Archive for Grand Magus

Grand Magus – Sword Songs

Posted in Review with tags , , , , , on 12th May 2016 by Mickelrath

Grand Magus
“Sword Songs”
Heavy Metal
Released: 13 May 2016
via Nuclear Blast Records

The Swedish power trio return with their newest collection of anthemic Viking anthems, Sword Songs.  After their last release Triumph and Power, Grand Magus have done more than enough to get me listening. As that’s when I was first introduced to them.  I have obviously gone back over their discography since then and it’s fair to say that they’re one of my favourites when it come to this music.

The album opens with the roaring “Freja’s Choice” and the expert instrumentation at takes over your senses. The pure intensity doesn’t let go until the final moment of the album. Janne “JB” Christoffersson’s energy is awesome and every lyric is clear. Everything on this album sound huge. This is standard for Grand Magus but their ability to make everything sound epic is outstanding, if not second nature to them at this point.  Sword Songs is a barrage of non stop anthems. One of the bigger one being the lead in single “Varangian”, which is so damn catchy you’ll be humming it for hours after you’ve heard it. This is a testament to the super tight production of the album. Every moment has impact and weight and the album is filled to the brim with imagination and poetry.

It’s definitely an album that rewards repeat listens. I know once I was done with the first play through I wanted it one again. The tight musicianship, the excellent riffs, the thundering bass and beat and the anthemic choruses. It all comes together here and it just hits you like a tonne of bricks.  All of the songs are brilliant but a few personal favourites “Forged in Iron – Crowned in Steel”, “Frost and Fire” and “Stormbringer”. These songs have grabbed my imagination and really keeps pumped.  

The Viking themes are grounded and interesting.  Although this sub-sub-genre is starting to develop very obvious clichés it doesn’t stop it from being very entertaining. The references to battle and Norse mythology always sound fresh and original coming from Grand Magus (as well as bands like Leaves’ Eyes and Amon Amarth). There’s just such a feeling of command and power in these songs, they’re simply too fun to not enjoy.

I love this record. Grand Magus have pulled off another great record and I know this one was short but I don’t have anything bad to say and the music really speaks for itself.  This one get’s a firm recommendation from me.

4.5/5

Mick Birchall

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Behemoth to hit the UK and Ireland in December

Posted in News with tags , , , , , on 17th August 2014 by Pieni

photo behemoth_zps5f27ad43.jpg

After the sold out gig at The Forum early this year, right before the release of the much acclaimed “The Satanist”, Behemoth will now return to British and Irish soil for a few shows. Supporting them will be Decapitated, who will release their new album “Blood Mantra” next month, Grand Magus, whose latest “Triumph & Power” has also been very well received, and also Manchester-based Winterfylleth, who will be releasing their 4th album “The Divination Of Antiquity” in October.

Quoting Nergal: » It took us years to finally put together a separate UK tour and we are eager to bring the magic of “The Satanist” to our fans over there! We are counting days. Literally. With such a strong and diverse company from our friends in Grand Magus and Decapitated we are expecting nothing but a great metal feast! «

www.facebook.com/behemoth

www.facebook.com/decapitated

www.facebook.com/grandmagusofficial

www.facebook.com/Winterfylleth

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The Vintage Caravan stream Voyage online

Posted in News with tags , , , , , , , , on 10th January 2014 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Young psych rockers The Vintage Caravan have begun streaming their new album Voyage at this location. The album will be released this coming Monday (13th January 2014) via Nuclear Blast.

The Vintage Caravan will also be hitting the UK with Grand Magus in March. Tour dates are as follow:

March 12th – Manchester, Sound Control
March 13th – Dublin, Voodoo Lounge
March 15th – Wolverhampton, Slade Rooms
March 16th – London, Camden Underworld

The Vintage Caravan online:

http://facebook.com/vintagecaravan

 

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The Vintage Caravan confirm UK dates

Posted in News with tags , , , , , , , , on 10th December 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Iceland’s answer to the likes of Black Sabbath and Led Zeplin, The Vintage Caravan, are finally making their way across the oceans to introduce the UK to their own brand of riffs. And bunny-licking. The three Icelandic youngsters, who are aged 19, 19 and 20, will be touring as support to Grand Magus, in March next year. Their debut album Voyage will be released via Nuclear Blast in January 2014. Bassist Alex comments:

We are so incredibly excited to finally be touring the UK with a great band like Grand Magus, meeting British people, drinking British ales. This is going to be one hell of a trip!

