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The progressive rock band The Windmill was started in the autumn of 2001 as an occasional prog project for fun, as a side project alongside various other bands the band members then played in. The background for the band and the name is a "revelation" keyboard player Jean Robert Viita received in Germany in the early 90s. Above a hilltop, a windmill farm appeared, and Jeanni discovered that the rotors in the windmills seemed to rotate synchronously with Camel's "Moonmadness" playing on the car stereo. There and then, the seed of The Windmill was sown!

The first years were characterized by sporadic rehearsals, during which both own songs and classic prog songs were played just for fun. At that time, the idea of a permanently established band with live performances and recordings was relatively distant.
But ambitions tend to develop, and in autumn 2005, it was decided to start recording the debut album "To Be Continued....". They began with recordings and rehearsals in (then) guitarist Bent Jensen's studio in Fredrikstad, where a complete digital studio was available. The band started to take shape as a proper band and not just a side project, and regular rehearsals were introduced, parallel to the studio work.

Most members began to think this band was more attractive than those they were involved with and decided to commit themselves fully to The Windmill. A new drummer, Sven H. "Bulle" Borgen, was brought in as a replacement for Vidar Kleivane, who chose to retire.

After much trial and error in 2005 and 2006, the first live concert was held at Maiden in Oslo in April 2007 as a support act for another Norwegian prog band, Panzerpappa. This concert proved a success and spurred further efforts in the rehearsal room and studio.

After this, the recordings continued, and several concerts followed. A minor setback came in 2008 when drummer "Bulle" withdrew from the band. However, he finished the recording (drums) of "To be Continued...".
2009 started with a new drummer, Sam Arne Nøland, and a new rehearsal room in Åros. With Nøland's entry, a new glow came into the band, and more concerts followed.

At the beginning of 2010, guitarist Bent Jensen chose to retire due to a lot of work with Pulse of Floyd. The mixing of the debut album continued, however, and in mid-March, it was sent for mastering at Sterling Sound in New York, and "To Be Continued..." was released in May 2010 to fantastic reviews worldwide. The release gig was held on May 7, 2010, in Slemmestad. It was the first concert without lead guitarist Bent, and that created a little extra excitement. However, there was no need to panic: Morten and Erik tuned the guitars perfectly to fill in the gaps left by Bent. It was a fantastic concert, with a fantastic audience!

The next live performance was on July 31 of the same year, Up On The Farm BBQ, a festival based on food and music. Here, the new lead guitarist, Stig André Clason, was presented for the first time. His brilliant performance exceeded all expectations, and he became a permanent band member.

In 2011, The Windmill got the chance to bring their music out to a larger audience when a gratifying number of gigs appeared after the CD release: Nordkappfestivalen, Honningsvåg, warm-up for Fish in Drammen, and for The Watch at John Dee, Oslo, Norway and the Art Rock Festival in Lidköping, Sweden should be mentioned.
In the autumn of 2011, they returned to the studio to start recording the follow-up album "The Continuation".

During 2012, several great concerts were held in Norway, and a lot of hard work was done in the studio. The last chord was recorded at the end of December, and "The Continuation" was sent for mixing and mastering in mid-January 2013. Again, Lydspesialisten in Fredrikstad was responsible for mixing, and Sterling Sound was again responsible for mastering in New York. This time, it was also decided to press a limited edition of vinyl LPs. "The Continuation" was ready for release on March 13, 2013.

2010-2016 offered several pleasant tours and concerts at home and abroad. In particular, it was incredibly nice to play on the main stage at the Cambridge Rock Festival in 2014 and 2016, the Haugaland Progrock Festival in Haugesund with Junipher Greene in 2015, and the concert with Adventure and Fish at Kimen Cultural Center in Stjørdal also in 2015. The We Låve Rock Festival concert in Hurum in 2018 should also be mentioned, along with Arena and the Franck Carducci Band. In autumn 2016/spring 2017, the band acted as a backing band for Caamora Norway, which staged Clive Nolan's musical "Alchemy" at Sætre, Kolbotn, and Høytorp Fort at Mysen.

The recording of "Tribus" began in autumn 2016. The album consists of songs that had been in the live repertoire for a while and completely new songs that have never been played live. As usual, The Windmill has an epic song when it comes to a new album, and this year's contribution is called "The Tree" and clocks in at close to 24 minutes.
The album was partly recorded at Morten Clason's summer house in Sweden, at Stig André Clason's home studio in Oslo, and in the band's combined rehearsal room and studio in Hurum. Karl Groom (Threshold, Shadowland, Strangers On A Train) mixed and mastered the album at Thin Ice Studios in England.

