"Surface Sounds" is the follow-up to 2016's "A/B", which spawned the singles "Way Down We Go," "No Good" and "All the Pretty Girls."
The Icelandic rockers KALEO has so far released five new songs from the upcoming record: "Skinny", "Break My Baby", "Alter Ego", "I Want More" and "Backbone".
"Due to the global impact of COVID-19 travel bands and mandates, we are unable to complete our original plan to release Surface Sounds on June 5," KALEO writes.
"We know you have waited a long time for new KALEO music and want to thank you for your continued support and patience," the band adds. "We are still so excited to share this album with you when it is ready."
Monday, new week. It's time to present "Record Of The Week"
The Icelandic post-metal titans SÓLSTAFIR is a well visit band here at Tune Of The Day.
In 2014 "Ótta" was the "Record Of The Week". In 2017 they followed with "Berdreyminn" an another trofe at "Record Of The Week". And in between there they contributed with serval tunes during the years. And now it's time to present thier seventh album "Endless Twilight of Codependent Love", released on November 6, 2020 through the record label Season of Mist.
Music will always be inspired by the environment in which it is created. With its incredible array of highly diverse landscapes ranging from white glaciers via volcanic bizarreness, moss-green bubble-fields, deep fjords, and frost-cracked mountains to black beaches, Iceland has shaped a host of astonishingly original in SÓLSTAFIR.
"Endless Twilight Of Codependent Love" highlights the contrasting influences that have inspired the band over the years. Building on the subtleties and beautiful moods of its predecessor "Berdreyminn". From the opening masterpiece "Akkeri" that flows over the 10 minutes mark like a brushstroke by a real master. Follows by some stunning moments in "Drýsill" (Icelandic for demon) is about fighting the demons that you allow to control your mind, and breaking free. It’s about rescuing yourself and finding the strength and the courage to be victorious, no matter how hurt you’ve been. All the tunes are in their native Icelandic, except one "Her Fall From Grace", its sole English language, with the traumatic theme of mental illness of your loved one. A turn with the black metal infused road-trippin "Dionysus" that shows that they havent left thier roots. Followed up by the gracious tune "Til Moldar". The guitar heavy "Alda Syndanna" and the bluesy post-metal piece "Ör" where the opening piano gives me goosebumps. The album finish of with the haunting closer "Úlfur". To develop and take risks is the band's hallmark, that they have succeeded in taking the band to new heights is marvelous, it is only to realize and to congratulate them for their efforts. This is a fantastic record that you should obtain.
The album have a gorgeous cover art by Johann Baptist Zwecker ("The Lady Of The Mountain" (Fjallkonan), a symbol of Iceland, frontispiece to Jón Árnason's Icelandic Legends, 1866)
Sum: Frost-cracked volcanic beauty full of bizarreness!
Today's tune "Drýsill", taken from "Endless Twilight Of Codependent Love", enjoy!
Iceland is the new big country of new black metal scenes, or that seems to be getting the most attention at the moment. Many new good acts just float up to the surface and hook me up like a fish. Thinking of bands like the excellent SVARTIDAUÐI and SINMARA that both have released absolutely incredible albums lately and now MISÞYRMING.
"Algleymi" is the second album from MISÞYRMING that sounds really good and could be a great candidate for the "Record Of The Week", well we will see how it develops, but looks really promising. The album was released on May 24, 2019.
Sunday, time for a classic, or sorta, as it's not so old.
"Pale Rider" is a tune taken from the third album "Köld" by Icelandic post-metal band SÓLSTAFIR. It was released on January 21, 2009 through Spikefarm Records. Feels like I have to end this week with a tune from one of the biggest acts from Iceland.
SÓLSTAFIR has been played serval times here and has reached really high almost every time they have released something new. SÓLSTAFIR is a post-metal band formed in 1995 and currently signed to Season of Mist. Originally a black metal band, they transitioned to a post-rock-influenced style on their second album "Masterpiece Of Bitterness".
The beautiful cover art was done by Guðmundur Óli Pálmason.
SÓLSTAFIR will do a winter tour in Europe and this tour is going to be something incredibly special, album "Köld" will be played in its entirety to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the album.
