DEBUT FULL LENGTH ALBUM FROM BLACKENED FOLK METALLERS MONDVOLLAND RELEASED ON APOLLON RECORDS

This week sees the release of “d’Olde Roop”, the debut full-length album from Blackened Folk Metallers MONDVOLLAND, on the Netherlands based Apollon Records label. The subject matter of the nine-track album, whose title means “The Old Call” in the Eastern Dutch dialect, deals with two distinct historical periods in the Hamaland, the central eastern region of Gelderland, which is where the band originates. Drawing inspiration from local stories and myths, the first period covers the early Middle Ages, when much of the local written folklore was destroyed by the Frankish kings who had, by this time, converted to Christianity. The second period covers the time when the area had been Christianised for centuries, but the folklore was still very much “heathen” in nature, and many popular beliefs and customs, which were ingrained within the subconscious psyche of the population, were considered to be “satanic” by the Church.

Guest musicians on “d’Olde Roop” include Laurens van der Zee from the Dutch folk legends FOLKCORN, who played four different kinds of flute, and Irma Vos, live member of HEIDEVOLK, on violin. Artwork is by Awik Balaian, an Armenian artist living in the Netherlands; whose work the band felt complimented not only the music, but also the concept behind the album. Track listing for “d’Olde Roop” as follows:

1. Stemmen in de avond

2. De vuurman van Papendal

3. De roep der gevallen helden

4. ‘t Oudreemsterveld

5. Daar, waar Donar dondert

6. Vastelavond

7. De witte juffer van Kernheim

8. ...als de grijze sluier over de wouden danst

9. Hoefslagen in de verte

MONDVOLLAND was formed in 2005 by Martijn (clean vocals, guitars) and Mickeal (screams, bass, guitars), and started life by alternating covers from established Black Metal bands with original material written by the two founders. It had always been Martijn’s intent to provide a place for the local traditional folk music within Metal, because, as he explains “we felt that the so-called 'pagan/folk metal’ had became too one-sided and mediocre. Pseudo-bombastic keyboards and self-proclaimed, stereotypical, “Vikings” from all over the world was not something that interested us. We wanted to combine the music we created with lyrics about local sagas, myths and history. We wanted to breathe life into the old soul of the Lowlands”. The duo was later joined by Harold on guitars and Patrick on drums, and it was this line up that recorded “d’Olde Roop”. Patrick recently quit the band and has been replaced by KAMPFAR drummer Ask.

More information, including tracks from “d’Olde Roop”, can be found on MONDVOLLAND’s MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/mondvolland . Upcoming live dates:

05 June: Release Party, The Stage, Arnhem, NL (with FOLKCORN & HULDREFOLK)

11 June: Azijnfabriek, Roermond, NL (with ARKONA, HEIDEVOLK, GRIMM)

22 Oct: Dynamo, Eindhoven, NL

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Band Contact: mickeal.s@gmail.com

Website: www.mondvolland.com

MySpace: www.myspace.com/mondvolland

Apollon Records Website: http://www.apollonrecords.nl/

All enquiries regarding promos etc. to Apollon Records: info@apollonrecords.nl

RELEASE DATE FOR VULTURE INDUSTRIES “THE DYSTOPIA JOURNALS” LIMITED EDITION VINYL ANNOUNCED

Tuesday 8th June will be the release date for the vinyl edition of “The Dystopia Journals”.

The double LP, which is limited to 500 copies, comes in 180g vinyl with a 350g gatefold jacket and double sided poster, and includes the bonus track “Ende”.

Track listing as follows:

Side A:
1. Pills of Conformity
2. Blood Don't Flow Streamlined

Side B:
3. A Path of Infamy
4. Soulcage
5. The Crumbling Realm

Side C:
6. The Benevolent Pawn
7. Grim Apparitions

Side D:
8. To Sever the Hand of Corruption
9. Ende

And the good news is that you don’t have to wait until the 8th June to order your copy. Advance orders can be placed at http://www.ragnarok-records.com, and there’s a very strong possibility that you might even receive it a little earlier than expected.

