Prog-psych/krautrock band WEITE, featuring Nicholas DiSalvo (Elder, Delving), Michael Risberg (Elder, delving), Ingwer Boysen (delving), Ben Lubin (Lawns) and Fabien deMenou (Perilymph), has announced the release of their brand new studio offering, entitled “Oase”, for November 22, 2024 on Stickman Records!
“Oase” is the sophomore album from Berlin-based progressive rock collective Weite, and the follow-up to the band’s 2023 debut LP “Assemblage”. Clocking in at almost an hour, “Oase” — German for “Oasis” — takes listeners on an intricate and textured journey that draws inspiration from the pioneering spirit of 70s psychedelic rock, blending influences from “Canterbury scene” prog, Krautrock, early electronica, post rock, and Americana. The new album showcases Weite‘s ability to merge the old with the new, creating an immersive, exploratory sound that moves from contemplative and pastoral to riffy and doomy without ever sacrificing melody. “Oase” is characterized by longer expansive, atmospheric compositions yet is undoubtedly more composed than the band’s debut, with more of a focus on songs, albeit in the broader sense of the word. With the focus on melody, texture and mood— although not necessarily always in that order — Weite create a sound that’s intricate and meditative, inviting the listener to embark on a journey through shifting soundscapes and evolving musical narratives.
[Cover Art by Sofia Hjortberg]
“We’re really proud of this album and worked super hard to channel all our influences into it: everything from the 70s prog we all love, to krautrock, americana and ambient, among other stuff,”Ben Lubin comments.“It’s definitely much stronger compositionally-speaking because of it, and we’re a much better band after gigging over the past year since the first LP came out.”
Nick DiSalvo adds:“Weite has come to embody a sort of collective spirit both within the band and within our little Berlin scene – musicians and friends, all in a seemingly rotating cast with each others’ bands, as guest musicians, tour help, etc. Each member takes the strengths and experiences from their other projects and pours it into our music, which results in a pretty interesting mashup, especially the longer we play together. “Oase” is for me personally an homage to the little oases in life: the couch, the rehearsal space, and yes, even the Späti – a Berlin biotope, a small convenience store where you can sit and take a break from the daily stress and enjoy a drink, a smoke or a conversation.”
Weite was formed in Berlin in winter 2022 by bassist Ingwer Boysen recruiting drummer Nick DiSalvo and guitarists Michael Risberg and Ben Lubin. Initially intended as a one-off recording session, the four recognized an obvious musical chemistry and common ground and decided to turn the project into a proper band. Keyboardist Fabien deMenou joined in 2024. “Oase” will be available on 180gr. pink marbled 2LP, on CD and digitally on November 22, 2024 via Stickman Records. Watch out for many more details, single releases and the album pre-sale to start soon!
In the raw, unyielding embrace of doom metal, few bands have tread the line between despair and catharsis as poignantly as FUNERAL. The Norwegian titans of sorrow unveil their newest single, Procession of Misery, from the upcoming album Gospel of Bones, a requiem carved out of the ice and darkness of the human soul.
Hailing from the desolate climes of Norway, FUNERAL have built their legacy on crafting epically melancholic soundscapes that resonate with the profound depths of grief and loss. As stalwart guardians of the funeral doom metal genre, their tones are as weighted as the bowed boughs of winter. In Procession of Misery, they carry forward this legacy, leading listeners through a morose symphony of sorrow.
With Anders Eek’s crushing riffs and the ethereal lament of Eirik Krokfjord, the track embodies the soul-crushing bleakness that defines FUNERAL‘s sound. The track is a dirge, a solemn march into the abyss, punctuated by relentless funeral drums and melodies that etch sorrow into the night sky.
Produced by the venerable Børge Finstad, Procession of Misery leads the vanguard of an album that declares FUNERAL’s sovereign command over the genre. It’s a song that doesn’t shy away from staring into the void but rather finds a haunting beauty within it.
Gospel of Bones is out October 18th on Season of Mist.
Tracklist: 1. Too Young To Die (8:39) 2. Yestertear (5:57) [WATCH] 3. Procession of Misery (9:51) [LISTEN] 4. These Rusty Nails (7:28) 5. Ailo’s Lullaby (2:18) 6. My Own Grave (7:17) [WATCH] 7. To Break All Hearts Of Men (9:05) 8. Når Kisten Senkes (8:02) 9. Three Dead Men (7:49) Total runtime: 1:06:31
Cover Art by Tristan Diaz Bastie
Melancholy. Pain. Loss. Solitude. Those had been just some of doom metal main themes ever since bleak pouring rain and the sound of church bell in the distance gave birth to the genre on BLACK SABBATH self-eponymous debut over five decades ago. But how many musicians have actually been bearing in their very flesh those gut-wrenching feelings?
