PATRICIA THOMAS BAND MANAGEMENT

PROG ROCKERS AIRBAG REVEAL DETAILS, NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO FROM UPCOMING SIXTH FULL-LENGTH ALBUM

Posted: April 11, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Airbag, Karisma Records, Norway, Prog, Prog Rock, Progressive

It’s the news Prog fans have been waiting for since 2020 when AIRBAG released their last album “A Day at the Beach”, because, on the 14th June 2024 Karisma Records will release “The Century of the Self”, the sixth full-length album from the Norwegian masters of Prog.

With AIRBAG’s trademark fusion of mellow introspection and dynamic energy, “The Century of the Self” promises to carry the listener on an auditory journey like no other, and, for those eager to assuage their thirst for new material from the band, Karisma Records have released a single from the album.

Titled “Erase” this is what AIRBAG had to say about it:

“Erase” is probably one of the heaviest songs we’ve ever written and it was the first we wrote for the new album. It pretty much defined the mood and theme for the rest of the material. “Erase” is a comment on the whole cancel culture and how everything we don’t like just gets wiped out. It really is a frightening concept and we tried to capture some of that brutality and force in the music and production.

“Erase” is available to stream or download from a variety of services at https://fanlink.tv/Airbag-Erase

A lyric video for “Erase” by Crystal Media (known for their work with songwriter/producer Steven Wilson, amongst others) can be seen below

Delving into the themes of cancel culture and the rewriting of personal histories, AIRBAG’s lineup of Asle Tostrup on vocals, keyboards and programming, Henrik Bergan Fossum on drums, and Bjørn Riis on guitars, bass, keyboards and backing vocals, have, with “The Century of the Self”, created much more than just a sonic odyssey. It is a reflection of our modern zeitgeist, offering a poignant commentary on a world steeped in fear and condemnation.

As the album unfolds, it transports the listener on a voyage through introspection and intensity. Starting with the mesmerizing depths of the opening track “Dysphoria”, each of the five tracks on “The Century of the Self” captivate the listener with the irresistible vocal hooks and virtuoso lead guitar work that has become synonymous with the Airbag sound.

From the haunting crescendo of “Tyrants and Kings,” to the introspective balladry of “Awakening” we are led towards the foreboding depths of the single “Erase” with its echoes of AIRBAG’s much-acclaimed work on the album “Disconnected”.

“Erase” builds from a hypnotic bass line into a powerhouse of heavy refrains, setting the stage for the epic conclusion of “Tear it Down.” Clocking in at a staggering 14 minutes, this opus traverses serene moments of reflection towards the heaviest musical landscapes Airbag has ever produced.

Standing as a testament to AIRBAG’s enduring creativity and artistic vision, “The Century of the Self” was recorded at Subsonic Society, Airbag Studio, and Riis Studio, and expertly produced, mixed, and mastered by Vegard Kleftås Sleipnes.

With artwork by Asle Tostrup, and featuring Kristian Hultgren on bass on “Dysphoria” and “Tear it Down”, Ole Michael Bjørndal on guitar on “Dysphoria”, “Tyrants and Kings” and “Tear it Down” and Simen Valldal Johannessen on keyboards on “Tear it Down”, track listing on “The Century of the Self” is as follows:

01. Dysphoria
02. Tyrants and Kings
03. Awakening
04. Erase
05. Tear It Down

“The Century of the Self” will be released in CD, Limited Edition Digisleeve CD and Digital formats, as well as three different LP version -Black Vinyl LP, Limited Edition Red Vinyl LP and Limited Edition Black and Red Splatter Vinyl LP.

It is now available to pre-order from:

Bandcamp: https://airbagsound.bandcamp.com/album/century-of-the-self
Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/
US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com/

More information about AIRBAG can be found on the band’s website at http://www.airbagsound.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/airbagsound

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
AIRBAG
Website: www.airbagsound.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/airbagsound
YouTube: www.youtube.com/airbagsound
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/airbagsound/
Airbag Booking: bjorn@airbag.no
KARISMA RECORDS
Promo and other information: post@karismarecords.no
Karisma Records contact: post@karismarecords.no
Karisma Records: http://www.karismarecords.no/
Karisma Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karismarecords
Karisma Records Bandcamp: https://karismarecords.bandcamp.com
Karisma Records on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KarismarecordsNor
Karisma Records Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarismaRecords
Karisma on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records
Karisma Records Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no
Karisma Records US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

DARK ESSENCE RECORDS REVEALS ALBUM DETAILS AND NEW SINGLE FROM HARD ROCKERS VESTINDIEN

Posted: April 5, 2024 in DARK ESSENCE RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Bergen, Black Metal, Dark Essence Records, Hardcore, Heavy Metal, Norway, Old School Metal, Punk, rock n roll, Vestindien

When you name your band after the last known brothel (now a museum) in your home town, you’d better be able to deliver something special with your music, and without a doubt VESTINDIEN do just that with their sophomore full-length album “Verdande”.