There has been a huge resurgence of ‘retro rock’ over the last few years, but these boys have explored a path that no one else has found yet. Youth is on their side, they have drawn musical influences from the greats of our generation and added to them their acid laced, trippy lyrics, relatable to the silly side that’s hopefully still in all of us. If not, these guys will certainly help you find it!

Tour dates are as follow:

March 12th – Manchester, Sound Control – www.seetickets.com
March 13th – Dublin, Voodoo Lounge – www.ticketmaster.ie
March 15th – Wolverhampton, Slade Rooms – www.tickets.com
March 16th – London, The Underworld – www.seetickets.com

The Vintage Caravan online:

http://www.facebook.com/vintagecaravan

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Grand Magus main man JB talks about new album

Posted in News with tags , , , , , , on 28th November 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Sweden’s premier riff lords Grand Magus have unveiled the first album trailer for their upcoming album Triumph and Power. Watch below as the band’s main man JB discuss details about the new album.

The tracklist of Triumph And Power reads as follows:

1. On Hooves Of Gold
2. Steel Versus Steel
3. Fight
4. Triumph And Power
5. Dominator
6. Arv
7. Holmgång
8. The Naked And The Dead
9. Ymer
10. The Hammer Will Bite

Bonus:

11. Blackmoon

The band commented about the album:

Triumph And Power has been completed. It’s a metal triumph of Viking power!!! Once again we worked with Nico Elgstrand as producer, a tradition that started with Hammer Of The North back in 2010. This is our strongest album yet, it has the northern feel, it has the power and the melody that has become our mark of excellence. Fans of true metal will take this album to their hearts. To top everything off, we have the striking and epic artwork of Anthony Roberts. The album cover perfectly captures the work on this album and Grand Magus as a band. Stay true!

Triumph and Power is set for release vis Nuclear Blast on 3rd February 2014.

Grand Magus online:

http://grandmagus.com/
http://facebook.com/grandmagusofficial
https://twitter.com/GrandMagus
https://youtube.com/GrandMagusBand
http://myspace.com/grandmagusrocks

 

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Soilwork announce UK 2014 tour

Posted in News with tags , , , , , , , on 27th November 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

After their sold-out show at The Camden Underworld in London, which was their first UK date in four years, Swedish metal tyrants Soilwork have announced a four-date UK tour for March in 2014.

The band’s current studio album, which is also their first double set, The Living Infinite was the first Soilwork release to chart in the UK national album charts. Gathering excellent reviews, it was praised by Metro as “a slab of heroic, chest-beating Scandi-metal“. Metal Hammer championed their output, “The Swedes have somehow risen to their own mighty-challenge and produced a consistent, cohesive and remarkably dynamic banquet of blistering modern metal that amounts to a wholesale broadening and sharpening of their sound“. They were also granted a much sought after KKKK Kerrang! review that stated “sixteen years in and it’s clear Soilwork still have fertile imaginations“. UK dates are as follow:

March 11th – Bristol, The Fleece
March 12th – Manchester, Sound Control
March 13th – London, Islington Academy (special guests to Overkill)
March 15th – Birmingham, Library

Their support for these dates will be Darkane and System Divide.

Soilwork have also been confirmed for Hammerfest 2014 with the likes of Grand Magus, Overkill and Kreator.

Soilwork online:

http://soilwork.org
http://facebook.com/soilwork

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Grand Magus enter studio to record new album

Posted in News with tags , , , , , , , on 16th September 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Swedish riff lords Grand Magus have recently entered the studio to begin recording for their follow-up to last year’s crushign album The Hunt. With demoing and pre-production complete, the recording process can begin. Once again, the band have picked as their producer Nico Elgstrand, who produced the last album; The Hunt. The band are also joined by the engineering force that is Staffan Karlsson, at Studio Sweetpot in Halmstad, who has worked with Arch Enemy  and mixed the most recent record for Spiritual Beggars. Drummer Ludwig “Ludde” Witt comments:

The time has come! Warriors! Things have been quiet around here recently, you know us well enough to know that we haven’t been sitting around idly though… We have finished writing our new album and we enter the studio!!! Monday the 2 of September marks the start of our new journey. The result will be something to behold. That is a promise. You want something heavy? You’ll get it. This will be our strongest album to date.