Anders Eek – FUNERAL’s founding member, drummer and indisputable leader since 1991 – doesn’t particularly see it as a badge of honour, but he’d be the first to admit that somehow, the “death and loss we had to go through over the years were extremely painful yet inspiring, as a musician and as a human being.” And indeed, ever since their very first rehearsal in a basement in their hometown of Drammen, just outside of Oslo, Funeral had been ridden with problems and tragedy. Originally inspired by CATHEDRAL, CANDLEMASS, BLACK SABBATH, TROUBLE etc, they very quickly set out to create the most depressing and slowest form of doom/death possible at a time when their home country was being hailed as the birthplace of black metal. They went through several labels over the years, only to see them bust soon afterwards. Plagued by recurrent line-up problems, they even lost two of their key members Einar André Fredriksen (bass) and Christian Loos (guitar) in 2003 and 2006, respectively, to suicide and overdose.
But somehow, Eek never surrendered, but instead overcame all those obstacles by releasing over the years a slab of classics, each with its own, distinct personality, from the utter misery of the delicate yet none-so-extreme 1995 debut album ‘Tragedies’ to the more melodic and accessible 2001 gothic/doom masterpiece ‘In Fields Of Pestilent Grief’ or 2012 symphonic masterpiece ‘Oratorium’. Still, after the 30th anniversary concert in Oslo, april 12th 2022, also featuring the original singer Toril Snyen on the track «taarene», “life got in the way” as Anders puts it. “Some of us had kids, others moved out. Even I had quite a lot of things going on in my personal life and, at least for a while, maybe less drive to keep on carrying on the weight of the band on my shoulders. I never stopped writing music though because it’s something I’ve always done anyway.
2021 sees the band releasing Praesentialis in Aeternum (something along the line of “here eternally”) as a “natural progression. Guesting on opening track ‘Ånd,’ the first single off the record, is Lars Nedland, Sindre’s own brother of BORKNAGAR and SOLEFALD fame. It’s also the first album for their new partner, Season of Mist.
In 2020 Eek started writing what was to become the album Gospel of Bones, to be released in October 2024.
In 2022 Singer Sindre Nedland was replaced by the professionally trained baritone opera singer Eirik Krokfjord (specialized in the works of Richard Wagner), known from both the Norwegian Opera Choir, as well as having several leading roles in operas both in Norway and abroad.
Violinist Ingvild Johannessen also joined the ranks, and the band moved away from programmed orchestration, and recorded all strings analogue.. This time around also incorporating the traditional Norwegian instrument the Harding fiddle, which is a key element throughout the entire upcoming album, moving the band slightly towards a more «folk» sound, combined with the classical opera-vocals of E. Krokfjord. Hopefully building bridges between both metal music, folk- rock and classical music.
Roughly 20 tracks were composed throughout the Covid pandemic(9 of whom made it to the studio), and yet again recorded and mixed at Toproom Studio, by Børge Finstad.
Violinist Øyvind Rauset, from the cult Norwegian folk-rock band FOLQUE, is performing on 2 tracks as a guest musician, as well as Espen Ingierd, with his very distinct singing-style in the vein of John Lennon, Michael Gira (SWANS)etc from cult doom/death band BEYOND DAWN singing on 2 tracks.
The album also contains an instrumental cover song , written by Kjetil Selvik, and is a melancholic piece only consisting of harding fiddle and church organ.
The lyrical content of the album is an autobiography of life’s mishaps of drummer/composer A. Eek, and deals with real darkness, misery, pain and loss. A Gospel of Bones.
Before finally releasing their debut album, NORDIC GOTHIC, on October 11th, CEMETERY SKYLINE are inviting you to hear BEHIND THE LIE.
The video for their new single was directed by the band’s very own drummer, Vesa Ranta, and Petri Marttinen. Vesa (drums) comments his work: “As the band’s drummer and professional video director you are wearing two hats and it’s always a challenge. However, I found the challenge meaningful, so I definitely wanted to make a video for our band. I love old horror and crime movie classics and wanted to bring the same kind of visual narrative and atmosphere to the ‘Behind the Lie’ video: Hitchcock goes goth, spiced up with 80’s and 90’s aesthetics. Working on the video was a great project. I truly feel that together with my partner Petri Marttinen we achieved the gloomy atmosphere we were looking for. ‘Behind the Lie’ is one of my absolute favourites on the album, it fully grabs my attention and hits hard. The mood of the song just sucks you in. It is the perfect song for the autumn that is about to start.”