Set for release on Dark Essence Records on the 10th of May, fans had already been given a glimpse into what to expect at the end of last year, when VESTINDIEN released a freshly mixed single even before the album was fully completed.

But now, with the album ready to go, Dark Essence Records are expanding that glimpse with a brand new single titled “Etter ilden”, a track which, according to VESTINDIEN, has undergone a series of iterations before having been deemed ready:

The demo was first written and recorded in the summer of 2021 in a location where the view from our windows was of the Urd, Skuld and Verdande mountains at Bjørnøya. It would be re-recorded several times before it finally came together as intended, at Underschön Studio in the fall of 2023.

“Etter ilden” is about taking the time to find calm and beauty in a world that is chaotic and full of suffering. We acknowledge that it is a privilege to be able to do so, whilst at the same time, we believe it is necessary to keep moving forward.

“Etter ilden” can be streamed or downloaded from a variety of sources at https://fanlink.tv/etterilden

“Verdande” comes three years on from the release of VESTINDIEN’s debut full-length “Null”, an album that served as an introduction to the band’s unique take on old-school metal but which hinted at something dark and harsh and sinister.

The fact that it was written both in a basement in Bergen, as well as on a secluded island in the Barents Sea, gives “Verdande” a unique feel, allowing its chaotic, claustrophobic underground roots to gain a more spacious, airy feel, that no doubt comes from being written out in the open sea.

With cover art by Geir Wallem and cover design by Sondre Krum Dahl, “Verdande” delivers eight tracks of psychedelic proto-metal with a gloomy twist, and whose song titles are in Norwegian, but whose lyrics are in English.

Track listing is as follows:

Humus
Evig Lys
Etter ilden
I en hule under berget
Alt vårt
Forbi stillheten
Verdande
Innover

“Verdande” will be released in Digital and LP formats, and is now available to pre-order from:

Webshop: https://darkessencerecords.no/shop/vestindien-verdande-black-vinyl/
Bandcamp: https://vestindien.bandcamp.com/album/verdande

VESTINDIEN, whose lineup today is comprised of Slettsnok on vocals, guitars and synth, Fader War and Henrik Paulsen on guitars, Karl Johan Johannessen on drums, Petter Beyer on synth and Pål Eirik Veseth on bass, was originally formed in 2009 and quickly earned itself a well-deserved reputation as an up-and-coming hardcore band with a heavy metal twist.

Their frenetic live shows gained the band a solid following, yet one year after the release of their 2011 EP “We are the Lords of Hellfire”, VESTINDIEN inexplicably called it a day. Their emergence several years later saw VESTINDIEN with a more introverted, and less hardcore and aggressive, approach to their music.

Answering only to their own their own standards and expectations, VESTINDIEN’s music today still hints at the bands hardcore roots but it has evolved into a sound that conjures up the essence of black metal, punk and old school rock’n’roll, all of which are enveloped in a dark shroud.

VESTINDIEN are confirmed to play a series of dates in the Spring. Routing as follows:

12 April: Blå, Oslo, Norway
13 April: Fängelset , Gøteborg, Sweden
19 April: Tou, Stavanger, Norway
27 April: T2, Ålesund, Norway
10 May: Landmark , Bergen, Norway

More information about the band can be found on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Vestindien/

IS IT JAZZ? RECORDS ANNOUNCES ALBUM DETAILS AND NEW SINGLE FROM INDIE-JAZZERS SHAKAI

Posted: April 5, 2024 in OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES, IS IT JAZZ? RECORDS
Tags: Bergen, Improv, IS IT JAZZ? RECORDS, Jazz, Jazz Improv, Norway, Shakai

Although SHAKAI identify themselves as an Indie-Jazz band, this is somewhat of a loose description, there for convenience rather than as a barrier to individuality, because this group of musicians would rather not be shackled by genre definitions, preferring to let their creativity run free and allow their music to speak for itself.

SHAKAI are a quintet of musicians who invite their audience to enter a world full of unexpected elements. And now Is It Jazz? Records invite that very audience to hear what they can expect from the band’s sophomore full-length “Fragments” with the release of a single taken from the album.

