

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