It's December so that means it's time once again for our annual top 10 lists! First up: John Roger Olsson of The Grand Opening/Hearts No Static/Will Gambola Sing
There's still a few slots available should any readers, in the music biz or otherwise, care to contribute -- simply get in touch and we'll work out the details.
It's December in Finland, so that means yet another new song from Viola: http://www.violamusicclub.com/2010-12-wayne-coyne-be-our-santa-claus
This is the first video off of Delay Tree's self-titled album. I wasn't a big fan of their earlier EP, but the full-length is significantly better. Direct link: http://vimeo.com/17051307
Black winter day? Yesterday the Pacific NW was anything but! Monday brought us a few inches of snow which, for a region that often gets none not to mention rarely this early, meant that most folks said "screw it" and took the rest of the week off seeing as how Thursday is Thanksgiving and we're just not all that well-equipped to handle extreme winter weather. Tuesday followed with sheer perfection: cold, clear and sunny all day with the temperature peaking at just above freezing. I still had to work because, well, I always have to work, but I still made sure to spend plenty of time out of doors with all the smiling folks happy for a snowday. So even though Amorphis may not be on-point lyrically, their happy-sounding melodic death metal is still a perfect fit for the season. Just think "bright winter day".
Amorphis - Black winter day
If you've seen any John Carpenter films, you know that his soundtracks are often just as memorable as the visuals. Even the most dated-sounding of his works is still evocative, so it's no surprise that many artists would attempt to emulate him and Finland's Nightsatan is a fine example of one such act. Of course the Carpenter worship is just a starting point -- "Karelian Starmaster" will certainly have you thinking "Escape from New York", but it's plenty epic in its own right, moving through various tension-building arpeggios before resolving with a depressive final coda. Also, according to the label, the band performs everything live including the synthpad drums which I must say is pretty cool considering the ease with which this kind of music can be pre-canned.
Nightsatan - Karelian Starmaster (Evil Lucifer)
Pintandwefall will release their new album "Time is right for Romans, baby" in January and it will be available on both CD and LP. The band also says they will be making videos for all of the songs.
Finnish sludge masters Hebosagil have posted their side of the Two Beats Off split 7" for free download: http://www.hebosagil.com/
Finnish act Regina in the Pitchfork Forkcast: http://pitchfork.com/forkcast/15138-unohtuneesta-unohtuneesta-schmamix/
There's a new Scandinavian-focused radio show on WMBR (MIT) in Cambridge, MA: http://www.track-blaster.com/wmbr/index.php?startmo=06&startyr=1984&endmo=11&endyr=2010&sort=desc&program=125
Download the last two episodes here: http://wmbr.org/www/sched-tue#norse
Finnish act Sister Flo will release their fifth album "Ystävyys / Friendship" on December 15 via . It will only be released on vinyl and will come with a free download code for mp3s/lossless files and is packaged in a "unique canvas bag".
Massgrav went on tour to Finland and survived to tell the tale: http://www.massgrav.com/giglog_finland.html
A Fist in the Face of God interviews Finnish death metal act Swallowed and offers up a download of their 2008 demo tape: http://afistinthefaceofgod.blogspot.com/2010/11/interview-with-samu-salimaki-of.html
Check out a few tracks from Finnish cinematic/synth/"lastermetal" act Nightsatan: http://soundcloud.com/tom-25-1/03-karelian-starmaster-evil-lucifer
The trio's debut album "Midnight laser warrior" came out earlier this month via and was produced and mixed by renown Finn Jori
Hulkkonen. RIYL John Carpenter soundtracks, Goblin, etc.
Hexvessel, the "psychedelic occult folk music" solo project of Mathew "Kvohst" McNerney (DHG/Code) has confirmed that his debut album "Dawnbearer" will be released on February 5 via Finnish label , on both CD and LP.