The single, titled “Dandelion Child” can be downloaded or streamed from a variety of services at https://fanlink.tv/dandelionchild

SHAKAI’s leader Eline Rafteseth had this to say about the song:

“Dandelion Child” is a song against injustice, written in despair during the aftermath of the 2022 terrorist attack against Pride in Oslo. The lyrics are about standing stronger together, and that love must always win.

I think this song describes some of my feelings towards all the terrible things happening in the world, and how our leaders are full of empty words but no action.

It was in 2016 that Eline formed SHAKAI, drawing on musicians from music conservatories to form a lineup that, aside from Eline (NH3, SOFT NOISE ENSEMBLE, HEAVY ASTRO) on bass and vocals, includes Elisabeth Lid Trøen (BERGEN BIG BAND, TRØEN/ARNESEN KVARTETT) on saxophones, Gabriela Garrubo (GARRUBO, METTESON, AMAILIE HOLT KLEIVE) on vocals, Simen Walle (ATARI, NELLY, MALUM) on guitars and Kenneth Kapstad (SPIDERGAWD, COBRA KRAFT, MONOLITHIC, GOAT THE HEAD, ex-MOTORPSYCHO etc.) on drums.

Whilst firmly rooted in Jazz and Improvisation, SHAKAI’s musicians are trained in a wide variety of disciplines, which, along with their varied backgrounds and experience in diverse projects, allows them to create a unique and varied sound.

The name SHAKAI itself is derived from the Japanese word for “society”, and it could be said that its members actually do form a “society” comprised of five individuals, each with their own stories and differing perspectives, and each contributing music and lyrics that touch on everything, from life’s big questions, small stories, reckonings with the past, and hopes for the future.

With “Fragments” SHAKAI have created an album that is both beautiful and raw, playful and strange. Recorded at Bergen’s Duper Studio with producers Jørgen Træen and Iver Sandøy, and with artwork by Tom Korsvold, the seven-track album is due for release on Is It Jazz? Records on the 7th June.

Track listing on “Fragments” is as follows:

1. Kanskje
2. Not Yours
3. Oh Well
4. Dandelion Child
5. Ville bare
6. Lullaby
7. Changes

“Fragments” will be released in LP and Digital formats and is now available to pre-order from:

Website: https://isitjazzrecords.no/product/shakai-fragments-black-vinyl/
Bandcamp: https://shakai.bandcamp.com/album/fragments

SHAKAI’s next live appearance will be on the 5th April at the Sogndal Kulturhus in Norway. where fans will be able to witness a band whose stage presence is one of studied ease, almost, at times, of introspection. But, rest assured, that whilst on stage there is no hint of navel gazing as the band skilfully brings its music to life, drawing the audience in and surprising them with unexpected turns.

More information about SHAKAI can be found on the band’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/shakaimusic

A video of SHAKAI playing live at Landmark in Bergen can be seen at https://youtu.be/UmnJRCU5vqE

Additional Information
SHAKAI
Facebook: www.facebook.com/shakaimusic
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3I4SiHR9WzNlaQo8d0izWj?si=TWH_T7hCTfabG8zYXF9-Lw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shakai.band/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuUp5Dqip-xDG91_uOVrL6g
Band Contact: shakaibooking@gmail.com
IS IT JAZZ RECORDS
Promo and other information: post@isitjazzrecords.no
Website: https://isitjazzrecords.no/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IsItJazzRecords/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isitjazzrecords/

GENRE-DEFYING DUO LETHE RELEASE NEW SINGLE FROM UPCOMING ALBUM

Posted: March 15, 2024 in DARK ESSENCE RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Dark Essence Records, Electronic, Experimental, Lethe, Metal, Norway, Pop, Sweden, Triphop

When they first got together in 2012, Tor-Helge Skei (MANES, MANII etc.) and Anna Murphy (CELLAR DARLING, ex-ELUVEITIE) had it in mind that LETHE would act as a home for their musical and artistic aspirations. Which is precisely what happened. And now, two much-admired albums later, the Swiss/Norwegian duo are ready with their third full-length album “Alienation”.

Ahead of its release on Dark Essence Records on the 26th April, a second track from “Alienation” has been released. Titled “Éternel” the single can be downloaded or streamed from a variety of services at:

https://orcd.co/eternel

Introducing the single, LETHE had this to say:

The album is pretty varied, and it’s difficult to select a few songs to represent it as a whole.. but, trying to show some different sides of it, here’s a slightly ‘sharper’ and more energetic song this time, featuring the usual suspects – Eivind Fjøseide on guitars, Tor Arne Helgesen on drums, plus Pierre Ripka on vocals… enjoy! Become Alienated!

