Icelandic tech death outfit Ophidian I are proud to announce their 'Rock Album Of The Year' nomination at the Icelandic Music Awards (Íslensku Tónlistarverðlaunin)!

     The band's latest release 'Desolate' has been selected among other releases from artists like The Vintage Caravan and Monotown. A full list of nominations can be found HERE. 


Ophidian I commented on the nomination:

     "This nomination is a huge deal for us. A milestone for the band, ourselves and extreme metal in general. While we certainly poured enough into this album to feel a nomination would be warranted, it didn’t really feel like something that’d actually come to fruition - making this almost surreal but in the absolute best way. We are very honoured, thankful and proud to be harvesting all the hard work that we and our amazing team have brought to this release. But most of all, thank you so much to all of you whom have been spinning the album and spreading the word since it came out. TAKK FYRIR!"

​
Line-up
​

• Ragnar Sverrisson - Drums
• Daníel Máni Konráðsson - Guitar
• Simon Thorolfsson - Guitar
• Þórður Hermannsson - Bass
• John Olgeirsson – Vocals

 

• www.facebook.com/OphidianI
• www.instagram.com/ophidiani
• https://ophidiani.bandcamp.com​

     So we now know who the winners of the GMA Awards 2021 were, but to wrap up the event in it's entirety and bid farewell to 2021 and usher in 2022, we must turn to the last bunch of awards - 'Metal Release By Country / Area'.

     Usually these would include the flag of the band's nation, but given the events in Afghanistan this year among other political turmoil, I felt it would be prudent to forgo any flags and just list the winners.... so without further ado here are the....

     Icelandic post metal band Sólstafir have won the award for 'Best Rock Album of 2020' at the Icelandic Music Awards with their latest album 'Endless Twilight of Codependent Love'. The Icelandic Music Awards (Íslensku Tónlistarverðlaunin) can be seen as the Icelandic version of the Grammys. Find more information here.

'Endless Twilight of Codependent Love' was released in November 2020. Listen to the album here or order a copy in the Season of Mist shop.

     A quarter of a century after singer / guitarist Aðalbjörn "Addi" Tryggvason co-founded atmospheric Icelandic metal quartet Sólstafir, they continue to follow their cardinal rule – that there are no rules. For them, writing an epic 10-minute song without a traditional verse/chorus trade-off feels natural. While they have done two albums in English, he mainly sings in their native tongue and his vocals are as much an instrument as a vessel for words. Their videos equally showcase the band and their Icelandic world that they commune with.

     And their music flows however it pleases. “Having been a metal band for a long time and gone through shoegaze, atmospheric black metal, and post rock, I just feel privileged being able to mix all my favourite genres and get away with it,” says Tryggvason.


     In the world of Sólstafir, artists as varied as The Beatles, Kraftwerk, Darkthrone, Ennio Morricone, and Billy Corgan swirl inside their heads, and such influences seep into their musical ether. Funnily enough, the cover for the group’s latest album Endless Twilight of Codependent Love might remind one of a famous Smashing Pumpkins album cover.

     Painted in watercolour by Johann Baptist Zwecker in 1864, The Lady of the Mountain is the female personification of Iceland. It was first published in a book of Icelandic folk tales but was never shown in public. A black and white woodblock replica by the artist is what Icelanders have known until recently when two citizens found the original hidden in a Welsh museum gallery where it had been in storage for a century. Now it is back home and adorning the cover of the new Sólstafir album.


     “Everybody knows the image of the Lady of the Mountain,” declares Tryggvason. "All of a sudden, the original pops up and it’s like, ‘Oh my god, these are the most beautiful colors I've ever seen. And why does it remind me of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness?’ So that's purely accidental. When we saw this photo, we had to use it. It's too beautiful.”


     While early Sólstafir lyrics delved into Nordic mythology and critiques of organized religion, more recent songs explore their spiritual connection with nature, and lately, mental disorders ranging from depression to alcoholism and the taboo behind men in particular discussing those things for fear of being perceived weak.
 

