Music & Art

Peter Lieberson - Another Loss

2011-05-04T13:11:00.014+02:00

Now it's been more than a week since the acclaimed american composer Peter Lieberson passed away at the age of 64.

Well known for the famous Neruda Songs, Lieberson learnt harmony by listening to live Broadway shows and took influences from Schoenboerg and Stravinsky. Great inspiration came from his father'scompany’s recordings. (Goddard Lieberson, former president of Columbia records).

After recieving a doctorate at Brandeis University and teaching composition at Harvard University in the 1980’s, the composer from NY, became a great established artist. For example his works were performed by famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

Lieberson dedicated his entire life to the Neruda Song and Songs of Love and Sorrow. He was a believer of Tibetan Buddhism and this made a special role in his opera Ashoka’s Dream where his wife Lorraine had the leading part.

ClassicalMusic

/Viktoria Colonna

DeathDestruction

2011-05-03T19:27:00.005+02:00

The four gothenborg-guys in DeathDestruction have recently released their video of their debut-single Fuck Yeah. The video is directed by the infamous Patric Ulleaus, who also has a history directing many other videos of the swedish metal elite. The whole shoot was filmed at IF-studios, where the band also recorded their debut EP. These guys deliver groovy, bluesy deathcore-ish metal. Into Pantera, ZZ-Top and Lamb of God?

Jimmie Strimell Vocals (from Dead by April)

Fredrik Larsson Bass Player (HammerFall)

Henrik Danhage Guitarist (Ex Evergrey)

Jonas Ekdahl Drums (Ex Evergrey)

Listen to DeathDestruction HERE !

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/Christoffer Bertzell

Lust & Vice

2011-05-01T12:07:00.009+02:00

At the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, Lust & Vice shows examples of how sexuality, virtue and sin have been depicted in art since the 16th century – from an age when the Church preached that sexual contact was only permitted within wedlock to today’s questioning of who erotic art is created for.

A total of 200 works are on show from the museum’s own collections, a mix of paintings, drawings, sculptures and applied art. You can also see a genuine chastity belt!

Period of Exposion 24/3 2011 - 14/8 2011

On Tuesday 3/5 there will be an introduction of Lust & Vice between 1 pm - 2 pm.

Queen Victoria 23/10

2010-10-25T13:10:00.008+02:00

It was a solitary night at Queen Victoria, Saturday 23/10. Uppsala is getting closer to the winter and high heels and slippery iced roads are not a so lucky combination.
For a rock music lover it's always a great thing when actually a rock concert takes place in this city, but I really don't understand where all the hardrockers hide, I know they are out there? But where are they hiding?

Live Schedule

Three Days in Darkness (Support)
This Ending
Impious

Three Days In Darkness

After two hours of chit chat with some friends, (actually my best friend plays lead guitar in Three Days in Darkness, so cheers to him!) we were just waiting for the people to get in, and finally when almost all the bands members were sunk down into the couch it was time to play!

This Ending

The event started. All of three bands entertained the audience with fast and brutal death metal, very well played and fun to watch. They look to be thrilled to play, to have a great time on scene, and didn't care that it wasn't so crowded.
Even if it should have been much more people and the place should look better, the music was all right! Three Days In Darkness is full time working with their debut album, This Ending are growing more and more in popularity and Impious shows their nice expertise and capability on stage.

Impious

/Viktoria Colonna

Strange Karma

2010-10-22T15:47:00.005+02:00

Sitting an autumn night, sipping a Kill Kenny, it's cold outside, but here in this old pub I don't care and listening to a good acoutstic band makes it all better. This is the feeling while you listen to Strange Karma. A travel through time, because Led Zeppelin, some Deep Purple and old AC/DC are like ghosts in their music, haunting softly the sound.
It took 2 weeks for recording their first CD but two years to release it, so finally this year Volume 1 is out!
Even if the songs are not acoustic I get the feeling of it, the music is close to the listener.

Martin Strange - Lead vocals, piano, guitar
Paul Strange - Lead guitar, backing vocals
Jody Daley-Lovett - Bass guitar, backing vocals
Jason McDonald - Drums

Listen to Strange Karma HERE

/Viktoria Colonna

Swedish House Mafia

2010-10-22T11:34:00.010+02:00

Many of us have certainly danced by the sounds of Swedish House Mafia
Until One is the new album coming up that includes super hits like One, Miami 2 Ibiza, Leave the World Behind, Show me Love and so many more!
In November a documentary will come out about Swedish House Mafia, where we can follow Steve Angello och Sebastian Ingrosso for two years of around 285 shows in 15 countries! Amazing! Until One is the soundtrack of this DvD and it can sound like a greatest hits of the house trio, with some remixs , hits that have been played in the most big clubs all over the world!

Axwell, Steve Agnello, Sebastian Ingrosso

Listen to Swedish House Mafia HERE

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/Viktoria Colonna

Sade is back!

2010-10-21T12:45:00.009+02:00

You get thrilled and cozy of her warm voice, with only her tunes she can make your environment smooth with a touch of sensuality, and now Sade is back after 17 years of waiting for an European tour! Last time she was on tour was in 2001 in the States so it was right on time to be back in business again.
This year Sade released the album Soldier of Love that sold more than 3 millions copies!
In this album you can hear the soft R'n'B rhythm and choir filled, specially the song Babyfather is a sweet melody in reagge tunes with nice back voices, even of children. The hit Soldier of Love, it's more modern and alternative, but you can surely hear the characteristic lounge method Sade has in her way of singing. And it's so this album go on song by song, with kindness that meets attitude.

Now you can already book your ticket, here in Stockholm (Sweden), Sade will come the 10th of May.

And for sure you can't forget one of her most famous eternal song : By Your Side

Listen to Sade HERE

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/Viktoria Colonna

EVENT : Impious + This Ending - In Uppsala

2010-10-20T22:39:00.006+02:00

Come on and listen to three cool death/thrash metal bands in Uppsala (Sweden) Saturday night!

Date: 23rd October
Place: Queen Victoria
Time: 8pm -

Support band, Three Days In Darkness from Uppsala (swe) (Listen)

Impious, from Trollhättan (swe) (Listen)

This Ending , from Stockholm (swe) (Listen)

/Viktoria Colonna

Bruce Springsteen - The Darkness Sessions

2010-10-20T10:50:00.006+02:00

Columbia records will release The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story on Nov. 16.
The new boxed set edition will have 3CDs and 3 DVDs of remastered material, footage of never released studio and live sessions, including a documentary and live performances. The media contents are packaged within an 80-page notebook containing facsimiles from Springsteen's original notebooks from the recording sessions! This includes alternate lyrics, song ideas, recording details, and personal notes in addition to a new essay by Springsteen and never-before-seen photographs!

Bruce Springsteen , The Indian King, New Jersey 1978
by Frank Stefanko

Read more about it HERE

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/Viktoria Colonna

Mustasch - Mats Johansson 5 Questions

2010-10-19T16:59:00.008+02:00

Mustasch is a swedish hardrock band filled with attitude. You can surely have in mind their great hits such Black City (2003) and Double Nature (2007). I thought about a new fresh start of this site with some fun company of Mustasch's bass player Mats Johansson , so I asked him some questions:

If you should choose, what animal would you like to be, and why?
Parrot. Sitting on a false Pirat's shoulder and annoying tourists would be a sufficiently bearable life for me.
What is your most embarrassing moment while you were on tour?
It must be when we played at the opening act for Motörhead in Europe. The first time I was introduced to Lemmy was when I, him and Dirty Dave shared a taxi to the afterparty, and I said "Hi Lemmy, I'm here with the bass player of Mustasch," instead of "I am the bass player of ...". Moderately funny in my nervousness, but Lemmy laughed loud anyway.
What song describes you the most as a person?
Hard to say, but because I'm sort of a fatalist, it becomes "Killed by Death" by Motörhead. If you are murdered by death, how much more dead can you be? The answer is nothing, no more death.
What do you prefer to order at the pub and why?
It's obviously depends of the mood and the matter of time, but when I have drunk for a few days it is often a strong shot along with a soda water. The idea is that after you drink both you get to order a new round. Water and alcohol in symbiosis get an outstanding result.
Can you dance?
I imagine that many people neither know or believe it, but I actually took some courses in tango after I lived in Spain for a couple of years ago, so the answer is yes!

/Viktoria Colonna

Sean Tibbetts - An Interview

2010-07-21T10:02:00.007+02:00

Sean Tibbetts is the current bass guitarist in the symphonic power metal band Kamelot. Just last year he rejoined the band after a long brake since 1992. He was there since the beginning and it's amazing that he is back as an original member even if he has replaced time to time Glenn Barry before the official replacement for the reason that Glenn couldn't be able to be there for family issues. Sean, has also played for Wykked Wytch and Royal Anguish.
Kamelot has been on the road from the begining of this year with many shows in Europe, they are having a huge summer festival tour and they are waiting for the upcoming North & South American tour this fall! The new CD Poetry For The Poisoned will be released already in September!

I had a great interview with Sean Tibbetts himself!

It's been more than a year since you rejoined Kamelot. How are things going this far?
Life is good and things have been going better then ever. This past year has been packed full of amazing shows, one after another. It just keeps getting better. There has been alot of preparation for the CD and we are all very excited about the near future.
You were indeed there from the beginning, how did you guys meet and how did Kamelot come to life in the first place?
Thomas (guitarist) , Mark (former vocalist) and Richard (the original drummer) had been play together before I came into the picture. When they decided it was time to bring a bassist in, they placed an ad in a local music mag. I had been touring with a circuit band called Bratz when I read the ad. Bratz was more of a pop band playing rock and dance music. My heart has always been in metal so it once I heard the music it was an easy leap. We spoke on the phone where I asked them to come see me play at one of our shows, we talked a little after the show and I think it was about a week later I was playing in Kamelot.
How was your relationship with Kamelot and how it developed through the years while not playing with them?
Thomas, Mark and myself had remained friends over the years even after Mark had left the band, that is probably why when Glenn needed a break I was the person Thom asked to fill in. I was really happy to see the success they had and was happy to do it.
What has been your biggest challenge as a musician?
Well truthfully I can't say there is any "one" big challenge. Being a professional musician there are so many challenges to over come it is never ending. Most people think it's all fun and big parties but it is more work then you would imagine. You truly have to to live for ever moment of this. What most people consider normal life and the thing you take for granted are the very things you as a musician will give up and sacrifice. That is a lot easier said then done.
You are in the middle of a big tour. Do you have a favorite place where you enjoy to play more?
Well I can't think of any shows in Europe I didn't like playing. The European crowds are just so into music I love playing here in Europe. I would say my favorite would be Holand, Norway and Sweden.
What things that you really can't be without on tour? Aside your bass guitar of course!
My preshow coffee to warm up and a postshow beer to relax after jumping around for an hour and a half (I get a little wound up) haha. Oh and my black wrist band, I've worn it for every show for the last ten years. It will probably fall apart one day but I would feel naked without it.
Which bass guitar would you advise a new bass player to buy, and what should He/She think before buying it?
I have been playing Warwick for the last 2 years and their basses have been great. They have a really clean solid tone and I like the way they feel. The 2 basses I have are the best insturments I have ever played. They make every bass I have played in the past feel like a toy. Budget is usually the factor for most players, but if you can spend a little more to get what you really want it is usually the better choice. The more you spend the better the wood and electronics are and with bass it's all about tone quality sustain.
By the way! Do you still teach bass guitar?
Not so much any more. I have a few old students that I still see but I haven't had much time over the last year. I may take on some new students after the new year.
Do you have kids, if that so, they play music as well?
Yes I am a proud father, I have one son named Kody. Every person in my family has been gifted with one thing or another. My father was an amazing photographer my uncle Richard plays sax and flute , my sister Holly is an artist, my son plays around a little with his guitar but but his passion is golf. He is really good at it so that is his gift. I wish I could hit that damn ball, I suck at it. He makes it look so easy.
As a kid do you remember what you wanted to become as a grownup?
I remember remember the exact moment. I was 13 years old and had been playing guitar for a year and my mother asked me that same question. I told her I think I want to be a musician. She looked at me and laughed and said " yeah you and everyone else". At the time I didn't understand her comment.
During your life you have seen of course many concerts, which ones are those that gave you the best feeling/memories?
I would have to say Iron Maiden and Dio ( RIP ). Their live shows were mind blowing. I mean the music was great that goes without saying but the whole package with the all props, Eddie, lasers and lights just made for the coolist show. Shows like that are not so common any more.
At last, your top 5 "most have" album?
Yngwie Malmsteen - Rising Force
Ozzy Osbourn - Randy Rhoads Tribute
Death - The Sound of Perserverance
Led Zepplin III
Mudayne -LD50

Listen to Kamelot HERE!