Named after one of the five rivers of Hades in Greek mythology, LETHE was built on the premise that the music created by the duo would follow only one rule, and that is that there would be no rules, no expectations and no compromises, thus allowing the band to experiment with their sound at every possible level.

LETHE’s music is therefore quite unique and very personal. A melting pot of dark rock, pop, electronic, experimentation and metal, filled with an atmosphere that is cold and harsh and interwoven with beautiful melodies and mesmerizing grooves.

It is a sound that has variously been described as “genre-bending”, “style-bastardization”, “eclectic”, and even “just plain weird”, resulting in LETHE being able to straddle a variety of disciplines, without having to fit themselves into any one in particular. Something that has drawn fans of all kinds of genres to the band.

“Alienation” itself took longer to appear given the circumstances that affected so much new music over the past few years, and it continues to explore LETHE’s idiosyncratic soundscapes, whilst at the same time giving Tor-Helge and Anna the freedom to explore new avenues, as they explain:

The 3rd chapter of the Lethe saga is, as always, an eclectic blend of expressions and atmospheres and moods, and not many defined borders, styles or rules.. Lyrically it’s about being outsiders, outcasts, and alienated in various forms, mentally, physically, ideologic(ally).. and musically.. (hence the album title).. So, join us on another journey, a personal and alternate one..

Track listing on “Alienation”, which features guest appearances by members of ATROX, MANES, THE 3^RD and THE MORTAL, and artwork by Tom Korsvold. is as follows:

Anhedonia
Brighter
When it’s Over
Éternel
Crossroads
Sedator
Erosion
Worm

“Alienation” will be released in CD, Digital and Limited Edition Purple Vinyl formats, and is now available to pre-order from:

Webshop: https://darkessencerecords.no/shop/
Bandcamp: https://lethemetal.bandcamp.com/album/alienation
US Webshop: https://darkessence.indiemerch.com

A video for the previously released single “Erosion”, comprised of clips taken from ‘Point of Return’ (University of Oklahoma), can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/PGzLIT3K8DE

More information about LETHE can be found on the band’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LetheProject or on their website at https://torhelgeskei.com/lethe/

DOOM METALLERS BISMARCK REVEAL DETAILS AND SINGLE FROM UPCOMING ALBUM

Posted: March 7, 2024 in DARK ESSENCE RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Black Metal, Dark Essence Records, Doom, Doom Metal, Norway, Norwegian Black Metal, Post Rock, Psychedelic, Sludge

With a trademark sound that is an uncompromising mix of sludgy riffs and psychedelic nuances, BISMARCK’s lineup of Torstein Tveiten on Vocals, Leif Herland on Guitar and Backing Vocals, Eirik Goksøyr on Guitar, Tomas Osland on Bass and Tore Lyngstad on Drums, have earned themselves a reputation as one of the heaviest bands in Norway.

With the band having completed their latest album, Dark Essence Records have today announced details of what will be BISMARCK’s third full-length release. Slated to hit the streets on the 3rd May, “Vourukasha” promises to be an amp melting form of stoner doom, combined with atmospheric post-rock, and with a hint of Middle Eastern folk music and the Norwegian black metal the band grew up listening to.

As a hint of what to expect, Dark Essence have today released a single from the album. Titled “Sky Father”, the single can be downloaded or streamed from a variety of services at:

https://link.darkessencerecords.no/Bismarck_Sky-Father

This is what BISMARCK had to say about the single:

“Sky Father” is the divine wrath, the flood to come, and the fall of man. Its aggressive nature and ferocity coming to life with the help of Aslak (Ondt Blod), as he summons the unavoidable calamity.

“Vourukasha” is an album that amply showcases BISMARCK’s music. With its exploration of western esotericism, altered states of consciousness and a mystical apocalypse, “Vourukasha’s” lyrical content acts as the perfect foil to the band’s sound, which alternates between intense, fuzzed-out heaviness, and clean, atmospheric drones.

As the band explained

“Vourukasha” is a work born from curiosity, hard work, and sheer determination. It will take you on a metaphysical journey through space and time. From the darkest depths of the sea to the endless cosmic void. Join us, and dive into the Heavenly Sea.

With artwork by Vaderetro, track listing for “Vourukasha” is as follows:

Sky Father
Echoes
Kigal
The Tree of All Seeds
Vourukasha
Ocean Dweller

“Vourukasha” will be available in CD, Digital and Limited Edition Splatter Vinyl formats and can now be pre-ordered from:

Webshop: https://darkessencerecords.no/shop/
US Webshop: https://darkessence.indiemerch.com

BISMARCK has been confirmed to appear at Oslo’s Desertfest and the Valo Rock Festival in May 2024.

