Norwegian Avant-garde rockers VIRUS have signed a deal with Karisma Records that will see the label release the band’s fourth full-length album. Alongside a recent busy touring schedule, VIRUS have been writing and honing material for the new album which will be titled “Memento Collider” and the band is currently at work on it in studio. “Memento Collider” is scheduled for release this winter, and more details will follow.
VIRUS was formed in 2000 from the ashes of 90’s avant-garde black metal project VED BUENS ENDE by Carl “Czral” Michael Eide with the idea of creating a new kind of experimental metal / rock. With Czral on guitars and vocals, he brought with him bassist Petter “Plenum” Berntsen and drummer Einar “Einz” Sjursø and the band recorded their only demo that same year.
Having been picked up almost immediately by Jester Records, VIRUS released their debut album “Carheart” in 2003, but Czral’s accident in 2005, which hospitalized him for a year, resulted in the band going on hiatus until the release of their sophomore album “The Black Flux” on Season of Mist in 2008. An album, incidentally, that earned them the title of “Album of the Year” in several publications, as did 2011’s follow up album “The Agent That Shapes The Desert”, which was released on the band’s own label Virulent Music.
VIRUS’ long awaited live debut came in 2011, and aside from club appearances and tours in both Europe and the USA since then, the band has appeared at a variety of prestigious festivals.
Fast becoming one of the go-to labels for the Progressive side of music, Karisma Records have today added another string to their bow by signing Norwegian Prog Rockers RENDEZVOUS POINT. The band will kick off their collaboration with Karisma Records with the release of a single titled “Wasteland”, together with a music video, towards the latter part of May, to be followed by their debut full-length album in August.
Hailing from the southern part of the country, RENDEZVOUS POINT’s musicians met when they were all studying music at the University of Agder. Winning the title of the most promising band in Southern Norway in 2012, RENDEZVOUS POINT went on to perform at a concert with the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra. The band produces music that is heavy and complex, with epic arrangements, and glorious melodies sung by Gjermund Hansen, who many will recognise through his appearance on the Norwegian edition of The Voice.
Although relatively new as a band, RENDEZVOUS POINT consists of musicians that have a wide-ranging experience in projects that cover a variety of musical genres. As well as Hansen, the lineup consists of Petter Hallaråker on guitar (ICS VORTEX, SOLEFALD), Nicolai Tangen Svennæs on keyboard (EMILIE NICOLAS), Gunn-Hilde Erstad on bass and Baard Kolstad on drums. As well as being a member of bands such as LEPROUS, BORKNAGAR, ICS VORTEX, ABBATH, GOD SEED, drummer Kolstad won the Roland V-Drums World Championship in California in 2012.
RENDEZVOUS POINT are set to embark on a 29-date European tour in the Autumn with LEPROUS and SPHERE in support of the new album release. Routing for the tour as follows:
25/09: Garage, Bergen (NO)
26/09: TBA
02/10: Forbraendingen, Copenhagen (DK)
03/10: Euroblast Festival, Cologne (DE)
04/10: Progpower Europe, Baarlo (NL)
05/10: Le Divan Du Monde , Paris (FR)
06/10: Le Ferrailleur, Nantes (FR)
08/10: RCA Club, Lisbon (PT)
09/10: Caracol, Madrid (ES)
10/10: Garaje , Murcia (ES)
11/10: Apolo 2, Barcelona (ES)
12/10: Ninkasi Kao, Lyon (FR)
13/10: Garage, London (UK)
14/10: Ruby Lounge , Manchester (UK)
15/10: The Fleece, Bristol (UK)
16/10: Jan Hertog, Maasmechelen (BE)
17/10: Substage , Karlsruhe (DE)
18/10: Backstage Club, Munich (DE)
19/10: Legend Club, Milan (IT)
20/10: Kiff, Aarau (CH)
22/10: Rockstadt , Brasov (RO)
23/10: TBA
24/10: Majestic Club, Bratislava (SK)
25/10: Nova Chmelnice, Prague (CZ)
26/10: Progresja , Warsaw (PL)
27/10: Rockcafe , Riga (LV)
28/10: Nosturi , Helsinki (FI)
30/10: Bryggarsalen , Stockholm (SE)
31/10: John Dee, Oslo (NO)
Karisma Records have inked a deal with Norwegian Prog Rockers MAGIC PIE, and are set to release the band’s fourth full-length album on the 25th May. As well as the new album, information about which will be released shortly, Karisma will also be re-issuing the band’s three previous albums – 2005’s “Motions of Desire”, 2007’s “Circus of Life” and 2011’s “The Suffering Joy” – later this year in both CD format, and, for the first time, in vinyl format as well.