/Viktoria Colonna

Getaway Wins!

2010-07-20T13:43:00.006+02:00

Getaway and Rockweekend festival took place at exactly the same time in Sweden, but Getaway won the "competition" beteween the two of them. Getaway sell around 14 000 tickets and Rockweekend just around 7000! Both the festivals are determinated to be there also next summer, Rockweekend sell 2000 tickets more than last year so it's like a celebration for them too. If the two festivals will show up at the same time again next year, we don't know that yet, but let's hope for great artists and splendid weather again! :)

Slash, one of the great artists at Getaway

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/Viktoria Colonna

Kissin' Dynamite - Ande 5 Questions

2010-07-18T10:54:00.017+02:00

Young. They are young and full of metal. Kissin' Dynamite are already out with their second album" "Addicted to Metal" they surprice me how developed they are! Great composing, technique and quality. Germany jumps in the rock L.A. sound better than you can imagine!

Jim, Andi, Hannes, Ande, Steffen

I popped 5 questions to Ande, the guitarist:

If you could go on a road trip with any person (dead or alive), who would you choose and where would you go?
I'd choose Bon Scott. We would go to next pub in order to drink some whisky:)
Name two things you consider yourself to be very bad at.
I'm bad in bed :)
What do you think the secret to a good life is?
The secret to a good life is not to live for work, but to work to stay alive...
Any tattoos or pierced body parts?
We all are tattooed. Not everybody has the possibility to find out where I'm tattooed^^
Name a singer that you can’t stand the sound of !
I couldn't and I can't stand Pete Steel's Voice. But I appreciate him as an creative artist...

/Viktoria Colonna

Roche - Tokyo Sounds

2010-07-16T19:09:00.005+02:00

Just for a couple of days I was in Tokyo for a short holyday.
It was more than I expected. I have a crush on Tokyo now, and I'm already planning my next summer there! Tokyo fits me perfectly, both culturally and spiritually!
While walking around Shinjuku I stopped and listened to a cool band down the piazza, Roche. The atmosphere was cozy and calm, people came from all the sides, passing by and starting to listen, and this sweet jazz-funk-pop band made my day after an entire day walking through the enchanting Tokyo.
今の君は - (Now you) - If I can translate it right, hehe, is now my Tokyo theme-song, this is a really typical Japanese pop song, romantic, happy and cute. And I really enjoy it!

Listen to Roche HERE (in Japanese! Just click on Music.)

/Viktoria Colonna

Infernus - An Interview

2010-07-14T17:58:00.009+02:00

Roger Tiegs, better known as Infernus, is the founder of the norwegian black metal band Gorgoroth. Principally he plays the lead guitar, but in some of the recording sessions he also does the role of drummer, vocalist and bass player, of course also songwriter. In 2007 with the split of Gaahl and King from Gorgoroth it began the despute of the band name, Gaahl and King wanted to take the name with them and so they did. They continued their music in the name of Gorgoroth but Infernus won the original rights back just last year.

Listen to Gorgoroth HERE!

I found very interesting to interview him:

So in which part of the world are you now? Is it hot like hell? Because here in Italy it is.
Norway. It's perfect. Cloudy and a bit below 20 degrees Centigrade. Just perfect. I returned from the Regain headquarter two days ago, and there it was a bit too hot for comfort. So I have nothing to complain about.

After an European tour with Gorgoroth you'll tour in Brazil this late summer and fall, is it different from playing in Europe?
As far as the playing is concerned, it is not much different. But in a bigger perspective, the wholeness of the experience is quite different. Due to the obvious differences in cultural heritage and mentality. I enjoy both and I love to travel. Thus I feel privileged to be able to do exactly what I do: Travel around - in Europe and elsewhere - and perform metal music. In the name of Satan, that is.

A curious question, have you watched the world championship? Brazil would be very blue and in need of aggressive music I assume hehe.
I do not enjoy watching football. Not at all. So I could therefore not care less about the outcome of any football match. Anyway, judging from a pretty strong history of devotion to extreme metal, Brazil seems to keep it going forever, craving musical input accordingly. And judging from my experiences, it has always been a grateful and devoted crowd we have met there and I am pretty confident they have sharpened their senses and are ready for our return this time as well. THAT makes me happy!

Are Gorgoroth working on new materials?
Yes! I have written about 50% of the upcoming album and me and drummer/co-producer Tomas Asklund are working on the material in his studio in Barkarby as often as we can. Every 4th or 5th week.

I saw Gorgoroth at Wacken Open Air 2008, do you have some words for it?
That old story! A story of lies, even more lies and the most transparent of all possible repulsive misconceptions. You are aware of the certain couple of guys who tried to steal the name of my band and who illegally continued to present themselves as members? This lasted for about a year and a half and was finally settled in the courts of Oslo last year. Gorgoroth has not played at Wacken since 1998 and what you might have seen in 2008 was some pretenders to the throne who are now perfectly positioned where they belong: in the past, and well beyond my spheres of interest in regard of any second chances to be given.

But lets know more about you personally, one "original" question : do you own any light colour cloths?
As a matter of fact, I do.

It seems that this July is quite free from tours, are you going for a holyday? Where do you like to travel?
No holidays scheduled for this month. I'll be stuck in the Bergen area settling some things that have to be dealt with here, then hopefully I'll get to have some hours of guitar sessions together with our live member 2nd guitarist Skyggen when he's back from a travel abroad. Then another trip to Sweden doing a few days of studio work. It is busy and does not bear the mark of relaxation, but it's still good. Close to perfect, I would say. There are a thousand of places I'd like to travel - Cairo, for example - but this just ain't the right time for it.

By the way! Do you have a family of your own? a partner, kids?
One family, one partner and no kids. Not that I am aware of.

5 tracks that you adore to listen to?
As of today, I listen to Manowar. Pest made me do it. I have been going through a compilation album he made for me in the end of May this year (and some additional stuff) listening to all from "Blood of the Kings" to "Warriors of the World". And I must admit I have made a mistake. I grew old before understanding the splendour of what these guys have been up to for so long. They, of a few, really seem - for decades - to have somehow understood what many of the so-called black metallers around have failed to capture: the true spirit of Metal! Mea culpa.

And finally do you like strawberry ice-cream?
No, not in particular.

Well. Many Greetings (now from Italy)!
To you too. Have fun and praise hail Satan!

/Viktoria Colonna

Getaway VS Rockweekend

2010-07-08T11:20:00.005+02:00

This summer starting from today 8th of July until 10th of July there will be two festivals at the same time in Sweden. Rockweekend and Getaway. They are just around 80 km from eachother! A real tough competition!
Already this spring many discussions were going on between the festiavals. Rockweekend wanted to sue Getaway because of the booking of the same time! But it ended by just a big crowd competition.

I'm in Italy now, so I can't even go to one of these two great festivals, but if I could I would split myself in two! Here is my "must see" mindlist:

Rockweekend
Twister Sisters, Deep Purple, Venom, Sebastian Bach, Annihilator, Kamelot, Sepultura, Danger Danger, My Dying Bride, Obituary, Electric Boys, Treat, Unleashed, Bloodbound, Bonafide, Lions Share.

Getaway
Slash, Motörhead, Europe, Exodus, Mustasch, Meshuggah, Triptykon, Mayhem, Airbourne, Cannibal Corpse, The Haunted, Dark Tanquillity, Deathstars, Jorn, Grand Magus, Adept, Wolf, Dreamland.

Wow, really 50/50. If I was in Sweden I would get both the festival tickets and drive back and forth!! hehe

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/Viktoria Colonna

Ace of Base - Name Problem

2010-07-07T12:34:00.007+02:00

In the 90's was Ace of Base one of the most popular Swedish pop bands globally wellknown.
Since then the group members went each own way. This fall Jonas Berggren and Ulf Ekberg will release an album together and they want of course use the original name Ace of Base.
Already a demo " Mr. Replay" is out on the internet but with 2 entirely different girls. (Watch it HERE).

Ulf Ekberg said that according to the contract from 1991 the using of the name shouldn't be a problem even if not all the original members are in the current band.
But Jonas Berggren sister Jenny Berggren (Ex Ace of Base member) doesn't approve this.
She said that on the papers is written that the band name Ace of Base stays for the 4 original members.

How this will be solved it's still unknown. Jenny will realese a solo album in october, nothing to do with Ace of Base.
Although I can understand that if there are now 2 new girls instead of the original girl members in the comeback of Ace of Base it won't be a really comeback at all!

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/Viktoria Colonna

NEWS - July

2010-07-06T10:33:00.008+02:00

Metallica

- The guitarist Kirk Hammet has in mind to write a book about his hobbies outside the music business, like horror movies, comic books, drawing and so on. He has said that these are things that he has liked his entire life. He remembered the first time he bought his first horror magazine in San Francisco when he was 6 years old. Actually during the years he has collected many precious objects much worth on the market! (Metal Hammer it)

- Dave Mustaine finally after 27 years is in peace with Metallica. In the early 80's he was kicked out from Metallica and he started Megadeth. During the Big Four concert in Bulgary he finally played together with Metallica again. Afb

Kirk Hammet

Evergrey

- The 22nd of May Evergrey was robbed during the visit at Blackout (Rome) . Someone stole music instruments and marchandise materials worth around 30 thousand euro! Through their official site they announced: " This is of course devastating for us, maybe more than you can ever imagine. To make an Evergrey show we need certain specific things and our crew, this is not too hard to understand." You can read the police report at Everygrey.net

Manowar

- Joey DeMaio is facing a multi-million dollar lawsuit from an agent who alleges she was menaced by the bassist's bodyguard during a business meeting. Yasha Young, who represents snapper Annie Bertram, claims she travelled to Hanover, Germany in January 2010 to meet executives at Magic Circle Films - a music management company run by the rocker - to discuss a recent photoshoot. But she alleges the business deal turned ugly when she was taken to a "seedy, out-of-the-way hotel" by DeMaio's "bodyguard" and told she needed to hand over $25,000 after pictures of the band were allegedly posted on the website of a make-up artist, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Read more at ContactMusic.Com

Nightwish

- Anette Olzon, singer, is taking a step forward with her side project with the drummer Martijn Spierenburg (Within Temptation) and the keyboarder Fredrik Bergh (Bloodbound). She has recorded a song and the band is talking with many record labels. She is pregnant though with her second child so as soon she knew she cancelled the release plans about her solo album.

Anette Olzon

/Viktoria Colonna

Johnny Depp : New Record Label

2010-07-05T14:37:00.010+02:00

He has always been a musician at heart. Whan he was young he played as a guitarist in "The Kids", a band which appeared in the 80's with both Iggy Pop and The Talking Heads. Johnny collaborated with Oases with the track "Fade in-Out" in 1997. He was also in the video clip of Tom Petty's song “Into the Great Wide Open". As in Chocolat, Cry Baby, Sweeney Todd, Alice in Wonderland etc. his musical skills are shown very well.
From an english source it really seems that Johnny wants to start a own record label and he's looking around for new "great" bands.

