Displaying items by tag: Artist

Tuesday, 09 January 2024 20:14

Profane Burial

 

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   Buy physical editions   Buy digital download

 

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Published in Artist
Tuesday, 21 March 2023 14:51

Imaginaerium

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   Buy physical editions   Buy digital download

 

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Published in Artist
Thursday, 05 May 2022 19:10

Omnia Moritur

 

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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Published in Artist
Saturday, 12 February 2022 11:45

Infidus

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)

 

Information:

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Published in Artist
Monday, 28 December 2020 21:35

Octohawk

Newly converged 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 entrancing soundscape, Octohawk provides an unearthly escape and just the right kind of heavy!

Discography:

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)

 

Information:

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Published in Artist
Monday, 28 December 2020 21:34

Ask the Slave

 

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 4th, 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)

 

Band members: 

Elvar Atli Ævarsson    Guitars & Vocals
Hálfdán Árnason   Bass & Synthesizer
Ragnar Ólafsson   Piano & Lead Vocals
Skúli Gíslason   Drums & Percussion
Valur Árni Guðmundsson   Guitars & Vocals

 

Information:

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Published in Artist
Monday, 28 December 2020 20:13

Clive Nolan

 

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    Buy physical editions    

 

Information:

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Published in Artist
Sunday, 01 November 2020 23:54

Veil of Secrets

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:

Vibeke Stene   Vocals
Asgeir Mickelson   Drums, Guitars, Bass
Erling Malm   Growling Vocals (Live)
Sareeta   Violin (Live)

 

Discography:

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

 

Information:

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Published in Artist
Thursday, 03 September 2020 23:28

Vitam Aeternam

 

Vitam Aeternam is an experimental musical project formed by entities known as Jake Rosenberg (Desperate Machines, In Progress), Râhoola (A Flying Fish, ex-Inferzenal), and André Aaslie (Funeral, Profane Burial, Images At Twilight, Abyssic, Gromth, Woodwindz, and Omnia Moritur). It's through chance and shared musical values that such entities were able to create an original album full of complex, emotional, dramatic, haunting, melodic, intense, and cinematic music. An honest work from the subconscious depths, and a prodigious offspring of our interconnected digital zeitgeist.

 

Line up:

Jake Rosenberg   Keyboards, Piano, Programming, Sampling
Râhoola   Vox, Choir, Keyboards, Piano, Orch., Sound Design, Additional Guitars & Bass
André Aaslie   Piano, Orchestration, Moog, Mellotron & Additional Guitars

 

Discography:

Revelations of the Mother Harlot   Album   2022    Buy physical editions.    Buy digital downloads.
Redemption   Single   2022        Buy digital downloads.
The Self-Aware Frequency   Album   2020    Buy physical editions.    Buy digital downloads.
Human   Single   2020        Buy digital downloads.

 

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Published in Artist
Thursday, 31 October 2019 20:58

Infringement

 

 

Infringement is a progressive rock band based in Oslo. The band came together on a cold November evening in 2015, when Stig André Clason, Kristoffer Utby, and Hans Andreas Brandal all met for the first time, to drink whiskey and discuss the idea of forming a new band.

In Springtime 2016, Espen Larsen joined the band on bass, and the band had decided to write a concept album, Transition. Released in May of 2017, it follows the development of a local society through the last couple of centuries. Focusing on one family across different generations, seen through the eyes of an anthropomorphic house.

To complete the lineup, Bård Thorstensen joined the band for the live shows and hasn't left since.

Infringement has been described as playing something in between neo-progressive rock and symphonic rock while flirting with various genres throughout their debut album. They touch on big groovy parts with funky rhythms, other times they clearly visit the 70s. A mix of melodious, symphonic rock with unexpected twists and progressive bar changes.

After spending the last two years writing, fine-tuning, and recording their next album, Infringement is now ready for the next chapter. Alienism, a large sounding, intense concept album peeks into the mind of patients at the Gentmire Institute, an institution at the forefront of psychiatrical innovation. We get the insights of the commissioner of Lunacy himself, and through his journals, we enter the world of The Alienist. So let us all escape reality and seek comfort in our minds.

 

Line up:

Hans Andreas Brandal   Vocals
Stig André Clason   Guitar and Vocals
Kristoffer Utby   Drums and Vocals
Bård Thorstensen   Keys
Espen Larsen   Bass

 

Discography:

Alienism   Album   2019    Buy physical edition.    Buy digital download.
Transition   Album   2017    Buy physical edition.    

 

Information:

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Published in Artist
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