     “That’s the real darkness that you can't see, but you can feel it and people around you can feel it,” explains Tryggvason. “Of course, there are serial killers and plagues and whatever through history. But in modern day life, that's the true darkness around you. People kill themselves every day, and often people close to you who have been feeling so bad.”


     He says the most personal song on Endless Twilight of Codependent Love is “Her Fall From Grace,” the lone track in English. It chronicles the pain of watching a loved one succumb to mental illness.


     “It's very sad when you love someone and you see them get sick,” muses Tryggvason. “Like Layne Staley said, ‘Slow suicide is no way to go.’ But you’re just watching on the audience bench, preparing for the phone call. ‘Hey man, Johnny's dead.’ ‘All right, I knew Johnny was gonna die. I've been watching him in slow motion.’” He likens the experience to seeing a relative or parent be consumed by Alzheimer’s and turn into a different person than one remembers.


     Although the band’s lyrics are predominately in Icelandic, that does not prevent outside listeners from appreciating the emotional power of their music. It has been said that many fans can feel his pain even if they do not overtly understand what he is singing about.

     A beautiful moment in that regard occurred when Sólstafir played Bogota, Colombia in September 2017. It was the smallest show on their South American tour, and they presumed it would not be as lively. The 300 strong throng proved them wrong. “It felt like I was in Queen at Wembley Stadium,” Tryggvason recollects fondly. “They sang every goddamn word in Icelandic. How can you explain that?”


     Such passionate reactions have not gone unnoticed in their homeland. Iceland picked Sólstafir to play a total of six events New York City, Seattle, and Toronto last fall called “Taste Of Iceland.” Tryggvason says the band enjoyed the event and their intimate industry showcases at Pianos (NYC) and Livenation (Toronto) during that same trip.

     Counter-intuitive thinking has helped Sólstafir evolve and mature. The new track “Or” opens with a languid, bluesy feeling but gradually transforms into an angst-ridden, guitar-driven dirge. When they conjured their breakthrough song “Fjara” in 2011, the group feared its mellow nature might put off their longtime metal followers. Instead, they embraced it. That tune, along with the ambient, banjo-laden track “Ótta,” allowed the group to play both the Brutal Assault festival in the Czech Republic five years ago and then a family-friendly music event in the Netherlands the next weekend. The new rager “Dionysus” even features a return to their black metal roots that was not planned; the song just turned out that way over a year-long span.


     “Our audience grew bigger and more diverse by us just being ourselves and doing nothing different really,” notes Tryggvason.


     One of the joys for him and his bandmates – bassist Svavar "Svabbi" Austmann, guitarist Sæþór Maríus "Pjúddi" Sæþórsson, and newer drummer Hallgrímur Jón "Grimsi" Hallgrímsson, who contributed some lyrics this time out – is that their perception of how their new music will turn out never corresponds with reality. It is that unknown factor that keeps things exciting.


     “You can never foresee band magic,” declares Tryggvason. “The whole purpose of this is cooking up magic. And if you're cooking up magic with four or five weirdos, you can never foresee what's going to happen. You can't buy that. You have to live it or grow it.”


Recording line-up:

Aðalbjörn Tryggvason - Vocals, uitar
Sæþór M Sæþórsson - Guitar
Svavar Austmann - Bass
Hallgrímur Bárðdal - Drums

 
www.solstafir.net
www.facebook.com/solstafirice
https://www.instagram.com/solstafir_official

Season of Mist are pleased to announce the signing of Icelandic Tech Death outfit Ophidian I. The band, containing members of Icelandic label mates Helfró, will release their brand new album 'Desolate' via Season of Mist in the summer of 2021. 


Ophidian I comment on the signing:

     "We are ecstatic to announce that we’ve partnered with Season of Mist for the release of our album 'Desolate' in 2021. The new album is a product of relentless dedication and we could not imagine a more fitting home than with the incredible team at Season of Mist. Through the years we have been inspired by many artists from their roster and now we humbly take our place amongst them."


