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

INJURY FORCES BALFOR GUITARIST TO QUIT THE BAND

Ukrainian Black Metallers BALFOR, whose new album “Barbaric Blood” is due out on Pulverised Records during 2010, issued a statement today announcing that guitarist AGNARR has been forced to quit the band following a recent injury that is serious enough to stop the guitarist performing both live and in the studio. BALFOR founder and front man THORGEIR commented: “We are very sorry that this has happened t o AGNARR. It’s a terrible thing when a musician is no longer able to play, and he is one of those musicians with a natural talent and a lot of experience. We hope that he will be able to overcome the effects of the injury and eventually be able to return to playing. BALFOR is certainly going to miss both his musicianship and his companionship”.

DRAGON-T, former guitarist with the Thrash Metal band HELL:ON, will replace AGNARR. “Once again we have been lucky in our search for a guitarist. DRAGON-T is as skilled as AGNARR, both live and when it comes to recording, and the fact that he was available just when we needed him was a stroke of good fortune for us”. His first live appearance with BALFOR will be at the Metal Heads Mission Festival in Kiev on the 18^th April, where BALFOR are due to headline. Upcoming live dates for BALFOR as follows:

18 April: MHM, Sky Hall Club, Kiev, UA
22 May: Hot Jam Club, Lugansk, UA
23 May: Vorovskogo Club, Dimitroy, UA
06 July: Rockmaraton Festival, Pecs, HU

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/balforhorde
Web Site: http://www.balfor.info
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/balforofficial
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/balfor
Band Contact: balforhorde@gmail.com
Management: http://www.myspace.com/viewfromthebacksofmirrors
Label: http://www.pulverised.net
Label Contact: calvin@pulverised.net

BYFROST, GRAVDAL, HELLISH OUTCAST CONFIRMED FOR HOLE IN THE SKY 2010

In alphabetical order! BYFROST, GRAVDAL and HELLISH OUTCAST have all been confirmed to appear at the Hole in the Sky Festival to be held in August, in Bergen, Norway.

BYFROST are scheduled to play at the Incoming Event, on the 24th August, at the Garage venue.

GRAVDAL and HELLISH OUTCAST will appear at the Hits for Kidz event, on the 28th August, also at the Garage venue. This event is one of the very few Metal events world-wide that has no entry age limit.

BYFROST on MySpace: www.myspace.com/byfrostmetal

GRAVDAL on MySpace: www.myspace.com/gravdal

HELLISH OUTCAST on MySpace: www.myspace.com/hellishoutcast

VULTURE INDUSTRIES HEAD TO ROMANIA IN THE AUTUMN

VULTURE INDUSTRIES, the Norwegian avant-garde metallers, will head to Romania for the first time this autumn, to take part in a special event on the 16^th October at the Silver Church Club in Bucharest. Billed by the organisers as a “Labyrinthic Metal Evening”, the bill also includes Sweden’s SHINING and Germany’s THE VISION BLEAK, as well as NIGHTINGALE, INDIAN FALL and KISTVAEN.

Currently putting the finishing touches to VULTURE INDUSTRIES’ forthcoming album is Bjornar E. Nilsen (BLACK HOLE GENERATOR), who, aside from being the band’s front man, is also a producer, and who, together with ENSLAVED’s Herbrand Larsen and Arve Isdal, co-owns the Conclave and Earshot Studios where the album is being recorded. Larsen will also be helping with the production of the 7-track album, which is a follow up to the 2007 debut “The Dystopia Journals”, and is due for release on DARK ESSENCE RECORDS during the first half of this year.

Bergen-based VULTURE INDUSTRIES comprises a line up that includes some of the most experienced musicians on the local scene. Aside from Nilsen himself on vocals, synths and programming, band members include Øyvind Madsen (SULPHUR, ex-ENSLAVED, sessions guitars for DEATHCON) and Eivind Huse (SULPHUR, ex-SYRACH) on guitars, Kyrre Teigen on bass and Tor Helge Gjengedal (MALICE IN WONDERLAND, ex-SULPHUR, ex-TAAKE) on drums.