Vulture Industries on MySpace:http://www.myspace.com/vultureindustries

Vulture Industries Website: http://www.vulture-industries.net

Vulture Industries on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/vultureindustries ;

Vulture Industries on ReverbNation:http://www.reverbnation.com/vultureindustries ;

Dark Essence Records: http://www.darkessencerecords.no,

Dark Essence Records email: post@karismarecords.no

RAGNAROK RECORDS INFO

Website: http://www.ragnarok-records.com

Information: pariah5@juno.com

WORK COMPLETED ON NEW ALBUM FROM GERMAN EPIC METALLERS CROM

Work has been completed on “Of Love and Death”, the new album from the German Epic Metal band CROM. Formed in 1997 by former DARK FORTRESS guitarist Walter “Crom” Grosse, the new album will be CROM’s sixth release and a follow up to 2008’s critically acclaimed “Vengeance”. Produced by Grosse himself, and engineered by Victor Bullok at the latter’s At The Crypt Studios, the line up on the album comprises Crom on vocals, guitars, bass and choirs, Seraph (DARK FORTRESS, NONEUCLID, REVAMP) on drums and V. Santura (DARK FORTRESS, TRIPTYCON, CELTIC FROST) on additional guitars and choirs. Artwork for the album will once again be by the noted artist Kris Verwimp, a long-time friend of Grosse’s. Two tracks from the new album can be heard on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/cromsrevenge

Whilst “Vengeance” dealt with love and loss in the heroic settings of legendary kings and warriors, “Of Love and Death” still features Grosse’s soaring vocals and epic melodies, but this time the same themes are dealt with on a much more personal and intimate level. “Vengeance was the album that really defined CROM’s sound in terms of melody and vocals” explained Grosse, “and I was always drawn to the subject of the doomed hero, weary and disillusioned with fighting, but knowing that he has to go on until his death, because it’s the honourable thing to do. However, many people interpreted that album as being either “Pagan” or “Viking”, which was never my intention musically. CROM’s music is very definitely “Crom” and hopefully the new album will not have to have such a narrow definition attached to it”.

“Of Love and Death” includes a completely re-arranged and re-recorded version of “The Fallen Beauty” a song that has become something of a signature for CROM, and is included as a bonus track on the nine-track album. A label is currently being sought for the release of “Of Love and Death”, and a live line up is being put together after a hiatus in live performances. Track listing as follows:

1. Reason to Live
2. Lifetime - The Fallen Beauty Part II
3. Just One Blink
4. The Oceans Wide
5. My Song For All The Broken Hearts
6. My Destiny
7. This Dying World
8. Eternal Dreaming
9. The Fallen Beauty 2010 (Bonus Track)

Additional Information:

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/cromsrevenge
Website: http://www.croms-revenge.de
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cromofficial
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/crom
Management: http://www.myspace.com/viewfromthebacksofmirrors
Contact: patriciathomas@btinternet.com or crom@gmx.com

EXPERIMENTAL PUNK ROCKERS LYDIA LASKA RELEASE DIGITAL SINGLE FROM FORTHCOMING ALBUM

Tuesday 18 May saw the release of “Nervous”, a track from the forthcoming “Krankenhaus“ album from Norwegian Experimental Punk Rockers LYDIA LASKA. “Nervous”, which is available as a digi single, is released by Duplicate Records and features guest appearances Jan Devik (PRUDENCE, JUNIPHER GREENE), Eivind Schou (SERENA-MANEESH) and Emil Nikolaisen (SERENA-MANEESH) on guitars, and Thomas Bratlie (RUMBLE IN ROHODOS) on tambourine.

The album “Krankenhaus” itself is due for release in August of this year, and includes a plethora of guest artists amongst whom are CARPATHIAN FOREST main man NATTEFROST on vocals, Emil Nikolaisen and Eivind Schou from SERENA-MANEESH on guitar/vox and fuzzed up violin respectively, Kjetil Møster from DATAROCK on sax, Bård Ingebrigtsen from SIRENS AND US on broken instruments and engine-ears, Bøddel from MËKANÏK on mellotron and Sissy Wish on vocals.

