artwork

All posts tagged artwork

ICS VORTEX: ‘Storm Seeker’ Artwork, Track Listing Revealed

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 14, 2011
Posted in: News. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a Comment

“Storm Seeker”, the debut album from Norway’s ICS VORTEX, the project led by the former DIMMU BORGIR and current BORKNAGAR member, will be released on August 22 in Europe and August 23 in North America via Century Media Records.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. The Blackmobile
02. Odin’s Tree
03. Skoal!
04. Dogsmacked
05. Aces
06. Windward
07. When Shuffled Off
08. Oil In Water
09. Storm Seeker
10. Flaskeskipper
11. The Sub Mariner

ICS Vortex describes “Storm Seeker” as “a tribute to the fall and rise of my kind. A generation of misfits, born of hippies and raised by Satan.”

Regarding the influences that went into the making of the album, ICS Vortex said, “Inspiration is usually drawn from the things that are close to me. I always write in code, it’s often doom related, but never ever whiny. The power of the elements, obscure beauty, religion, death and junk are a few favorites. Knowing I am drawn to the power of the dark side, I decided to include lighter topics into the mix this time to separate ‘Storm Seeker’ from ‘Sideshow Symphonies’: ‘The Blackmobile’ about Mopar and ‘Aces’ about gambling are the result. Love songs, really.”

“The Blackmobile” can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

Commented ICS Vortex: “This song was written way back when I still felt black metal was dangerous. Now, totally untrue to all that, it’s a tribute to the only beast I ever loved.”

“Storm Seeker” will be released in Europe as initial limited-edition digipak, 180-gram LP and as a digital download. According to a press release, the CD “takes the musical elements from [ICS Vortex's] 10-plus years of experience with DIMMU BORGIR as well as the legacy of the classic bands with whom he is still active (BORKNAGAR, ARCTURUS and LAMENTED SOULS), topping things off with his signature clean vocals in order to make ‘Storm Seeker’ become a perfectly balanced axe, whether a song is cutting fast, or dicing slow.”

“Storm Seeker” features appearances by ICS Vortex‘s BORKNAGAR bandmate Asgeir Mickelson on drums and Terje “Cyrus” Andersen (SUSPERIA, DIMMU BORGIR) on lead guitar. The CD was recorded at Toproom Studio (MAYHEM, TRISTANIA, BORKNAGAR) with engineer Børge Finstad and mastered by Peter in de Betou at Tailor Maid Studio (ARCH ENEMY, DARK TANQUILLITY, DIMMU BORGIR) in Sweden.

After the recordings for the CD were completed, the ICS VORTEX project evolved into a real band, eager to perform live with the following permanent lineup:

* ICS Vortex (ex-DIMMU BORGIR, BORKNAGAR, ARCTURUS) – Vocals
* Asgeir Mickelson (SARKE, SPIRAL ARCHITECT, ex-BORKNAGAR, ex-TESTAMENT) – Drums
* Terje “Cyrus” Andersen (SUSPERIA, ex-SATYRICON, ex-DIMMU BORGIR) – Guitar
* Jens F. Ryland (BORKNAGAR) – Guitar
* Steinar “Azarak” Gundersen (SPIRAL ARCHITECT, ex-SATYRICON) – Bass

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/icsvortexofficial. Source: Blabbermouth.net

EINHERJER: New Album Title, Artwork Unveiled

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 14, 2011
Posted in: News. Tagged: , , , . Leave a Comment

Eight years after the release of “Blot”, legendary Viking metal act EINHERJER will issue its comeback album, “Nørrøn”, on September 9 via Indie Recordings. The CD was recorded at Studio Borealis and was produced by EINHERJER‘s Frode Glesnes. Matt Hyde (SLAYER, MONSTER MAGNET) mixed the effort. The cover artwork was painted by Renathe H. Bryn.

According to a press release, “Nørrøn” “has the quality to send you on a musical journey where your present dies and all your senses starts to relive the music. Where you are plunged into a life of forgotten wisdom, beliefs and forces. Where all that was lost and taken has been resurrected. Where you stand steadfast on Norse ground, calling for revenge from your heathen heart.”