In the spring of 2018, the band received the unspeakably sad news that drummer Sammi Nøland had contracted cancer. He just managed to record the drums on the entire album before his strength ran out in late April. In August, the news came that the disease had worsened significantly and that, unfortunately, it was rapidly declining. On the night of September 5, Sammi died, leaving a massive void in the band that has yet to be filled. RIP, Sammi! A wonderful person and sparkling drummer has left us.
"Tribus" was officially released on November 15, 2018, in connection with the release gig at Belleville in Oslo. Once again, the reviews were fantastic, both in Norway and abroad. In the wake of "Tribus," there was an extensive concert activity in 2019, and the highlights worth mentioning are the Night of the Prog Festival in Loreley, Germany, in July and the Summers End Festival in Wales in October. The Close To The Rain Festival in Bergen in June and Prog At Sea should also be mentioned at the end of August.

Work started on new songs for the fourth album at the beginning of 2020, but the Corona outbreak in March 2020 placed the band on the sidelines for a while. Playing at the Klokkarstua Festival in Hurum in 2021 and 2022 was pretty much the only activity after the Corona. In August 2022, work on album number 4 started again.

In October 2022, the band played two warm-up concerts for the English prog band Arena: at Cosmopolite in Oslo on Saturday, October 15, and at Musikens Hus in Gothenburg on Sunday, October 16.
2023 offered several ups and downs. The Windmill played at the Midsummer Festival in Valkenburg, the Netherlands, and Prog en Beauce in Pierres, France. Work on album No. 4 continues.

In October, drummer Kristoffer Utby, who had been with the band since 2018, retired to spend more time on his project, Infringement. The new drummer from January 2024 is Nils Harsem from Slemmestad. He debuted live with the band at a memorial concert for sound engineer Morten Skancke on January 15, 2024.

The fourth album, Mindscapes, was finally finalized and ready for release on July 1, 2024, for CDs and digital formats. The vinyl versions are scheduled for August 1, 2024.
The Windmill is also invited to play on the last day of the last Night of the Prog Festival in Loreley, July 21. This is a great honor. At this event, the young guitarist Emil Olsen will substitute Stig André Clason, who, unfortunately, is unable to participate.

Members:

Discography:

Mindscapes		Album		2024		Buy physical editions		Buy digital download
Tribus		Album		2018
The Continuation		Album		2013
To Be Continued...		Album		2010

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Catakomb, a thrilling newcomer to the Norwegian heavy rock scene, hails from Larvik in Vestfold, and their intense dedication to the genre is palpable. Their electrifying live shows, which have enthralled audiences worldwide, continue to garner enthusiastic acclaim. Drawing from a unique blend of influences, including the melodic sensibilities of Thin Lizzy, the dark energy of mid-era Black Sabbath, and the grunge-infused sound of Alice in Chains, Catacomb’s signature sound is a captivating fusion. Elevated by the blues-infused heavy rock vocals reminiscent of David Coverdale, their music is a journey yet to be explored.

Catakomb is more than just another heavy rock band; they are driven and poised to leave an indelible mark on heavy rock enthusiasts. This is only the initial stage of their journey, and they eagerly invite you to stay tuned for what lies ahead.

Discography:

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Album

2024

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Profane Burial presents an atmospheric, dismal, and grim journey through unsanctified cinematic black metal, a sub-genre of black metal often featuring atmospheric and symphonic elements, drawing inspiration from film scores and other forms of orchestral music.

Biography

In the year 2013, Kjetil Ytterhus (known for his work with Haimad and Khora, among others) and André Aaslie (associated with Funeral, Images At Twilight, Omnia Moritur, Abyssic, and other projects) co-founded Profane Burial. Approximately a year after its inception, the duo had composed sufficient material for a debut album. Subsequently, they embarked on a search for additional musicians to expand their ensemble for live performances. This endeavor, however, was fraught with challenges. It was not until 2016 that they successfully assembled the ideal lineup, marking the commencement of a noteworthy collaboration. This new formation included the skilled guitarist Jostein Thomassen (formerly of Source Of Tide and Fracture), the rising drummer Bjørn Dugstad Rønnow (previously with Sphere, Viper Solfa, and Trollfest), and the seasoned vocalist Ronny Thorsen, celebrated for his contributions to Trail Of Tears and Blood Red Throne, among others.