BEHIND THE LIE is taken from CEMETERY SKYLINE’s upcoming debut album, NORDIC GOTHIC that is due for a release on October 11th, 2024. Pre-order the album at https://cemeteryskyline.lnk.to/NordicGothic-BioNe
CEMETERY SKYLINE is: Mikael Stanne – Vocals Markus Vanhala – Guitars Santeri Kallio – Keyboards Victor Brandt – Bass Vesa Ranta – Drums
LOVE IS NOISE have announced details of their debut album, TO LIVE IN A DIFFERENT WAY , set for release on February 14th, 2025. With influence from Portishead, Radiohead, My Bloody Valentine, Oasis, Bowery Electric, Boards of Canada and Deftones, the band set about to create a record that makes you feel every emotion possible.
Speaking of the album, vocalist Cam Humphrey says: “TO LIVE IN A DIFFERENT WAY is the story of a kid from Bolton trying to understand the world he lives in. It’s 10 tracks full of love, heartache and dream-soaked melody, I believe we’ve created something special.”
In addition to the album news, LOVE IS NOISE have released another new track, take.one.minute.
It won’t be long before progressive metalcore alchemists ALLT drop their debut album FROM THE NEW WORLD . To bridge the waiting time, the band reveals one last musical gem before the world gets to hear their first ever long player: With ECHOES, Allt reveals an ace that they had up their sleeves all this time. Arguably one of the most mesmerizing tracks on the upcoming album, ECHOES is the perfect cliffhanger for everyone looking forward to dive into the musical dystopia that is FROM THE NEW WORLD.
The band shares about the new single and the upcoming album: “We believe that music should be authentic, not heavy just for the sake of being heavy. With Echoes, we explore a softer side of our sound, demonstrating that we are never afraid to try new things. Echoes reflects the struggle of letting go of something or someone and the difficulty of accepting the permanence of certain situations. As the release date of From The New World rapidly approaches, sharing Echoes with the world marks a significant milestone for us.”
Their debut album FROM THE NEW WORLD will be out on Oct 4th and is available for pre-order. The 10-track album is a sonic testimony of a post-nuclear world, exploring both the chaos and stillness that follows.
Pre-order the upcoming album FROM THE NEW WORLDhere.
Prepare for a sonic and spiritual awakening! Progressive metal pioneers EXODUS RISING unveil the awe-inspiring music video for their soul-stirring ballad, “Blazing Love”.
This powerful track, a cornerstone of their upcoming album “The Book of Life” (releasing October 18th, 2024 via Wormholedeath Records), ignites a firestorm of emotions, drawing inspiration from the timeless Songs of Solomon. Witness progressive metal mastery’s explosive fusion and divine love’s profound language.
Embark on a groundbreaking journey where heavy metal meets heavenly inspiration. Exodus Rising transcends the genre’s boundaries, inviting listeners to explore the depths of human connection blessed by a higher power.
In the progressive heavy metal scene, Exodus Rising has emerged as a transcendent force, blending musical mastery with spiritual storytelling. Founded by brothers NY Charlie, a skilled bassist and studio engineer, and KC Bonet, a gifted guitarist, the band began their journey in New York City. Joined by keyboardist Chris Zapa, they set out to create a concept album inspired by biblical themes. After several lineup changes, including the departures of drummers Otoniel Vargas and Willie “Speedy” Gonzalez, the band found their perfect rhythm with Luka Stone. Vocalist J Slate, with his three-octave range and spiritual devotion, completed the lineup, infusing new energy into the band. Together, they are preparing to release a groundbreaking album that fuses progressive metal with a divine narrative, taking listeners on a profound journey from Genesis to Revelation.
“The Book of Life” by EXODUS RISING is a Christian Progressive Heavy Metal album that spans the entire biblical narrative, from Genesis to Revelation. This concept album humanizes ancient stories, presenting them in digestible bites. Drawing inspiration from classical composers like Beethoven, Bach, and Mozart, and blending them with the progressive metal influences of Symphony X, Dream Theater, and Queen to name a few. With that inspiration, EXODUS RISING creates a unique sound. Our music is a melting pot of classical essence and modern metal, embodying the spirit of metal, while being envoys of light, and ministers of heavenly brutality.
Exodus Rising and Wormholedeath Records invite you to embark on a musical odyssey that transcends time and genre, inviting listeners to immerse themselves in the divine and the monumental.
Chief Shock Video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
Ads
Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 