Formed in 2001 in Moss, Norway, MAGIC PIE has become a household name to Prog fans around the world with their blend of Classic Prog and Hard Rock inspired by bands such as SPOCKS BEARD, DREAM THEATER, GENESIS, PINK FLOYD, THE FLOWER KINGS, TRANSATLANTIC, KANSAS, DEEP PURPLE, YES etc.
MAGIC PIE‘s lineup consists of songwriter and producer Kim Stenberg on guitars and vocals, lyricist and melody co-writer Eirikur Hauksson on lead vocals and guitar, Eirik Hanssen on vocals and guitar, Jan Torkild Johannessen on drums, Erling Henanger on keyboards and backing vocals and Lars Petter Holstad on bass and backing vocals. It’s a lineup where experience and superb musicianship combine to create epic prog rock with top notch vocal harmonies.
DARK ESSENCE RECORDS plans to make their annual Inferno Festival event a little different this year when they join forces with sister label KARISMA RECORDS to showcase two of their bands each at Blå on Wednesday 16th April. “We are always conscious of the fact that while many of Dark Essence’s artists such as TAAKE tour frequently, and fans in Europe have a good chance of seeing them live, the Karisma artists tend to tour much less, so we thought that this year we would open up the event to give their fans a chance to see some of them, and introduce them to Dark Essence’s fans at the same time”, commented the label’s Martin Kvam.
SLEGEST – Photo by Ørjan Talle and Håvard Nesbø
Representing Dark Essence will be two bands whose recent releases have been getting rave reviews from press and fans alike. First up will be SLEGEST, the new project from former VREID guitarist Ese, who has skilfully blended classic heavy rock and old-school black metal to produce a sound that is both dark and sinister, and with an unmistakably down and dirty catchy groove that weaves its way through the music. Originally started as a one-man project, once the debut full-length album “Løyndom” was released at the end of 2013, it quickly became clear that the demand from fans to see SLEGEST perform live was such that Ese was persuaded to form a fully functioning band. More information about SLEGEST can be found at https://www.facebook.com/slegest
The official video for the track “Ho Som Haustar Aleine” from SLEGEST’s “Løyndom” can be seen below:
ALFAHANNE
Joining them will be Sweden’s ALFAHANNE, whose lineup includes members of bands such as VINTERLAND and early MAZE OF TORMENT, and who have come together to play what they themselves have called ”Alfapocalyptic Rock”, a fascinating and hard-hitting mix of Black Metal, Classic Rock and Punk with some Goth influences . Their high-energy live performances have garnered them much praise. Making a guest appearance on stage with ALFAHANNE, will be HELHEIM‘s V’gandr who performed vocals on one of the tracks from the band’s new album “Alfapokalyps” . It is a tribute to ALFAHANNE that they were able to attract not only V’gandr to make a guest appearance on the album, but also Dark Essence label-mates Hoest from TAAKE and Niklas Kvarforth from SHINING. More information about ALFAHANNE can be found at https://www.facebook.com/alfahanneofficial
The track “Såld På Mörkret” from ALFAHANNE’s album ”Alfapocalyptic Rock” and which features TAAKE’s Hoest on guest vocals can be heard here:
Making an appearance for Karisma will be two bands, representing the new and the established. Lovers of Prog Rock cannot fail to recognise the name of AIRBAG, a band known the world-over for an exquisite musical craftsmanship that enables its musicians to create a sonic experience ranging from massive walls of sound, to ambient textures and soulful soundscapes, both in the studio and on stage. The release of AIRBAG’s third full-length album “The Greatest Show on Earth” at the end of last year confirmed the band’s status in the world of prog, earning them many accolades. Inferno will be one of the very few chancesthat to catch this incredible band live this year so it is an opportunity that should not be missed. One for fans of ANATHEMA. More information about AIRBAG can be found at http://www.airbagsound.com/
The title track from AIRBAG’s album “The Greatest Show on Earth” can be heard here:
The second of the Karisma bands is one of their latest signings, SEVEN IMPALE. The release of the digital EP “Beginning/Relieve” last year gave an indication of the multi-faceted nature of these young musicians. With its member drawn from a range of disciplines including classical orchestra, big band, metal, jazz, rock and electronic music, their sound ranges from progressive and jazzy to the softer and more melodic to the harder and edgier. They bring a freshness and enthusiasm to their live performances, and it is anticipated that their debut full-length album later this year will more than meet expectations, setting them apart from many other new arrivals on the scene. If you are a fan of Norway’s SHINING, SEVEN IMPALE is definitely a band you will want to check out. More information about SEVEN IMPALE can be found at https://www.facebook.com/sevenimpale