Season of Mist CEO Michael Berberian comments on the signing:

     "It all started by a mail from an old partner in crime, known to many in the industry; Ula Gehret. I quote : “Am I nuts, or is this really good?” Two emails later: “I’ve really fallen for this album (it’s my new “Unquestionable Presence”)”. And my god, was he right. It’s my most played album of the last two months. There is something extra to this one, in my mind there is no doubt that this is a future classic. So a few weeks later, we signed the band, and he’s managing them. Two music industry veterans falling for an album like we were teens. We, at SOM were lucky to release with Archspire and Beyond Creation the two cornerstones of the last decade in the “Tech Death” world. Here is the first one of 2021."


For a glimpse of things to come and updates, follow the band on Faceook.


With a clear goal of reaching the apex of technical metal in terms of proficiency, arrangements and sound, Ophidian I has produced the destructive full-length album 'Desolate'.  

Emerging from Iceland; the barren island in the north, home to apocalyptic weather, eruptions and storms. The breeding intensity, blazing speed and ferocity of Ophidian I reflects the chaos it hails from as well as the inherent beauty and complex harmony.

With various influences ranging from all styles, the unique melt of technical death metal - with immersive melody and hooks at every corner - 'Desolate' will appeal to all those who seek peak militant musicianship on all fronts.  


Line Up:

• Ragnar Sverrisson - Drums 
  
• Simon Thorolfsson - Guitar 
  
• Daníel Máni Konráðsson - Guitar 
  
• Þórður Hermannsson - Bass 
  
• John Olgeirsson - Vocals 

https://ophidiani.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/OphidianI
www.instagram.com/ophidiani

Icelandic black metal formation Auðn are now premiering the second new track of their upcoming record 'Vökudraumsins Fangi'. The track "Ljóstýra" is streaming via the official Season Of Mist Youtube channel HERE. The video was created by Aimed and Framed.

The band's third full length will be released on October 30th. Pre-orders are now live in the Season Of Mist shop HERE.
 
Auðn comment on the track:-

    "'Ljóstýra', meaning 'Faint light' is a metaphor for loneliness and the never ending jaded grind our world is spiralling towards, we hope for brighter days that never seem to materialize. Set in a frozen waste (Auðn) a shimmer of light flickers in the distance in an old house This faint light represents the hope of change, that the seasons will return and this perpetual darkness and cold will cease. As the years go by you grow bitter and cold like the world you are forced to inhabit, the feeling that the world will get brighter ever fading into memory. When darkness falls and all hope seems gone the faint candle light brings solace and for a brief moment the world feels bright again.This is 'Ljóstýra'"

As the country's vibrant black metal scene has proven, Iceland can be a beautiful and sinister place where furious elements rage teaching fear but also inspiring human creativity. Emphasizing melodies rather than dissonance and approaching their music from a dramatic, classical black metal angle, Auðn deliver another mesmerizing piece of art with ‘Vökudraumsins Fangi’.

Hailing from the village of Hveragerði in the south of Iceland, Auðn deliver haunting melodies and beautifully frozen atmospheres – as opposed to the jarring and caustic blunt force trauma that has brought this remote place in the Northern Atlantic to the black metal forefront.
 
Founded in 2010, Auðn's talent was quick to be recognized. After the release of the self-titled debut, the band got invited to Iceland’s main metal event, the Eistnaflug Festival. They participated and won the local Wacken Metal Battle contest in 2016, while making it to the top three during the infamous Wacken Open Air festival itself. Shows at the prestigious Inferno and Roadburn festivals followed in 2017.  
 
The second full-length, 'Farvegir Fyrndar' was released in November 2017, continuing the band’s fast ascent. Highly praised by the international metal press, the second record reached back to a more classic second-generation black metal approach combined with a sense of elegance and melancholy that one can feel while dwelling among the bleak, extraordinary landscapes of the island.
 
The Icelanders embarked on European tours with label mates Gaahl’s Wyrd in 2017 and The Great Old Ones (2017 and 2018) and captivated festival audiences at the biggest European fests, such as Copenhell, Summer Breeze Open Air, Eurosonic Noorderslag, Roskilde, Eindhoven Metal Meeting and more.
 
Returning with ‘Vökudraumsins fangi’, Auðn explore new soundscapes and push their music to new heights, thereby setting themselves further apart from their Icelandic contemporaries. The six piece draws inspirations from their natural surroundings, but also chart the territory of the mind. The album title literally translates to ‘prisoner of the daydream’, but rather refers to a perpetual state of delusion of a life that never took place.
 