EINHERJER was one of the very first bands to use the Viking thematic and the Norse mythology in metal, and are one of the founders of this now widely acclaimed metal sub-genre. Their name also has its roots in the Norse mythology as EINHERJER is a Viking’s life after death. When a Viking was slain in battle, he was brought up to Valhalla by the Valkyries to join the army of Einherjers and help the Gods in their clash against the Giants in the age of Ragnarok.

EINHERJER disbanded in 2004 after the release of its album “Blot” through Tabu Recordings. EINHERJER reformed in 2008 and a year later played the Wacken Open Air, Ragnarock and Kaltenbach festivals, along with other select dates on the Paganfest 2009 tour.  Source: Blabbermouth.net

 

DOMINANZ – New album “AS I SHINE” Artwork, Track Listing Revealed

Posted by tarjavirmakari on June 7, 2011
Posted in: News. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a Comment

Rock N Growl has issued the following press release:

DOMINANZ – atmospheric metallers from Norway release their new album, “As I Shine”, in Europe on August 19 via Industrial Silence Production and ROCK N GROWL DISTRO/Cargo Records. The CD was recorded and mixed at Conclave Studio by Bjørnar E. Nilsen and Roy N. Mathisen and mastered at Earshot Studio by Herbrand Larsen.

Tracks:
1.  Infinity
2.  Agony and Domination
3.  As I Shine
4.  Eternal Sin
5.  Abusos
6.  The Philanthropic
7.  Last Day of Your Life
8.  Man on Top
9.  From Skin to Heart
10. The End of All There Is

Line-up:
Roy – Vocals, Bass, Guitar and Synth (ex Taake and Ofryskje)
Jørn – Guitar (Hades Almighty, ex Immortal and Old Funeral)
Frode – Drums (ex Thy Grief)

As I Shine is the perfect blend of atmospheric black metal and engaging industrialized beats. There is also a dose of gothic, but the listeners will probably notice that Dominanz got their roots from the Old Norwegian black metal scene. The lyric deals with everything from depictions of erotic oppression, slavery and ways to dominate fellow man. The main theme is on the bleak and destructive and living on the edge between life and death.

Check out the new video “The End of All There Is”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzY9s1c8nfQ

OPETH: ‘Heritage’ Cover Artwork Unveiled

Posted by tarjavirmakari on June 2, 2011
Posted in: News. Tagged: , , . Leave a Comment

Swedish progressive metallers OPETH will release their tenth album, “Heritage”, on September 20 via Roadrunner Records. The CD was produced by OPETH vocalist/guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt and was recorded earlier this year at Atlantis studios (formerly Metronome studios) in Stockholm. Mixing duties were handled by Steven Wilson (PORCUPINE TREE) and Åkerfeldt. Longtime collaborator Travis Smith also worked with Åkerfeldt to create, design and execute the album’s artwork, which can be seen on right.

“Heritage” will be released in several configurations that will certainly incite the interest of OPETH‘s legion of fans, known for their passion for collecting and collectibles. The album will be released as a standard version; as a special edition loaded with extras; as a box set exclusive to the Roadrunner and the band’s own official Omerch webstore; and as a double LP. There is something for every OPETH fan, thanks to this variety of options.

Commented Åkerfeldt, “It will be our 10th album/observation. I dig it; we all do. In fact, it feels like I’ve been building up to write for and participate on an album like this since I was 19.”

Åkerfeldt went a little deeper and described the music contained within “Heritage”, saying, “It’s quite intense at times in some ‘old’ murky way, and quite beautiful and stark at times, if I may say so myself.

“It’s obvious I’m going to say nice things about it since I wrote, basically, the whole piece, but I guess it will raise a few eyebrows and it certainly is an acquired taste.

“I think you’ll need a slightly deeper understanding of our music as a whole to be able to appreciate this record.

“I’ve realized my influences for this album are so diverse that I can’t really say what it sounds like.

“If I can compare it to any other band, it would have to be OPETH, but it’s different from the stuff we’ve done before.

“I’ve listened a lot to ALICE COOPER for the last year, yet I can’t say it sounds like ‘No More Mr. Nice Guy’.

“I hope you’ll like it once you hear it.”