Star Holly Mtv

/Viktoria Colonna

Nas and Damian Marley to Gröna Lund

2010-07-03T15:47:00.010+02:00

They should have played at Hultsfred Festival, the hip hop artist Nas and the reggae musician Damian Marley , but because of the Festival closing they will play at Gröna Lund (Stockholm) the 7th of July instead.

It was 2005 when they first collaborated with the soft groovie single "Road to Zion". They are current with the new album Distant Relatives, a fusion of musical elements of hip hop and reggae.

SvD Exp Metro Afb

/Viktoria Colonna

The Mariana Hollow

2010-07-02T15:22:00.008+02:00

A really cool metal band from London. This is what I think. The Mariana Hollow is the kind of band that flows with different influences in a sound of alternative, experimental, melodic, energic rock. The melodies are simple letting the voice taking the role of the complex. Rebecca Spinks is talanted, she changes from a law tough voice to a lyrical kindness. She is dynamic in the choice of tunes dealing a duet between dramatic scales and melancholical singing.
The 12th of July is the date for the release of their debut album "Coma Heart" greatly mixed by Chris Sheldon (Foo Fighters, Garbage, Skunk Anansie, Biffy Clyro, Oceansize, Anthrax).

Pre-Order the CD Coma Heart at PLAY.COM

Scott Chesworth - Bass
Richie Walden - Rhythm Guitar & Backing Vocals
Rebecca Spinks - Lead Vocals
Adam Stanley - Drums & Backing Vocals
Danny Russell - Lead Guitar

Listen to The Mariana Hollow HERE!

/Viktoria Colonna

Rockweeked offers free entry

2010-07-01T10:49:00.008+02:00

After Hultsfred Festival closed the doors, Rockweekend festival was kind enough to offer many free entries to those who should have gone to Hultsfred. Let's see if there are people that find the pleasure to change festival style or to travel from south to middle -north of Sweden to watch some great rock! Rockweekend had the best offer, but also Sundsvall's gatufest offers 300 swedish kr. discount and Arvikas Festival 700 kr discount! It's cool that other festivals give a chance to the unfortunated ones now without a ticket. But of course it'always better to a festival to have more visitors!

Hls Afb Hult Ny24 Svd

/Viktoria Colonna

Hultsfred Festival Ends

2010-06-30T10:50:00.004+02:00

It's the year that Hultsfred Festival should celebrate the 25th anniversary, instead it says goodbye to all.
It would have started the 7th July to 9th July, and now the decision is made to close the doors. Only 5000 tickets have been sold and that is long far away from enough. From the message it seems that bankruptcy will be the next step for this Festival.
Hultsfred Festival has been a tradition for Sweden, and many will remember it with nostalgic eyes.

Afb Hult Hbl DN

/Viktoria Colonna

June - New Releases Check

2010-06-28T12:29:00.015+02:00

ENFORCER - Diamonds ♥ ♥ ♥

These youngsters from Arvika and Stockholm (Sweden) impressed me! Such an energy! It was very nostalgic. All the 80's hair speed metal rock is there!
The question is if the young crowd today will appreciate it as much as I do!
I'm an old 80's rock music fan so it feels great that Enforcer take back the high rhythm riffs and the light screaming voice of pure heavy metal to the scene!
They are talanted, fully inspired and got an entire career to go!
Alhtough the singer could use more strength in his voice sp it would be cooler!

GRAND MAGUS - Hammer of the North ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I really like the chorus' of Grand Magus, big and airy, Janne Christoffersson has all the space to sing the tunes out and take them long! And in Hammer of the North he does it perfeclty! In the song "Northern Star" the singin is amazing certainly with the upscale of his voice. Smoothly but tough! It's cool how they combine 70's rock influences with more doom alike band as Candlemass. The guitar sound in this album is so much better and cleaner than before, even the blues scales made an entry on some riffs.
My favorite song in this album is the last one " Ravens Guide Our Way". I'm a fan of the soft "headbang" riff that we can likewise find in Dio's "Holy Diver". It always works!

WATAIN - Lawless Darkness ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Ah such an epic greatness of darkness in this album! The room fills of feelings from all over closing up in a silent black hole full of fear. Although for example "Hymn to Qayin" is more like a lullaby that I could easily fall asleep to, the riffs are so hypnotizing.
The tracks are fast and complex, they follow eachother in symbiosis but Watain keeps the link through the songs but the sound of each one is still its own.
Surprising how a song can change rhythm and speed so naturally, even the contrast between the melodic guitar and the hard growl is beautiful but still dramatic.
"Reaping Death" is one of my favorite, melodramic and strong track, sensitive but furious as well, I saw Watain at Sweden Rock Festival this year and this song live was a show itself. "Higher, higher come all ye sons of fire", calling the crowd to sing a long and everyone was in ecstasy.

/Viktoria Colonna

Midnight Caine at Uppsala

2010-06-27T18:09:00.009+02:00

It was a very calm night through Uppsala's streets. It was Midsummer's Day and almost the entire city was out of town somewhere to celebrate this day in a cozy country house among friends. Many stayed at home still too tired after Midsummer's Eve.
The date wasn't the best for Midnight Caine to come to Uppsala and perform but it's always impossible to know how a night would be. Pub William's had many empty tables but the atmosphere was cozy and a little melancholic knowing that the city was so quite outside.
Midnight Caine is a swedish metal band and it's very new! They started 2007 and 2009 they released their first debut album " Dead and Reborn", a 6 track ep. Now they are working with a new album called "Forevermore". The music is a combination of gothic, epic and heavy metal with a fragrance of doom. The lyrics are very dramatic and narrative. Listen to them was just like a journey through time.

It was a great show, the played tight, sicure and determinated, At the beginning the sound of the music instruments was too low, but fortunally after the first song it was quite fixed. The singer Fredrik Andrén was magnificent, he sang smoothly, with self control and the growl was deep and tough as it had to be! He sang the songs with such a feeling and it seemed that he put to every word a own meaning. The drums didn't lose the rhythm and the others followed it easy.
Even if the listneres were very few the band gave what they could and should.
I could imagine myself being in the medievel age and through their music listening to stories of old times.

Mikael Nordström - Drums
Joakim Galle - Bass
Fredrik Andrén - Vocals
Henrik Brifors - Keyboards
Mattias Balk - Guitar

Midnight Caine has entered their career with a great start and they already have some upcoming shows through Europe this summer!
A very big good luck with their new album!

Listen to Midnight Caine HERE !

/Viktoria Colonna

Lost Soul

2010-06-25T11:25:00.007+02:00

This death metal band from Poland is really worth checking it out!
I discovered Lost Soul at Myspace, and I enjoyed liesten to those guys! They are energic, determinated and sound nicely cruel!
Inspired of Morbid Angel they have done a long journey in the music business since 1991.
Their last album "Immerse In Infinity" (2009) was nominated album of the month in the polish edition of the magazine Metal Hammer:

"The cruel force of Vital Remains, precision of "Evangelion", grim parts of Immolation, and jazz deviations of Death with a little bit of Morbid Angel's darkness are all here, on "Immerse In Infinity". Simply fantastic!"

Dominik "Domin" Prykiel - guitar
Krzysztof Szalkowski - drums
Jacek Grecki - guitar, vocals
Damian Czajkowski - bass guitar

Listen to Lost Soul HERE!

/Viktoria Colonna

Roxette - Come back

2010-02-04T16:00:00.012+01:00

Now it's time for Roxette to do a come back in Sweden!
They will play at "The Race Legends på Anderstorp Raceway" a motor racing competition in Småland. (13-15th of August).
Why at a racing-stadium? That makes many people wonder about the choice of the place and the reason for it, but yet, there are no answers for that.
Anyhow it will be wonderful to finally have the chance to listen to them again.
They haven't played in Sweden since 2001 so both old and new fans are very greatful for their come back!

Marie Fredriksson, Per Gessle (Roxette)

What do we remember?
From their party hits like "Dressed for Sucess", "Sleeping in My Car" and "The look" to their romantic ballads like "Listen to Your Heart", Fading Like a Flower" and of course "It Must Have Been Love" from the wellknown movie Pretty Woman.
They sell around 80 million albums and their music has always been awake and remembered.

Afb, Bilsport, E24, SvD

/Viktoria Colonna

2010

2010-02-01T01:45:00.013+01:00

Bali. took all my concentration last fall. I couldn't stay in mind as well that I became closer to music itself. Bali is a center of musicians, dancers and artists. In every corner you can feel , hear and almost touch culture. I was there for a long time and I was filled with all kind of musical sensations. R'n'B, Rock, Metal, Folk, Reggae, Jazz, Pop, Classic...etc, all together in a small piece of paradise.
Incredible what this island did to me and I will surely go back many times soon.
But the most important thing is that Bali brought the music back to me. I sang many times when I was there, in pubs, with friends...I met a lot of great musicians and music lovers that gave me a greatful inspiration!

I find myself everyday playing passionately on my piano, singing songs that I forgot long time ago...and seeking, exploring new ways of composing that I was hiding way back in my head.
My hands play the difficult notes smoothly and my voice is lighter and brighter.

And even if this is a quite sad and nostalgic melody, I must start the year 2010 with my beloved Beethoven. Here is the second movement of his sublime Sonata "Pathetique" performed by Freddy Kempf . Enjoy!

I'm so happy! I started the year of 2010 with having back the soul of music.

/Viktoria Colonna

A-ha - Foot of the Mountain

2009-07-23T14:09:00.007+02:00

Next week will the norwegian band A-ha release their 9th album "Foot of the Mountain" and the single with the same name is very good! So I'm very excited to buy the album!

Foot of the Mountain will go back to the 80's synth and electro-pop sound! A-ha should be A-ha as long they can! His voice is still smooth and clear as back then, it's still a pleasure to listen to!

I remember my A-ha audio tapes that I listened constantly to during a special period:

Hunting High And Low (1985) with the hit Take On Me and Scoundrel Days (1986).

I wonder where they are! I really should rebuy them on CDs!

Video - Foot of the Mountain

A-ha is to headline the iTunes Live festival on 24 July 2009. The lineup for the festival also includes Simple Minds, Oasis, Snow Patrol, Franz Ferdinand, Kasabian and The Saturdays.

Afb

/Viktoria Colonna

Takida - New Video - As You Die

2009-07-23T11:25:00.005+02:00

Takida's new single "As You Die" is now digitally available for download. It's the first single from their new album "The Darker Instinct" which will be released on September the 2nd.

Download "As You Die" HERE!

Watch a preview of the new video "As You Die" HERE !

The video is in a James Dean theme and it is shot in Germany.

/Viktoria Colonna

Jace Everett - An Interview

2009-07-22T16:29:00.007+02:00

His voice is deep, cool, rough but still tender. His music is a flavour of blues, rockabilly, country and rock. Jace Everett, well known country artist, has just released his new record Red Revelations this June. He is even recognized because of his song "Bad Things" written back in 2005, which is used as the True Blood vampire drama's theme song! Actually some tracks of Red Revolution is inspired by the first season of True Blood! That's just awsome!

Just the other day I had the opportunity to interview Jace!

How is this summer going?

It's actually been a great summer so far. Released the new record June 23rd and we've had a lot of great reviews and sales happen since.

Are you satisfied about your new album Red Revelations?

I think this is, by far and a way, the best work I have done yet. The songs and the production are really right where my head and heart are at right now. I couldn't be happier.

It is indeed inspired of True Blood. Do you like the show as well? Do you watch it?

I do watch the show. I actually just got HBO, but I've been able to keep up with it thanks to friends and family beforehand. I think the show is a great mixture of sexy, cool, funny, and dark. Since that's the kind of music I make I really dig it.

When you wrote the song Bad Things back in 2005, would you imagine back then that it could be a vampire theme?

I was a big Anne Rice fan back in the day (who didn't want to be Lestat!?), but no, I hadn't thought of it. I did always think it had great potential for film or TV. I glad Alan Ball agreed!

What music do you like to listen to?

I listen to it all; country (old stuff), rock, classical, ambient, even jazz. I love anything that's got heart and soul with a little brains and balls attached!

What do you do in your free time beside music?