Profane Burial performed their inaugural concert in December 2016. In spring 2017, the band entered the esteemed Strand Studio to record and mix their album. "The Rosewater Park Legend" was officially released in March 2018, followed by a series of live performances. Ytterhus and Aaslie began composing material for their subsequent album during this period.

In 2019, Jostein Thomassen and Bjørn Dugstad Rønnow received invitations to join the band Borknagar. Owing to the intensive touring schedule with Borknagar, Thomassen elected to prioritize his commitments with them, resulting in his departure from Profane Burial. Fortunately, Rønnow chose to remain with the group. Concurrently, Ronny Thorsen was engaged in revitalizing his former band, Trail Of Tears, and decided to dedicate his efforts fully to this reunion.

Faced with the departure of both their guitarist and vocalist, Ytterhus and Aaslie resolved to continue as a trio. In this new configuration, Aaslie assumed the role of guitarist, while Ytterhus took on the vocal responsibilities.

Discography:

My Plateau

Album

2024

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An epic symphonic renaissance-inspired Rock Opera featuring Clive Nolan (Arena & Pendragon), Eric Bouillette (Nine Skies, The Room), Andy Sears (ex Twelfth Night), and Laura Piazzai (Caamora). 

Discography:

The Rise of Medici

Album

2023

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In 2014 Kjetil Ytterhus (Profane Burial, Hogstul, Khora) and André Aaslie (Vitam Aeternam, Funeral, Images At Twilight, Abyssic a.o) founded Omnia Moritur. The original idea was to create sombre funeral doom metal, and in 2016 Funeral drummer Anders Eek joined on drums. Then they started looking for a guitarist to cooperate with. This was not a process without adversities, and it was not until 2017 they finally found the right guitarist to complete the puzzle. This was the beginning of a unique collaboration between the other founder of legendary Funeral, Thomas Angell. Two guys from Funeral then...

So let's change the original idea and play heavy death metal instead!

To this odd story, it's fair to tell why Angell left Funeral in the late nineties. He was tired of playing slow-paced funeral doom and started making more up-tempo chuggy riffs highly inspired by Fredrik Thordendals' groundbreaking work in Meshuggah. Aaslie and Ytterhus decided to throw away all the original Omnia Moritur stuff and dive into this gold coffin filled with two decades of Angell-riffs. They made chord progressions around the massive riffs with piano, synth effects, Mellotrons, and huge orchestrations. Together with Angell, everything was arranged together into songs.

During this period, the quartet started to look for a vocalist. They wanted a clean vocal somewhere close to Peter Steele, death grunts like Dan Swanô and Glen Benton, and they also wanted some high pitch-black metal vocal. Does a guy like that even exist? Yes! Gøran Setitus (ex-Setherial, Svartghast) from Sundsvall in Sweden had it all. When he sent over his oral application through the song Omnipotence in April 2018, the very right frontman was hired right away. The following year Setitus composed all his vocals. And unfortunately, Anders Eek decided to leave the band. He felt the new direction of the music wasn't right for him. In came a new drummer, but that wasn't really a match. Then Kim Larsen came in as a studio session drummer. After the album was finished, the band again found a new drummer in Anders Hoel (Dystopia Nå!), who already has rehearsed with the band for upcoming live shows. He will also play drums on the next album.

In the fall of 2021, one of the original founders, Kjetil Ytterhus, decided to leave Omnia Moritur to focus on his other projects.

Discography:

Ex Inferis		Album		2022		Buy physical editions		Buy digital download
Quietus		Single		2022				Buy digital download (Single)

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Infidus was conceived in a cold and musty basement in Oslo, Norway. The band consisted of four guys – two on guitar/vocals (Øyvind Hetland / Kenneth Andresen), a drummer (Trond Lund), and a bass player (Øyvind Østensen). A few years in, the former vocalist of Aggressive Chill joined the team – (Mikael Willy Wilhelmsson) from Strömstad in Sweden and made the band complete.

Everyone in Infidus has been playing music most of their lives, exploring different genres with different bands, before finally finding the tone together. Their inspiration comes from bands like Tool, Soundgarden, Metallica, Mastodon, Killswitch Engage, Periphery, and many more. The result is a bold blend of hard rock and metal.

Discography:

Endless Greed		Album		2022		Buy physical editions		Buy digital download
The Tragedy		Single		2022				Buy digital download (Single)

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Octohawk will amuse all sludge, prog, stoner, and doom fans out there. Without limitations, this Norwegian 5-piece playfully maneuvers through all the genres that excites!
With thundering beats, sludgy riffs, ripping vocals, and an entrancing soundscape, Octohawk provides an unearthly escape and just the right kind of heavy!