Join Auðn while traversing the blurred lines between reality and the supernatural and the otherworldly sceneries of their native Iceland. 

• Recording studio: Sundlaugin Studio
  
• Producer / sound engineer: Stephen Lockhart of Studio Emissary
  
• Mixed and mastered: Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios

Recording line-up:

Andri Björn Birgisson - Guitars
Aðalsteinn Magnússon - Guitars and vocals
Hjalti Sveinsson - Vocals
Hjálmar Gylfason - Guitars
Matthías Hlifar Mogensen - Bass and guitars
Sigurður Kjartan Pálsson – Drums
 

Guest musicians:

Arnaldur Ingi Jónsson - Hammond organ on “Næðir um “and “Horfin mér”
Magnús Jóhann Ragnarsson - Grand piano & Mellotron on “Næðir um” and “Vökudraumsins fangi”
 
Cover artwork: Mýrmann
 
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Icelandic Viking Metal giants Skálmöld will release their second live album and the first one as solo band 10 Year Anniversary - Live In Reykjavík, on September 25, 2020 via Napalm Records. Three consecutive sold-out shows at the Gamla Bíó in their home town Reykjavík were the adequate setting to celebrate the 10th anniversary together with their devotees. 10 Year Anniversary - Live In Reykjavík transports the mythical atmosphere directly into their fans' homes

With propelling drums and heavy rhythms, underlined by Björgvin Sigurðsson’s unique vocals comes "Niðavellir“, the first single fresh off  the new live opus. The single, originally released on their 2016 album Vögguvísur Yggdrasils, leads the listener straight into Myrkheim, the land of the dwarves. "Niðavellir“ became one of Skálmöld’s trademark songs since then and in this live version, the energy coming from stage during the performance is palpable in every corner of Reykjavík's legendary Gamla Bíó.

Skálmöld on the CD / DVD / BLU-RAY:

     “In late 2009 we started Skálmöld. Nothing serious. Was just supposed for the pure fun of meeting up once in a while to play some metal music. Fast forward 10 years and we are celebrating the release of 10 Years Of Skálmöld - Live in Reykjavík. Recorded in the heart of Iceland's capital at one of our 3 amazing sold out shows. Here is Skálmöld in its purest form - on stage, feeding on the energy of our beloved fans. We feel really proud and happy to present this to you.

     Growing up and slowly beginning to descend into the world of metal music there was one album that really left its mark on my young self: Iron Maiden - Live After Death. At 10 years old, in awe, dreaming that one day I could play in a band, play shows, record it and release for others to enjoy was just that - a dream. But now all these years later my band celebrated 10 years of existence. 5 albums and countless shows all over Europe. We just had to capture this moment. So here it is. 10 Years Of Skálmöld - Live in Reykjavík. Here we are doing what we enjoy the most, playing a sweaty sold out show in front of our most dedicated fans. Well that was truly a night to remember. Skál!”


Watch the live video for "Niðavellir“ HERE

Icelandic black metal formation Auðn have revealed the cover artwork and details of their upcoming new album 'Vökudraumsins Fangi'. The band's third full length will be released on October 30th via Season of Mist.

The cover artwork of 'Vökudraumsins Fangi' was created by Mýrmann and can be viewed below, together with the track list. 

Auðn comment:

     "We are thrilled to announce our new album 'Vökudraumsins fangi' which will be released through Season Of Mist this autumn. After the release of Farvegir fyrndar we found ourselves wanting to expand our horizons and try new directions with our music. Adding a new member to the fold we entered uncharted territory for Auðn. We further explored themes we have wanted to chart for some time. More aggression, more melody and with the help of Jens Bogren we achieved soundscapes that echo the vast desolation that is Auðn today."

Returning with ‘Vökudraumsins fangi’, Auðn explore new soundscapes and push their music to new heights, thereby setting themselves further apart from their Icelandic contemporaries. The six piece draws inspirations from their natural surroundings, but also chart the territory of the mind. The album title literally translates to ‘prisoner of the daydream’, but rather refers to a perpetual state of delusion of a life that never took place.
 