I'm a book nerd. I love to read. I spend a lot of time with my dog out in the parks. I love to travel and see new places and cultures.

Have you been to Sweden?

I have never been to Sweden. When I lived in the south of France I had a lot of Swede friends and always found them to be, across the board, very clever and very cool people. I would love the chance to see Sweden.

We really want Jace Everett to Sweden too! Soon!

Listen to Jace Everett HERE !

/Viktoria Colonna

The Sounds

2009-07-22T11:13:00.008+02:00

The Sounds are a Swedish New Wave band founded in 1999 in Helsingborg. Their musical style mixes punk and pop/Synth-pop influences. Most songs make integrated use of synthesizers. The group is often compared to Blondie, The Cars, the Epoxies and Missing Persons.
Their debut album Living in America was released in 2002, with the follow up Dying to Say This to You on March 21, 2006. Their third album Crossing the Rubicon was released on June 2, 2009. (Wiki)

Maja Ivarsson - Vocals

Felix Rodriguez - Guitars
Johan Bengtsson - Bass
Jesper Anderberg - Synthesizers/Piano
Fredrik Nilsson - Drums

Now The Sounds are on a Usa/Canada tour with No Doubt during the summer so it will be a very big step forward to their career.

Like most people in Sweden they also think that it's really sad that Hultsfred Festival has such big crisis. For them the festival is very important. They had one of the best shows there this summer and it is at Hultsfred Festival that the band met Jesper Anderberg. (Aftonbladet)

Of course they all hope for a better future for Hultsfred.

Afb

/Viktoria Colonna

New Pearl Jam song ! - Listen it Here !

2009-07-21T13:42:00.008+02:00

Pearl Jam will release the new album Backspacer in September (Around the 20th) and you can listen to the new single The Fixer right HERE!

A great tour will follow so check out the dates!

The Fixer - Backspacer

This full-of-energy song really shines the day! It is a mixture of typical east coast smooth rock with New Jersey 's Springteen sound! Their early grunge almost totally disappears!

/Viktoria Colonna

Hultsfred Festival might be over

2009-07-21T09:56:00.014+02:00

Now it is official. It might be over for Hultsfred Festival.

This is a very tragical and sad event for Sweden. This festival has been an historical music event and very important. But from 2007 a wind of crisis came in. Now they have in mind to fire all the 20 employees and after 24 years they will close the big music door.

According to Aftonbladet this morning, Hultsfred Festival has lost 7 milion of swedish crowns.

Maybe that is a chance that next summer they will have the festival for the last time but in a minor scale. After that we'll see how they will handle it.

We will simply wish on the other hand that there is a chance anyway to make this great festival survive!

Afb , Exp

/Viktoria Colonna

Ashes You Leave

2009-07-20T17:13:00.007+02:00

Her voice is kind and telling, the doom metal confronts a really dramatic gothic melody as well. The sad violin makes the music more outstanding and supernatural when it plays along the tough heavy guitar riffs. In the song "Every you and Every" me I really like when the female voice sings at the same time as the rough melodic growl from behind. Ashes You Leave is a band from Croatia and they are still a fresh band so they have still much to develop and they are really talented. In their own complete new album Songs of The Lost they really have emerged and the band has found a very good balance through the sound of the vocals and the instruments.

Listen to Ashes You Leave HERE

/Viktoria Colonna

Archive - Richard Sanderson & La boum

2009-07-20T11:43:00.013+02:00

This morning I was reading my very old diary from 1992-93 and I got some great memories of those years. Between Guns 'n' Roses' photos, Pop idols, and I ♥ dedications that took over all the pages, I found photos of La boum (The party), a very cute french movie from 1980. It is about Vic (Sophie Marceau) and how it is to be 13, in love, and living an up & down life. It was a movie you just had to see. The movie's hit song was "Reality" of Richard Sanderson.

Through all rock'n'roll Vic gets to listen to

"Reality".

"Reality" was at the 1st place on the hitlist in 15 different countries and it sold more than 8 million copies worldwide! Anyhow Richard Sanderson was very unknown and if it wasn't for his contribution to the La boum's soundtrack he would have stayed that way.

/Viktoria Colonna

Metallica - Sonisphere - Reviews

2009-07-19T16:38:00.017+02:00

Now that the show at Sonisphere festival in Sweden is over, and unfortunally I couldn't be there or at the other cities where the one day festival took place, for the fans and interested people out there here's some Metallica reviews:

Magazine: Expressen

Reporter: Martin Carlsson

Degree: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

"Det har knorrats en del över valet av spelplats. Metallica hade spikat Ullevi, men det är faktiskt skönt att en sådan gigant faktiskt kan lira ute på vischan."

Read it HERE (In Swedish)

Magazine: Online - Metalrage.com

Reporter: Buzzin Hornet

Degree: ♥ ♥ ♥

"Then it was time for 'Tallica! The stage got rearranged, because you just can't let 'Tallica play on the exact same stage as any of the other bands. 9 pm sharp, 'Blackened' kicked everyone's ass that had been playing their songs that day!"

Read it HERE (In English)

Magazine: Aftonbladet

Reporter: Marcus Grahn

Degree: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

"Man lämnar det med en känsla av att James Hetfields öppningsfråga är retorisk. Att det känns fantastiskt att leva om man vill att det ska göra det. På något plan har detta varit Metallicas tema sedan tiden kring ”St. Anger”, och man kan inte protestera mot den livssynen när ”Nothing else matters” förs metodiskt in i en odödlig ”Enter sandman”.

Read it HERE (In Swedish)

/Viktoria Colonna

Moonspell - An interview

2009-07-19T13:48:00.009+02:00

What is Moonspell?

"Even I have problems with the answer to this question. Id say we are representing a mixture of horror and beauty, heaviness and melody. The Antidote starts off very brutal and ends very melodic. This way we close the circle. This is moonspell".

-Fernando Ribeiro

Fernando Ribeiro - Vocals
Mike Gaspar - Drums
Pedro Paixão - Keyboard/guitar
Ricardo Amorim - Guitar
Aires Pereira - Bass

Sitting with a cup of coffee I'm listening of Moonspell's last album Night Eternal. A very 5/5 points CD!
It is really as they are casting a spell in my apartment! Maybe I should make more coffee for fallen angels!?
Anyhow I really hope they will come to Sweden again soon!

Moonspell is warming up with some festival shows before they will start a big tour in the states.

I had the chance to ask some questions to Mike Gaspar:

When was the last time you guys played in Sweden?

It was the Arvika Festival last year. It was a strange festival with many diferent types of music! But we had played there before and we get along great with these kinds of alternative festivals. Summer in Sweden is always great to see!!! he he

How will the upcoming USA tour be?

It starts in October and we are taking with us our great friends and inspiration for years ! The mighty Samael!

Last time we toured with them was 96 in Europe and this will be 13 years since but in the states! The stars are allinged on this one!! I think it will be a great and one of a kind tour.

Which is the ideal setlist?

Well for us it is always difficult to play 30 min 40 even 50 min sets with all the albums we have and history.

So perfect is of course when we can headline and go through our new album and all the best songs the fans want to hear, making the show one big celebration that is just between us and the people who are in front of us. Like a ritual that starts and ends with a bang and some kind of memory to take home and remember forever!! That's the Moonspell's way!

Are Moonspell planning some new material?

At the moment we are doing many shows and maybe doing an acoustic album for Portugal . Still not clear but the idea is in the air. For sure we will have some new material for the next year and release it . We did a great album, Night Eternal, so we feel we really have to push ourselves to live up to it.

Which songs on Night Eternal do you like the most?

Well the title track is awsome because of the combination of sweet and angelic voices giving you a soothing reaction to then go for the extreme of pure agression with such a great balance! Pure goth on Death Metal ! he he

Is Metal very popular in Portugal?

It has always been a subculture but a bit hidden and badly viewed by society . Things changed a lot with the 90's and it is a lot more acceptable but still lacks the history of many other countries. But compared to places like India, China, Marrocos etc. We are very fortunate and we understand a bit what it is like to love metal and not having any shows or access to the music. Internet changed this a lot and metal is now a lot more universal and the portuguese have developed also side by side.

As a drummer which are the drummer/s you admire and inspire you the most?

When i was 8 guys like Alex Van Halen and Tommy Lee changed my world! They were just perfect and had so much energy. Something that inspired my own playing.

As i got older drummers like Pete Sandoval, Gene Hoglan, Donald Tardy and many other great Death Metal drummers is what really excited me and all I ever wanted was to be as good as them behind a kit with a great band!

These days so many diferent drummers have inspired me and I always look out for the good qualities in them and try to enjoy it and maybe even learn from it!

Do you have any other projects outside Moonspell?

Well Fernando has many projects but I am very much a one band kinda person and I want to be ready and always do my best possible performance. This takes a lot out of me 'cause drums are very intense and I have been in bands since I was 14 and now I'm 33! he he

So I try to stay in shape and I have developed a love for Taekwondo and Bodybuilding. Even to the point were I am now a 3rd Dan and Instructor and give classes and train regularly when we are off tour! I also was a gym teacher but i found that it took to much out of me ! So I train for myself and help friends when ever needed! I also learned a lot of Physiotherapy and this comes in great hands when we're on tour and someone has a big problem!! Doctor Mike comes in!!! ha ha

And check out Moonspell's unbelieveble great website! HERE !

/Viktoria Colonna

Metallica - Keep On Rocking!

2009-07-18T14:28:00.006+02:00

Tonight at 11: 35 pm will Metallica make a show at one-day Sonisphere festival in Hultsfred (Sweden). Many people are at the place (Not me unfortunately) and it will be very interesting to read the different reviews of the show tomorrow. Sometimes a concert can be liked very much or very critized. It is sad that I can't be there and watch the gig with my own eyes and to get an own opinion.
In an interview with Metallica's drummer Lars Ulrich in Aftonbladet, Lars says that Metallica will play until they can't no more stay on their own feet! Isn't it great?
Not just because Metallica is now a legendary band that wrote many hits but I love their love and dedication to music.
Many people think that musicians after 20 or more years of music should just retire. Most think of that because the music changes and the old fans don't like it and also because "the band" becomes old and doesn't sound like the past years.
Of course they can't always sound the same! A person change with the age!
Of course they don't always want to make the same music, time and style change with the years!
Many should admire a band that doesn't quit just for the age. Many should be inspired of the devotion to a job.
Then there are bands that after many years really sound awfull but many of them just have the courage to change style even if a lot of criticism come along.
No one should give up a passion. And I think Metallica as many other great veteran bands should really play on the stage even if they just sit down!

Metallica

Afb

/Viktoria Colonna

Michael Jackson unreleased song!

2009-07-17T17:46:00.008+02:00

An unreleased song has been found of Michael Jackson.
The song title is "A Place With No Name" from 1971 (Americas band).
There must be hundreds of unreleased songs of Michael Jackson and I really think this is not a simple found. I can imagine that making money has more to do with it than the song appearance just for the fans' sake. But it happend almost after every common death, something comes up from the locket anyhow.
Anyway it's always interesting to listen to unreleased songs, they are more down to earth and the real artist's aura is more in them!

I remember when I was 5 years old and I watched an old VHS with Michael Jackson. I danced for hours to his songs and made up moves that was similar to his. He was some kind of an idol back then and will remeber him as the King of Pop that he really was.

R.I.P

DN, Afb

/Viktoria Colonna

Whitney Houston makes a comeback

2009-07-17T11:29:00.006+02:00

In the new album (that will be released the 1st of September) both Alicia Keys and Akon are guests and it is a mix of R'n'B, pop and of course powerballads!
I was really glad and of course surprised when I read about her comeback in the news.
I admired her for a long time and she gave me much inspiration as a singer and from her song techniques.
Her heavy drug problem made it all fall down for her music business and her voice became only a ghost in the void and almost only her 80's and 90's hits were still big alive in the radio stations and compilations.
I really look forward to listening to her new songs! And we sure all hope that the music will make, such a great diva like her, in a better way of life!