The title track from SEVEN IMPALE’s “Beginning/Relieve” EP can be heard below:
Scheduled performances for the Dark Essence Records / Karisma Records artists at Inferno Festival, which will take place at Blå, Brennereiven 9C, Oslo, Norway, on Wednesday 16th April as follows:
Five years after the release of their last album “Smorgasbord”, Karisma Records is set to release the fourth full-length album from Prog Rockers BRIMSTONE, who have not only shortened their name from THE BRIMSTONE SOLAR RADIATION BAND, but have also changed their sound to become “leaner, meaner, hungrier, and much more proggie” than before. The new album, which is titled “Mannsverk”, will hit the streets on the 24th March in CD, Digital and Vinyl formats. Track listing for “Mannsverk” as follows:
1. A Norwegian Requiem
2. Rubberlegged Man
3. Voodoo
4. Flapping Lips at Ankle Height
5. The Fixed Wheel
6. The Giant Fire
7. Sjø & Land
8. This is the Universe
Formed in Bergen, Norway, in the late ’90’s by guitarist and vocalist Rolf Edvardsen and bassist Truls “Biff” Eriksen who, wanting something different from the pop and metal of their previous bands, turned to psychedelic progressive music as epitomised by bands such as KING CRIMSON, PINK FLOYD and 13th FLOOR ELEVATORS. Joined by two brothers Thomas and Øyvind Grønner on drums and organ/guitar, respectively, BRIMSTONE married high quality song writing to high energy live performances and quickly became much in demand on the underground psychedelic /prog network, both at home and abroad, thanks to their own special brand of “prog-a-delic space rock”. Under their original name of THE BRIMSTONE SOLAR RADIATION BAND, they released the “Going Out” EP in 2002, followed by the full-length albums “Solar Radiation Band” in 2004, the country- tinged “Solstice” in 2005, and their first release on Karisma Records, the multi-instrumental “Smorgasbord”, in 2009.
“Mannsverk” finds the lineup back as the original 4-piece and recording in their own studio, using original vintage equipment to enable them to get the exact sound they want. A sound that includes the use of instruments as varied as flutes, saxophones, accordions and violins, as well as vocal choirs, to create a strong late 60’s/early 70’s vibe. With many of the songs coming in at between six and twelve minutes, BRIMSTONE have used their considerable musical skill to avoid the trap of boring solos and fruitless jamming – effortlessly fusing Biff’s thundering bass lines with ThomasGrønner’s relentless jazz- grooves, whilst Rolf Edvardsen’s vocals and guitar fit perfectly with Øyvind Grønner’s arsenal of organs, pianos, mellotrons and synthesizers.
BRIMSTONE will launch “Mannsverk” with a show at Det Akademiske Kvarter in Bergen on the 28th March. More information about BRIMSTONE can be found on the band’s website at http://brimstone.no
The official video for the track “Sanctimonious High” from BRIMSTONE’s 2009 album “Smorgasbord” can be seen below:
Having previously released AIRBAG’s first two full-length albums as well as a digital single, Karisma Records have inked a new deal with the Norwegian Prog rockers for a further two albums and are set to release the band’s third full-length album in the autumn of this year. AIRBAG are currently putting the finishing touches to the new album, and studio updates and photos can be found on the band’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Airbag/21137836128 whilst a short video teaser can be seen below:
With a line up that includes front man Asle Tostrup on vocals and live guitar, Bjørn Riis on guitars and backing vocals, Jørgen Hagen on keyboards, Henrik Fossum on drums and Anders Hovdan on bass, AIRBAG was formed in Oslo, Norway, in 2005. Taking elements from classical and progressive rock, chill and jazz, AIRBAG have created their own unique sound. AIRBAG’s first full-length album “Identity” appeared in 2009 and was hailed as one of the best progressive releases of that year, with the band’s sound being described by Classical Rock Magazine as “Prog at its most chilled, honeyed and soothing”. The 2011 release “All Rights Removed” went on to win even more plaudits, showing a slightly edgier side to the band’s music whilst still keeping their trademark moods and soundscapes.
Two tracks from AIRBAG’s first two releases can be heard below:
A video of AIRBAG playing “All Rights Removed” live in Oslo when the band supported Marillion on the Scandinavian leg of their world tour last year can be seen below:
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