The band also added:

The Magus have been busy bees with an elaborate pre-production phase, meaning that we have demoed all the tracks and it certainly pays off now. The recordings proper started off this Monday and we already have some killer basic tracks brewing. We are working simultaneously on several tracks to ensure flow and proper impact. It feels like it’s going to be something extremely powerful this time… The drums are killer and with the perfect touch we’ve learned to expect from Ludwig, there will be a wall of ferocious guitars and grinding bass guitar that will shake the bowels. Among other things we worked today on Holmgång which has a lot of riffing going on and we think the guitar sound is the best we’ve ever had on a recording. Pure power!

In related news, Grand Magus will be returning to the UK in March 2014. Dates are as follow:

March 12th – Manchester, Sound Control
March 13th – Dublin, The Pint
March 14th – Hammerfest
March 15th – Wolverhampton, Slade Rooms
March 16th – London, Camden Underworld

Grand Magus online:

http://grandmagus.com
http://facebook.com/grandmagusofficial

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Grand Magus announce UK and Ireland 2014 tour dates

Posted in News with tags , , , , , , , on 10th July 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

After the highly-celebrated release of sixth studio album, The Hunt, Swedish gods of the riff Grand Magus are heading back to the UK and Ireland to embark on a 5 date tour in March 2014. The Swedish trio have always stuck to their own path of natural evolution – they’ve never casted off their early days’ groove nor their love for epic doom and extreme metal. These trademarks are now being paired with traditional riffs and melodies that rock in the same qualitative league as Judas Priest or Dio.

With a new album due for release early 2014, this will be a great time to catch these Vikings at their finest! The band had a few words to say about this upcoming tour:

Warriors! When we last ventured across the sea to bring our steel to the UK and Ireland, our hearts were filled with joy from your response. It gave us such a rush that we wanted to come back as soon as possible. Well… We’ll be back in March! Expect the most ferocious viking power shattering the clubs and the, for us, aptly-named Hammerfest! Valhalla awaits!

The tour dates are as follow – Click the links for tickets!

12-Mar-14 UK NQ MANCHESTER

13-Mar-14 IRE The Pint DUBLIN

14-Mar-14 UK HAMMERFEST

15-Mar-14 UK Slade rooms WOLVES

16-Mar-14 UK UNDERWORLD LONDON

Grand Magus online:

http://www.grandmagus.com/
http://www.facebook.com/grandmagusofficial

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Kreator reveal cover artwork for upcoming ‘Dying Alive’ DVD

Posted in News with tags , , , , , , , on 13th June 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Teutonic thrash overlords Kreator have revealed the cover artwork for the band’s upcoming live DVD/Blu Ray Dying Alive, which will be released 2nd September via Nuclear Blast.

The DVD/Blu Ray features the band’s sold out homecoming show in Oberhausen, Germany on 22nd December 2012 after an extensive 45 days European tour in support of their highly successful album Phantom Antichrist. The packed and sweat driven show was filmed by 24 cameras as well as guitar and even mosh pit cams.

The DVD/Blu Ray contains the show, a behind the scenes documentary as well as video clips. Approximate total running time: 115 minutes. Dying Alive will be issued in the following various formats:

DVD/2CD
Blu Ray/2CD
Double Vinyl

You can pre-order Dying Alive at this location.

Kreator will also be playing at Hammerfest ‘Book Of The Dead’ along with Nuclear Blast label-mates, Soilwork, Overkill and Grand Magus on 13th – 16th March. For more info and tickets head over to this location.