Enjoy today's tune "Pale Rider". The clip is filmed Live At Wacken 2010.
SINMARA is a Black Metal band from Reykjavík and Mosfellsbær featuring members of SVARTIDAUÐI, WORMLUST, REBRITH OF NEFAST and SLIDHR. The band was formerly named CHAO, and under that name the three track cassette "Spiritus Sankti" was released in 2012 by Norwegian label Terratur Possessions. Musically SINMARA contrast chaotic agression with haunting melodies and dramatic build-ups, with a focus on musicianship and attention to detail. Sinmara is an experienced and respected live band, having played countless shows in Reykjavík and three times at Eistnaflug.
Their latest release "Hvísl Stjarnanna", released on CD, LP and digital through the veritable German imprint Ván Records on March 8, 2019.
A monument to the group’s namesake dark sorceress goddess, keeper of the baneful sword Lævateinn, ‘Hvísl Stjarnanna’ is bound together thematically by myths relating to sirens, ghosts and malevolent spirits beckoning from beyond. To heed the whisper of the stars is to be transfixed by a dreamlike connection and melancholic yearning for the realm beyond the stars, to be guided by the mediators between the world of the living and the nightside of the dead.
Musically the album sees the band further progress the style previously touched upon on their latest MLP "Within the Weaves of Infinity" which saw the band infuse their chaotic and forceful Black Metal with a melodic richness which harkens back to traditional forebearers of the Scandinavian style. On "Hvísl Stjarnanna" SINMARA reveals a mournful and nostalgic atmosphere and soundscapes steeped in more grandeur than they’ve crafted to date, but yet showcasing serpentine harmonies permeated by the same malefic venom as has come to be expected of the band.
SVARTIDAUÐI and SINMARA two of the best bands to have emerged from the erupting Icelandic black metal scene will hit Scandinavia for a series of dates based around their performance at "Mörkasta Småland Fest" taking place in Hultsfred, Sweden on the 4th and 5th of October.
Don’t miss your chance to catch these two great bands as they venture north throughout Scandinavia playing shows in Denmark, Sweden and Norway, see the dates below.
Today's tune "Mephitic Haze", taken form the album "Hvísl Stjarnanna", the clip is filmed live at Atlas Brew Works in Washington DC on Wednesday 10 April 2019.
The routing will be as follows:
Thursday 26th Sept. – Sweden, Stockholm - Slaktkyrkan
Friday 27th Sept. – Sweden, Malmö - Plan B - Malmö
Saturday 28th Sept. – Sweden, Arvika - Klub Motfals
Sunday 29th Sept. – Sweden, Gothenburg - Truckstop Alaska
Monday 30thSept. - Norway, Oslo - BLÅ
Tuesday 1st Oct. – Sweden, Östersund - Tinghuset
Wednesday 2nd Oct. – Norway, Trondheim - Good Omens
Thursday 3rd Oct. – Sweden, Umeå – DROSKAN
Friday 4th Oct. – Sweden, Sundswall - Club Deströyer
Saturday 5th Oct. – Sweden, Hultsfred - Hotel Hullingen * Mörkaste Småland
Sunday 6th Oct. – Denmark, Copenhagen – Spillestedet Stengade
SVARTIDAUÐI are not only among the most notable bands within the modern, dissonant and monolithic black metal movement, but they are also one of the leaders.
I am the flame that burns in every heart of man, and in the core of every star. I am Life, and the giver of Life, yet therefore is the knowledge of me the knowledge of death. -Liber Al vel Legis 2.6
On the 3rd of December 2018, did SVARTIDAUÐI unleash long-awaited sophomore full-length "Revelations Of The Red Sword" upon the ashes of civilization. Once again recorded and produced at Studio Emissary by Stephen Lockhart and featuring artwork by David Glomba, the combined result is equally stunning sonically as it is visually. The 6 track, 47 minute album marks SVARTIDAUÐIs second release on legendary German imprint Ván Records.
The Red Sword refers to the rays of a rising- and a setting sun, encompassing its contents in the fire and the fury of our world’s most creative and destructive force, the glowing God up above, the Sun - Celebrating its howling solar winds, all the while waiting with anticipation for the inevitable heat death of the universe.
