More Scandinavian ugliness, this time courtesy of Denmark and The Psyke Project. I've covered these guys in the past, but felt like they fell off a bit with 2007's "Apnea", so I didn't pick up on their latest release "Dead storm" as quickly as I should have. Now I'm playing catch-up and I'm happy to report they're back on track. There are few bands as relentlessly brutal as The Psyke Project, so it's not much of a surprise when I see their biggest, most oft-cited criticism is also their biggest virtue. No doubt, it is exhausting to sit through 50+ minutes of pummel, but trust me, it isn't all like this one track and the payoff is worth it. The band does dabble in bits of melody and dramatic postrock dynamics, but of course it's the endless breakdown that I want to focus on today. There's no hooks, no respite; just endless atonal riffing and screaming ala "Damaged I". Ugliness and anger; let me have it, let me feel it. "No one comes in" = "Leave me be". Broken.
The Psyke Project - Cursed with care
Norway's Bigbang will support Phantom Limb on tour in the UK in December:
12/08 - Ruby Lounge, Manchester
12/09 - Classic Grand, Glasgow
12/10 - Cluny 2, Newcastle
12/11 - tbc, Bristol
12/12 - tbc, London
12/13 - The Yardbird, Birmingham
12/14 - Latest Music Bar, Brighton
12/15 - Bush Hall, London
Swedish doom act Saturnalia Temple has signed with US label The Anja Offensive (Watain, Deathspell Omega) for the release of their self-titled debut full-length. The band aims to record over the winter for a summer/autumn 2010 release.
Swedish experimental/noise/visual artist Ronnie Sundin will release his final "quiet" album "Sunspots" in a limited edition of 50 LP copies via Komplott. Each copy will feature individual hand-made covers using linoleum cuts created and printed by Sundin himself, as well as hand-written text in red ink. For full details, go here: http://komplott.com/
In related news, volume #2 of Ronnie Sundin's comic book+7" project "Very friendly" is just about ready and will be subtitled "Walk Like Zombie Man". This issue, if you want to call it that, will feature two main stories; one about his 2006 trip to Spain and encounter with composer Francisco López and the 2nd about his attempt to decipher the early 80s German cult film "Decoder" which features William S. Burroughs as well as F.M. Einheit (Einstürzende Neubauten) and Genesis P. Orridge (Throbbing Gristle/Psychic TV). Expect a December release.
Check out the video for "Holiday", the latest single from Swedish electropop duo Cartwall (feat. SR P3 host Matilda Kihlberg): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_uhhtqxkvc
The group's self-titled debut album is out now via BD Pop.
The Washington Post Express profiles Finnish folk-metal act Ensiferum: http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2009/11/ensiferum-from-afar.php
Swedish old-school punks Trojne are back with a couple new tracks at myspace, recorded recently with frontman Mikael Borjesson's 12yo son Niklas Borjesson on drums: http://www.myspace.com/trojnesweden
In semi-related news, Mikael also has worked on some new solo stuff very much in contemporary Thäström style which can also be heard at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/borjesson
I don't have money to burn, but if I did, I'd put out a comp with the best, most nihilistic, purely negative and dystopian-minded bands Scandinavia has to offer. And I don't know about how things look from where you sit, but I consider it to be the sound of our current zeitgeist and guess what? There are more than a few excellent specimens that fit the bill -- Haust and Hebosagil are two prime examples I've brought up in this context before; Frivolvol makes it a trinity. Listen, it takes a lot of effort to sound this ugly and it's obvious these dudes are pissed. Musically speaking, this is actually one of Frivolvol's more tamer moments (that instrumental section is almost... pretty), but those vocals sound like gargled glass; from the high-pitched screeches to the harsher, more forced low notes. His pain is yours to share. Unfortunately I wasn't provided a lyric sheet with my copy of their new album "Blades of steel", so I can't compare and contrast with the utter hopelessness expressed on previous record "Who needs maps when we got time", but my gut feeling is that things have not improved. All the better for us, the listeners, probably not so much for the guys in the band.
Frivolvol - It smells like something died here
Recent Crunchy Frog signing Lars and the Hands of Light will release their debut full-length "The looking glass" on February 1, 2010. Hear the already-released lead single "Me me me" at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/larsandthehandsoflight
There is now a video for the Titiyo and Moto Boy duet "If only your bed could cry": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG6V2P_yvBs
Norwegian postrockers The Samuel Jackson Five have uploading a couple new-ish tracks to myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thesamueljacksonfive
One is "...And then we met the locals", their contribution to the Metronomicon Audio 4.0 compilation that will be out in January and the other is an old live take from 2004 that I presume is more or less, previously unheard.
The Nocturnal Cult webzine has a new interview with Darkthrone sideproject/cult doom act Valhall: http://www.nocturnalcult.com/
Norwegian avant-metal act Fleurety has posted the track "Absence" off their new EP "Ingentes Atque Decorii Vexilliferi Apokalypsis" at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/fleurety
Swedish pop act Melody Club recorded a new Christmas single together with Anna Järvinen of all people and you can now hear it at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/melodyclub