New Ghost Brigade album confirmed
have announced that the new Ghost Brigade album "Until fear no longer defines us" will be released on August 19.
Label: Season of Mist
Viewing posts 1-4 out of 4Doctor Midnight & The Mercy Cult confirm album, clips posted
Doctor Midnight & The Mercy Cult, the new band with the terrible name featuring Hank von Helvete (ex-Turbonegro) plus Tim Skold (ex-Marilyn Manson, KMFDM, Shotgun Messiah), Anders Odden (ex-Celtic Frost, Satyricon, Apoptygma Berzerk), Audun Stengel (ex-Apoptygma Berzerk, The Kovenant) and David Husvik (ex-Extol), have officially signed with and will be releasing their debut album on June 6. Hear some short, not-too-promising preview clips at the band's website: http://www.dmtmc.net/
Manifest 2011 nominees are go
The nominees for the 2011 Manifest Awards, Sweden's indie/alternative Grammy, have been announced:
Pop:
Anna von Hausswolff - Singing from the grave (/)
jj - jj No 3 ()
CEO - White Magic ()
Nicolas Makelberge - The Unforgettable Planet ()
Dance:
Cloud - Hökarängen Space Program ()
Dmitry Fyodorov - Shapeless ()
Jarl & Fotmeijer - Lifesigns ()
Skudge - Samlad produktion ()
Synth:
Code 64 - Trialogue ()
Cryo - Hidden Aggression ()
Page - Nu ()
Social Ambitions - Almost gone ()
Hardrock/Metal:
Ghost - Opus Eponymous ()
Watain - Lawless Darkness ()
Khoma - A final storm ()
Dark Tranquility - We are the void ()
Rhythm:
Haci Tekbilek - Türlü ()
Helt Off - Marknadens Soldat ()
Million Stylez - Everyday ()
Serengeti - Standing Steady ()
Jazz:
Elin Larsson Group - Live and Alive ()
Lekverk - Everyday ()
NEO (Nässjö Extreme Orchestra) - NEO ()
The Country - The Country ()
Punk/Hardcore
Antipati - Frågor som rör det allmänna ()
Hårda Tider - Gatan Kallar ()
Old Fashioned Ideas - We're in this shit together ()
The Baboon Show - Punk Rock harbour ()
Hip-Hop:
Academics - Tare Lugnt 4 ()
Carlito - Guldburen ()
PH3 - Löser ett fall ()
Zacke - Visst är det vackert ()
Rock:
Bad Hands - Take The Money And Run ()
Dundertåget - Dom feta åren är förbi ()
Pascal - Orkanen närmar sig ()
The Bear Quartet - Monty Python ()
Folk/Visa:
Anders Svensson, Magnus Gustafsson, Susanne Gustafsson, Anders Löfberg, Jörgen Svensson - Bålgetingen, Låtar efter August Strömberg ()
Mats Edén, Daniel Sandén-Warg, Leif Stinnerbom, Magnus Stinnerbom - Anno 2010 ()
OK Star Orchestra - Sound Classique ()
Ola Magnell - Rolös ()
Experimental:
Ombudsman - And His Father Was A Great Machine ()
Erik Enocksson - Man tänker sitt ()
Leif Jordansson - The Comet / The Doll Maker ()
New Tango Orquesta - Vesper ()
Singer/Songwriter:
I'm Kingfisher - Arctic ()
Daniel Norgren - Horrifying Death Eating Blood Spider ()
The Tarantula Waltz - Did Not Leave To Find But To Forget, To Leave Behind ()
The Tallest Man On Earth - Wild Hunt ()
Best live act:
Anna Von Hausswolff
The Tallest Man On Earth
Masshysteri
Robyn
Best unsigned act (in collaboration w/P3 Lab):
Alice B
Katakomb
Ascend
Broken Boys
Winners will be announced at a ceremony on February 4 at Nalen in Stockholm. More info: http://www.manifestgalan.se/
Watain
Lawless darkness
Season of Mist
The 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