Discography:

Determinist		Album		2024		Buy physical editions		Buy digital download
Quantum Age		Single		2024				Buy digital download (Single)
Animist		Album		2021		Buy physical editions		Buy digital download
By the Root		Single		2021				Buy digital download (Single)
Weather the Storm		Single		2021				Buy digital download (Single)
Iconoclast		Single		2021				Buy digital download (Single)

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On a dark and damp, probably cold and windy winter’s day, early 2004, in Reykjavík, Iceland, an avid amateur musician and literature student by the name of Ragnar Ólafsson picked up the phone and dialed the number on the poster which read “Singer wanted”. “Does that ever work?” you might ask, “has there ever been a band successfully established through musicians wanted ads?” Well, yes, Metallica for one. And by now you’re probably under the impression that Ask the Slave was as well. Not quite. That was a different band. But it is the story of how Ragnar met guitarist Elvar Atli Ævarsson, a fellow music enthusiast who, at the time, played with said group. Now picture this scenario, a couple of weeks later; two guys in their early twenties are bonding during a 6-hour long drive to a paying gig with a band that neither of them is very passionate about. The two young men are intrigued to learn that they share an interest in Frank Zappa, an appreciation for eccentric, forward-thinking music, and a deep passion for good ol’ rock & roll. This sounds more like the beginning of a fruitful relationship, doesn’t it? And it was. Although the group in question would be dismantled only the very next day following a rather disastrous gig, Elvar would remember this guy Ragnar a few months down the line when giving up on handling vocal duties in another music project of his. So, this time Elvar picked up the phone. And that’s how Ask the Slave was formed.

Perhaps it’s down to the fact that Ragnar was raised in Gothenburg, Sweden, and Elvar a West fjord native, both of them having recently relocated to the Iceland capital and being poorly connected to any of the tightly-knit local music scenes. Outsiders, the two of them. With no real motivation to “fit in” with a certain crowd. That might be it. Whatever the reason, Ask the Slave has always been on the fringe, indifferent to trends, welcoming of influences and inspiration from all music deemed of quality, regardless of traditions or “cool factors”. This has resulted in their music being described as eclectic and unpredictable.

Within a year from forming, the Ask the Slave ensemble had recruited Valur Árni Guðmundsson from a legendary Icelandic underground metal act. Joining as a drummer prior to the recording of the group’s debut, Kiss Your Chora, Valur would later switch to guitar and effortlessly adapt to the songwriting methods of Ask the Slave. Subsequently surrounding themselves with local metal cannons, Ask the Slave soon became a popular, albeit controversial, live attraction in the open-minded Icelandic metal community. This culminated in the release of 2010s The Order of Things, a bold record that received great praise from reviewers and local music nerds.

Fast-forward to 2012. Ask the Slave begins the writing process for their third record, which almost immediately is named Good Things Bad People. Then what happened? 9 years went by, fast. That’s what. Well, other stuff too. Stuff like babies, families, day jobs, success and touring in other bands, depression, education, members’ withdrawals. But through complicated circumstances, Good Things Bad People gradually took shape. Eventually, the arrival of seasoned rhythm duo Hálfdán Árnason and Skúli Gíslason in 2017 proved to be the ultimate shot of energy that the group so desperately needed to finally get the job done.

Good Things Bad People will be released on June 4^th, 2021, by Crime Records in collaboration with We Låve Rock Music. This marks the beginning of Ask the Slave’s overseas adventures, as previous releases have so far only been distributed in Iceland. That’s about to change though, as Crime Records will additionally be re-releasing the first two albums, with bonus material, also offering the option of buying all three albums as a 3CD rigid box collector’s item.

Discography:

Box-set		Box		2021		Buy physical edition		Buy digital downloads of the albums (Bonus Tracks not included)
Good Things Bad People		Album		2021		Buy physical edition		Buy digital download
Chain Gang		Single		2021				Buy digital download
The Order of Things [Remastered]		Album		2021		Buy physical edition		Buy digital download (Bonus Tracks not included)
Kiss Your Chora [Remixed & Remastered]		Album		2021		Buy physical edition		Buy digital download (Bonus Tracks not included)

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Clive Nolan is a British musician, composer, and producer who has played a prominent role in the recent development of progressive and symphonic rock.