Commenting on the new album, Nilsen had this to say: “The new material generated a special excitement amongst the band while we were working on it in the studio, because it became obvious to everyone involved that we had developed a sound that is very distinctly and unmistakably VULTURE INDUSTRIES. The songs are longer than our previous ones, with the shortest one clocking in at 5 minutes, and we are very much looking forward to introducing them to a live audience”.

The vinyl edition of “The Dystopia Journals” will be released on the US label RAGNAROK RECORDS in the spring. More information about VULTURE INDUSTRIES can be found on MySpace at www.myspace.com/vultureindustries

VULTURE INDUSTRIES INFO:
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

SCULPTOR SPACEBRAIN DESIGNS STAGE SET FOR MAYHEM’S INFERNO FESTIVAL APPEARANCE

Sculptor SPACEBRAIN (René M. Hamel) has once again teamed up with legendary Black Metallers MAYHEM, this time to design the stage set that the band will use for its appearance at his year’s Inferno Festival, in Oslo, Norway, on the Friday 2^nd April. SPACEBRAIN first worked with MAYHEM several years ago, designing the startling and aggressive sets that were such an integral part of the band’s live image, and, according to the sculptor, the set for Inferno will be “A crazy mixture of steel, blood and flesh. Think along the lines of Hellraiser, and you might get some sort of idea of what I have in mind”.

Aside from his work as a sculptor, SPACEBRAIN branched out into music in early 2007 when he took up the bass and joined SKITLIV, the blackened doom project of former MAYHEM front man MANIAC. It was his set design for SKITLIV that caused a stir at Inferno in 2008 when the curtains opened to show the band playing in a seemingly safe and cosy parlour setting, which contrasted sharply with the doom-laden riffs and unpredictable nature of the music and the musicians themselves.

Although his collaboration with MANIAC continues, with SPACEBRAIN applying his talents as an artist to work with the front man on a new video for the SKITLIV, the sculptor is no longer a part of the band, having left to concentrate on his own musical project, SUCHTHAUS, a band whose musical direction veers more towards an industrial sound, but which encompasses aspects from many genres. SUCHTHAUS’ line up includes DIE STIMMEN on vocals, SICK BARRETT on guitars and DJ FLASHBACK on “electric Lucifer”. SKITLIV guitarist Ingvar Magnusson has been known to make a guest appearance, and David Tibet (CURRENT 93) allowed the use of some of his work on the track “Indian Run” which can also be heard on SUCHTHAUS’ MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/suchthaus

German born SPACEBRAIN is now permanently based in Oslo and works from a large studio in the city, part of which has been turned into a venue knows as the Spacebunker, where some of his extraordinary sculptures and unique items from past stage sets, including some from the famous MAYHEM sets, are on display.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Spacebrain: http://www.myspace.com/spacebrainartfromhell

Suchthaus: http://www.myspace.com/suchthaus

Spacebrain: http://www.myspace.com/spacebrainartfromhell

The Spacebunker: http://www.myspace.com/spacebunker

Höllen Engel: http://www.myspace.com/putsatanachia

Spacebrain Contact: trash.spacebrain@werket.com

Consultant – Patricia Thomas Band Management: http://www.myspace.com/viewfromthebacksofmirrors

GRAVDAL DEBUTS TWO TRACKS FROM "TORTURMANTRA" WITH GUEST VOCALS FROM SHINING'S NIKLAS KVARFORTH

“Hydrestund I Helvete” and “Mishandlet”, two tracks from the forthcoming “Torturmantra” album from Norwegian Black Metallers GRAVDAL, are being debuted on the band’s MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/gravdal. Both tracks illustrate the new directions taken by the band that, without losing the distinctive GRAVDAL sound, has added new depth and variety to the original “in your face “Black Metal of the first album” Sadist. “Mishandlet”, is, in fact, the first time the band has written and performed a much slower track, which in this case deals with the pain of abuse. SHINING front man Niklas Kvarforth performs guest vocals on the track and delivers an intense and disturbing performance.