Afb, Exp, DN, SvD

/Viktoria Colonna

Seventh Wonder (Rockweekend)

2009-07-16T18:49:00.007+02:00

This will be my last post about Rockweekend.
A week has past since the festival started and I already miss it! (Well, not the mud and the rain) but there were so many great bands that I quite don't remember the bad weather at all!
I named the post "Seventh Wonder" because it his their day today and alone of beeing the last Rockweekend band I will review and add the 5 questions asked to the singer Tommy Karevik.

SEVENTH WONDER (Thur. 16:00 RK-tent) ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Very nice progressive metalband from Stockholm, Sweden. They played very technical and tight! The band had similar clothes and they matched each other great! I adore the fact that they do their own thing. Metal is not always wearing black. White shirt and white shoes matched their melodic technical metal very well!
Tommy Karevik, was in a really good shape and he sang with great self esteem and charisma, Andreas Blomqvist, bass, owned the stage indeed and he really rocked the Rockklassiker's tent off! It was sad that they had so short time to play.

How was Rockweekend festival?
I think that the festival managed to put together a nice line up considering this beeing their second year and all! However the festival really suffered from bad weather and on top of that, really really bad allround organisation! Nothing really worked here!
SW arrived at the festival about 3 hours before the gig (this is usually more than enough...) 15 min before the gig we were still standing outside the festival area all wet in the mud, carrying our gear with no one to tell us what to do or where to go! Due to this fact we where a little late on stage and there for had to cut one song from our 30 minute set (initially we were promised a 40 minute set on which we made the decision to play at RW... but I guess someone decided 30 min sounded better!)
Seeing some familiar faces in the crowd made it all worth it though!

What did you think about the sound in Rockklassiker's tent?
I think the sound on stage was ok overall... as a singer it is so important to hear yourself in the monitors which i also did most of the time! Regarding the outgoing sound I have no clue... I guess you have to tell me=)

Did you feel in shape?
My voice was feeling very good before the show and we were all psyched to play as always, so with the proper warm up, time to relax, a tempered loge with a mirror we would have been all set to kick ass...
Now we had to kick ass anyway=)...

How did the show go?
The gig went great, I mean it is always fun to play and the supporting audience really made us feel like it was all worth it! A huge thanx to everyone who attended! We are just sorry on behalf of our fans that we did not get to finish our set! We promise to make up for that next time!

Did you watch some other bands too?
No I didn't and I am sorry to say that! We had planned to stay and watch some of the great bands and have a good time, but the weather just didn`t allow that this time!

I really want to thanks Rockweekend for the great band line-up this year and say hi to all the great people I met!
Rock on!

/Viktoria Colonna

Rockweekend Part 3

2009-07-15T19:50:00.010+02:00

Friday, the sun came entirely out and most part of the mud dried out so even if my boots still had problems of dealing with the ground, the mud wasn't so mean anymore!
I must admite that in this day my band's schedule changed. I was on my way to see Scar Symmetry but it wasn't a good concert at all: It has a really bad sound, the singer wasn't in a good shape at all, and together they played as they were in a bucket full of sand..Maybe I'm too hard on chosing my words but it felt that way. Nightingale was very good the little I listened to. I met many people that I didn't speak with since a while and my social skills took over the listening. What can I say? Nightingale was great as a background music! In the wait for Dimmu Borgir , that was the most wanted event for me of the festival, I really enjoyed U.D.O and Queensryche! I danced almost as long as they played and they were amazing!

MACHINERY (Thur. 14:00 RK-tent) ♥ ♥ ♥

Machinery was a great start for my schedule, I like their mix of Death, Black, Thrash and Heavy metal. Michel Isberg has a really pure melodic voice with a pinch of aggressive energy in it.
He gave it all to the crowd, even if I think he should have been more relaxed. I sensed a touch of James Labrie in Michel's smooth way of singing when he didn't growl. For beeing only 30 min show and the sound was quite turbid in the Rockklassiker's tent they made it all sound as it should.

Like I wrote in my post yesterday I will ask 5 questions to the singer in Dreamland, Machinery and Seventh Wonder. You can read the Q/A with Jake E of Dreamland in the yesterday's post and with Tommy Karevik of Seventh Wonder tomorrow.
Today is Michel Isberg's day!

How was Rockweekend festival?
I really liked Rockweekend very much. It had the greatest band line-up of all the festivals this year. I liked the festival area more last year and it's annoying that you couldn't take the beer with you in the biggest area...otherwise it was fantastic!

What did you think about the sound in Rockklassiker's tent?
The sound was ok, but not the best though, even it we have had it worse before. The crew, that fixed the scene and the technics, felt professional so we didn't need to worry about a thing.

Did you feel in shape?
It was a little hard to sing so early in the day, The more time you have during the day to focus the best it is. The first song felt a little entangled in the throut, but after that everything felt great!

How did the show go?
After the nervousity in the first song I felt that it went good! The guys played great and I sang better and better as the time went by. The atmosphere was great such it was the little extra that loaded up everything more.

Did you watch some other bands too?
I saw most of the bands! hehe, The high lines was Testament, Wasp, Pure Mania , U.D.O, Queensryche and Memory Garden!

Tobias Sammet (Edguy)

I thought that the high line was Dimmu Borgir!
I waited 2 hours in the middle of the front row just to see them. And you know, readers, what is it most chocking? I've never seen them live before! So better late than never.
Edguy made a terrfic show just while I stood waiting for Dimmu Borgir. The scenes were so near each other that I could watch the show from a distance. Such a great charisma Tobias Sammet has!
There were long minutes until the music started and finally Shagrath came from the darkness in front of us like a ghost...

DIMMU BORGIR (23:35 OA stage) ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Shagrath (Dimmu Borgir)

Fire, sparkling rain and explosions. It was amazing! I was captured by his growls and the music's empathy. It was rough, cool and dark. The band made a wonderful show and played really great and perfectly synchronized. I adored the costumes, the sharp spikes and the make-up. They know what to wear and how to wear it. They had a great contact with the crowd and even if the music is very serious and full of mystery the atmosphere was very relaxed even if my adrenaline was up to my ears! Even a man falling from behind on my head was not so much to worry about, Dimmu Borgir made the music sound like a curse that made you feel good.

/Viktoria Colonna

Rockweekend Part 2

2009-07-14T18:33:00.010+02:00

RockKlassiker's tent at Rockweekend is a drink tent indeed with a scene where young and smaller bands with often great talent plays.
The tent was a good place to hang out when it was raining the most, although after one day it smelled like a stable and we were the animals full of mud...
No, it was not soo bad! It was cozy and there were many tables, two bars and the scene was big enough.
Like I wrote in my last post I started the festival with Machinery, Seventh Wonder and Dreamland at Rockklassiker's tent.
That's why I'm going to review their concerts and ask each of the bands' singer 5 equal questions just to make a perspective of their opinions about the festival, the tent and their gig.
I will let them have one day each in this blog starting with Dreamland.

DREAMLAND (17:00 RK-tent) ♥ ♥ ♥

Jake E

Dreamland is from Göteborg, the Swedish city known for the origin of many rockbands!
They play melodic power metal and their new album will come out in August.
The played the great songs "Eye For An Eye" and "Revolution in Paradise" and the crowd sang along! Friends and supporters of Dreamland had taken place in the front row singing, screaming and cheering!
That was the first time I watched Dreamland live. I discovered them on Myspace actually! It was a good 30 min concert with great playing, well sound and character. I just hoped that the band could have the same emotions and enthusiasm that the crowd had! They should seem to be more related to each other as musicians.
Jake E, the singer, had some problems with hearing himself at the beginning but I absolutely didn't notice it because his voice was brilliant!

How was Rockweekend festival?
Well over all we had a great time!
Unfortunately the weather was as bad as it could get on the first day, BUT, It couldn't have been better for us as we played at the tent stage which resulted in that all metal heads had to come and watch our show and squeeze in together with our hardcore fans, instead of standing in the storm watching the other bands which played at the open air stages!

What did you think about the sound in Rockklassiker's tent?
Due to the storm on our way over there and the tight schedule. we had no time at all to let the house engineers know what we wanted to have in our monitors! Over all it worked out fine but I couldn't hear a shit of what I was doing in the first two songs, but it got better at the end! Regarding the sound that the audience heard I can't say nothing about but I hope it was awesome!

Did you feel in shape?
Well we all were a bit stressed when we landed at Kilafors, as we had 30 minutes to load our gears, change clothes, and go on stage. But all the guys in the band did an Awesome performance and I must say that after the first song it was on 110%! :-)

How did the show go?
We're all very satisfied with it! Too bad that we only had 30 minutes on stage but in the end we had a great show and the response from the audience was fantastic! I'm pretty sure we gained a lot of new fans there !

Did you watch some other bands too?
Not that many, I went to say hi to my friends in Dia Psalma and Dead By April and watched a couple of songs from stage. But to be honest I spent most of the time drinking beers in the tour bus!

Well I couldn't do so many things either that first day because of the weather... Actually in the evening I drove all my way home and reloaded my energy for the upcoming day!

And what a day!!

Fredde, Apostasy

It started with the really good black metal band Apostasy from Umeå Sweden which gave a terrific show in the Rockklassiker's tent. They played amazing together and the singer's growl was deep and right in sound. They had such a contact with the crowd and you could almost feel as you were on stage too!
I waited for Aeon from Östersund, Sweden, in the tent, they had the show right after Apostasy. I was sitting at one table near the stage and it felt like a massage chair! It was vibrating non-stop from the high rythm and the death/black metal hyper fast drum playing. They were nice to listen live to. Great show!
It was a buffet-day of different kinds of music, from doom metal's Isole, glam rock'n'roll's Gemini Five to the heavy groovy and melodic Corroded. I just almost fell asleep when Paradise Lost showed up..I really like their music, I've got several albums at home but live..It was going too slow and boring for a festival..It was just on time that Mustasch came along!

MUSTASCH (19:00 Open Air Stage) ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Mustasch

Ralf is loved by Sweden. He has become almost a national icon of rock music!
The crowd was very excited and big! It was impossible to find a good place to stay near the stage.
It was the first time I saw them play without 2 of the ordinary members that left a while ago (Hannes Hansson, guitar and Mats Hansson, drums).
He said he was upset of their leaving the band but the new guys were very appriciated and very great!
I really enjoy Mustasch. They have a good old school heavy sound with cliché songs wearing blues. It makes me remember the 90's Metallica. Ralf's voice is just too cool.
Wonderful show and the sun was looking through the clouds as well!

The night finished with Chickenfoot! What can I say about that?
-Legendary
-Show of great virtuoso musicians
-Good blues/rock music
-Chad Smith was the one
-Joe Santriani left me without words.
They really love to be there and they showed it!

Helahalsingland,

/Viktoria Colonna

Rockweekend Part 1

2009-07-13T13:59:00.011+02:00

There is something magical about Music Festivals. When good music meet great people in so many different circumstances it is exciting and full of surprises. You never know if you will meet someone that you haven't met since forever or if you will get to know new wonderful people! At festivals you have the chance to discover new great bands and watch musicians that you have listen to since you were a little kid.
Like last year I was thrilled to be in Kilafors (Sweden) at Rockweekend last week.

It was very different though. Last year it was the first time that Rockweekend was on and this year I think it developed a little too fast.
Last time Rockweekend was a small festival with only few bands and it took place near a mansion and the lake. It was cozy and nice. It had a tender atmosphere that made you feel at home.
This year Rockweekend took a much bigger step than it could handle. The festival moved in a whole different area, away from houses and the lake and it was very clumsy to move from a festival's location to another. The ugly rainy weather didnt' make things go easier. It was mud all over and my feet just disappeared under the ground when I walked! It is sad that you can't make arrangements with nature. Rain should have visited Kilafors a week later.