SVARTIDAUÐI means Black Death in English.
SVARTIDAUÐI and SINMARA two of the best bands to have emerged from the erupting Icelandic black metal scene will hit Scandinavia for a series of dates based around their performance at "Mörkasta Småland Fest" taking place in Hultsfred, Sweden on the 4th and 5th of October.
Don’t miss your chance to catch these two great bands as they venture north throughout Scandinavia playing shows in Denmark, Sweden and Norway, see the dates below.
Today's tune "Burning Worlds Of Excrement" is taken from the album "Revelations Of The Red Sword", enjoy!
The routing will be as follows:
Thursday 26th Sept. – Sweden, Stockholm - Slaktkyrkan
Friday 27th Sept. – Sweden, Malmö - Plan B - malmö
Saturday 28th Sept. – Sweden, Arvika - Klub Motfals
Sunday 29th Sept. – Sweden, Gothenburg - Truckstop Alaska
Monday 30thSept. - Norway, Oslo - BLÅ
Tuesday 1st Oct. – Sweden, Östersund - Tinghuset
Wednesday 2nd Oct. – Norway, Trondheim - Good Omens
Thursday 3rd Oct. – Sweden, Umeå – DROSKAN
Friday 4th Oct. – Sweden, Sundswall - Club Deströyer
Saturday 5th Oct. – Sweden, Hultsfred - Hotel Hullingen * Mörkaste Småland
Sunday 6th Oct. – Denmark, Copenhagen – Spillestedet Stengade
"Umbra" is the Icelandic ALMYRKVI’s debut full-length, a triumph of unearthly Black Metal. Already established in the top echelon on the burgeoning Icelandic Black metal scene, ALMYRKVI’s mastermind Garðar S. Jónsson builds upon the foundations laid by last years monumental EP "Pupil Of The Searing Maelstrom". Presented is a constantly evolving, yet cohesive array of suffocating soundscapes, delving deeper still into melancholic darkness of the cosmic abyss.
"Umbra" is building upon what was established by "Pupil Of The Searing Maelstrom", ‘Umbra’ delves deeper into the melancholic darkness of the astral abyss. The music is grandiose, malevolent, atmospheric, spacey and really dark. Sit back and enjoy it when it wash over you!
All compositions & instruments by Garðar S. Jónsson (Sinmara)
Drums by Bjarni Einarsson (Sinmara, Slidhr, Wormlust). Artwork by Seals of Blackening.
Video by David-Thelen.de
From the deleterious
The eminent appear
Today's tune "Vaporous Flame", lead single from the debut album "Umbra", enjoy!
KEELRIDER is a 5 piece band from Reykjavík, Iceland hellbent on making good ol’ fashioned rock with a big spark of stoney grunge. The vocalist reminds me partly of Layne Staley, he sings really good and have a good punch in his voice. The music is done well, nice passages with good riffs, great musicianship for a brand new band, just take the mellow and soaring piece "Stay", check it below.
Finding the right niche, finding your own place, appreciation and identity can be a rather tedious undertaking especially if you are “just” an Icelandic rock band, and strive for sticking out of a never-ending stream of new bands that usually are as quickly formed as they vanish.
KEELRIDER is looking for appreciation and wants to spread their creation to the whole mass and would like as many people as possible to listen to their music and so they are giving their latest album away for FREE! So surf in to their Bandcamp here https://keelrider.bandcamp.com/releases and "Name Your Price". Thanks guys!
The band consists of:
Vocals: Björn Birnir
Lead Guitar: Stefán Pétur Bachmann Bjarnason
Rhythm Guitar: Benedikt Sölvi Sveinbjörnsson
Bass: Egill Fabien Posocco
Drums: Pétur Pétursson
Today's tune "Stay" is taken from the album "North", released March 5, 2018, enjoy!
DEEP PURPLE, LED ZEPPELIN, JIMI HENDRIX, RAINBOW - the list of bands that influence THE VINTAGE CARAVAN’s creative work is undeniable, but the band still puts their very own stamp on every single track. At least so they do on the first tune and single "Reflections" taken from the upcoming fourth album "Gateways", out on August 31, 2018.