Part of the prolific Bergen music scene, GRAVDAL was formed in 2005 by guitarist Phobos (AETERNUS, MALSAIN, GALAR) and drummer Taakesjel (BIZARREKULT), and now includes Galge on vocals and Specter on guitars. “Torturmantra”, the band’s sophomore album, was produced by ENSLAVED’s Herbrand Larsen, and recorded by Larsen, Bjørnar E. Nilsen (VULTURE INDUSTRIES, BLACK HOLE GENERATOR) and Arve Isdal (ENSLAVED, AUDREY HORNE) at their Conclave and Earshot studios in Bergen. "Mishandlet" was recorded in Sweden at the Erebus Odora studios and produced by Peter Bjärgö. Artwork on the nine-track album is by the Norwegian artist Robert Høyem, who has worked with bands like SLAGMAUR and GALAR. “Torturmantra” is due for release on Unexploded Records within the next few weeks. Track listing as follows:

1. Hydrestund I Helvete

2. Slave

3. Eg E Ditt Helvete

4. Mishandlet

5.

6. Torturmantra

7. Pulsen Vakler

8. Klastrert På Ambolt

9. Slutt

GRAVDAL will be joined on bass by Dreggen (BLACK HOLE GENERATOR, AETERNUS, SWORN, ex-TAAKE), for the band’s appearance at the Inferno Festival in Oslo on the 31st March, at the Garage venue, and for the European tour with GORGOROTH and KEEP OF KALESSIN during April. Dates as follow:

Fri 09 - Belgium, Vosselaar @ Biebob

Sat 10 - Holland, Rotterdam @ Baroeg

Sun 11 - France, Paris @ Trabendo

Mon 12 - Germany, Hamburg @ Marx

Tue 13 - Germany, Cologne @ Essigfabrik

Wed 14 - Germany, Ludwigsburg @ Rockfabrik

Thur 15 - Italy, Milan @ Magazzini Generali

Fri 16 - Germany, Osnabrück @ N8

Sat 17 - Germany, Glauchau @ Alte Spinnerei

More information about GRAVDAL can be found on the band’s MySpace page, which has been redesigned by “Torturmantra” cover artist Robert Høyem, athttp://www.myspace.com/gravdal.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/gravdal

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gravdalofficial ;

ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/gravdal

Band Contact: info@gravdalsadist.com

Management: patriciathomas@btinternet.com

Booking: info@gravdalsadist.com or patriciathomas@btinternet.com

DEBUT ALBUM FROM MANIAC’S DARKWAVE SEHNSUCHT PROJECT RELEASED ON COLD SPRING RECORDS

“Wüste”, the debut album from SEHNSUCHT, the noise/darkwave/ambient project from Maniac (SKTILIV, MANIAC/LILES/CZRAL, BOMBEROS, VOLUSPA, SEPTIC CUNTS, TOTENKOPF, VERNICHTUNG, STATUS FATAL, ex MAYEHM) hit the streets on the 8th March, on Cold Spring Records. Recorded in Oslo, Tokyo and Heptonstall, “Wüste” was engineered and mixed by Maniac and Andrew Liles (NURSE WITH WOUND, CURRENT 93), with final mix and postproduction also by Liles. Released in a 6-panel digipak format, track listing on “Wüste” is as follows.

1: Sult
2: Cunt Queen
3: South of Cincinnati
4: Wüste
5: Tarn of Guilt
6: Good Morning Great Moloch
7: Stadt Der Engel Der Vernichtung
8: Tokyo Daymare
9: Hanging in English Gardens

One of the early pioneers of the Black Metal genre, and one of its most instantly recognisable vocalists for over 20 years, Maniac has, since quitting MAYHEM, concentrated on moving away from the genre for which he is most noted, so that he can develop and explore other musical avenues. Whilst his blackened doom band SKITLIV retains some vestiges of his Black Metal vocal style, SEHNSUCHT is a complete departure, forging as it does, a much more experimental path. Aside from Maniac himself on vocals, guitars, loops, electronics and field recordings, SEHNSUCHT includes in its line up experimentalist Andrew Liles on FX, electronics and sound-design, Vivian Slaughter (GALLHAMMER) on bass, alto sax, FX, vocals and backing vocals, and SKITLIV guitarist Ingvar Magnusson.

