The horribly-named God Seed, aka the Gorgoroth spinoff act featuring Gaahl and King, have enlisted a new backing band featuring Sir (Trelldom, Djerv) on guitar, Kenneth Kapstad (Motorpschyco) on drums, Geir Bratland (Dimmu Borgir) on keys & noise and Lust Kilman (The Batallion, Grimfist) on 2nd guitar. The music for a new album is apparently already recorded and all that's left is for Gaahl to lay down his vocal magic. Expect a release later this year via ?
Dimmu Borgir have officially completed the transformation into Lordi.
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Vamp - I full symfoni (med KORK)
02. Odd Nordstoga - November
03. Henning Kvitnes - For Sånne Som Oss
04. Ida Jenshus - No Guarantees
05. Ole Ivars - Stjerneklart
06. Sigvart Dagsland - Bryllups- og Begravelsesorkester
07. Kari Bremnes - Fantastisk Allerede
08. Christel Alsos - Tomorrow is
09. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2010
10. Tone Damli Aaberge - Cocool
11. Inger Lise Rypdal - De beste jeg vet
12. Elin Gaustad - Whole New Beginning
13. Knut Anders Sørum - Prøysen
14. Various Artists - Hjertestups
15. Dimmu Borgir - Abrahadabra
16. Skambankt - Søvnløs
17. Leif Ove Andsnes - Rachmaninov Piano Concertos no 3 & 4
18. Madcon - Contraband
19. A-ha - 25
20. Röyksopp - Senior
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Henning Kvitnes - For Sånne Som Oss
02. Odd Nordstoga - November
03. Ida Jenshus - No Guarantees
04. Kari Bremnes - Fantastisk Allerede
05. Dimmu Borgir - Abrahadabra
06. Christel Alsos - Tomorrow is
07. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2010
08. Inger Lise Rypdal - De beste jeg vet
09. Elin Gaustad - Whole New Beginning
10. Vamp - I Full Symfoni 2
11. Skambankt - Søvnløs
12. Various Artists - Hjertestups
13. Veronica Akselsen - Blod og Ild
14. Röyksopp - Senior
15. Filmmusikk: - Splitter pinne - Reinspikka hits fra knerten filmen
16. Publiners - Herlig
17. Diverse artister - Go'natt
18. Tommy Tokyo feat Starving for My Gravy - Go Time, Showtime & Absolute War
19. Sivert Høyem - Moon Landing
20. A-ha - 25
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Henning Kvitnes - For Sånne Som Oss
02. Odd Nordstoga - November
03. Ida Jenshus - No Guarantees
04. A1 - Waiting for Daylight
05. Kari Bremnes - Fantastisk Allerede
06. Dimmu Borgir - Abrahadabra
07. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2010
08. Elin Gaustad - Whole New Beginning
09. Christel Alsos - Tomorrow is
10. Skambankt - Søvnløs
11. Hellbillies - Leite etter lykka
12. Filmmusikk: - Splitter pinne - Reinspikka hits fra knerten filmen
13. Röyksopp - Senior
14. Inger Lise Rypdal - De beste jeg vet
15. Tommy Tokyo feat Starving for My Gravy - Go Time, Showtime & Absolute War
16. A-ha - 25
17. Veronica Akselsen - Blod og Ild
18. The Moving Oos - The Return of Moving Oos
19. Knutsen & Ludvigsen - Knutsen & Ludvigsens beste
20. Olav Stedje - Ikkje Utan Deg
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Odd Nordstoga - November
02. Röyksopp - Senior
03. Dimmu Borgir - Abrahadabra
04. Kari Bremnes - Fantastisk Allerede
05. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2010
06. Elin Gaustad - Whole New Beginning
07. Christel Alsos - Tomorrow is
08. Skambankt - Søvnløs
09. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
10. Hellbillies - Leite etter lykka
11. Tommy Tokyo feat Starving for My Gravy - Go Time, Showtime & Absolute War
12. a-ha - 25
13. Filmmusikk: - Splitter pinne - Reinspikka hits fra knerten filmen
14. Enslaved - Axioma Ethica Odini
15. Linda Kvam - Anything For Love
16. Inger Lise Rypdal - De beste jeg vet
17. Kvelertak - Kvelertak
18. Bjørn Johan Muri - Airwaves
19. Jan Garbarek/The Hilliard Ensemble - Officium Novum
20. The Respatexans - Hellbilly Heaven
Episode #6 of Norwegian music podcast "99 Minutes" is now online: http://www.listento.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2010100410432464509498
Featured artists include Dimmu Borgir, Alog, Monzano, Supersilent, Hanne Hukkelberg, Jenny Hval, Motorpsycho and more.