“Nervous” is currently streaming on the band’s MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/lydialaska, where you can also find more information about the band.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

MySpace/Website: http://www.myspace.com/lydialaska

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lydia-Laska/35882444637

Band Contact: lydialaska@gmail.com

Duplicate Records: http://www.duplicate-records.com

NORWEGIAN BLACK METALLERS TROLL ANNOUNCE WINNING SONG FOR NEXT VIDEO

Norwegian Black Metallers TROLL, who recently gave fans the opportunity to vote for which track from the ten-track album “Neo-Satanic Supremacy” should be used on the new video, have announced the winning song. According to founder and front man NAGASH (THE KOVENTANT, ex-DIMMU BORGIR), the song “Burn The Witch” was the overwhelming favourite with the fans. “Originally we were going to run the vote until the end of May, but we got so many replies, we had to close it early as our email was getting swamped, but there was absolutely no doubt from day one which track was going to win it. We all had our own ideas as to which track it would be, and “Burn The Witch” was one of the ones we thought would be popular, but , interestingly enough, the fans really got involved in the overall concept, and took into consideration not only the music, but also what track they thought would inspire the best visuals”.

Following the release of three full-length albums and one EP between the band’s formation in 1996 and 2001, TROLL took an “extended break” until the band’s bassist VOLD (BLODSPOR) persuaded NAGASH and drummer YGG (WHIP) to reform the band in 2007. Guitarist TLALOC (MAKT, FATAL DEMEANOR) and EXILIS on keyboards, were added to the line up in 2008. “Neo-Satanic Supremacy”, which was released on Napalm Records at the start of this year, is the band’s fourth full-length album, and is very much a return to the more traditional atmospheric Norwegian Black Metal that made TROLL’s 1996 album “Drep De Krisnte” one of the classic Black Metal releases.

The band is currently working on the story concept for “Burn The Witch, with video producers TENNERS GNISSEL, who made the original video teaser for “Neo Satanic Supremacy” which showed the band playing live at the 2009 Inferno Festival, in Oslo, Norway. TROLL are scheduled to play two gigs in Norway in August. Details as follows:

Fri 20 August, Arronesrocken Festival, Alta, NO
Sat 21 August, Redrum, Hammerfest, NO

More information about TROLL can be found on the band’s MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/troll

TAAKE, BYFROST & SULPHUR LAUNCH TERRORIZER’S GRINDHOUSE VENTURE IN NORWAY

Undoubtedly one of the pioneers in bringing metal to the masses, Terrorizer Magazine is putting actions where before there were only written words, by launching Terrorizer Grindhouse, a concept aimed at lifting extreme underground music off the pages, and bringing it directly to local venues. Steered by Terrorizer’s Dean Moran and Miranda Yardley, the aim is to have around 12 venues scattered throughout the UK, where local promoters will run Terrorizer Grindhouse nights on a monthly basis (3 nights per week country-wide).

Extending the idea even further, Terrorizer Grindhouse has joined forces with Norwegian drummer Mads Lilletvedt (HELLISH OUTCAST, BYFROST) to expand this groundbreaking venture into the cradle of the extremest of Extreme Metal – Norway. Lillevedt will be responsible for setting up and arranging the Terrorizer Grindhouse concept in Norway, starting with shows on a monthly basis, and arranging tours for bands that deserve more exposure throughout Norway and Scandinavia, as well as giving bands from the Scandinavian metal scene a chance to navigate the murky waters of the UK Underground.

Kicking off the Norwegian venture on the 22nd May were three Bergen based extreme bands, specifically chosen because they illustrate perfectly the cold and dark atmosphere that the legendary Bergen Scene is universally noted for, and which is unmatched elsewhere. But what these three bands also demonstrate is that in order to create a certain atmosphere, it is not a requirement for all bands to sound alike. In fact, these three bands couldn’t be more different, both on and off stage, and yet the end result from all three is the same – devastating.