Thursday in the rain

PLUS

-Great sound and loud enough
-The camping area was near the festival area
-Toilets were more clean than at many other festivals
-Good price on alcoholic beverage.
-Very polite people that worked at the festival
-The bands played at perfect schedule time.
-Many great bands at the same time
-Good food at normal price

MINUS

-Few toilets in the camping area
-Bad entries from the camping area to the festial area.
-It was like a labiryinth in the festival area, there should have been more open spaces.
-The two scenes outside had the same name. A bit difficult to know which bands play at which scene.
-The parking place was too expensive.
-The litte festival guide book was not free
-The VIP area was nothing "unique" compared to the normal festival area.

It is almost 50/50 of good and bad opinions but I think a good sunny weather and better organisation would have made things easier. It was raining only one day of three but the mud was there most of the time! There was so many great bands that I didn't mind so much to be frustrated about small things.
The quality of the bands was gorgeous and fantastic!

I started the festival with Machinery, Seventh Wonder and Dreamland, three young swedish bands that beyond all the grey weather in the RockKlassiker's tent made the best of it. (I will come back this week with concert reviews and some small chats).

Me waiting for the bands

WOLF (17:40 Open Air Stage) ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Photo of Viktor Wallström

I really adore these guys!
They are relaxed but at the same time uploaded and they play true classic heavy metal!
The singer and guitarist Niklas Stålvind gives the best of his symphaty and he has a great, light and pure energic voice that cut the heavy rain right through it.
They played songs for early albums, from "Black Flame" and the new CD "Ravenous".
The new song "Voodoo" made most of the crowd sing-a-long and even entirely when the well known hit from The Black Flame "I Will Kill Again" started!

Helahalsingland, ST

/Viktoria Colonna

Rockweekend Next !

2009-07-08T20:44:00.011+02:00

There will be three days of rock music! I will be in the middle of a great young festival,"Rockweekend" in Kilafors (Sweden), from tomorrow to saturday!
The most negative thing is the weather...It sounds that rain will accompany us most of the time..So I don't know if I will sleep in my car or I will set up my tent! I don't care! I have 20 bands to see!!
As we say in Sweden "Det finns inget dåligt väder, bara dåliga kläder!" such as: " There's no bad weather, only bad clothes!"

I just packed my bag and like before every festival I did my private "band-list-schedule!" :

9/7 - Tomorrow

14:00-14:30 Machinery
16:00-16:30 Seventh Wonder
17:00-17:30 Dreamland
17:40-18:20 Wolf
20:05-20:55 Dia Psalma
22:05-23:05 Dark Funeral

10/7 - Friday

13:00-13:30 Eclipse
14:00-14:30 Apostasy
15:00-15:30 Aeon
17:05-17:35 Corroded
18:00-18:30 Isole
18:25-18:55 Gemini Five
19:00-20:10 Mustasch
22:35-23:35 Paradise Lost
23:4o-01:10 Chickenfoot

11/7 Saturday

17:50-18:30 Scar Symmetry
18:35-19:25 Nightingale
22:15-23:30 Edguy
23:35-00:55 Dimmu Borgir
01:00-02:00 Napalm Death

Great bands ah?
I will return here next week with reviews, interviews and good stuff!

Have a good music week!

/Viktoria Colonna

Alan Jackson - To Sweden!

2009-07-01T20:07:00.007+02:00

Finally Alan Jackson will come for the first time to Sweden!
You just can't miss the chance to see one of the greatest country artist on earth!
He will make a show in Eskilstuna Sundbyholms Travbana 14th August with a 8 musicians' band!
Alan Jackson has sold more then 50 millions albums in the world, an excellent career!!
So be alert and ready to face a man with a fantastic voice, style and wonderful songs!

Alan Jackson's Website !

SvD, DN, SvenskaCountryArtister

/Viktoria Colonna

Daemonia - Dario Argento

2009-06-25T20:48:00.004+02:00

There is something special, mystical and exciting about being scared. Horror movies have sold very good and in this period they are very popular. Is it because of the still life around or just because we like to be scared and we have an undercovered longing to the dark side?
I really like horror movies. Psychological thrillers, horror scenes, vampires, demons, killers, everything that makes me scream out and jump in my couch higher than ever.
I'm looking on my Dario Argento box on my shelf. Fantastic movies that everyone who likes classical horror movies should watch.
Music is important in such movies, you don't get scared very much without it and if it is not good, the movie would be spoiled.

Daemonia is a great italian band that rearrange Dario Argento's soundtrack in a metal and gothic, progressive sound. It's great! And listening to it is not just a pleasure but it's an art itself!
Symphonies, operas, great technics and composing. They should be more known.

So check it out and get yourself cozy and a little "scared"! Daemonia

/Viktoria Colonna

Crash - HEAT - Q/A

2009-06-22T17:28:00.010+02:00

Småland is a very cozy and charming piece of the south-east of Sweden. Now I'm in Oskarshamn by the sea and the weather is amazing, 20°c. In this cute little city many small music events take place time to time. In July will HEAT, the new Upplands Väsby-band that brings the 80's glamrock back, make a show here!

Crash, the drummer of HEAT is very excited about this summer tour and I just asked him some questions!

You have been around and played a lot, how was Sweden Rock Festival?
Yes, Sweden Rock Festival was cold and rainy but even though there were many people listening to our show. I saw Talisman's final concert last year but the crowd was bigger at our gig. Almost unreal but so much fun!!

What is your best recovering tip?
I dont know! Just faceing it. I don't usually get so much worn out, maybe because I work out much and my condition is good!

Are you loaded for the festivalsummer? Many shows coming up this summer?
It's full with shows. This week-end was the only free week-end this summer!

What do you do when you don't play music? How does your day look like?
I work out pretty much. Jogging is the favorite! But I go to the gym between the rounds! I'm learning the guitar very well so I 'm sitting and writing / playing songs. Master of Puppets is the next goal! And I do some modeling too.

When did you begin to play drums? Do you play any other instuments?
I have played the drums in 10 years, guitar next!!!

Which song fits you the most?
Hah! The Heretic Anthem of Slipknot!

Which was the best show that you had?
Sweden Rock Festival 2008! It was magical!

Besides HEAT's success, what do you wish in the future?
Learn to fly a plane!

...And a "must" question:
How many pair of tights do you have?
5!

/Viktoria Colonna

Daemonicus

2009-06-20T13:25:00.007+02:00

From Umeå, in the north of Sweden, Daemonicus have finally released their first album "Host of Rotting Flesh" and it sounds as I expected: old school death metal with new influences and sounds.
The rock scene is growing even in the north of Sweden. In Umeå there is the "House of Metal" festival and more concerts are taking place in the city. Unleashed and even Meshuggah have been in Umeå for a show.
In Daemonicus' music you can really feel the typical Swedish death metal sound as Entombed and Dismember. As written in Close-up magazine # 112, Per-Olof Wester (guitar) says that Death is his favorite band and he takes lot of influence from it. Although new music is very important too for the composing, Gojira for example is a band that he admires.
Deamonicus wants its sound to be very heavy and groovy and they really accomplished this goal with " Host of Rotting Flesh".

Per-Olof Wester - Guitar
Tommi Konu - Bass
Stefan Hagström - Throat
Magnus Boström - Drums
Jörgen Persson - Guitar

Listen to Daemonicus !

/Viktoria Colonna

Tobias Sammet - An Interview

2009-06-15T16:59:00.005+02:00

We will see Tobias Sammet (Edguy) here in Sweden at Rockweekend on Saturday 11th of July!
He is the singer and songwriter in the well-known band Edguy that is one of the most famous german rockbands in the world! Edguy in the past years had the privilege to share the stage with Aerosmith, Iron Maiden, Scorpions and many other big bands.
Edguy has remarkebly sold more than 1 million albums!
Tobias Sammet is the heart of his project Avantasia that it is a spectacular ensemble of elite musicians that Tobias works with on the albums. In the last Avantasia CD: The Scarecrow (2008) he had guests like Alice Cooper, Eric Singer of Kiss on drums, Michael Kiske (Ex Helloween), Rudolf Schenker and many more!

I had the honor to interview him!

Where are you now at the moment? And what are you doing?
I am in the studio, working on Avantasia . I just came home from a trip to Italy where I was a guest for Uli Jon Roth's band, there was Kai Hansen, the former Europe guitarist Kee Marcello, Mr. Palmer of Emerson Lake and Palmer, Ritchie Kotzen and some others and we were doing a charity jam session for the victims of the fatal earthquake a few months ago. Besides that, I work on Avantasia and I work on Avantasia and have I told you that I work on Avantasia? Life is great, I feel blessed to ride a lucky streak of inspiration, composing is so much fun.

How is it to be a one-man-project as Avantasia?
I guess it's not as cool as being a formula one race driver but it surely beats being a plumber, haha. Seriously, I love it. I can do whatever I wanna do, there are no limits or boundaries. Everything is possible within the realm of a huge bombastic concept. I love that. You have a song that you think would be perfect for Alice Cooper, so what do you do? You ask Alice if he'd like to do the song and in my case he did. I've managed to work with some of Rock's and Metal's biggest stars and real idols of generations, that is a gift to me. Things like that make you realize that really anything is possible. But I have to say, that it is not really a one man project, Sascha Paeth is my partner in crime musically and without him I would have had several heart attacks at this point.

For example how do you write and arrange songs?
I sit down and wait for inspiration to sneak in, or I just steal something from Helloween and make it mine. No, really I usually sit on my keyboards or on a guitar or bass and play around and improvise and at some point I get melodies and chord combinations that promise to lead "somewhere". From there I build it up and then depending on the mood of the song fragments I have I get lyrical ideas...

Any new songs coming up?
You'd think I am crazy but I got around 20 songs written. During the last 4 years I have been very creative. I don't write songs because I need them, I do it because I feel when an idea is strong I have to capture it. Usually I hate when songwriting happens like in a factory, new song, new song, new song... Done, next one. Done, next one... But the ideas are just there, so why throw them away if they are great? I have thrown away many mediocre ideas as well, but the good ones survive and I think I have had surprisingly A LOT of good ones recently.

Which songwriter do you admire the most?
Hard to say, there's quite a lot. I like Jim Steinman, Desmond Child for his great chorus, I guess he's just written one chorus in about 58 versions, listen to the chorus of Alice Cooper's House Of Fire and Bon Jovi's Living On A Prayer. Same song writer, same chorus. Anyway, I love Tony Clarkin of Magnum, I like Paul Stanley's songs, I love Freddie Mercury. There are a lot of great writers out there. Europe had fantastic songs, that Swedish guy who wrote for Aerosmith and Bon Jovi, can't remember his name, great writer. Neil Schon and Jonathan Cain of Journey. Lyrically I love Ronnie Dio, Bon Scott and Dave Roth.

If you should choose a "theme song" that fits your life, which will it be?
Wow, I don't know. There's no such a thing as a theme song for me, it could change every day.

If you were not a musician what would you be?
I have absolutely no idea. Maybe a pilot or a football player or maybe something very useless.

Is it exciting to come to Sweden this summer?
It is always exciting to come to Sweden. Great fans, beautiful people, a lot of traditonal Hard Rock and Metal fans. Absolutely - YES! It is exciting!

/Viktoria Colonna

DJacksound - A DJ Profile

2009-06-14T20:22:00.007+02:00

He is very skilled and he knows the music that sounds best!
Jackson began learning to be a Dee Jay when he was 20 years old. He learned from the best Dee Jays at Jakarta (Indonesia). It took a while for Jackson to find his actual music character. From Hip hop to Electro-Progressive house. But to be a Professional Dee Jay, he learned almost every Genre there is, Even Classic Disco. His deep bass, massive tunes, combined with raw element and a little bit of breaks its what he called his style of mixing. This talented young Dee Jay always make sure that the crowd that see him play was going crazy and just couldn’t stop dancing.

The presentation is taken from his site! Check it out! : Jackson !

