Podcast: Nekromantik Norway

MP3: Waklevören - Oslo spy

Not that it needs to be reiterated, but Norway's been ruling the scene when it comes to filthy metal/punk. Darkthrone, Obliteration, Okkultokrati, Haust... all top-notch acts. See also: Waklevören. I'm making a mix, it'll be posted this weekend and it'll include this track.

Waklevören - Oslo spy

Aversionline recommends Okkultokrati

Aversionline praises the new Okkultokrati record "No light for mass": http://www.aversionline.com/blahg/2010/07/12/okkultokrati-no-light-for-mass-cd-lp/

Nils Bech
Look back
Fysisk Format

It's always refreshing to see a label with so much devotion to good music that it'll have a multitude of acts spanning a variety of genres on its roster. It's the mark of a true music fan; someone who's not afraid to take risks and stick two fingers up to the naysayers and proudly state: "This is what I like and I'm releasing it!" Norwegian Nils Bech, is one of the non-metal acts on Fysisk Format, his laid back, retro-styled electropop sitting alongside the fist and fury metal battery from the likes of Obliteration, Haust or Okkultokrati. It has to be said that there's a time and a place for "Look back"; It requires a certain frame of mind before someone could take the entire album in one sitting, but that doesn't mean it's a bad release. It's just conducive to pre-planned, late-night, candlelit ambience rather than any summer drive-time fervor. And when it kicks off in that kind of subdued atmosphere, it can be simply wondrous. Vocally, Bech is probably what a Morten Harket and Morrissey hybrid would sound like if they had been releasing stuff in the early '60s. Sure, his music might be classed as electropop but, with its definite retro leanings, it sounds more like the male counterpart of Goldfrapp's "Felt mountain" than the '80s disco companion of "Scoundrel days". The term 'crooner' springs to mind often on this and, if there's one main criticism of Bech, it's that his English pronunciation leaves a lot to be desired. Generally, English sung in a foreign tongue adds a certain mystique to an album and, while that's true on a lot of "Look back", Bech's approach can be slightly off-putting at times. The songs on here are well done and, while there's a good buzz around Nils Bech, the vocals really taint this release in places. Best tracks on here are the upbeat "Medieval times" and the distinctly Björk-y "French affairs". A good album that's definitely original. Unfortunately, it would have been much better if Nils had sung på norsk.
- John Norby

Sirius playlist week #28

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Håkan Hellström - Kann ingen sorg för mig Göteborg
02. TALK 1
03. Enforcer - Katana
04. Existensminimum - 1993
05. Ludwig Bell - Kärlek slutar alltid med bråk
06. TALK 2
07. Karla-Therese Kjellvander & The Rockridge Brothers - New season
08. Lapko - Summer nights
09. CEO - No mercy
10. Night Minutes - Lord I can never be your mirror
11. TALK 3
12. Dungen - Marken låg stille
13. My Brother the Wind - Electric universe
14. Rigas den Andre - W.A.S.P. (R2 remix)
15. TALK 4
16. Waklevören - Oslo spy
17. Okkultokrati - Tail of the snakewind
18. Haust - Vomiting
19. TALK 5

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

New Okkultokrati EP on the way

Okkultokrati has recorded a new 5-song EP for release this fall: http://okkultokrati.blogspot.com/2010/06/new-ep-from-okkultokrati-recorded-and.html
Kinda funny to see they're covering "No class" since I just saw PGH-based bad vibes act Slices play the same tune last night.

Hombre Malo to tour Russia

Okkultokrati-related act Hombre Malo will be touring Russia and the Baltics later this month -- dates and sample tunes at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/hombremalooslo

MP3: Brutus - Solution

Warmth and sunshine has finally arrived in the PacNW. That means it's time to put all my best feel-bad music (Okkultokrati, Haust) on the backburner and bust out some classic 70s-style heaviness. As always, Transubstans Records delivers the goods, so here's a track from a recent release of theirs: the self-titled debut of Swedish/Norwegian bruisers Brutus. Don't expect any curveballs with this one, it's a straight-up blues jammer with big choruses, plenty of swing and a refreshing lack of pointless psychedelic interludes. When done right, as Brutus does, this sort of thing never gets old.

Brutus - Solution

Sirius playlist week #22

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Kopfer Kat - UberVolt
02. TALK 1
03. Pan Sonic - Radio Qurghonteppa
04. Johannes Heldén - Vortex count
05. Dear Euphoria - No more time to weep
06. TALK 2
07. The Bear Quartet - We're not gonna make it
08. The Shock! - In silence
09. MF/MB/ - The big machine
10. TALK 3
11. Familjen - När planeterna stannat
12. Kausal - The conquistador
13. The Nature - Din medicin
14. TALK 4
15. Ignatius - Så jävla religiös
16. Okkultokrati - Tomb City rockers - Pungent stench
17. Haust - Anti-Reproductive
18. TALK 5
19. Carolina Wallin Pérez - Utan dina andetag

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

MP3: Okkultokrati - Ragnarokian

War, earthquakes, volcanoes, oil spills... there really is no better adjective to describe our current world situation and no better soundtrack to our impending doom. Let Okkultokrati be your guide as the viking apocalypse draws nigh.

The album "No light for mass" is out now via Fysisk Format/Ormeyngel and I believe the vinyl should be ready in about two weeks.

Okkultokrati - Ragnarokian

Nö Music interviews Okkultokrati

Nö Music interviews Okkultokrati who just released their excellent new album "No light for mass" this week: http://www.nomusicmedia.com/2010/05/18/okkultokrati-interviewed-black-reign/

Sirius playlist week #17

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Okkultokrati - Ragnarokian
02. TALK 1
03. Menfolk - Matador
04. Newkid - Gör det för
05. Rasmus Kellerman - Five years from now
06. TALK 2
07. The Tarantula Waltz - Synthetic sun (feat. Ebba Forsberg)
08. Kommun - Death of a CEO
09. Far from Tellus - Far from Tellus
10. TALK 3
11. Moddi - Stuck in the waltz
12. Faster Katt - Death song
13. Blowback - Fool
14. TALK 4
15. Nils Bech - Don't worry
16. Familjen - När planeterna stannat
17. Banjo - You and the sun
18. NEI - A wonderful day
19. TALK 5
20. Junip - Rope and summit

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

Sirius playlist week #16

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Masshysteri - Dom kan inte höra musiken
02. TALK 1
03. David Sandström Overdrive - How the story feels
04. Ludwig Bell - Jag är en idiot
05. Faster Katt - Strange candy
06. TALK 2
07. Zombiekrig - Döden
08. Vorum - Eyes burning red
09. Okkultokrati - No light for mass
10. TALK 3
11. Björn Kleinhenz - Dackes drabanter
12. The Je Ne Sais Quoi - Transparent for you all
13. EL-SD - Sösjö
14. Robert Svensson - Beat
15. TALK 4
16. The Aches - Something to die for
17. Meleeh - Trauma
18. Grande Roses - Hell's own trial
19. Underachiever - Keep an eye
20. TALK 5

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

"No light for mass" preview

Stream three tracks from Okkultokrati's upcoming album "No light for mass": http://www.tigernet.no/shop/release.php?code=128455
Along with the new Haust record, this is one of my most anticipated releases of the spring.

Okkultokrati album details

Okkultokrati have revealed the cover art and full tracklist for their forthcoming album "No light for mass", due out May 17: http://okkultokrati.blogspot.com/2010/03/no-light-for-mass-artwork-finished.html
The always-reliable Fysisk Format will handle the CD version while details are still being worked out for the LP.