Join Auðn while traversing the blurred lines between reality and the supernatural and the otherworldly sceneries of their native Iceland. 

Recording line-up:

• Andri Björn Birgisson - Guitars
• Aðalsteinn Magnússon - Guitars and vocals
• Hjalti Sveinsson - Vocals
• Hjálmar Gylfason - Guitars
• Matthías Hlifar Mogensen - Bass and guitars
• Sigurður Kjartan Pálsson – Drums
  

Guest musicians:

• Arnaldur Ingi Jónsson - Hammond organ on “Næðir um “and “Horfin mér”
  
• Magnús Jóhann Ragnarsson - Grand piano & Mellotron on “Næðir um” and “Vökudraumsins fangi”
  

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Icelandic Black Metallers Nyrst have released a second track from their upcoming album "Orsök", an album filled with incredibly cold, stark, and barren soundscapes, whose lyrics come straight from old horror literature, laced with cosmic undertones.

The track " Nástirni", can be streamed or downloaded from https://darkessencerecords.fanlink.to/Nastirni

It can also be heard on YouTube at https://youtu.be/TLFHMrp8aZc   

Formed in the winter of 2013 and drawing their inspiration from their grim and icy Icelandic heritage, Nyrst's lineup consists of Snæbjörn on vocals,  Eysteinn and Davíð on guitars, Egill on bass, and Sveinbjörn on drums. 

Nyrst's first demo, released in 2018, garnered considerable praise for the band's use of diverse vocals and chilling atmosphere. Interpreting  their studio sound for  the stage, the band are able to deliver mystic and haunting live performances which have gained them respect in the metal scene of their native Iceland.

Set for release of Dark Essence Records on the 24th April in CD, Vinyl and Digital formats, and with artwork by Moonrot and additional artwork by Skadvaldur.

"Orsök" is now available to pre-order from the following: 

Webshop: https://www.darkessencerecords.no/webshop/
Bandcamp: https://nyrst.bandcamp.com/album/ors-k
US Webshop:  https://darkessence.aisamerch.com/    

A video by Daníel Puskás of Valhallartworks for the title track "Orsökby can be seen at https://youtu.be/m4oZcDqB1i8

Recently commenting on the video, the band had this to say:

     "Nyrst are proud to premiere the music video for "Orsök", our first single and the title track from our upcoming album. We had a very specific vision in mind to convey the harsh and barren landscape of our country, which was our main inspiration when we wrote the album.There is something about the desolate wastes of the highland that gives you a sense of hopelessness, but also this immense calm, a perfect symbiotic relationship that made us find a very accurate atmosphere and sound which made all this possible.
 
     The lyrics of Orsök tell of a lone wanderer and his journey across the frozen wasteland, where he is forced by the Gods to sacrifice his young daughter to host a Goddess or a cosmic entity, thereby bringing doom upon life. Departing with the baby, absolute loneliness and grief become his companions, following him to the end of his journey. In his final moments, conceding to the spirits, he realizes his mistake and embraces the void.

More information about Nyrst can be found on the band's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Nyrst

Nyrst on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Nyrst/
Nyrst on Bandcamp: https://nyrst.bandcamp.com/album/demo
Nyrst on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_nyrst_/

Dark Essence Records: www.darkessencerecords.no
Dark Essence on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/darkessencerecords

Icelandic black metal sensation Auðn have entered the studio to record their third full-length. The new record will be released in the second half of 2020 via Season of Mist. For more updates, follow the band on Facebook and Instagram.

Auðn comment: "We have entered the famed studio 'Sundlaugin' with producer Stephen Lockhart of studio Emissary to record our third album. More details will soon emerge."

The band's previous record 'Farvegir Fyrndar' was released in November 2017 and can be heard at the official Season of Mist Youtube Channel HERE.

Line-up

Aðalsteinn Magnússon - Guitar
Andri Björn Birgisson - Guitar
Hjalti Sveinsson - Vocals
Hjálmar Gylfason - Guitar
Matthías Mogensen - Bass
Sigurður Kjartan Pálsson - Drums

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