THE VINTAGE CARAVAN are from Álftanes, Iceland. The band was formed in 2006 by Óskar Logi Ágústsson and Guðjón Reynisson before bassist Alexander Örn Númason joined after the first studio album. There has been just one line-up change since the founding of the band when Stefán Ari Stefánsson replaced Guðjón Reynisson on drums in 2015. The band has released three studio albums.
Today's tune "Reflections" is an indomitable beast and gives a great fingertip on what comes ahead in August, really looking forward to a full spin, enjoy!
Upcoming Dates
JUL 11 Elstnaflug Neskaupstadhur, Iceland
JUL 28 Rock im Wald Mosbach In Baden, Germany
AUG 03 Tsunami Xixon Gijon, Spain
OCT 13 Beerland Hengelo, Netherlands
OCT 15 Molotow Hamburg, Germany
OCT 16 Lido Berlin, Germany
OCT 17 Klub Hydrozagadka Warsaw, Poland
OCT 18 Pod Minogą Poznań, Poland
OCT 19 arena wien - verein forum Wien, Austria
OCT 20 Rock The Box Kempten, Germany
OCT 22 Moritzbastei Leipzig, Germany
OCT 23 Strom Munich, Germany
OCT 24 Substage Karlsruhe, Germany
OCT 25 Luxor Cologne, Germany
OCT 26 Backstage Paris, France
OCT 27 Liberte Rennes-le-chateau, France
OCT 30 Santana 27 Black Bilbao, Spain
OCT 31 Nazca Madrid, Spain
NOV 01 Bóveda Barcelona, Spain
NOV 08 Rescue Rooms Nottingham, United Kingdom
NOV 09 Hard Rock Hell Hereford, United Kingdom
NOV 10 Borderline London, United Kingdom
NOV 12 King Tut's Wah Wah Hut Glasgow, United Kingdom
NOV 13 Rebellion Manchester, United Kingdom
NOV 14 Exchange Bristol, United Kingdom
NOV 16 Ancienne Belgique Brussels, Belgium
DEC 01 MOD CLUB Saint Petersburg, Russia
DEC 02 ZIL ARENA Moscow, Russia
"Berdreyminn” the sixth album release from the four Icelanders SÓLSTAFIR reaches the 3 place on the Tune of The Day's TOP 100 album list of the Best Albums 2017.
"Berdreyminn" is a soundtrack full of atmospheric cathartic tunes that will drag you out from your daily routines and move you to the Icelandic plains. The album runs for almost 60 mins, with an average tune time of 7-8 minutes. "Berdreyminn" is a where bold experimentalism is mixed with transient windy riffs, amazing melodic spaces and explosive power. This is a work of art, depth droney guitars, sentimental pianos and prismatic crescendos that converge beyond the five bodily senses. With "Berdreyminn", SÓLSTAFIR pushes it to the next level of their creativity.
"Berdreyminn" is produced by Birgir Birgirsson (SIGUR RÓS, ALCEST) and Jaime Gomez Arellano (GHOST, PARADISE LOST, ORANSSI PAZUZU)
"Berdreyminn" is an impressive album, read my review here!
Today´s tune ”Ísafold”, with an Icelandic atmospheric hard-rock groove flows thru the space as a midwinter dream during Christmas time. This clip is recorded Live at Zal Ozhidaniya 15.11.2017
SÓLSTAFIR have released a new video for their tune "Hula". The song features on the Icelandic outfit’s sixth studio album "Berdreyminn", which arrived in May this year.
The video was directed by Harri Haataja and cinematographer Vesa Ranta and was filmed in Lithuania.
The band tell the magazine Prog: "When we were on the road in 2013, we came across this place called Hill Of Crosses in Lithuania. At the time, we just knew that we would have to shoot a video there one day".
“We developed a good working relationship with Vesa and Harri back in 2015 with the Miðaftann video, and since they are both living in Finland, it seemed a good idea to send them over with the boat from Finland with the camera and help us fulfil this dream of ours.”
Haataja adds: “This time we set out to do a video for Sólstafir outside of Iceland. Aðalbjörn Tryggvason had this beautiful location at Hill Of Crosses in mind and we thought that it would fit perfectly for this clip".
