Author Archive
ICS VORTEX – Playing debut live-show at FME this weekend; live line-up revealed!
February 17, 2012 | Author Asgeir Mickelson
Norway’s ICS Vortex, who released the extremely versatile and highly acclaimed debut album “Storm Seeker” in August 2011 via Century Media Records, will be making the band’s live-debut at this weekend’s prestigious Finnish Metal Expo in Helsinki (http://www.fme.fi).
The live band’s line-up for the event has now been revealed to be as follows:
ICS Vortex – guitar/vocal
Jens Ryland – guitar
Steinar Gundersen – bass
Baard Kolstad – drums
Former Dimmu Borgir and current Borknagar/Arcturus member ICS Vortex has checked in to comment as follows: “My buddy Asgeir Mickelson recently (and undramatically) handed over the drums to Baard Kolstad. I was not planning on guitar work live, but since Terje Andersen’s duties elsewhere for the second time collided with ICS Vortex, we decided together that it is was best to let go and part as friends.”
ICS Vortex will also be taking part of a special signing session at FME (at the Century Media booth) on Friday, February 17th at 6:15 PM. The stage time for their show is 9:15 PM – 10 PM, just before Paradise Lost and Edguy. More details can be found here: http://www.fme.fi
Next to this debut gig at FME, ICS Vortex have also confirmed to be appearing as headlining act on the Farmer Fest 2012 in Bigues i Riells / Barcelona on September 1st, 2012, marking the band’s debut show in Spain. Here are the upcoming shows of ICS Vortex:
ICS Vortex – Live 2012:
17.02.2012 Finnish Metal Expo, Helsinki (Finland) / www.fme.fi
01.09.2012 Farmer Fest 2012, Bigues i Riells / Barcelona (Spain) / www.farmer-fest.3a2.com
More shows are in the works…
Recently, ICS Vortex have launched footage from the band’s studio recording session showing drummer Asgeir Mickelson recording drums for the album track “Flaskeskipper”. Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVbGMzVA5AA
ICS Vortex’s “Storm Seeker” debut album was released worldwide via Century Media Records and is available as limited edition Digipak CD, 180g. LP version (black, grey and blue vinyl) and also as Digital Download. The album entered the charts in the band’s native Norway for 4 consecutive weeks, with a highest position at # 54. “Storm Seeker” received massive press acclaim, amongst others scoring a 10/10 review in Metal Hammer (Norway), 8/10 in Rock Hard (Germany) and 14/15 in Legacy (Germany).
If you haven’t checked out the “Storm Seeker” album yet, follow the links below to listen to some of the tracks included on this extremely versatile record:
“Odin’s Tree”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-AKursvupQ
“The Blackmobile”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH7kx9QUPkI
ICS Vortex’s debut album is a havoc of varied metal and takes the musical elements from his +10 years experience with Dimmu Borgir as well as the legacy of the classic bands with whom he is still active (Borknagar, Arcturus and Lamented Souls), topping things off with his signature clean vocals in order to make “Storm Seeker” become a perfectly balanced axe, whether a song is cutting fast, or dicing slow. “Storm Seeker” features appearances by Borknagar teammate Asgeir Mickelson on drums and also Terje “Cyrus” Andersen (Susperia, ex Dimmu Borgir) contributing some lead guitars. The album was recorded at Norwegian Toproom Studio (Mayhem, Tristania, Borknagar, etc.) with engineer Børge Finstad and mastered in Sweden by Peter in de Betou at Tailor Maid Studio (Arch Enemy, Dark Tranquillity, Dimmu Borgir, etc.).
ICS VORTEX online
http://www.icsvortex.com
http://www.facebook.com/icsvortexofficial
http://www.myspace.com/icsvortex
Century Media Records online:
http://www.centurymedia.com
http://www.myspace.com/centurymediaeurope
http://www.youtube.com/centurymedia
http://twitter.com/centurymediaeu
http://www.facebook.com/centurymedia
Century Media webshop:
http:/www.cmdistro.com
ICS Vortex facebook banners
February 5, 2012 | Author Asgeir Mickelson
As promised on the ICS Vortex facebook page – here’s a couple of banners to use on the new facebook timeline profile. The sizes are 850×315 pixles. Download the image you want to your computer and then upload it to your facebook profile.
Feel free to show us a printscreen/screenshot of your facebook profile with the banner on it! Post it on the ICS Vortex facebook page.
- Asgeir
More confirmed Arcturus gigs!
January 6, 2012 | Author Asgeir Mickelson
Mythology has confirmed two more Arcturus shows:
5. May 2012
Reduta, Brasov, Romania, http://www.kogaionon.com/en/kruna
3. August 2012
Vagos Open Air 2012, Calvão, Vagos, Portugal, http://www.vagosopenair.eu
- Asgeir
Influence: Agent Steel
December 1, 2011 | Author Asgeir Mickelson
Here’s another blast from the past. Los Angeles based Agent Steel has been around since the mid 80s (well, except for a “small” break between 88-98…) but their golden years are of course the first two albums (and an EP) with the awesome John Cyriis on vocals. Their second singer, Bruce Hall, was amazing too but he was pretty much doomed to live in the shadow of Cyriis’ legend-status. Their style is pure speed/heavy metal with lyrics about space and science fiction – in other words a very typical 80s band, but maybe the very best one with their second album “Unstoppable Force”. Their first album, “Skeptics Apocalypse”, was unpolished but still had a couple great songs (see below). Then “Unstoppable Force” came out in 1987 with better sound and a gazillion great heavy metal riffs. And the vocals…? Ooohh!
Agent Steel on Wikipedia is here.
- Asgeir
Arcturus ready for Brutal Assault 2012
November 30, 2011 | Author Asgeir Mickelson
What I didn’t know yesterday when I posted the news that Arcturus are playing Hellfest next year, is that they are also confirmed to play Brutal Assault in Czech Republic, 9.-11. August, 2012. I played there last year with Sarke and it’s one of my favourite festival venues. It’s held in the old army fortress Josefov 130 km east of Prague, and the next time I play there I hope to get to see more of it.
There’s already a lot of other great bands confirmed to play Brutal Assault, so check their website here: http://brutalassault.cz/en/
Arcturus have booked a lot of shows now, and more is probably being booked. Check the LIVE page in the top meny for a complete list of all confirmed shows.
- Asgeir