/Viktoria Colonna

DNR - Kira

2009-06-13T19:23:00.008+02:00

This fresh Italian band is very popular at the moment, they have sold out their first single already and they are ready to print their first album " Eurovisual" .
Visual-Kei is a very growing genre and it takes both the right image, cool character and quality to play it. But in DNR 's sound there 's not just Visual-kei but you can hear the Japanese Rock's influences too.

Mantis: Vocals
Sieg: Guitar
Kira: Bass
Ash: Drums
Delord: Keyboard

Ash, Delord, Mantis, Kira, Sieg

Here comes a good interview that I make with Kira.

Does DNR mean something in particular?
"Do Not Reanimate"...but also "Ducati N Roll", it depands of what people want to see!

I can see that your band has a style that's more popular in Japan than in Italy! It fits wonderful on you guys! Do you have influences from J-rock bands? (Like myself, I'm a big X-japan fan)
Thank you so much for the compliment^^!
Sure, we love Visual-kei and J-rock. Bands like X-Japan are a base of inspiration but also recent bands like The GazettE, Alice9, Ancafé, Despairs Ray,Dir en Grey, Miyavi etc...

How much time do you need to prepare your look before a concert?
We need at least 2 hours! We have the fortune to have Cristina "Crazy head" and Shiyun Lee that help us with the hair styles and the make-up.

Have you played outside Italy?
Not yet, we'll see with our tour program of 2010!

What are you doing now? Do you have new material coming up?
We are currently recording our first album "Eurovisual". Of course the music is Visual-kei and based of our influenses from oriental music.

Do you have a own music studio or you share it with some other bands?
We have two studios that we share with other bands.

Where can someone buy your music?
At the moment it is distributed by net-label Miraloop in digital:
http://www.miraloop.com/releases_08_11/dnr_visualevolution.htm

Now that the new CD is coming out , we really hope to make it more than just digital, also because our first single sold out.

Ps: We'd like to play in Sweden someday! Ds.

Kira

Listen to DNR !

And I really hope to see this talented band DNR here in Sweden too!

/Viktoria Colonna

Ellinor Skagegård & 5th Season

2009-05-12T17:56:00.006+02:00

Ikväll!!
Ni kan inte missa Ellinor Skagegård sköna sång med bandet 5th Season!
Kl 21:00 på Hjazz i Uppsala!
Melodiösa ballader och härliga poplåtar i ett behagligt och mjukt arrangemang!

Lyssna på "Ellinor Skagegård & 5th Season" !

/Viktoria Colonna

Leverage - An Interview

2009-05-11T13:27:00.010+02:00

Detta band är verkligen grymt! Kanonbra melodisk sångare och tekniska välkunniga musiker!
Musiken är en blandning av klassisk heavymetal och powermetal i ett typiskt finsksound!

Pekka Heino : Vocals
Tuomas Heikkinen: Guitar
Torsti Spoof : Guitar
Marko Niskala: Keys
Pekka Lampinen: Bass
Valtteri Revonkorpi: Drums

Jag har haft nöjet att intervjua Tuomas Heikkinen !

Till skillnad till mina tidigare inlägg väljer jag nu att presentarea denna intervju på engelska för att tillfredställa också mina internationella läsare!

For the new listners, how did everything started with Leverage? Are you old friends?
It all started like so many good things do, by accident. I have known Torsti (guitar) and Pekka (bass) for a veeery long time, but we had gone our separate ways, I had moved to Helsinki etc. I had a demo with very early versions of 'Superstition' and 'Gone' (both on 'Tides') with a very good singer named Kimmo Blom (Urban Tale etc etc) singing.
I ran into Torsti after years of not seeing each other and just happened to play the demo to him. He has a great studio up in my old hometown Jyväskylä, and he said he would like to produce a better quality promo of my music. I met Pekka (vocals) for a cover gig that a common friend had set up, I was blown away by his singing and character, we hit it off right away, and since the other singer was very busy I thought I'd ask Pekka to sing on the demo. He listened to what I had, and that was it. Pekka 'the bass player' was an obvious choice to play the bass right away, and after Pekka 'the singer' had talked Torsti into joining the project also as a guitarist, he hooked us up with Valtteri (drums) and Marko (keys) for the 'band'.

I kept writing more, and we would record every now and then. We completed a promo CD early 2005 with seven songs, from there on things started happening pretty fast, we got signed etc and started making 'Tides" in late 2005 with the rest of the songs written.

'Tides' was released in August 2006, and from there on we've been a 'real band'.

Do you have plans for a new album?
Very much so, that is actually all we're concentrating on right now, we'll start recording our third album at the end of this month (May), and the album will hopefully be released in early November. We're now with Spinefarm / Universal, which is great since they're a major player, but with that the exact release dates of different countries can not be confirmed yet. We're thrilled about the new material and really look forward to get the new stuff out for people to hear.

Do you have other bands outside of Leverage?
Besides some occasional 'projects', no. I'm in the business of music professionally writing songs to artists and working a music school, but I really don't have time for other bands than Leverage.

Finland is a land with many great metalbands. Is it hard to get through?
Both yes and no. Yes, there is a lot of competition because of the number of good bands there are, but if being Finnish is considered a generally good thing for a heavy type music band, then that obviously is a benefit.

What do you think about your neighbour Sweden?
There is a very special ancient love/hate relationship between Finland and Sweden, in many ways. Sweden is decades ahead of Finland in international music business, but maybe not so in the 'metal scene'. There are many great Swedish bands out there for sure, though.

Some tours coming up?
Yes, after the release of the new album. It is all still in the open, but hopefully we'll get get to play to as many people as possible in late '09 and 2010.

Listen to "Leverage" !

/Viktoria Colonna

An Cafe

2009-05-09T12:36:00.006+02:00

Det finns ingen bättre start på dagen än att sätta på glad motiverande musik!
Det är precis vad An Cafe är!
Elektronisk pop-dansmusik med glada texter och cool stil! För att det är japaner bäst på! Att kombinera snygg image med bra musik!
Dessa unga kids sprider energi åt alla håll!

Lyssna på "An Cafe" !

/Viktoria Colonna

Phantoms

2009-05-08T16:27:00.004+02:00

"Remember that guy in San Diego that stole the tank and drove over cars on the freeway for like 4 fucking hours? It's the musical equivalent of that"

Så beskriver sigsjälv Phantoms som är aktuella med ny EP: "Fuck These Days"!

Guitar/Vocals - Charlie
Drums/Pajamas - Nick
Guitar/Vocals - Tim
Bass/Vocals - Andy

Jag tog min trevliga tid och intervjuade Charlie:

Vilken av era låtar tycker du är bäst?
Då kan jag säga "From Cradle to Grave" från den nya EP:n (som du kan ladda ner gratis från vår myspace!!) Låten har alla tre av våra vokalister som medverkar, vi har alla en egen sektion. Den har ett kanonbra slut och jag älskar det tekniska riffandet som sker i partierna mellan verserna. Det är någonting vi har alltid velat ha, och jag är glad att vi äntligen har det!

När är det bästa tiden för att skriva musik?
Egentligen finns det inte en bäst tid för att skriva musik. Den tiden kan komma till dig när som helst. Refrängen för "Hell" kom till mig när jag väntade på att min fru skulle kliva av tåget från NYC. Medan jag satt ute i bilen började jag höra ord som jag automatiskt sjöng ut och snabbt skrev ner på pappret. Haha. "From Cradle to Grave" är skriven nästan hela i replokalen. Inspiration kan komma vart och när som helst.

Hur många gånger repar ni?
Nuvarande repar vi 2 gånger per vecka, men om vi har ett gig och vi har inte spelat live på ett tag så ordnar vi en tredje gång per vecka mest för att förstärka våra skrikande röster!

Har Phantoms bytt ut medlemmar förr?
Nej, sedan Phantoms startades har det inte varit några line-ups byte. Men med denna svininfluensa vet man aldrig...hahaha

Vad gör ni utöver att vara musiker?
Vi har alla vardagliga jobb. Nick har en egen studio, Tim är kock, Andy äger en t-shirt firma och jag jobbar för ett sophanteringsföretag. Jag och Nick pysslar också med studiosessioner för Jamey Jasta and Sebastian Bach för tillfället. Jag ger gitarrlektioner när det finns tid. När man är musiker verkar det som att man försöker göra livet mer komplicerad så att man kan spela musik och det ger en mening när man väl gör det.

Lyssna på "Phantoms" !

/Viktoria Colonna

Sugizo + X Japan = True!

2009-05-07T14:58:00.005+02:00

Sugizo har nu blivit den 6:e medlemen i X-Japan, faktum som de flesta har nog förväntat sig på grund av den gamla vänskapen mellan Yoshiki och Sugizo (med bandet SKIN) och samarbeten under alla dessa åren.
Här är brevet som Sugizo själv har skrivit för alla lyssnare och fansen:

"There’s something I want to tell you: I, SUGIZO, am officially joining X JAPAN.
I know that you all have conflicting opinions about this,
but this decision is one that I finally arrived at after thinking about it over and over since last year.

As YOSHIKI, the leader of X JAPAN said, the main reason for getting the band back together is for the band’s aesthetic perfection – in other words, to end things as beautifully as possible.
And until then, he said that he wanted to fulfill that long-held dream of worldwide success.
And I thought that, if one of biggest bands in the history of Japanese rock music needs
my help to fulfill its dreams, if my presence is necessary,
if there’s something I can do, then I am truly honored.

I came to this answer by opening myself as much as possible to feeling
what hide was wishing for from Heaven.
And so just like last year, I’m going to stand on stage with the members of X JAPAN,
and use my body to convey hide’s presence and his very breath.
That’s the reason for me to play with X JAPAN.
And at the same time, how can I accelerate my own sensibilities, my own expressions?
Can I evolve as a guitarist and a performer?
To me, this is also a fantastic chance to have many valuable experiences and to learn all sorts of things.

There’s one more important thing to mention: the fact that no matter where I am, my true home and the place I will return to is LUNA SEA.
No matter what roads I walk from now on, no matter how far I fly away,
LUNA SEA will always be where I belong.
As long as the five of us exist, LUNA SEA will never die.
When the time is right, I want for all of us to stand on stage together,
to proceed into the future as one.
This truth, our fate, our bonds, and the bonds we share with our fans…
nothing will ever change these things.
I think of this fact with great affection, and I am so very thankful as well.

I am in love with music itself and believe that music is what gives me life.
I want to give my body and soul up to making music, to go beyond the framework of genres,
the borders between countries, and the format known as a “band.”
It may be unprecedented, but I want to exist for this purpose alone.

Right now, X JAPAN requires SUGIZO as its sixth member,
and I want to respectfully fulfill their needs.
All I do is give myself up to the flow, to the music itself…
to pour all of myself into that one second. That’s all.

And just like before – no, even more than before –
I plan to devote myself heart and soul to my work as a solo artist,
as part of LUNA SEA, as a member of JUNO REACTOR,
and now as a member of X JAPAN.
And nothing would make me happier than if all my beloved fans
and friends were with me along the way."

With Love,
SUGIZO

Väldigt rörande och starkt brev som fick oss alla speciellt Hides och X-Japans supportrar tårar i ögonen.

/Viktoria Colonna

Dir En Grey

2009-05-06T14:56:00.010+02:00

Styling, punkmetal och kaxighet. Gillar du det?
Lyssna då på Dir En Grey!
Stark, djup growl och tuffa melodier är inte det första man förväntar sig från dessa unga 5 killar. Därför blev jag otroligt förvånad av att lyssna på deras musik. Kanonbra.
Och det bästa är att dom ska komma till Metaltown i vår! Så man behöver inte åka till Japan, där de kommer ifrån, för att se dom.
Själv tycker jag att "The Deeper Vileness" är den bästa låten. Den är en exemplarisk schizofrenisk, growlfylld låt som växlar från hysteriska skalor till melodilösa partier. "Rasetsukoku" är också en grym låt med all dessa väl ihopsatta mangel och skrikande tonföljder!

Lyssna på "Dir En Grey" !