TAAKE – http://www.myspace.com/taakeofficial

To many within the music scene, fans and professionals alike, TAAKE is the epitome of what a Black Metal band should be: controversial, individualistic, and with a healthy disregard for the opinion of others. Headed by Hoest, who is unquestionably one of the most mesmerising live performers you are ever likely to see, and with a live line up of experienced and skilled musicians, any one of whom most bands would kill to have in their ranks, it is clear to see why fans are constantly clamouring for the chance to see TAAKE play live. Since this is likely to be the only chance to see TAAKE live in Bergen this year, this is not an opportunity to miss.

BYFROST - http://www.myspace.com/byfrostmetal

Formed in 2007, BYFROST is a perfect example of the talent that profliferates within the Bergen scene. With a lineup that features HeavyHarms on vocals and guitars, R.I.P Meister on five-string bass, and Alkolust (HELLISH OUTCAST) on drums, BYFROST merges cold, dark riffs with a touch of the melodic, and more than a substantial amount of pure energy. BYFROST’s debut album “Black Earth”, was released in April of this year on Painkiller Records and features a guest appearance by ENSLAVED/AUDREY HORNE guitarist Arve Isdal and was produced by Herbrand Larsen (ENSLAVED) and Bjørnar E. Nilsen (VULTURE INDUSTRIES, BLACK HOLE GENERATOR). If you don’t feel like banging your head to this band you are more than likely to be either deaf or dead!

SULPHUR - http://www.myspace.com/sulphur666

Intent on following a path that lay between death and black metal, with a liberal sprinkling of progressive mindset, SULPHUR rose from the ashes of the nineties Black Metal outfit TAAKERIKET at the turn of the millennium. Comprising current and former members of bands such as GORGOROTH, AETERNUS, ENSLAVED and VULTURE INDUSTRIES, the SULPHUR of today is fiercer and more challenging then ever before. The musical landscapes that the band is willing to explore are limitless and the resulting album, “Thorns In Existence”, released in March of this year on Dark Essence Records, is not afraid to challenge, thrill and destroy the listener. Transfer this to a live setting, and the results promise to be mind blowing.

BLACK FOLK METALLERS GALAR STREAM NEW TRACK TO MARK PREVIOUSLY DELAYED GERMAN RELEASE OF ALBUM

To mark the release of "Til Alle Heimsens Endar" in Germany, Norwegian Black-Folk Metallers GALAR are streaming a new track from the album on MySpace. Although "Til Alle Heimsens Endar" was released world-wide on the 1^st of March on Dark Essence Records, the German release was unavoidably delayed until the 23 April due to technical reasons. The track, “Paa frossen mark”, can be heard at http://www.myspace.com/galarmetal

"Til Alle Heimsens Endar" is the second full-length release from the Bergen based band, who unusually works with a variety of musicians and instruments you would not necessarily find on extreme metal albums. For "Til Alle Heimsens Endar", M. Kristiansen (screams, guitars and bass) and A. B. Lauritzen (clean vocals, bassoon and grand piano) have drafted in the likes of Phobos (GRAVDAL, AETERNUS, MALSAIN) on drums, Ricardo Odriozola on first and second violins, Hans Gunnar Hagen on viola, Siri Hilmen on cello, Morten Nome on double bass, and Cecile Langlie on female vox. It is this eclectic mix that allows the band to create music that straddles both the Traditional Folk and Black Metal genres to great effect

The album itself, whose title means "until the ends of all worlds", is based on Snorri Sturluson's "Heimskringla”. Originally written around 1230 in Old Norse, "Heimskringla” is the best known of all the sagas that recount the history of Norways’s ancient kings. The lyrics for "Til Alle Heimsens Endar" are written by Jorge "Blutaar" Scholz, and are all in Norwegian, with introductory notes and an explanation of each track in English being provided. Artwork for the album is by Norwegian artistRobert Høyem

GALAR on MySpace: www.myspace.com/galarmetal
GALAR on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Galar/161537332115
Dark Essence Records: www.darkessencerecords.no
Dark Essence on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/darkessencerecords
Dark Essence on MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/darkessencerecords
For further information please contact post@karismarecords.no