Archive for February 2012
New Borknagar drummer announced
February 22, 2012 | Author Jens F. Ryland
Yes, the rumours are true, the new Borknagar drummer is Baard Kolstad.
Borknagar - Baard Kolstad
Baard was also presented as the new ICS Vortex drummer just last week and I already saw some speculations drawing the correct lines in here.
Baard is a bit younger then the rest of us geezers, but his entry into the music scene is quite amazing. Baard was “discovered” by Mr Vortex himself in the spring 2011 while recording in Toproom Studio with a band. Just after this both Borknagar and ICS Vortex were asked to participate in the anniversary recording of Metallica’s Black Album, and as Asgeir Mickelson was unavailable, Vortex called up Baard and asked him to play on the song.
Baard has a very well visited Youtube channel which I don’t think needs any explanation, just enter and have a look for yourself; Baard Kolstad Youtube
Borknagar - Baard Kolstad
The last achievement Baard did was to win the World Championship in v-drums arranged by Roland in January 2012, have a look at this video:
And you can watch his winning performance here:
You can Baard’s Facebook page and chat to the man himself if you like. Later on there will be a post up on the Borknagar website with some comments from Øystein and Baard.
————Jens
A weekend in Helsinki with ICS Vortex
February 20, 2012 | Author Jens F. Ryland
Pictures from the weekend in Helsinki- Finland with ICS Vortex:
ICS Vortex- Helsinki 2012
Baard in his drum solo.
ICS Vortex- Helsinki 2012
Chaos picture, us arriving at the venue Friday afternoon
ICS Vortex- Helsinki 2012
Signing session before the concert.
ICS Vortex- Helsinki 2012
Steinar warming up, this is just minutes before we entered stage.
ICS Vortex- Helsinki 2012
I pulled out the camera while Simen was playing the opening on Stormseeker, good crowd!
ICS Vortex- Helsinki 2012
After the concert Baard found this lounge in the VIP area.
————Jens
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
Pre-ordering Borknagar – Urd
February 10, 2012 | Author Jens F. Ryland
In these days with all the streaming debates, sharing, ripping, piracy and such I almost feel like a pirate myself asking people to buy the album to keep us going. I can live long on good reviews and feedback, but in the end that doesn’t pay studio bills, marketing, layout, production and all that. So, for you trusty ones who still buy albums I want to direct you to the places where you also directly support Borknagar with your purchase.
Borknagar - Urd pre order bundle shirt
It’s very easy really, I simply want you to go through the featured shop on the Borknagar website. This is the current one; Borknagar webshop
Yes, I know it’s not up to date with the pre order stuff, but you can find that at the Century Media webshop and we’ll get it up at the Borknagar shop too.
It’s still a few weeks before the album is out and all the products are not done and made just yet. I’ll make sure to update you when more stuff is ready to display. Until then, enjoy the first song here at this link; Borknagar – Roots – Urd
Borknagar releases first Urd song for streaming
February 9, 2012 | Author Jens F. Ryland
Here we are! Finally!
I’ve been waiting for this for quite some time now. After we went back home from Fascination Street I have been dying to show this to everyone and get some feedback on this. And the release date is still some weeks away, but at least we can now share one of the songs from the upcoming Borknagar album with you!
Below you can also see a new band photo and the statement from Century Media. The Statement also contains the link, but for you impatient ones you can find it here at Metal Hammer Germany: Borknagar – Roots – (Urd)
Let me hear what you think!!!
————-Jens
Borknagar- Urd (2012)
BORKNAGAR – Launch first new promotional song and new band-photo!
Norwegian Avantgarde Metallers BORKNAGAR are premiering a first promotional song off their much anticipated new studio album, “Urd”, today via the website of Metal Hammer (Germany). Go check out the enthralling track “Roots” here: Borknagar – Roots – (Urd)
BORKNAGAR’s mastermind Øystein G. Brun checked in to comment about the song as follows:
“In regards to the depth, diversity and magnitude of our new album, “Urd”, it almost feels painful to slice off just a tiny bit of the bloody roast for the very first official “starter”. I would argue that each and every song on the new album stands on solid ground, but as usual with our music, the songs empower each other in the context of a full album.
That said, “Roots” is probably the song on the album that gives you the most representative impression of “Urd”. Musically it contains most of the elements that framework the musical universe of BORKNAGAR, and lyrically this song is gnawing on the very spine of our lyrical tradition. Hope you enjoy this song, the first tiny glimpse into our new opus. The beast is about to be unleashed…”
“Roots” is taken off the album “Urd”, which to be released on March 26th, 2012 in Europe as well as March 27th, 2012 in North America via Century Media Records.
The album’s artwork was designed by Brazilian artist Marcelo Vasco (www.P2RDESIGN.com), who has not only already worked on the band’s previous “Universal” release but also with artists such as Soulfly, Belphegor, Einherjer or Keep of Kalessin. The mixing duties for the album were taken care of by Jens Bogren at Sweden’s Fascination Street Studios (Opeth, Paradise Lost, Katatonia, etc.).
The tracklisting for the album will read as follows:
BORKNAGAR – “Urd” / Tracklisting:
1. Epochalypse
2. Roots
3. The Beauty Of Dead Cities
4. The Earthling
5. The Plains Of Memories
6. Mount Regency
7. Frostrite
8. The Winter Eclipse
9. In A Deeper World
BORKNAGAR Line-Up (from left to right on band-photo!):
Øystein G. Brun – Clean & Electric Guitars (Cronian, ex Molested)
ICS Vortex – Bass, Clean Vocals & Choirs (Arcturus / ICS Vortex, ex Dimmu Borgir)
Vintersorg – Grim Vocals, Clean Vocals & Choirs (Vintersorg, Fission)
Jens F. Ryland – Lead Guitars (ICS Vortex)
Lars A. Nedland – Keys, Clean Vocals & Choirs (Solefald, ex Carpathian Forest)
Drums and percussion on “Urd” were performed by David Kinkade (Soulfly, ex Malevolent Creation).
BORKNAGAR Live 2012:
04.-07.04. Oslo (Norway) – Inferno Festival / www.infernofestival.net
13.-14.04. Lichtenfels (Germany) – Ragnarök Festival / www.ragnaroek-festival.com
More dates will be announced soon…
More details and information about the album’s release will be issued soon…
Official BORKNAGAR sites:
www.borknagar.com
www.facebook.com/borknagarofficial
Century Media Records online:
www.centurymedia.com
www.facebook.com/centurymedia
www.youtube.com/centurymedia
Century Media webshop:
www.cmdistro.com