“We also found a couple of other great locations suitable for the story and aesthetic that we had in mind for our video.”
SÓLSTAFIR will head out on tour across Europe from next month, with MYRKUR and ÁRSTÍÓIR joining them on select dates, see all the dates below.
Today's tune "Hula", taken from the album "Berdreyminn". Video credits: Director:Harri Haataja, Cinematography: Vesa Ranta, Harri Haataja, Editing: Aapo Lahtela, Harri Haataja, Vesa Ranta, Camera assistant: Aapo Lahtela, Lighting: Aapo Lahtela, Actors: Eeva-Maria Kauniskangas, Aðalbjörn Tryggvason and Rauli Marjala
SÓLSTAFIR 2017 tour dates
Nov 13: Helsinki Tavastia Bar, Finland
Nov 14: Moscow Volta, Russia
Nov 15: St Petersburg Club Zal, Russia
Nov 17: London Heaven, UK
Nov 18: Leeuwarden Neushoorn, Netherlands
Nov 19: Lille Maison Folie Beaulieu, Francev
Nov 20: Paris Alhambra, France
Nov 21: Rennes Antipode MJC, France
Nov 23: Bilbao Santana27, Spain
Nov 24: Madrid Caracol, Spain
Nov 25: Barcelona Razzmatazz2, Spain
Nov 26: Marseille Jas Rod, France
Nov 27: Milan Circolo Magnolia, Italy
Nov 29: Munich Theaterfabrik, Germany
Nov 30: Salzburg Rockhouse, Austria
Dec 01: Bologna Locomotiv, Italy
Dec 07: Budapest A38, Hungary
Dec 08: Wien Arena, Austria
Dec 11: Praha Roxy, Czech Republic
Dec 12: Berlin Heimathafen, Germany
Dec 13: Cologne Kantine, Germany
Dec 15: Rotterdam maasSilo, Netherlands
Dec 16: Brussells VK, Belgium
Dec 18: Kobenhavn Pumpehuset, Germany Dec 20: Stockholm Debaser Strand, Sweden
Monday, new week! Time to introduce "Record Of The Week"
"Berdreyminn" is the sixth and latest release from the four Icelanders SÓLSTAFIR. A band that I really admire SÓLSTAFIR, a band that delivers amazing music over and over again. "Berdreyminn", as its title "a dreamer of forthcoming events" aptly describes. Is another absolute epic release. An atmospheric haunting cracker in typical SÓLSTAFIR manner where they emulate all styles to their own mix in a perfect way, psychedelic phases, as well as strong undercurrents of classic rock and hard rock with echoes of their metal past.
"Berdreyminn" is a soundtrack full of atmospheric cathartic tunes that will drag you out from your daily routines and move you to the Icelandic plains. The album runs for almost 60 mins, with an average tune time of 7-8 minutes. "Berdreyminn" is a where bold experimentalism is mixed with transient windy riffs, amazing melodic spaces and explosive power. This is a work of art, depth droney guitars, sentimental pianos and prismatic crescendos that converge beyond the five bodily senses. With "Berdreyminn", SÓLSTAFIR pushes it to the next level of their creativity.
The album starts off very strong with "Silfur-Refur"(today's tune) and the new-wave intro that moves over to an hard-rock groove in "Ísafold", is a lovely start of the album. A sentimental piano starts of the beauty "Hvít Sæng" with an melancholy sad vocal starts before the tune takes the next step and risen the tempo. "Dýrafjörður" continues with the piano in a slow and atmospheric approach with beautiful strings. "Blájfall" is the final destination on the album. "Berdreyminn" is an really enjoyable and impressive journey.
"Berdreyminn" is produced by Birgir Birgirsson (SIGUR RÓS, ALCEST) and Jaime Gomez Arellano (GHOST, PARADISE LOST, ORANSSI PAZUZU)
Summary: "Berdreyminn" is an impressive album!
Today's tune "Silfur-Refur" is taken from the new album "Berdreyminn". Directed by Nico Poalillo & Peter Beste, Cinematography by Nico Poalillo
Copenhagen in the autumn of 1972, the crucible for Icelandic hippies, where the Free State of Kristiania held the promise of a better world where everyone was equal, providing according to available resources, partaking as needed. They celebrated the one year anniversary of Kristiania gathered around a great bonfire and promised to turn the Free State into a model of cooperation, togetherness and solidarity – a sort of primal Christianity.