More information about BISMARCK can be found at https://www.facebook.com/Bismarckdoom

A video of BISMARCK live at the Vill Vill Vest festival at USF Verftet, Bergen, Norway, in 2020 can be seen at https://youtu.be/jdTpWV43g0s?si=EyikFAW0lg290qBx

KARISMA RECORDS INKS DEAL WITH SWEDISH PROG ROCKERS AGUSA

Posted: February 29, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Agusa, Jazz, Karisma Records, Kraut Rock, Latin American Folk, Nordic Folk, Prog Rock, Progressive, Progressive Rock, Space Rock, Sweden

Karisma Records have inked a deal with Swedish Prog Rockers AGUSA that will see the label re-release the band’s first five studio albums.

AGUSA has been at the forefront of the Swedish Psychedelic Prog scene since the band’s formation in 2013. Based in Malmö, Sweden, AGUSA’s lineup of Simon Ström on bass, Nicolas Difonis on drums, Mikael Ödesjö on guitar, Roman Andrén on keys, and Jenny Puertas on Flute, have appeared live internationally both on the club circuit as well as at a variety of Prog festivals.

They have, over the years, garnered a reputation for their ability to perform meditative soft parts, combined with epic interludes and the occasional trip to a rock hard darkness, all of which provide audiences with an unforgettable live experience.

AGUSA’s sound is one that effortlessly ranges from majestic beauty to violent outbursts. It blends tripped-out psychedelic and progressive rock structures aimed at instilling visions of nature and the cosmos. Whilst dreamlike passages meander into realms of a possibly supernatural or parallel existence. This is instrumental music where the instruments, and the people playing them, communicate directly with the hearts and minds of the listener.

Drawing on influences from Nordic and Latin American folk music, AGUSA’s roots run deep into the ambits of space rock, kraut rock and jazz. Combine these varied aspects with the band’s traditional foundation, and you get a group of musicians who interpret things their own way, and, whilst AGUSA’s music takes you back to the 70s, it is, at the same time, something new and unexplored. It is the sound of a band that has forged a strong musical identity for itself. One that is unmistakably its own.

The five albums that will be released on Karisma Records are HÖGTID (2014), TVÅ (2015), AGUSA (2017), EN ANNAN VÄRLD (2021) and PRIMA MATERIA (2023). More details to follow.

Of their upcoming collaboration with Karisma Records, AGUSA had this to say:

Karisma is the most interesting and ambitious record label for progressive rock music in Scandinavia right now. We are happy and proud to join their roster of talented artists and bands. Great things ahead. Hold on to your hats!

More information about AGUSA can be found on the band’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/agusaband

A video of AGUSA performing live at the Minnuendö festival in Spain in 2023 can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/GUEzvccjGgA?si=NzP6iWj7d0u772Ay

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
AGUSA
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/agusaband
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agusa.band/
Bandcamp: https://agusaband.bandcamp.com/
Email: agusaband@gmail.comP
KARISMA RECORDS
Promo and other information: post@karismarecords.no
Karisma Records: http://www.karismarecords.no/
Karisma Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karismarecords
Karisma Records Bandcamp: https://karismarecords.bandcamp.com
Karisma Records on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KarismarecordsNor
Karisma Records Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarismaRecords
Karisma on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records
Karisma Records Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no
Karisma Records US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

GENRE-DEFYING DUO LETHE REVEAL ALBUM DETAILS, NEW SINGLE & VIDEO

Posted: February 16, 2024 in DARK ESSENCE RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Dark Essence Records, Electronic, Experimental, Lethe, Metal, Norway, Pop, Triphop

Following the inevitable delays that the past few years have wrought on new releases, LETHE are finally back with their third full-length album, scheduled for release on Dark Essence Records on the 24th April.

Titled “Alienation” the album continues to explore LETHE’s idiosyncratic soundscapes, described variously as “genre-bending”, “style-bastardization”, “eclectic”, and even “just plain weird”. However, this time the Swiss/Norwegian duo of Tor-Helge Skei (MANES, MANII etc.) and Anna Murphy (CELLAR DARLING, ex-ELUVEITIE) also dip their toes into new territories.