So this is the new Dimmu Borgir clip. Can't say that I care much for the song (no surprise), but I like the new outfits. However, a bald guy with a mustache will never, ever be scary no matter how much he mugs at the camera. Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KzzbYp7NtY
WatainThe first thing you'll notice about this fourth studio full-length from the Swedish purveyors of stench-laden black metal is just how polished it is, at least in relation to anything they've previously vomited forth. It's a strange listen in that such a hefty production sounds great, even though it doesn't fully represent what was expected of the mighty Watain. The music itself is clearly representative of the Swedish horde though, with plenty of riffs that are instantly recognisable as Erik Danielsson and his cohorts, but there's something else in here. Other familiar black metal element has crept into the foray and, as much as some may try to deny it, it must be said that there's a slight tinge of Norway on "Lawless darkness". Or, to be more precise, there's a slight tinge of Dimmu Borgir on "Lawless darkness". Is that a bad thing? Well, yes and no. Dimmu Borgir is Dimmu Borgir and Watain is Watain. They're two definite entities that tread their own ground and pretty much do what's expected of them. For the Norwegians, it's black metal at its most polished, a big budget, high shine, mass appeal madness that works. For the Swedes, it's down and dirty, filth-ridden, black mass uneasiness. That works. Whether or not the high of their extreme cult status has now found Watain aspiring to the grander levels that Dimmu enjoys remains to be seen and, no doubt, will become clear with future releases. Listening to "Lawless darkness" though, it seems as if the journey may have already begun.
As a standalone black metal album this is damn fine stuff, standing head and shoulders above much of the material currently saturating the scene. As a Watain album it's... slightly unexpected. It's definitely a grower and it's definitely s(l)ick stuff, it just doesn't quite reek of the 666-year-old pig's blood that "Sworn to the dark" or "Casus luciferi" did. The sparse leads on the album, I don't think work. Most of the time they knock whatever true menace is currently growing off kilter and generally deaden the impact of the song. The most enigmatic of the tracks on offer is without a doubt the 14-minute closer, "Waters of ain". Throughout its duration it displays Watain at their most venomous, yet, equally, at their most mainstream. It's a great track. It's an odd track. Part of it is a Watain track. Part of it isn't. For the most part, "Lawless darkness" is a great album that I'll return to when I'm in the mood for some quality black metal, but If it's a true sense of impending doom I'm after, I'll just blast "Casus luciferi" instead.
- John Norby
Black metal in 2010, part I. Did the genre desert me or did I simply lose interest? I've been listening to this new Withershin EP ("The hungering void") and pondering these questions because, while I can tell the music is good, I still can't force myself to care. Well-executed melodic Swedish black death ala Dissection...? There's certainly room for more besides Watain. And yet, I feel nothing. I don't mean that in an ironic kvlt way either -- I'm really surprised by my lack of enthusiasm. So where did things go wrong I wonder? The genre did go through a certain amount of growing pains around the turn of the century and now things seem pretty evenly split among two major strains. First, we have the upper-tier established acts who have been going at it for years, some more progressive than others (Enslaved, Mayhem), others more content to drift towards the mainstream (Satyricon, Dimmu Borgir and seriously, WTF is up with this nonsense?). Some just keep on keeping on (Dark Funeral, Marduk), a few decided to abandon the genre completely (Darkthrone sorta, yes Ulver). Then, on the other hand, we have the new BM underground which, from my point of view, seems all too willing to embrace and accept sketchy politics and increasingly shitty, poorly recorded music. A race to the bottom, as I've mentioned here before I believe. The fact that I hear the new Burzum is getting a third vinyl repress bums me out. That means that competent bands like Withershin don't have a place anymore and boring, jaded dudes like me will shrug it off. I think my major hangup must be the lack of mystery in today's BM -- 15 years ago these bands were legitimately terrifying and sounded barely human. They burned down churches and killed each other and lived way off in some distant land that seemed far beyond reach. I distinctly remember hearing Emperor for the first time and how it sounded like absolutely nothing I had ever experienced. Then, a few years later, I remember seeing Emperor's first video and how amazingly disappointed it made me. No longer the aural expression of pure evil, here were a bunch of average metal dudes making an average metal video and playing dress-up in the woods. To say nothing about how boring they were live when I eventually saw them on tour, but the magic was forever lost and bands like Withershin have no hope to reclaim that. I don't know what's to be done though. Has the grim masquerade run its course? Can we start smiling at each other and simply enjoy the music for what it is, not what it used to represent?
Withershin - Wherein I exalt
I wasn't going to mention it at all, but Dimmu Borgir's recent firing of two members seems to have stirred up quite a shitstorm: http://www.dimmu-borgir.com/index.php?action=fullnews&showcomments=1&id=26
Metal Martyr reports that Iron Maiden will face off in a game of football (aka, soccer if you live in the US) tomorrow July 24 against an all-star Norwegian team featuring members from Dimmu Borgir, Cadaver, Turbonegro and more: http://www.metalmartyr.com/iron-maiden-strappin-on-their-football-boots/
The winners of this year's Spellemannprisen, the Norwegian equivilent to the Grammy:
Female artist: Susanne Sundfør - Susanne Sundfør (Your Favourite Music)
Male artist: Magnet - The Simple Life (Sony BMG)
Pop group: Superfamily - Warszawa (Propeller Rec.)
