(Andy Synn is a punk rocker… yes he is… for today, at least) There’s been some interesting discourse – and for once I do actually mean “interesting” and not “irritating” – about the difference, if there is one, between the terms “Hardcore” and “Hardcore Punk”, and what the use of either (or both) of these […]
The post YOU’RE NOT HARDCORE UNLESS YOU LIVE HARDCORE: CHICO / DEAD TIRED / R.O.S.A. appeared first on NO CLEAN SINGING.
The spiritual successor to “La Petite Mort Or A Conversation With God”.
The post King 810 Announce November Release For Their New Album “La Grande Mort Or Silence Of God”, “LOVE KILLS” Music Video Debuts appeared first on Theprp.com.
1. Hi and welcome to this interview. Tell us about your latest release.
My album “It’s Time to Rock the World Again” is a musical journey. For many years, I have wanted to capture the different bands, artists and styles that have inspired me throughout my life.
The album contains influences and fragments from many different musical styles, which can be heard throughout the songs. It is a journey through rock music from the 1960s until today, featuring both new interpretations and newly written material. I have had the privilege of working with some fantastic guest artists. For example, Tony Martin, known for his work with Black Sabbath, performs an interpretation of the classic Bill Withers song “Ain’t No Sunshine.” The song also features guitarist Janne Schaffer, who has recorded more than 50 songs with the legendary band ABBA. Add to that my own bass playing, shaped by years of touring around the world with the heavy metal band HammerFall.
This is just one example of a wonderful meeting between musicians from different musical backgrounds and styles. The song “The Sign” is about opening our eyes to the illusions that power can create around us. It is about encouraging people on Mother Earth to look beyond those illusions and think for themselves.
So, as I said, this is a small introduction to the new album from the Magnus Rosén Band.
2. How would you describe your sound?
My sound is an expression of my spirit through my playing.
It comes from my thoughts and reflections, combined with my energy and my love for people, animals and nature. The sound itself comes from the attack of my fingers and the interaction between both hands on the bass. That is where the magic happens. I use different basses depending on the style of music, including Factor, Kubicki and Manne basses.My favourite amplifier is the Eden World Tour 800W, which gives me all the power and clarity I need. Of course, my sound also depends on the style of music I am playing. For example, yesterday in the studio, while recording the new album with Bleckhorn, I used a distorted bass sound that was aggressive, raw and heavy.
However, when I play my own solo material, I prefer the sound to be crystal clear and distinct.
With the glam rock band Bai Bang, I play with a clean sound but with more weight and depth in the lower frequencies. So, it varies depending on the music, but I believe that my personality comes through more in the way I play than in the equipment or sound itself.
3. What do you write about?
I mostly write about the magic of life from a philosophical perspective.
I also write about society and the struggle between good and evil — between people who have lost their way and those who try to bring something beautiful and positive into the world.
I think it is important to recognise and understand destructive behaviour so that we can consciously choose a brighter and more developed path. Somethings that I also find important to write about is positive choices and positive spirals in life, while trying to counteract the hatred that can grow within people. My belief is that we need to focus more on solutions and constructive visions rather than living in fear and hatred. These are subjects that I find very inspiring to write about.
4. What do you listen to when you are at home?
Mostly, I listen to silence. Because I play music almost every day, I sometimes need to recharge and gather my thoughts without listening to music. When I was younger, I listened to a lot of rock music — everything from Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple to Queen, Sweet and many others.
Today, I find it especially exciting when you can hear the soul of the people and their culture through their music — when the culture, history and roots can be heard in the melodies and tones.
And when I do listen to music, I enjoy it deeply, but it has to create passion!
5. What has been your favourite live performance so far?
I love playing live. It is very close to my heart.
I have performed in both the biggest and the smallest venues all around the world. I have played in La Paz, Bolivia, at an altitude of 4,200 metres, and in jute factories in Bangladesh for the workers. I have also performed in China as part of Swedish government delegations, at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, and in Erbil, Kurdistan, at a medical fair. I have performed many times in South America for fantastic rock audiences, but I have also played in the Amazon rainforest. I have appeared at festivals such as Wacken Open Air, Monsters of Rock and the Sweden Rock Festival, as well as many others. I have also performed in hospitals and nursing homes, and for vulnerable and disadvantaged people. I cannot choose one specific performance or place. Diversity has become part of my path. For me, the most important thing is passion and always giving my very best, whether I am performing for thousands of people or for a small audience.
6. Tell us a funny story that happened in the studio or on stage.
When I toured South America with my solo bass concerts, I collected food for people living in poverty. It was a very meaningful and inspiring experience.
I paid for my own flights and hotels so that 100% of the donations could go where they were needed. The entrance fee for the concerts was two kilograms of food, which I later distributed together with aid organisations to people in need. It is probably not very common for rock musicians to go on adventures like that! I have also performed with the Swedish National Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. I have probably played around 30 concerts where the bass was the solo instrument. One slightly uncomfortable incident happened when I was performing with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra in front of an audience of 100,000 people, with approximately 150 million television viewers. Suddenly, I could not get any sound from my bass. I had maybe 15 seconds to find the problem before my part was due to begin. Finally, I discovered that a small cable connected to my pedals had slipped out by about half a centimetre. I managed to fix it just in time and started only about a second late. It was a rather stressful moment, however, later a funny story to remember and to tell! After 49 years of playing bass, a lot of things have happened, of course. I have also written a book called “The Bass in My Heart,” which contains many stories and anecdotes for anyone who is interested.
7. What are your favourite albums?
There are many favourite albums.