And, whilst waiting for the release date to arrive, Dark Essence Records have today released “Erosion” a track taken from the album, and about which LETHE had this to say:

It’s hard to pick out one song to represent the album, but ‘Erosion’ might give a little clue about what you can expect from the “Alienation”. Or not.. Joining us on the song are Tor Arne Helgesen on drums, Eivind Fjøseide on guitars and Marita Hellem on vocals.

“Erosion” can be downloaded or streamed on various services at:

https://link.darkessencerecords.no/Lethe_Erosion

Accompanying the single is a video comprised of clips taken from ‘Point of Return’ (University of Oklahoma), which can be seen below:

Formed in 2012, and taking their name from one of the five rivers in Hades in Greek mythology, LETHE was originally created as a home for Anna and Tor-Helge’s musical and artistic experimentation. And, right from the start, the duo made it very clear that the only rule is that there are no rules, no expectations and no compromises.

This has resulted in the band being able to experiment on every level, whilst being absolutely unafraid of incorporating melody and catchiness into their sound. LETHE’s music is therefore quite personal and different. A unique melting pot of dark rock, pop, electronic, experimentation and metal, filled with an atmosphere that is cold and harsh and interwoven with beautiful melodies and mesmerizing grooves.

With artwork by Tom Korsvold “Alienation” will be available in CD, Digital and Limited Edition Purple Vinyl, and track listing is as follows:

Anhedonia
Brighter
When it’s Over
Éternel
Crossroads
Sedator
Erosion
Worm

“Alienation” is now available to pre-order from:

Webshop: https://darkessencerecords.no/shop/
Bandcamp: https://lethemetal.bandcamp.com/album/alienation
US Webshop: https://darkessence.indiemerch.com

Commenting on the album, LETHE explained that:

“Alienation” took years longer than planned, because of a lot of things, circumstances far beyond our control, but it’s finally here! The 3rd chapter of the Lethe saga! As always, it’s an eclectic blend of expressions and atmospheres and moods, and not many defined borders, styles or rules.. Lyrically it’s about being outsiders, outcasts, and alienated in various forms, mentally, physically, ideologic(ally).. and musically.. (hence the album title).. So, join us on another journey, a personal and alternate one..

More information about LETHE can be found on the band’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LetheProject or on their website at https://torhelgeskei.com/lethe/

DETAILS OF THE SECOND OF SIX RELEASES FROM THE BACK CATALOGUE OF PROG LEGENDS WHITE WILLOW REVEALED

Posted: February 15, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Jacob Holm-Lupo, Karisma Records, Prog, White Willow

Following its plan to release a total of six albums from the back catalogue of WHITE WILLOW, Karisma Records have announced that the 12th April will see the second album from the Norwegian Prog Legends hit the streets.

First released in 1997 “Ex Tenebris” followed the release band’s first album “Ignis Fatuus” which had been recorded by the by-now disbanded original lineup of WHITE WILLOW. As such, Jacob Holm-Lupo intended it to be a solo album, but, realising that it was heading in a more progressive direction than originally anticipated, “Ex Tenebris” became a full-blown White Willow production.

With only a shoestring budget at the band’s disposal, the recording itself was, by necessity, quick and dirty, but nevertheless there was a certain charm to the natural drum ambience and the overall “first takes only” feel to the album.

Overall, “Ex Tenebris” ended up being a more stripped-down, somewhat darker album than its predecessor, with more electric guitars and synths and a marked absence of krumhorns or renaissance vocal groups. In fact, the album has become a bit of a cult favourite with the band’s fans, and signposted WHITE WILLOWS’S first step towards something more original than the retro-styled psych-folk of “Ignis Fatuus”.

The songs themselves range from almost neo-progish mini-epics like “Leaving the House of Thanatos””, to the acoustic balladry of “The Book of Love” and “Thirteen Days”, and the more overtly gothic sound of ” A Strange Procession” and “A Dance of Shadows”.

For its re-release “Ex Tenebris” has undergone meticulous remastering by WHITE WILLOW’s own Jacob Holm-Lupo and is available for first time on vinyl. Complete with the original classic cover art “Ex Tenebris” will be available in CD, Digital and Limited Edition Double LP in transparent blue vinyl.