ICECROSS were Icelanders living in Kristiania with big dreams.
For several reasons ICECROSS never made it. But they however manage to cut a record bearing the name of the group. A great record that is really hard to get these days.
There where only 1000 LP copies made. A CD of the original source is in the making, since the one on the market today is a bootleg.
Today's tune "Jesus Freaks" taken from the self titled album by ICECROSS. A nice obscure rock from the 70's, enjoy!
Monday, new week, time to present "Record Of The Week"
A/B is the second studio album by Icelandic rock band KALEO. It was released on June 10, 2016.
KALEO hail from Mosfellsbær, Iceland, nothing that will come up in mind when A/B is spinning on the turntable as both the sound and vocal is as american it could be. The music is like overheated garage blues with fine-tuned capochilla-soul vocals.
KALEO was formed in 2012. The band consists of Jökull Júlíusson (vocals and guitar), Davíð Antonsson (percussion and vocals), Daníel Ægir Kristjánsson (bass guitar), and Rubin Pollock (guitar and vocals). KALEO has released two studio albums, KALEO (2013) and A/B (2016), as well as an EP, Glasshouse (2013).
The album "A/B" kicks of with a meaty Blues stomper "No Good", a tune which appears on the soundtrack to HBO's Vinyl. "Way Down We Go" is a half tempo master piece where JJ Whiskey soar vocals will trip anyone on her knees, thick and sensitive. "Broken Bones" is the albums Delta Blues tune where "The devil's going to make me a free man", excellent indeed! The album really have a broad mix from the Blues to Country like the tune "Automobile" or the folkish "All the Pretty Girls" and up tempo rockers like "Glass House" and "Hot Blood". Or the iced folklore "Vor I Vaglaskogi" where JJ sings in his native language, a tune that makes a real impact, grandiose and sentimental. The album closes with two softer tunes, the honest "Save Yourself" and hauntingly beautiful "I Can't Go On Without You".
The influences are THE BLACK KEYS, THE LUMINEERS, ROBERT JOHNSON and BON IVER.
Sum: An album that mixes virginity and soulfulness of blues rock with elements of folk and country.
Today's tune "No Good" is taken from the "Record Of The Week" album A/B, enjoy!
Number 1 on Tune Of The Days best album list of year 2014 is the Icelandic four-piece Sólstafir.
It's a challenging record, but satisfying in kind and universal in its expressiveness.
"Ótta"is like a seductive cocktail of something to come. They touch something ancient and timeless. An atmospheric shoegaze psychedelic metal appetizers that captivates the listener. The album has excellent production with a great mood and structure, it will touch you deeply within its beauty and leave a mark that can't be washed away even if you used the most heaviest dirt remover. You will play this record over and over again, I have and you will! Just lean back, close your eyes, take your time and lose yourself in this masterpiece called "Ótta"!
Todays tune "Lágnætti" is a very elegantwell-shaped tune, enjoy!
Well, now we have reach the end of this year and it's time for the last tune to be played here at Tune Of The Day for 2013. We look forward to 2014 and a really nicemusicyear.
One of the upcoming bands might be this young band, hailing from the Greater Reykjavik area. The Vintage Caravan was originally founded around 2006 when the band members were very young. However, it did not become a serious project until 2009.
The Vintage Caravan are known for their energetic stage performance and have been very active live for the past few years. Since 2011 the band has released two LPs with the latter being released by one of the largest record labels in Iceland, Sena which they made a deal with in early 2012. That same year bassist Alex Örn joined the group.
Musical influences are very diverse but mainly include the classic hard rock of the 60's and 70's. Though the influence may suggest a glorified retro-type band, The Vintage Caravan do it in their own way with a powerful attitude and a modern twist.
Todays tune "Expand Your Mind" is taken from the album "Voyage", that will be released on Jan. 10th (EU), Jan. 13th (UK) and January 21, 2014 (NA) via Nuclear Blast Records.
Listen to "Sólstafir - Lágnætti" on Spotify 