“Heritage” track listing:

01. Heritage
02. The Devil’s Orchard
03. I Feel The Dark
04. Slither
05. Nepenthe
06. Haxprocess
07. Famine
08. The Lines In My Hand
09. Folklore
10. Marrow Of The Earth

The first single and video from “Heritage” will be the song “The Devil’s Orchard”.

OPETH will embark on a seven-week, headline tour of the U.S. Dates will be announced imminently.

Source: Blabbermouth.net

THE QUILL: New Album Artwork, North American Release Date Revealed

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 18, 2011
Posted in: News. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a Comment

Sweden’s THE QUILL will release its new album, “Full Circle”, on June 24 in Europe and July 26 in North America via Metalville Records. According to a press release, the CD “is packed with heavy rock firmly rooted in the Seventies but vibrant and updated rather than retro. Yes, there’s a new twist to the sound. Less is more, if you will. The songs are sharp, direct and catchy, built around big riffs, big grooves and big hooks. Just check out ‘Sleeping With Your Enemy’ and try to get that chorus out of your head. Surrender to the up-tempo outburst of energy that is ‘Medicine’. And physically feel how ‘Bring It On’ simply rocks like a motherfucker. Very much classic rock and yet contemporary in the FOO FIGHTERS / QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE vein. Needless to say, THE QUILL is a band reborn.”

“Full Circle” was mixed by songwriter/producer/artist Chris Laney (real name: Ulf Larsson).

An audio teaser for “Full Circle” available for streaming at http://www.reverbnation.com/thequillsweden.

With the touring cycle for THE QUILL‘s fifth album, “In Triumph”, completed, the band and singer Magnus Ekwall parted ways and THE QUILL was put on the backburner. Drummer Jolle Atlagic joined now-defunct Finnish glam legends HANOI ROCKS — touring Europe and Japan in the process — and also did a stint in THE REAL MCCOY band alongside FOO FIGHTERS guitarist Chris Shiflett. Christian Carlsson (guitar) and Robert Triches (bass) also kept busy with other projects. In early 2010, it was THE QUILL time again. Songs were written and Magz Arnar filled the vacant vocalist spot. It was a perfect match. The versatile singer has heaps of energy and a powerful voice that fits THE QUILL like a glove. Magz has the required range to sing the old stuff but also a rawness that the band was looking for.

Source: Blabbermouth.net

Communic: Tracklist And Artwork Of New Album “The Bottom Deep” Announced

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 15, 2011
Posted in: News. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a Comment

Nuclear Blast has issued the following press release:

The Norwegian metalers from COMMUNIC are back with their new album “The Bottom Deep” which is simply breath-taking! The music of the exceptional band from Norway includes many elements from various metal genres. Their grasp for variety of power, melody, and intelligent lyrics with a highly progressive musical approach made COMMUNIC one of the best newcomers for years! If you like progressiv metal, there is no way without COMMUNIC!!

Now, the band announced the tracklist and the artwork of the upcoming album:

01. Facing Tomorrow
02. Denial
03. Flood River Blood
04. Voyage Of Discovery
05. In Silence With My Scars
06. My Fallen
07. Destroyer Of Bloodlines
08. Wayward Soul
09. The Bottom Deep
10. Bonus Track: In Union We Stand

Guitarist and band mastermind Oddleif  Stensland commented the new stuff:

“Writing and recording this album has been an amazing – but strange experience. This time we took control over the production ourself, resulting in a more honest and organic sounding album. Never before have I put so much of my own personal influence and privacy into the lyrics and songs as this time. Right now I have a mixed feeling of fear and total excitement as we release the artwork and track listing for this new album. Now there is no return. To open myself this way, exposing my deepest and inner thoughts, in a way I have never done before. Its kinda strange, as it feels like these words and songs came from a part of me that I didn’t know about. This is “The Bottom Deep”. This is the album that I never in my life thought I had to write – but now I know, this will be a totem in my life – forever!”