Tracklisting, for “Ex Tenebris”, which has a slight variation in the track order of the CD and LP versions, is as follows:

CD TRACKLIST: LP TRACKLIST:

Leaving the House of Thanatos 01. Leaving the House of Thanatos
The Book of Love 02. The Book of Love
Soteriology 03. Helen and Simon Magus
Helen and Simon Magus 04. Thirteen Days
Thirteen Days 05. Soteriology
A Strange Procession 06. A Strange Procession
A Dance of Shadows 07. A Dance of Shadows

“Ex Tenebris” is now available to pre-order from:

Webshop: karismarecords.no/shop/
Bandcamp: whitewillow.bandcamp.com
US Webshop: karismarecords.indiemerch.com

WHITE WILLOW was formed in 1992 by guitarist Jacob Holm-Lupo, who at that time was a member of the POLICE/BRUCE HORNSBY-inspired pop band THE ORCHID GARDEN, and keyboard player Jan Tariq Rahman from local jazz-rock/prog rock band DUGGVÅTE DVE.

It was a case of two musicians coming together see if they had any kind of songwriting chemistry, and, whilst sitting on the floor playing acoustic guitar and clavinet, produced the track “Snowfall” which convinced them that they could, indeed, come up with something worthwhile.

WHITE WILLOW’s history, however, was never simple, with members having come and gone over the years and only Holm-Lupo having remained with the band since its inception, whilst WOBBLERS Lars Fredrik Frøislie has been a mainstay since 2001.

The band’s sound too has undergone changes, but it’s safe to say that it is frequently centered around female vocals and an expanded instrumentation that usually includes a host of analogue synthesizers, mellotron, woodwinds and strings, in addition, of course to traditional rock instrumentation.

Now, exclusively a studio project, WHITE WILLOW is noted for featuring guest appearances from prominent musicians such as Norway’s guitar hero Hedvig Mollestad, or internationally renowned klezmer clarinetist David Krakauer.

By the time the re-release project is finished, Karisma Records will have released all six of the following albums:

Ignis Fatuus – 1995 (released Nov 2023)
Ex Tenebris – 1997 (due for release April 2024)
Sacrament – 2000
Storm Season – 2004
Signal to Noise – 2006
Terminal Twilight – 2011

More information about WHITE WILLOW can be found at https://www.facebook.com/whitewillowband/

A video for the track “Kansas Regrets” from WHITE WILLOW’s 2011 album “Terminal Twilight” can be seen below

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitewillowband/
Holm-Lupo Lydproduksjon: www.duderanchstudio.com
Karisma Records contact: post@karismarecords.no
Karisma Records: http://www.karismarecords.no/
Karisma Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karismarecords
Karisma Records Bandcamp: https://karismarecords.bandcamp.com
Karisma Records on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KarismarecordsNor
Karisma Records Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarismaRecords
Karisma on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records
Karisma Records Webshop: http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/
Karisma Records US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

PROG ROCKERS AIRBAG AND KARISMA RECORDS RENEW LONG-STANDING COLLABORATION

Posted: February 1, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Airbag, Karisma Records, Norway, Norwegian Prog Rock, Oak, Prog, Prog Rock

With their sixth full-length album well on its way to completion, Norwegian Prog Rockers AIRBAG will continue their journey with Karisma Records who have worked alongside the band since the very start.

It has been a collaboration that has stood both the band and the label in good stead over the past couple of decades, as AIRBAG explained:

We’re very excited to continue the strong partnership with Karisma Records. They’ve supported the band since the beginning, always with a firm understanding and belief in what we create. We really can’t wait to release our new album!

Formed in the mid 2000’s by five high school classmates, AIRBAG’s lineup today still includes two of those original members, Asle Tostrup on vocals and Bjørn Riis on guitars, plus Henrik Bergan Fossum on drums.

Since its inception, the band’s ability to blend diverse musical styles and sounds, with a strong narrative listening experience, has seen AIRBAG earn the plaudit as one of the most important bands to have emerged from the Norwegian prog scene over the past decades.

Karisma Records themselves are equally as enthusiastic to continue working and growing the relationship with AIRBAG as AIRBAG is enthusiastic about continuing to work and grow with the label:

We’re super happy to continue our journey with Airbag for their next albums. The band has been an integral part defining and growing Karisma Records for many years now, and it has been a privilege to see the band develop. Working with Airbag is always a pleasure, both professionally and personally. Having heard the master for the upcoming album, we can promise you yet another awesome piece of work!

AIRBAG will be appearing at the Cosmpopolite Scene in Oslo, Norway, along with label-mates OAK, on the 10th February. Details at https://www.facebook.com/events/298621546507344/

More information about AIRBAG can be found on the band’s website at http://www.airbagsound.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/airbagsound

A video of AIRBAG performing in Quebec in 2019 can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/3fFoN-JJr-U

KARISMA RECORDS REVEALS NEW SINGLE FROM THE FINAL PART OF THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN’S AIROEA FANTASY TRILOGY

Posted: January 17, 2024 in KARISMA RECORDS, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Tags: Father Robin, Jordsjø, Karisma Records, Norway, Prog, Prog Rock, Samuel Jackson Five, The Chronicles of Father Robin, Tusmorke, Wobbler

All things have a beginning, a middle and an end, and so it is with the fantasy trilogy by Norwegian Prog Rockers THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN, who follow the adventures of the mystical creature Father Robin over the triple concept album “The Songs & Tales of Airoea”.