I love “Rising Force” by Yngwie Malmsteen, “News of the World” by Queen and “Made in Japan” by Deep Purple. I could make a very long list! Today, I probably listen to a little more folk and traditional music from different countries, even though rock will always be my musical foundation.
8. Which musician would you like to meet for a beer?
That is a difficult question because there are so many people I would like to meet.
I have already met many wonderful musicians, but I think it would be very interesting to meet Brian May from Queen. He seems like a genuinely kind person and, of course, he is an incredible musician.
For me, it also matters what a person stands for. Freedom is very important to me, as is trying to understand our world without spreading hatred or constantly condemning others.
9. What would you ask for backstage if you were the most important band on Earth?
The best, cleanest food and excellent cooking! That would be a real pleasure before or after a concert. I try to buy food directly from farmers who avoid using unnecessary chemicals and toxins. I would also love to have a huge container filled with band T-shirts so that everyone who came to our concerts could receive one as a thank-you for supporting us. That would be my dream!
10. What are your plans for the near future?
I have many dreams and plans. Yesterday, I recorded the final bass track for Blackhorn’s new album, “Viking Rock.” We have also recorded a new album with Bai Bang, and there is a new album with Autumn’s Child planned for recording in September this year. So, there are already three albums with exciting possibilities and plans ahead. I have also put together a different project called Voice of the North. We premiered at an old fortress in Sweden, combining Swedish folk music, oil drums, choirs, rock musicians, smoke and lasers in a mysterious and atmospheric setting. At the same time, I continue working with the Magnus Rosén Band, which I would love to take out on the road.
I also perform my one-man-band solo bass concerts, which I hope to continue doing — preferably in connection with charity projects that can inspire and support a brighter, more beautiful, peaceful and friendly world.
Legendary Norwegian extreme metal innovators Extol have officially announced their return. On November 6, the band will release its sixth full-length album, Aura of Decay, via Solid State Records, marking its first album since the critically acclaimed 2013 self-titled release. The release features the classic lineup, with Christer Espevoll rejoining the fold.
Crafted over an extensive writing and recording period, the upcoming album represents a deeply considered and, at times, painful labor of love. The meticulous production spanned multiple creative hubs, with tracking taking place across Hawk Studios, Little Cave Studio, and Hrada Creative. To bring the sonic scenery to life, the record was handed over to master engineer Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios, who handled mixing and mastering duties.
Adding a striking visual dimension to the release, renowned artist Hugh Syme created the album artwork.
Musically, Extol continues their fearless tradition of charting unknown waters while retaining the distinct signature that has defined the band for decades. The songwriting, complex arrangements, and unmistakable sonic language remain firmly anchored in the adventurous spirit fans have come to expect. Furthermore, in a nod that will delight longtime supporters, echoes of the raw, black-metal-tinged atmospheres reminiscent of their seminal album Burial surface throughout the album.
The track offers a labyrinthine sonic journey into the heart of modern tribalism. The song views the highly polarized ideological landscape through a veil of ancient philosophy, challenging listeners to question the mechanisms driving our current global divide. The single is now streaming worldwide.
Musically, “The One and The Many” relies on erratic, unconventional structures and jarring shifts to evoke a sense of psychological collapse. Lyrically, the band explores the intersection of modern tribalism and relativization of postmodernism in light of the ancient philosophical puzzle the one and the many. How does a collective society shatter into fiercely hostile tribes in today’s post-modern fog? The lyrics leave clues for the listener to decode the tensions between individual identity and systemic erosion.
“We are living in an era where truth feels relative, yet tribal dogmas seem to be strengthening,” says guitarist Espevoll. “We wanted the song to mirror that confusion. It is an invitation to look beneath the surface noise of the internet and reflect on how sanctimonious religious and political practices are fed and kept alive by ideology.”
Pre-order Aura of Decay here.
Extol are:
Peter Espevoll / Vocals
Ole Børud / Guitars, Vocals and Bass
David Husvik / Drums and Vocals
Christer Espevoll / Guitars
The post Norwegian Metal Pioneers EXTOL Announce First New Album In Over A Decade “Aura Of Decay” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.
Frankie Rose cut her teeth as a member of indie bands like Dum Dum Girls, Vivian Girls, and Crystal Stilts. On her own, she makes gauzy, gothy ’80s-style synthpop. She has toured as an opener for bands like the Jesus And Mary Chain and Swervedriver, and she’ll open for the Charlatans on their North American run next month. Around the same time, she’ll also release her new LP Hila.
The post Frankie Rose – “Return To Dust” appeared first on Stereogum.
“All I have ever wanted was to someday live up to the awe inspiring fury of AC/DC, live onstage (an impossible task, by the way.)”
The post Foo Fighters To Open For AC/DC In St. Louis, MO As Dave Grohl Heaps Praise On The Australian Hard Rock Legends appeared first on Theprp.com.
A conceptual effort set 1000 years after the fall of civilization.
The post Wolves In The Throne Room Launch “Ghosts Among The Obelisks” Music Video, New Album “Estuary” Due In October appeared first on Theprp.com.
Pacific Northwest black metal veterans Wolves In The Throne Room are established masters of heavy, mystical evil shit, and they’ve just announced plans for an ambitious new concept album. Estuary, their 10th LP, follows the 2023 EP Crypt Of Ancestral Knowledge and takes place in an apocalyptic future. Here’s how frontman Nathan Weaver describes it:
The post Wolves In The Throne Room Announce New Album <em>Estuary</em>: Hear “Ghosts In The Obelisks” appeared first on Stereogum.
That record will be out this October.
The post Enslaved Premiere “Solar Will” Music Video From Their Newly Announced Album “Mið” appeared first on Theprp.com.