The Hint

2009-05-05T14:02:00.006+02:00

Detta unga band The Hint från Baltimore, Maryland (US), borde de flesta lyssna på!
Härlig syntpop inbäddad i sköna, mjuka melodier med mycket styrka i både röst och musik.
The Hint har just släppt en ny skiva "I Am The Hint", nu i Mars med den grymma låten " Pride".
Tim Foltyn-ledgitarr, Joe Jayson-ledsång och Geoffrey Blake-bas har just haft en turné i April i ungefär 2 veckor runt Usa.

Lyssna på "The Hint"

/Viktoria Colonna

Allegaeon

2009-05-04T12:24:00.013+02:00

Allegaeon är ett växande tekniskt metalband från Colorado som är nu aktuellt med 4 låtars EPn: Allegaeon. Man kan höra soundet av Dream theater, Soilwork och Nile i låtarna. Jag tror absolut att detta band kommer att bli stort och utsträcka sig i flera länder.
Bandet består av:

Greg Burgess - gitarr
Ryan Glisan - gitarr
Mikey Papajohn - basist
Jordon Belfast - trummor
Ezra Haynes - vocalist

Jag passade på att intervjua Ryan Glisan en kortis.

Hur startades Allegaeon?
Från början hette bandet Allegiance och medlemmarna utöver mig var inte samma som idag. Jag blev starkt motiveratd att leta vidare på bandmedlemmar som skulle vara bäst passande för bandet och nu känner jag att vi är starkare än någonsin!

Vilka är era influenser?
Jag kan inte utrycka mig för alla i detta svar, vi är alla insatta i olika musikstilar och det gör det svårt att göra en top ten lista därför att vi skulle rösta på olika band. Men influenserna kommer mycket från teknisk deathmetal till power metal.

Vem skriver musiken och texterna?
Alla skriver låtarna och musiken, vi börjar tillsammans och sen röstar vi om vad som passar bäst. Alla får en del i musikskapandet.

Ni har många konserter framför er, hur känns det?
Det är alltid skönt att veta vad som kommer att hända i framtiden så det känns betryggande att bli erbjudna spelningar. Men vi måste så klart också boka gigs själva. Vi älskar att spela inför människor.

Någon chans att ni killar kommer att spela i Sverige?
Jag skulle nog säga ja! Om du vill kalla det för planer eller drömmar, så skulle vi jättegärna göra det när möjligheten finns.

Planer för framtiden?
Nu är planerna att forsätta se framåt och göra flera närstatliga shower och förhoppningsvis även utomlands. Vi ska forsätta att skriva för fullt ny musik. Vi har stora förväntningar inför det nya materialet, så vi ber alla att ha koll för de nya tourdatumen angående vårt nästa album.

Allegaeon

Lyssna på "Allegaeon"

/Viktoria Colonna

2009-05-03T19:03:00.007+02:00

Bali är verkligen en tropisk, underbar och magisk ö. En plats som jag kan nu kalla mitt andra hem. Jag har lovat att till November när jag åker tillbaka dit ska jag kunna prata jättebra Indonesiska!
För en stor musikälskare som jag, Bali passar så bra pga det rika musiklivet som ön erbjuder.
På dagen spelas traditionell musik som man hör från templen, på stranden små band sitter vid havet och improviserar poplåtar och på kvällen varannan lokal har liveband.
Det är otroligt hur många skickliga musiker som Indonesien har! Allt från perfekt utstuderade coverband till grymma små lokala band.
Utöver rocken och punken är popballader en stor hit i Indonesien!

Om man gillar söta ljuva röster kan man absolut inte missa Agnes Monica, en riktig duktig sångerska som nu i vår kommit ut med nya singeln: "Teruskanlah" En riktig skön ballad.

Agnes Monica

Gillar man traditionell pop gärna i en indonesisk stil så D'masiv är ett definitivt rätt val. En mysballad är "Di Antara Kalian".

D'masiv

/Viktoria Colonna

5 Galna Frågor : Adde - Hardcore Superstar!

2009-04-10T17:23:00.007+02:00

Så klart att man ska ha det galet!! Så varför inte festa till det på långfredagen med 5 galna frågor? Vem kan offret vara? Jag tyckte att trummisen Adde i Hardcore Superstar passade utmärkt!

Adde, Bild av: Neil Lim Sang

Har du upplevt något övernaturligt?
Något som har hänt mer än en gång som jag anser vara lite spooky är att jag kan tänka på en person som jag inte har träffat på länge för att dagen efter springa på denna människa.
Har en polare som köpt ett hus där det spökar på allvar. Har tänkt att övernatta där för jag vill se och jag vill tro.

Vad är det knasigaste en groupie har hittat på?
Ett par grejer då. Fick ett certifikat i Madrid där det står att jag har fått en stjärna uppkallad efter mig o denna kvinna.
Ouch! En kvinna flyttade från Paris till Sverige i hopp om att det skulle bli vi två. Snacka om spooky.

Åt du snor när du var liten?
Under gig äter jag snor ofrivilligt. Kanske därifrån jag får all kraft? Nej jag åt inte snor som barn men jag bet på fingrarna så att dem såg ut som fan.

Vem förutom dig själv är snyggast i Hardcore Superstar och Varför?
Jag får nog välja Vic där. Varför? För att han är den kvinnligaste medlemmen i bandet..Hahaha!

Berätta en sexuell fantasi som har funnits hos dig länge!
En fantasi som har jagat mig ett tag är att jag befinner mig i ett mörkt rum. Jag är naken o helt insmörjad i glidmedel. Detta är även 5-10 personer i rummet. Sen så händer det härliga saker. Ingen går säker... så att säga!

Intervju och text /Viktoria Colonna

Valkiria: En Intervju

2009-04-10T16:26:00.017+02:00

Valkiria är ett melodiskt, atmosfäriskt metalband från Italien bestående av endast två personer,Valkiria (det instrumentala) och Mancan (the voice) som är i fullt jobb med nya skivan Upon this Earth så jag passade på och intervjuade mannen bakom all musik.

Valkiria, Mancan

Varför namnet Valkiria?
Valet av ett bandnamn är alltid en komplicerad proscess därför att det kommer att anvädas för alltid. När projektet var helt i gång (våren 1997) och jag var på g med inspelningen av min första demo "The Narrow Bed", hade jag redan i tanken olika namn. Man behövde ett namn av ett ord, lätt att minnas och framför allt som speglade musiken. Då var min stil mycket mer aggressiv än idag. Kankse namnet Valkiria idag är mindre passande när låtarna har minskat i tempot, men jag ville ha namnet kvar ändå, det tillhör min historia. Jag har bara bytt namnets logga, en sak som är väldigt vanligt för band att göra, men jag gjorde det mest för att loggan var inte så lättläst innan.

Hur skulle du beskriva musiken?
I en syntetisk form skulle jag nog beskriva vår musik som Mörk atmösfärisk Metal, men många definerar den med andra termer som till ex. Dark Epic eller helt enkelt Gothic Metal. Om man ska vara mer analytisk så är det mycket melodiska riff på punkterande rytmer med användnig av både growl och rena röster.

När kommer den nya skivan ut? Finns det ett bestämt tema i musiken?
Två månader sedan har vi lanserat på vår site www.valkiria.cjb.net nya promoskivan "Upon this Earth" med fyra låtar för fri nedladdning.
Snart kommer det ut det kompletta albumet.Om det blir nio eller tio låtar har vi inte bestämt oss än.
Inför Upon this earth har vi inte avänts av ett bestämt tema till skillnad från alla tidigare plattor och det beror på att låtarna har gjorts i olika faser och med många månaders tid emellan. Att inte jobba med ett och samma tema ger möjligheten att ej använda låtarna som blir mindre bra utan att själva innebörden i skivan förstörs. Jag kan redan uttala att ett annat album utöver Upeon This Earth är på g och det kommer att följa ett tema.

Italien är inte så känt för ett land där metal är stor. Är det svårt då att sprida er musik?
Ja, tyvärr det är verkligen få metalband som har lyckats blir framgångsrika i Italien. Att tillhöra ett land som har en stark rockprofil ger mer möjligheter med musikstudior som engagerar sig mer åt speciella genrer och en mer utökat evenemangsutbud för att kunna visa sig.

Har ni andra projekt utöver Valkiria?
Under några år i början av milleniet har jag bara engagerat mig på 41Chains, en egen darkgothic projekt, men idag all min energi lägger jag på Valkiria. Mancan är mer rastlös än jag! Han har Ecnephias och andra projekt vid sidan om.

Lyckas ni försörjar er med musiken?
Om vi kunde det så! Nee..vi jobbar som vanliga dödliga med vanliga jobb, men vi klagar inte. Vi spelar inte med huvudtaget syfte att tjäna pengar.

Vilka svenska band gillar ni?
Det svenska metalutbudet är verkligen stort. Det finns många band som jag gillar men Katatonia har gett mig mycket inspiration, men likväl Octover Tide, Opeth och Draconian är välidigt bra band!

Lyssna på ValkiriA

Intervju och text / Viktoria Colonna

K'NAAN

2009-04-09T19:43:00.008+02:00

Om man gillar hip hop och alternative reggae så ska man absolut lyssna på K'NAAN!
Hans fullständiga namn är Keinan Warsame. Han har vuxit upp i Somalia men har flyttat runt en hel del. Från Harlem till Toronto och är nu aktuell med sitt nya album Troubadour.
CDn är fylld av funkiga, roliga och utstuderade rytmer. Det är en svänging hip hop som får en svårt att vara stilla!
Hans budskap i texter vill mest framhäva om tillståndet i sitt hemland Somalia och de svåra förhållandena som präglar landet.
En inspirerad skiva med en doft av afrikansk kultur.

Lyssna gärna på K'NAAN!

Ivan Mihaljévic - Sandcastle

2009-04-08T22:59:00.010+02:00

Sandcastle

I detta otroliga välgjorda album, Ivan Mihaljévic visar sin virtuoso teknik.
Alla spår är mycket elaborerade och progressiva men väldigt lätta att lyssna på. Man ledsnar aldrig medan man lyssnar på dem, mycket dynamik och många färgningar finns i musiken.
Rytmen ökar och stannar sällan upp, väldigt exalterande.
De flesta spåren är instrumentala, de växlar från tunggångar, dynamiska skallekar, till ljuva ballader!

Mina favoritlåtar:

Cascading Mirrors: svårt att glömma!

Questions In My Mind: En låt som är tydligt byggt i 2 strukturer men som går i symbios med varandra!

Ett måste i alla skivsamlingar!

/Viktoria Colonna

För alla Beatles fans

2009-04-08T16:41:00.010+02:00

I september kommer det ut hela The Beatles samlingen remastrad digitalt för första gången!
Inför varje CD har det reproducerats all artwork och illustrationer från de originella engelska album och från de olika booklets. Likväl sällsynta foto och noteringar kommer att finnas i samlingen.
För en begränsad tid kommer det att följa med samlingen också en kort videoclip av en dokumentation för varje album.

Det är otroliga skickliga tekniker som har remastrad CD-skivorna. De är specialiserade just för detta delikata projekt. De har används sig av äldre tekniker för att kunna ge musiken det autentiska soundet.

Samma dag, (det räknas bli den 9:e September) kommer det ut också TV-spelet "The Beatles: Rock Band".

/Viktora Colonna

Go'kväll!

2009-04-07T22:38:00.005+02:00

Musik.
Framför allt musik ska detta bloggrummet fyllas med!
Smaskiga intervjuer, recensioner, nyheter och mycket annat kommer att läsas här!
Självfallet inslag av film, teater och konst ska också nämnas!

Det är lite ironiskt att börja blogga precis innan jag ska åka utomlands.
Ja det stämmer! På söndag åker jag till Indonesien, så bloggen kommer nog igång ordentligt i slutet av April! Dock några inlägg ska det skrivas ändå! Så håll er uppdaterade!
Men den som väntar på nåt gott!

Alla musik och kultur-älskare, jag önskar er en jättebra och mysig påsk!

/Viktoria Colonna