Starting out with “Book I: The Tale of Father Robin (The State of Nature)” which was released in September of 2023 and is set on the land , followed by the December release of “Book II: Ocean Traveller (Metamorphosis)”, which takes place on the sea, we now come to 2024 and the much-anticipated release of “Book III: Magical Chronicle (Ascension)” which takes place in the Cloud Lands in the Sky and is due to hit the streets on the 23 February.

And today, Karisma Records have released the opening track from the album as a single. Titled “Magical Chronicle”, it is a vocal driven track full of lush harmonies and clear references to prog classics such as GENTLE GIANT, YEZDA URFA and the Canterbury Scene.

“Magical Chronicle“, can be downloaded or streamed from a variety of services at :

https://link.karismarecords.no/TCOFR_MagicalChronicle

The lineup of THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN (or TCOFR for short) draws its members from some of the most respected bands on Norway’s Prog Rock scene, and as a result you will find musicians from WOBBLER, JORDSJØ, TUSMØRKE and seasoned post-rockers THE SAMUEL JACKSON FIVE in its ranks.

Emerging during 1993-94 from what was left of the band FANGORN, and inspired in large part by the classic bands and albums that were part of the 1970s progressive music scene, it took thirty years for TCOFR to complete “The Songs & Tales of Airoea”, trilogy.

The result of these thirty years of work is the creation of a whole fantastical world through which Father Robin travels and undergoes a whole series of adventures spanning three decades and told through 18 songs spread out over the three albums.

Contributors to the Trilogy include Thomas Kaldhol (MT. MELODIÉ, THE SAMUEL JACKSON FIVE), Lars Fredrik Frøislie (WOBBLER, IN LINGUA MORTUA, WHITE WILLOW), folksinger Aleksandra Morozova (MT. MELODIE, OSLO PHILHARMONIC CHOIR), Kristoffer Momrak (ALWANZATAR, TUSMØRKE, LES FLEURS DU MAL), Håkon Oftung (JORDSJØ) and illustrator Lars Kvernberg.

Tracklisting on “Book III: Magical Chronicle (Ascension)” (which follows on directly from Books I and II) is as follows:

13. Magical Chronicle
14. Skyslumber
15. Cloudship
16. Empress of the Sun
17. Lost in the Palace Gardens
18. Epilogue

“Book III” will be released in CD, Digital and LP formats and is available to pre-order from:

Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/
Bandcamp: https://fatherrobin.bandcamp.com
US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

“Book III” makes a fitting closing chapter to the trilogy, starting off as it does with the upbeat “Magical Chronicle”, followed by the atmospheric “Skyslumber”, and “Cloudship”, the soaring prog ballad that YES never wrote. The album then explodes into the dynamic psych-rocker “Empress of the Sun”, a song full of energy and contrast that eventually slides into a keyboard lead middle part that is reminiscent of THE DOORS at their most adventurous.

The closing part of “Book III” begins with “Lost in the Palace Gardens” a track that starts off with a beautiful acoustic guitar part that not only brings to mind British folk bands such as STEELEYE SPAN, but also the guitar work of a certain JIMMY PAGE. The track follows up with vocal parts where the voices of Andreas Prestmo and Aleksandra Morozova flawlessly complement each other, making it a perfect culmination of this highly ambitious body of work.

THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN are set to appear at the 21st International Art Rock Festival Minnuendö at the Peralta Auditorium in Navarra, Spain on the 11th May.

More information about THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN can be found on the band’s website www.fatherrobin.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheChroniclesofFatherRobin

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN
Website: www.fatherrobin.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChroniclesofFatherRobin
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thechroniclesoffatherrobin?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
KARISMA RECORDS
Promo and other information: post@karismarecords.no
Karisma Records contact: post@karismarecords.no
Karisma Records: http://www.karismarecords.no/
Karisma Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karismarecords
Karisma Records Bandcamp: https://karismarecords.bandcamp.com
Karisma Records on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KarismarecordsNor
Karisma Records Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarismaRecords
Karisma on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records
Karisma Records Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no
Karisma Records US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com

PATRICIA THOMAS BAND MANAGEMENT

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