Dan Swanö did the mastering on this album, he said:

“It was pure pleasure to work with these guys. The mix was excellent to start with, so I finally had the opportunity to work with gentle strokes rather than the big roller that I sometimes have to use to shape-up not-so-good mixes. Musically I enjoyed it very much. It’s not easy to label their music (which is good). If I had to mention something, I get that amazing “epic” vibe of Queensryche 84-88. They definitely add something to the family of progressive metal”

Eliran Kantor made the artwork for the album:

“The first draft of the lyrics from Oddleif made it clear that this is going to be a very personal, dark and vulnerable record – and I wanted the cover to reflect that. The vulture, nature’s version of the grim reaper, caresses the dying man, casting a shadow reveling its true intentions and reason for this last visit. I put alot of myself into this artwork, and I think it turned out great”

„The Bottom Deep“ will be released July 22, 2011!

Fetus In Fetu Releasing Debut Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 13, 2011
Posted in: News. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a Comment

Danish FETUS IN FETU has issued the following update:

The danish based Death Metal act FETUS IN FETU, can now announce the release date for the debut album ”Abnormal Disfigurement”, the album will be available via Casket Music / Copro Records the 30th may. Already now it’s possible to stream the three songs ”Bring Your Slasherhook”, ”Raped In The Crypt” and ”Sacrifice, the Flesh” on the groups MySpace profile.

”Abnormal Disfigurement” has been recorded in the band’s own studio Fetus Studio in Brønderslev, Denmark and produced and mixed by the band’s guitarist Johnni and mastered by Thomas Bekker.

The artwork is made by Remy of Headsplit Design, and the layout by Carsten Brogaard of Revolution Music. The album cover can be seen here and the track list is as followes:

1 Moulded Blood
2 Raped in the Crypt
3 Molested with a Knife*
4 Bring your Slasherhook
5 Abnormal Disfigurement^
6 Sleeping with the Dead^*
7 Golgatha
8 Sacrifice, the Flesh

*Guitar solo by Janus Svenningsen af Necroptic (Severe Records) and Emesis
^Vocal by Morten Svendsen by Transparent

For more information, please visit: www.myspace.com/fetusinfetudenmark

Sister Release Artwork And Tracklisting For “Hated”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 12, 2011
Posted in: News. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a Comment

Metal Blade Records has issued the following press release:

Swedish sleaze and punk influenced metal band SISTER have just released the artwork and tracklisting for the Metal Blade Records debut HATED, due out June 3/6 in Europe. The first single also happens to be the title track of the album, HATED, which the band recently released a teaser video for that can be seen HERE.  Listen to the song at the following location: http://www.metalblade.com/sister.

The band talks about the first single HATED:
“The first single from the album is the title track HATED. It’s a song about when people close to you fuck things over for you, making your life miserable till the degree that you can’t take it anymore. You get so pissed and frustrated that you start to hate them and want them to hate you too. You want them to despise you and you use that anger as fuel to pull yourself back up. Feed you till you’re up on the top again. We’ve also had a lot of people that have worked against us over the years and this track and album title is kind of a statement as well. A big fuck you to those people. So it’s both the title track and the anthem of the album.

It was a song that took form real quickly and pretty much put together in one evening in the rehearsal. It just came natural and it felt right to have a heavier, low tempo song after some time of writing a lot of fast maybe more punk feeling songs. Though, this one still has the punk edge like all our work of course.”

Tracklisting HATED:
1. Radioactive Misery
2. Body Blow
3. Bullshit & Backstabbing
4. HATED
5. Motherfuckers (like you)
6. Werewolves on Blackstreet
7. Spit on Me
8. The Unlucky Minority
9. Would You Love A Creature
10. Too Bad For You
11. Drag Me to the Grave

Cover art for HATED was created by Kim Oktavia who is an artist/tattoo artist in Stockholm Sweden and photographer Axel Engström, also from Stockholm Sweden. The band comments; “The cover art for the album are made of us and our close friends Kim Oktavia and Axel Engström. Kim is the bands tattoo artist pretty much as the whole band gets their tattoos at her studio. She worked with the pictures that we took with Axel and really made them come to life. We did the layout with Axel afterwards and we are stoked over the result. The final cover and booklet blows our minds every time we see it. We have taken photos with Axel a lot times and it felt right to work with people that really understand what we want and are on the same page all the time. So it couldn’t have been better and when everybody sees the result they will see what we mean.”