Electronica: Salvatore - Days Of Rage (Racing Junior)
Rock: My Midnight Creeps - Histamin (MMC Records)
Country: Hellbillies - Spissrotgang (EMI Music Norway)
Metal: Mayhem - Ordo Ad Chao (Season Of Mist)
Hip-hop: Madcon - So Dark The Con Of Man (Bonnier Amigo)
Jazz: Petter Wettre - Fountain Of Youth (Household Records)
Open class: Live Maria Roggen - Circuit Songs (Jazzland)
Music video: Dimmu Borgir - The Serpentine Offering (Nuclear Blast) Dir: Patrick Ullaeus
Newcomer: Tine Thing Helseth - Haydn/Hummel/Albinoni/Neruda (Simax Classics)
Hit: Madcon - "Beggin'" (Bonnier Music)
Spellemann: Hellbillies
Hederspris: Dum Dum Boys
For all categories, go here: http://www.spellemann.no/
The nominees for this year's Spellemanprisen (the Norwegian Grammy) have been announced:
Female artist:
Ane Brun - Live In Scandinavia (Det Er Mine/V2)
Christel Alsos - Closing The Distance (Sony BMG)
Sissy Wish - Beauties Never Die (Sony BMG)
Susanne Sundfør - Susanne Sundfør (MBN)
Male artist:
Kenneth Ishak - Silver Lightning From A Black Sky (Division Records As)
Magnet - The Simple Life (Sony BMG)
Sivert Høyem & The Volunteers - Exiles (Hektor Grammofon)
William Hut - Nightfall (Universal Music AS)
Pop group:
Blind Archery Club - The Union (Sony BMG)
Superfamily - Warszawa (Propeller Rec.)
The Royalties - The Royalties (Blister Music)
Vidar Johnsen & Peter Nordberg - Ord Og Ögonblick (Sony BMG)
Electronica:
Alog - Amateur (Rune Grammofon)
Diskjokke - Staying In (Smalltown Supersound)
Salvatore - Days Of Rage (Racing Junior)
Rock:
BigBang - Too Much Yang (Warner Music/Grandsport Records)
Moving Oos - Peace And Love (Kong Tiki Records)
My Midnight Creeps - Histamin (MMC Records)
Raga Rockers - Übermensch (EMI/Pilot/Virgin)
The Lionheart Brothers - Dizzy Kiss (Racing Junior)
Country:
Hellbillies - Spissrotgang (EMI Music Norway)
Hemisfair - Blue Blue Grass Of Home (Wilma Records/Playground Music)
Shit City - God Bless Our Home (Voices of Wonder)
Steinar Albrigtsen - Moment Of Peace (Sony BMG)
Metal:
Audrey Horne - Le Fol (Indie Recordings)
Dimmu Borgir - In Sorte Diaboli (Nuclear Blast)
Mayhem - Ordo Ad Chao (Season Of Mist)
Red Harvest - A Greater Darkness (Season Of Mist)
Hip-hop:
El Axel - It Is Wha It Is (Pass It Records)
Madcon - So Dark The Con Of Man (Bonner Amigo)
Tommy Tee - No Studio No Time-The Wait (Tee Productions)
Folk:
Berit Opheim - Den Blide Sol (NorCD AS)
Ragnhild Furebotten - Endelig Vals (Talik Da)
Sigrid Moldestad - Taus (Heilo)
Trio Mediaeval - Folk Songs (ECM/Grappa)
Jazz:
Fossum-Aarum Quartet - F.A.Q. (Schmell)
Jon Balke - Book Of Velocities (ECM/Grappa)
Petter Wettre - Fountain Of Youth (Household Records)
Sharp Nine - Sudoku (The Real Thing Da/Staffan)
The Core - Office Essentials (Jazzland)
Open class:
Frode Haltli - Passing Images (ECM/Grappa)
Live Maria Roggen - Circuit Songs (Jazzland)
Pust - Femkant (Pust Records)
Shining - Grindstone (Rune Grammofon)
The Source - The Source Of Christmas - Live (Grappa Musikkforlag AS)
Best music video:
Dimmu Borgir - The Serpentine Offering (Nuclear Blast)
Heroes & Zeros - A Strange Constellation (Nightliner/Universal)
My Midnight Creeps - Don`t Let’Em Bring You Down (MMC Records)
Turbonegro - Do You Do You Dig Destruction (Scandinavian Leather Recordings)
WE - Hurdy Gurdy (Nun Music)
Best Newcomer:
Christel Alsos - Closing The Distance (Sony BMG)
Heroes & Zeros - Strange Constellations (Nightliner/Universal)
Susanne Sundfør - Susanne Sundfør (MBN)
Tine Thing Helseth - Haydn/Hummel/Albinoni/Neruda (Simax Classics)
Valkyrien Allstars - Valkyrien Allstars (Heilo)
Best song:
Kurt Nilsen - "Push Push" (Sony BMG)
Madcon - "Beggin'" (Bonnier Music)
Postgirobygget - "Tidløs" (EMI Music Norway)
Sichelle - "Fuck Deg" (Eccentric Music)
Venke Knutson - "Holiday" (Universal)
Read more: http://www.spellemann.no/
