Top 10s for 2011: Mattias Alkberg

2011 Spellemann nominees

The nominees for the 2011 Spellemannprisen, the Norwegian Grammy, have been announced and here are a few hightlighted categories:

Female artist:
Ane Brun - "It All Starts With One"
Hilde Marie Kjersem - "Let's Let Go"
Marit Larsen - "Spark"
Siri Nilsen - "Alle Snakker Sant"

Male Artist:
Bernhoft - "Solidarity Breaks"
Jonas Alaska - "Jonas Alaska"
Odd Nordstoga - "Bestevenn"
Sivert Høyem - "Long Slow Distance"

Pop Group:
Eva & The Heartmaker - "Dominoes"
Katzenjammer - "A Kiss Before You Go"
Montée - "Rendition Of You"
Real Ones - "First Night On Earth"
Team Me - "To The Treetops!"

Rock:
Honningbarna - "La Alarmane Gå"
John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen - "Det Nærmeste Du Kommer"
Kaizers Orchestra - "Violeta Violeta Vol. 1"
Oslo Ess - "Uleste Bøker Og Utgåtte Sko"
Rumble In Rhodos - "Signs Of Fervent Devotion"

Metal:
Insense - "Burn In Beautiful Fire"
Shining - "Live Blackjazz"
Taake - "Noregs Vaapen"
Vreid - "V"
Årabrot - "Solar Anus"

Electronica:
Biosphere - "N-Plants"
Bugge Wesseltoft & Henrik Schwarz - "Wesseltoft Schwarz Duo"
Casiokids - "Aabenbaringen Over Aaskammen"

Hip-hop:
Joddski - "Bensin På Bålet"
Lars Vaular - "Du Betyr Meg"
Son Of Light - "War Of The Worlds"

Folk/Traditional:
Hekla Stålstrenga - "Makramé"
Juusk - "Juusk"
Ragnhild Furebotten - "Never On A Sunday"
Øystein Sandbukt - "Normør"

Jazz:
Helge Lien Trio - "Natsukashii"
Håkon Kornstad - "Symphonies In My Head"
Mats Eilertsen - "Skydive"
Nils Petter Molvær - "Baboon Moon"
Ola Kvernberg - "Liarbird"

Open Class:
Bárut - Inga Juuso - "Balggis"
Biret Ristin Sara - "Áidnen"
Fargespill - "Fargespill"
Skáidi - "Headland - Skáidegeahci"
Susanne Lundeng - "Mot"

Lyrics:
Jonas Alaska - "Jonas Alaska"
Lars Vaular - "Du Betyr Meg"
Maria Mena - "Viktoria"
Martin Hagfors - "I Like You"
Odd Nordstoga - "Bestevenn"

Composer:
Ane Brun - "It All Starts With One"
Hilde Marie Kjersem - "Let's Let Go"
Marit Larsen - "Spark"
Rolf Wallin/Lundeng/Torjesen/Bodø Symfonietta/Eggen - "Wire And String"
Synne Skouen - "Call-Notes"

Newcomer/Gramostipend:
Honningbarna - "La Alarmane Gå"
Jonas Alaska - "Jonas Alaska"
Ragnhild Hemsing - "Yr"
Razika - "Program 91"
Team Me - "To The Treetops!"

Read more: http://www.spellemann.no/index.php?option=com_winner&Itemid=29&year=2011

Kvelertak gets release date, preview posted

Norwegian hardcore act Kvelertak will officially release their self-titled debut on June 21. Said record was recorded with Kurt Ballou (Converge) at Godcity Studios in Salem, MA and features guest appearances by Hoest(Taake), Andreas Tylden (JR Ewing, Altaar), Ivar Nikolaisen (Silver) and Ryan McKenney (Trap Them). Hear the latter on "Offernatt" at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/kvelertak

MP3: Taake - Umenneske

I seem to remember Taake being reviled back in the day for using too many keyboards, but that's definitely not the case on his latest album as this is pure, cold Norwegian black-metal. Pure, as in purely by-the-book though; regardless of however long he's been making music (or stirring up controversy), nothing can hide the fact that this record (the third in a trilogy) is boring. Or maybe I'm just over this style of cold black metal. I like the various NWOBHM-touches on the riffs and some bits of the doomy breakdown, but it never really goes anywhere. It just keeps going and going and going and going... until it finally peters out. Why bother?

