Tag: News
King Diamond has announced a September 21 release date for his forthcoming double live album "Deadly Lullabyes Live". Full tracklist:
01. Funeral
02. A Mansion In Darkness
03. The Family Ghost
04. Black Horsemen
05. Spare This Life
06. Mansion In Sorrow
07. Spirits
08. Sorry Dear
09. Eye Of The Witch
10. Sleepless Nights
11. The Puppet Master
12. Blood To Walk
13. So Sad
14. Living Dead "Outro"
15. Welcome Home
16. The Invisible Guests
17. Burn
18. "Introductions"
19. Halloween
20. No Presents For Christmas
Danish metal band Strangler, featuring drummer Reno Kiilerich who's also currently playing with Dimmu Borgir, have posted their entire 4-song 2003 demo online for download: https://www.stranglerfuck.com/
Danzig has announced that he's making another go with the 'Blackest of the Black' tour and will be taking Mayhem out on the road along with Death Angel and some others. It's not really relevant here, but the big news about the travelling fest is that Doyle from the Misfits is coming along as well. As Glenn himself says, "It's the closest thing to a Misfits reunion anyone is ever going to see!" Dates coming soon.
Every once in a long while I actually come through with some long-promised record reviews. Today is one of those days.
Enemies SWE - Enemy CDS (Plugged)
Somewhat typical Swedish hard-rock ala the Backyard Babies. I'd probably like this a bit more if they beefed up the guitar tone and tuned down a bit to make their sound heavier. They could possibly even compete with Entombed if they tried, especially with the kinds of half-tempo breakdowns they throw in. As for now, they firmly reside in the realm of the mediocre and generic.
The Ackermans - Song in your Street CDS (Inpediente/Plugged)
This band plays upbeat garage punk that'll probably remind most folks of The Hives at first, but sounds to me more like classic Lookout! Records stuff such as The Hi-Fives. It's got the usual ingredients for the genre: jangly, sharp guitars, slightly fuzzed-out vocals, good hooks, hyperactive drumming and so on and so forth. The two songs on this single pass by so quickly, it's already over by the time I really start getting into it. Though it's definitely not be anything I haven't heard done before, I still dig it.
Novak - It all works out in the end 7" (Novoton)
Energetic power-pop/glam rock on a huge, thick slab of white vinyl. Always good to see. The music ain't so bad either. On the a-side title track there's some great Thin Lizzy dual guitar lead riffs and an excellent bridge part that reminds me of something Cheap Trick would do. The b-side keeps energy level high and injects a bit of twang with the cleaner guitar tones. The vocals are kinda squeaky like the dude's been huffing helium, but they're balanced by some excellent harmonies and arrangements. You can tell a good deal of forethought went into the production and it helps elevate them above other bands playing in a similar style. I'm definitely looking forward to hearing more stuff from these guys when the full-length comes out.
Eskju Divine - Darkness all around (Imperial Recordings)
The melody of the first song sounds very similar the opening track on Tiger Lou's album, but it's taken in a much more polyphonic and embellished direction. Lead singer/songwriter Gustaf Spetz's voice has a similar timbre to Tiger as well. Both play excellent melancholic pop music, but Eskju Divine adds much more bombast and reverb to the proceedings. The wall-of-sound production also lends them a much more dreamy vibe, which is both good and bad. Good because it makes even the most simple passages of music more powerful, but bad because it also means the EP can pass by without leaving much of an impression, if not being listened to at full volume. This piano, bass and drums trio never falters for lack of a guitar either. In fact, it never even occured to me that the instrument wasn't there until I read the group's bio. Good stuff.
Embassy - Wearing our pop art hearts on our sleeves EP (Service)
Is Service totally determined to only sign acts with the worst vocals ever? I just don't get it. The music isn't so bad - it's your standard Göteborg-style pop with keyboards. "Flipside of a memory" reminds me a bit of Tears for Fears on the instrumental passages. But man oh man, the singing on the first song "Instructions" is so out of tune and awful, I almost thought it was a joke. Nobody really thinks that sounds good, do they?
Sanctum - Let's eat (Cold Meat Industry)
I don't listen to too much heavy electronic industrial music anymore and after a slightly disappointing Skinny Puppy show a few weeks ago, it's nice to hear something new from a band in the genre that kicks my ass. I've always known Sanctum to be a good band and made myself overlook some of the cheesy moments of their first album "Lupus in fabula" so I could appreciate them. Thankfully, those moments never recur here. A lot of the neoclassical influences have been ditched as well and replaced with a rawer and more droning sound, as showcased on the "NYC bluster" live album. There are still plenty of string and piano passages, but I feel like the emphasis has been shifted more towards rhythm and atmosphere. The move works. Just don't wait another 8 years to do the next one, okay guys?
Trewetha Records has confirmed that the upcoming I Love You Baby CD "Grand Pop 1977" will be out on July 30. Head to the band's website for samples: https://www.iloveyoubaby.se/
Ariel Kill Him will be touring Germany and Spain this coming August and September. Dates soon.
The Models have announced that their new drummer is Maja aka Billie Jean from Malmö-based sleezerockers The Sixshots. She'll be making her live debut with the group later this summer.
I don't know how exactly I got roped into this, but I'm the media sponsor for a Sunday afternoon club event in Stockholm called 'For the Record' at the downstairs lounge in Café String. Obviously, I don't get a chance to attend in person, but there's quite a cool lineup of artists booked:
07/18 - Britta Persson, Thomas Denver Jonsson
07/25 - Dialog Cet
08/08 - Edson, Emil Jensen
08/15 - The Virtues
08/22 - Labrador Records day
08/29 - Filled
Should be fun I hope. Check out a flyer here: https://www.itsatrap.com/pix/ftr.jpg