Continuing the collaboration between Maniac and Cold Spring Records, also released on the same day is “Bloodletting”, a limited edition three-track 10” picture disc from SKTILIV. Side A, which is illustrated by part of a painting by David Tibet, features the track “Slow Pain Coming” (Cold Spring Mix) and opens with the intro “Who Will Deliver Us From Gold And Planets”, which is the piece of music usually used by SKITLIV as an introduction to live performances. “Who Will Deliver Us…” was created and recorded by David Tibet and Andrew Liles at the request Maniac, and is described as “an introductory collage destruct”. Side B is illustrated with a painting by the Norwegian artist Munch and features the extremely hard to find demo version of the track “A Valley Below”. The disc is strictly limited to 777 copies and will not be reprinted again.

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Sehnsucht on MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/sehnsuchtofficial
Sehnsucht on ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/sehnsucht
Skitliv on MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/skitliv777
Skitliv on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/skitlivofficial
Skitliv on ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/skitliv
Maniac/Liles/Czral on MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/maniaclilesczralofficial
Maniac Management & Booking: patriciathomas@btinternet.com
Cold Spring: http://www.coldspring.co.uk email: info@coldspring.co.uk

NEW RELEASES FROM COR SCORPII, GALAR & SULPHUR ON DARK ESSENCE RECORDS

The 1st March sees three new releases from the Dark Essence Record label. “Monument” from Extreme Metallers COR SCORPII and “Til Alle Heimsens Endar” from Black-Folk Metallers GALAR, whilst SULPHUR’s “Thorns in Existence”, which first appeared in Norway in November of last year, gets its worldwide release.

COR SCORPII was formed in late 2004 by former WINDIR/ULCUS keyboard player Gaute Refsnes, who, following the tragic death of Terje "Valfar" Bakken, and the subsequent WINDIR farewell concert, felt that the time was right to focus some of his own musical ideas into a new band. COR SCORPII, as the band came to be called, plays music that blends melody with aggression, and the first demo, "Attergangar", was recorded in 2005 and was an immediate success. "Attergangar” has been re-mastered by ENSLAVED’s Herbrand Larsen at the Conclave and Earshot Studios in Bergen, and has been included in “Monument” as a bonus, making the entire album twelve tracks in total - twelve tracks that are played with skill and emotion. The first edition of “Monument” comes in a limited slip case format.

GALAR comprises a permanent two-man line up with M. Kristiansen on screams, guitars and bass and A. B. Lauritzen on clean vocals, bassoon and grand piano. For “Til Alle Heimsens Endar” they have called upon a set of contributors for that draws on notable artists from a variety of musical disciplines including 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 GALAR’s ability to mix blast beats and grim vocals, with haunting melodies played on a-typical instruments that enables the band to create an atmosphere with their music that is redolent of both traditional folk and the extremes of black metal. The first edition of “Til Alle Heimsens Endar” comes in a limited slip case format.

SULPHUR rose from the ashes of the nineties Black Metal outfit TAAKERIKET at the turn of the millennium, intent on following a path that lay between death and black metal, with a liberal sprinkling of progressive mindset. Comprising current and former members of bands such as GORGOROTH, AETERNUS, ENSLAVED and VULTURE INDUSTRIES, is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with. 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”, is an album with touches of avant-garde that is willing to challenge, thrill and destroy the listener. Production by Bjørnar Erevik Nilsen at the Conclave & Earshot Studios (HELHEIM, TAAKE, THE BATALLION etc.) ensures that the album has the powerful sound the music deserves.