Taake - Umenneske

Norwegian black-metal act Taake has confirmed that their new self-titled album will be released on October 20 in Norway, November 17 in Europe via Dark Essence Records.

Dark Essence will be releasing a new live 7" from Taake early next year entitled "Svartekunst". Four tracks, including a cover of "Over fjell og gjennom torner" by Darkthrone.

Speaking of avant-metal, Dark Essence has announced the signing of Vulture Industries (ex-Taake, Enslaved) and will be releasing their debut album "The dystopia journals" on September 10.

In case you were worried that the modern black-metal scene was full of poseurs, here's the latest news from Dark Essence Records:

There's a lot of rumours out there, but we can confirm that Hoest of Taake is in prison at the moment. He'll be out in a couple of months, and will then finish the work on the new Taake release. Yes, there will be more coming from Taake in the near future! More info about that will come.
We can also mention that C. Corax who plays guitar on the "...Doedskvad" and "...Bjoergvin..." albums, also is in prison at the moment, but for a bit longer time.

Dark Essence Records will rerelease Taake's "Helnorsk svartmetall" and "Nordens doedsengel" demo and rehearsal recordings on August 29. A second edition will follow later this year.

Norwegian black-metal act Taake has announced that the final album "...Doedskvad" of their trilogy will be released on February 28. The band describes the work as "a pure, cold and grim black metal masterpiece" and it will feature guest appearances from scene luminaries such as Nattefrost (Carpathian Forest), Nordavind (ex-Carpathian Forest) and Taipan (Orcustus). A special vinyl edition will also be coming out via Agonia Records eventually along with a split 7" with Vidsyn.

Norwegian cult black-metal act Taake has signed with Dark Essence Records. The band is currently recording their new album "Doedskvad" at Grieghallen Studio.

Ragnarok's new album "Blackdoor Miracle" will be released February 20 on Regain Records. This marks the debut of new "demonic singer" Hoest (also in Taake) who replaced former vocalist Lord Arcamous. See cover art here.

Now this sounds quite interesting: Jazzkammer will be doing a live one-off collaboration with the black metal bands Gorgoroth and Enslaved as part of the opening for the Hole in the Sky Festival in Norway. The piece, specially written for the event by Enslaved, is called "Hole In The Sky - The Apocalyptic Eye" and promises to be quite interesting I'd think. And hey, it's free so why not? "Get damaged or get a refund" they say, jokingly. It all goes down August 27 in Bergen, Norway. Other acts set to play include Arcturus, Green Carnation, Taake, Carpathian Forest, Satyricon and more.

Some of the bands confirmed for the Hole in the Sky Festival which takes place August 28-30 in Bergen, Norway: Taake, Cult of Luna, Satyricon, Enslaved, Arcturus and Meldrum. More info: www.holeinthesky.no

It's the Memorial Day holiday over here in America today, so there's just gonna be a quick update for now. More tomorrow.

Read more about next week's Swedish radio week on P3. (in Swedish)

The new Timbuktu single for "The Botten Is Nådd" will be hitting stores early next month in both CDS and 12" vinyl along with the exclusive b-side track "För Länge Sen" (Remix), which features guest appearances by Chords and Supreme from Looptroop.

It seems that Taake gave a particularly 'revealing' performance at this year's Inferno Fest. See for yourself.

ProgPower USA IV is already sold out, three months in advance! As mentioned before, the fest marks the N. American debut of Nightwish and will also feature performances by Evergrey, Pagan's Mind and many more. The event takes place September 5-6 at Earthlink Live in Atlanta.