Born in Gloucestershire, he was a pupil at Wycliffe College and King's School, Gloucester. He completed his B. Mus and M. Mus degrees at London University where he studied composition, orchestration, and conducting. He has been the regular keyboard player in Pendragon (1986–present), Shadowland (1992–present), Strangers on a Train (1993–1994), Arena (1995–present), and Caamora (2006–present) as well as writing music and lyrics for Arena, Shadowland, Caamora and numerous other projects.

Nolan is the founder member of The Caamora Theatre Company formed to produce and perform the musicals of Clive Nolan. The premiere of 'She' took place in Katowice Wyspianski Theatre in Poland in October 2007. Subsequently, full theatrical performances of 'She' were performed in January 2010 in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, followed by the eight-man 'She in Concert' variation in Holland in September 2011. In February 2012 theatrical version of 'She' debuted in the UK in Cheltenham Playhouse Theatre. Recently, the revived theatre shows were performed at the Cheltenham Playhouse in September 2015 during the anniversary event, "The Fire and the Quest" and again in Cheltenham in 2016. 'She in Concert" was also performed in Germany in 2015 and Holland in 2016. 

He was voted Best Keyboard Player by Classic Rock Society in the years: 1995, 1996, 1998, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, and 2017. In 2010 the Bolivian government awarded him with the title of Honorary Visitor to Santa Cruz, Bolivia for his theatre work in the city of Santa Cruz. In 2013 he was awarded the Polish MLWZ "Golden Lexicon Award" for Outstanding Achievements in Music for his musical 'Alchemy'.

Nolan released his second musical 'Alchemy', with a libretto based on the composer's original story, early in 2013. In February 2013 the live show was recorded for the DVD at the famous Wyspianski Theatre in Katowice, Poland. The full theatrical shows of 'Alchemy' were performed by the Caamora Theatre Company at the Cheltenham Playhouse Theatre in September 2013. In 2013 and 2014 the concert version of 'Alchemy' headlined musical and theatre events in the UK and Holland. In August 2014 'Alchemy' was performed over a week at the Jermyn Street Theatre in the London Off-West End. In November 2014, 'Alchemy' returned in a concert version to be performed in Reichenbach, Germany. The musical was once more performed at the Cheltenham Playhouse as part of "The Fire and the Quest" festival in 2015, and during "The Fire and the Quest 2" in 2017.

In 2016 the Norwegian branch of Caamora was formed from the initiative of the founder members of 'Hurum Prog', Morten L. Clason, and Ingar Diskerud. Caamora Norway "Alchemy" shows featuring Clive Nolan and the all-Norwegian cast were performed in Norway in 2017. The Show in the Høytorp Fort in Mysen will be released on DVD.

In October 2016 Clive performed a series of concerts in Uruguay and Norway accompanied by the best opera and musical theatre artists. The Norwegian show 'An Evening with Clive Nolan and Friends' was released on DVD in 2017.

Clive's third musical 'King's Ransom' was released on CD and premiered on stage at the Cheltenham Playhouse in September 2017. Live DVD will be released in the near future.

In 2018 Clive signed both ‘Alchemy' and ‘King’s Ransom’ to a film company with a view to bringing these musicals to the silver screen. "The Professor King Chronicles" is planned to be released in cinemas in 2020 and 2021.

Clive is currently working on his new project "Song of the Wildlands".

Discography:

Song of the Wildlands

Album

2021

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Veil of Secrets is a new band formed by Vibeke Stene and Asgeir Mickelson.

Their debut album Dead Poetry marks Stene’s return to the scene after leaving Tristania in 2007 and Mickelson’s first outlet as the main songwriter.

Vibeke Stene is known as the singer of Tristania, 1997-2007. With Veil of Secrets, Stene has composed the majority of lyrics and vocals.

Asgeir Mickelson is known for having played drums in Borknagar, Sarke, Ihsahn, Spiral Architect, Vintersorg, Testament, and others. With Veil of Secrets, Mickelson has written all music and recorded drums, guitars, and bass. In live situations, he will handle drums.

Growling vocals on the album were done by Erling Malm (Endolith, Articulus) who will also play guitar live. Violin was done by Sareeta (Ram-Zet, Trollfest, etc), who will also join on live shows. The live line-up will be completed with another guitarist and bassist. This constellation is “the band”, but the creative core is Stene & Mickelson who will also represent Veil of Secrets in photos and all promotion.

The fundament of Veil of Secrets is to make music from the heart – and the belief that honest music is the only way to really captivate and move the listener. It is pure doom metal, still with a niche of its own.

Members:

Discography:

Dead Poetry		Album		2020		Buy physical editions		Buy digital download
The Last Attempt		Single		2020				Buy digital download (Single)

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