About the band:
SISTER, who hails from Stockholm/Jönkoping Sweden, formed in early 2006 working hard to build up a name as a strong act both live and in the studio. SISTER consists of 4 members- Jamie on vocals, Lestat on guitars and backing vocals, Rikki on bass and backing vocals, and Cari on drums and backing vocals- who combine the sounds of Punk, Glam, Rock, and Metal with an end result sounding something like the bastard child of GG Allin and Guns N’ Roses.

SISTER’s Metal Blade debut HATED will be annihilating the world come June 3rd/6th, 2011. Stay tuned to MetalBlade.com and the band’s websites for further details over the coming months.

Falconer: New Album Artwork, Track Listing Revealed

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 2, 2011
Posted in: News. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a Comment

Swedish metallers FALCONER will release their seventh album, “Armod”, in Europe on June 3 via Metal Blade Records. The CD features 11 songs completely sung in Swedish and four bonus tracks that are said to be English versions of the bandmembers’ favorite new songs.

“Armod” was once again recorded at KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque‘s Sonic Train Studios in Varberg, Sweden during December and January. FALCONER states, “The recording and mixing process went smoother than ever before.

“The album is embracing the Swedish folk music to a greater extent than before making it sound slightly more down to earth. The music spans from acoustic songs with cello, flute and fiddle to songs with blast beats and really heavy riffing. As said before this is a ‘one-time-only’ album and does not define the future sound of FALCONER, but it was about time to pay full notice to the infuence that has always made us different. Now we have that out of our system!”

“Armod” track listing:

01. Svarta Änkan
02. Dimmornas Drottning
03. Griftefrid
04. O, Tysta Ensamhet
05. Vid Rosornas Grav
06. Grimborg
07. Herr Peder Och Hans Syster
08. Eklundapolskan
09. Grimasch Om Morgonen
10. Fru Silfver
11. Gammal Fäbodpsalm

Source: Blabbermouth.net

Arch Enemy: ‘Khaos Legions’ Track Listing Revealed; New Song Available For Free Download

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 31, 2011
Posted in: News. Tagged: , , , , , , . 1 comment

Swedish/German extreme metal metallers ARCH ENEMY will release their ninth studio album, “Khaos Legions”, on May 30 in Europe and June 7 in the U.S. via Century Media Records. The CD will mark the band’s return to new, original material, after the release of the “Tyrants Of The Rising Sun – Live In Japan” live DVD/CD (2008) and the re-recordings album, “The Root Of All Evil” (2009). The effort was tracked at Sweet Spot Studio in the south of Sweden with engineer Rickard Bengtsson (who produced 2005′s “Doomsday Machine”).

The “Khaos Legions” artwork, which comes courtesy of renowned artist Brent Elliott White (MEGADETH, DEATH ANGEL) can be viewed here on the left.

“Khaos Legions” track listing:

01. Khaos Overture (instrumental)
02. Yesterday Is Dead And Gone
03. Bloodstained Cross
04. Under Black Flags We March
05. No Gods, No Masters
06. City Of The Dead
07. Through The Eyes Of A Raven
08. Cruelty Without Beauty
09. We Are A Godless Entity (instrumental)
10. Cult Of Chaos
11. Thorns In My Flesh
12. Turn To Dust (instrumental)
13. Vengeance Is Mine
14. Secrets
15. The Zoo
16. Snow Bound (acoustic)

The song “Yesterday Is Dead And Gone” is available for free download at this location.

ARCH ENEMY drummer Daniel Erlandsson previously stated about the new CD, “We had a very inspiring and creative time writing this album. I think this is definitely evident when listening to the new songs. There’s tons of variation in the material, ranging all the way from very melodic to extremely heavy.

“As you can expect there’s no shortage of killer riffs and intricate guitar work; the Amott brothers [Michael and Chris] have come up with some very cool yet demanding ideas! This album has some of the fastest songs I’ve ever recorded, along with a bunch of heavy pounding mid-tempo songs. As always, it’s difficult to describe music in words, but rest assured — this album will be one heavy fucker!”

Source: Blabbermouth.net