The above releases can all be bought from the Dark Essence Records Web Shop at http://karismarecords.no/catalog/

DARK ESSENCE RECORDS

Dark Essence contact: post@karismarecords.no

Dark Essence Records: www.darkessencerecords.no

Dark Essence on MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/darkessencerecords

Dark Essence on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/darkessencerecords

COR SCORPII

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/corscorpii

Website: http://www.corscorpii.net

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=65816671

GALAR

MySpace: www.myspace.com/galarmetal

Website: http://www.galar.no

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Galar/161537332115 ;

SULPHUR

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/sulphur666

Website: http://www.sulphur.no

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SULPHURBAND

CARPATHIAN FOREST’S VRANGSINN RELEASES “PHOBIA” MULTI-MEDIA PROJECT

“PHOBIA” the new multi-media project from CARPATHIAN FOREST bass player Vrangsinn (VRANGSINN, SECHT, NATTEFROST, A WASTE OF TALENT), was released today on Misantrof ANTIRecords, and is available both via free download, and as a DVD with free audio CD, for purchase. The DVD is produced in batches of 100 copies, with each individual batch of 100 varying slightly from the others in terms of artwork. The entire project comprises a DVD (which is a multi-angle feature where Angle 1 is the main video and Angle 2 is the booklet), CD, Mp3 audio, and Mp4 (Multi-angle H264/AVC and a portable edition). In the case of the free download, Misantrof also offers fans the option of a free CD/DVD burning application, so that anyone downloading the album can burn their own DVD should they wish to. More information can be found at http://phobia.misantrof.net/

“PHOBIA” was debuted at the "Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be The Key To The World" exhibition at the Kurant Art Gallery All in Tromso at the end of last year, and music, instruments, vocals, lyrics, video, animation on “PHOBIA” were written, performed, produced & engineered by Daniel Vrangsinn, with friends and fellow musicians lending a hand here and there. The whole project was thirteen months in the making, with the booklet animation taking up almost two thirds of that time. 40's style animation techniques were used, and Vrangsinn animating all the lyrics, word for word, using ink and paper and a photo camera. The DVD also contains multiple audio tracks including one with the music without vocals, which, according to Vrangsinn, gives you an instant karaoke machine that was included as a joke, since he believes his voice is somewhat unusual and takes some getting used to and that if people “don’t fucking like it, they have the option to turn it off”.

As founder and head of Misantrof ANTIRecords, the self-styled “anti” label that believes in making all its releases available for free download, regardless of whether they are also available for purchase from Misantrof, Vrangsinn has always been interested in the need to revolutionise the record industry as it stands today, and which many people now accept is in its death throes. His intention with “PHOBIA” was to try and find ways to overcome some of the issues that plague digital music downloading, including a way to replace the missing booklets and artwork. He also wanted to move away from the CD format, which does not allow for a higher resolution than 16 bit at a sample rate of 44100, and, given that the typical studio sound is 32 bit at sample rates ranging from 44.100 - 96.000, a CD is not the best way to get quality in sound. The only format he found that allowed to release the music in a higher audio quality was DVD and Blue Ray. Hence the DVD approach to “PHOBIA”.

The greatest source of satisfaction for Vrangsinn though, was the fact that he has been able to create and release something that the average label would not be able to produce for their artists. And moreso for the fact the he was able to do it for virtually no cost at all, using the "use whatever you have and make the best out of it" principle, coupled with the "Excuse me - can you hold this camera while I sing a song?" principle. According to Vrangsinn: “The only real cost to Misantrof was the cost of printing the DVDs, which is unavoidable, since nobody has a printing plant in their living room, but I did have to learn a whole new set of skills involving video and animation. Hopefully other bands and artists will see what can be done given a bit of time and effort, and be encouraged to try it for themselves”.

Additional information about Vrangsinn can be found on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/officialvrangsinn

VRANGSINN INFORMATION

MySpace: www.myspace.com/officialvrangsinn

Facebook: www.facebook.com/officialvrangsinn

ReverbNation: www.reverbnation.com/vrangsinn

Twitter - http://twitter.com/danielvrangsinn

Misantrof ANTIRecords: www.misantrof.net

“PHOBIA” Press Info & Download: http://antirecords.org/media/vrangsinn/PHOBIA/

BAND CONTACT

Management: patriciathomas@btinternet.com