Kreator online:

http://kreator-terrorzone.de/
http://facebook.com/KreatorOfficial

 

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Grand Magus announce 2013 UK tour

Posted in News with tags , , , , , , , on 21st September 2012 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

After this summers highly celebrated release of sixth studio album, The Hunt, and a storming set at Bloodstock Festival, Swedish riff gods Grand Magus are heading back to the UK for a comprehensive 10-date tour!
The dates are as follows:

  21/02/13 – The Fleece – Bristol
22/02/13 – The Cathouse – Glasgow
23/02/13 – Stiff Kitten – Belfast
24/02/13 – The Pint – Dublin
26/02/13 – Mohu – Manchester
27/02/13 – Bogiez – Cardiff
28/02/13 – Slade Rooms – Wolverhampton
01/03/13 – The Pavillion – Weymouth
02/03/13 – Talking Head – Southampton
03/03/13 – Underworld – London

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Interview: Dakesis

Posted in Interview with tags , , , , , , on 3rd August 2012 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Following the announcement of their Bloodstock appearance on the Jagermeister Acoustic Stage and their UK tour with Axenstar and Ascension, Nico interviews Birmingham-based power-prog outfit Dakesis.

Nico: You’ve been confirmed for the Jagermeister Acoustic Stage at Bloodstock, how are you feeling about playing the UK’s biggest metal festival?

Adam: We have indeed, how could it feel anything other than amazing? Most of the band have been attending Bloodstock for many years; some of us even from the early days of Bloodstock Indoor, so to see our name on the bill is incredible. As you mentioned, we’ll be playing the Acoustic stage this year, so it’ll be Dakesis, but perhaps not as you know it!
Wayne: We’ve given some of our tracks a complete makeover for the occasion, and rehearsals are going very well, so we’re looking forward to showcasing a side of the band many people will be unfamiliar but pleasantly surprised with.

N: Aside from being booked for Bloodstock, what’s been the highlight of the year thus far for Dakesis?

A: We were very lucky to support Edguy at Birmingham’s HMV Institute in February. I think I’m right in saying we’re all pretty big fans of the band as well as Tobias’ other work, so to share a stage with a band as infamous as these was a great experience.
Matt: You never know what to expect when you meet your idols, but Edguy proved to be some of the most friendly and welcoming people we’ve met.

N: Are there any bands that you’re looking forward to seeing at this year’s Bloodstock?

A: Iced Earth and Dimmu Borgir will be highlights for me. I’ve also been listening to a lot of Grand Magus recently. ‘The Hunt’ is incredible; I’m looking forward to seeing this live.
W: We were also very proud to see Kataleptic triumph at M2TM, so we’ll be supporting them at the New Blood stage, and our good friends Triaxis will also be gracing the Acoustic stage.

N: So your debut album was released in November of last year; what was the writing process like for it and what were your feelings when you had finished writing it?

W: A lot of the songs on the album actually predate the start of the band, they’re songs I’d written some years ago. Each member has added their own signature to the tracks though.
A: It certainly felt good when we finally had the finished product in our hands.
M: The process for album two is been different. Having said that, there’s not really a specific writing process we stick to; some songs are written in two hours, some have taken two years.

N: Where do you see Dakesis in five years time?

W: DAKESIS!!! COMING SOON TO A WORKING MENS CLUB NEAR YOU!!!! Damn, I forgot my crystal ball! In all seriousness, I hope that Dakesis continues to go from strength to strength – we’re certainly going to continually work hard and push it as far as we can!

N: Given the chance to share the stage with any musician, living or dead, which one would you pick and why?

W: There are so many, a good few I have already had the privilege such as Nino Laurenne [Thunderstone] but if I was to pick one I would say Stéphan Forté [Adagio] as he has been a major influence in my playing style so far.
A: I’d love to go back to 1976 and win the Genesis gig! Also a drum battle with Brann Dailor [Mastodon] would be fun, although I’d get my ass kicked.

N: So, you’re touring with Axenstar later this year, how are you feeling about that?

A: I can’t wait! It’s gonna be a lot of travelling, but it’s all good fun.
Wayne: It will be great to hit the road again, especially with a band the calbibre of Axenstar. (I have a custom guitar lined up specially for this tour too!)

N: What are the band’s plans for the rest of the year, gig wise?

W: We have a lot of travelling on the cards. Aside from the tour, we’re also heading to Northampton, Cambridge, Hull, Tamworth and Manchester to name a few. We’re making huge strides towards album two as well, so in between the live shows there’s a lot going on towards preparation for the next record.

N: Aside from the UK, is there any country you’d love to tour in the future?

A: Hopefully Europe is on the cards at some point in the near future. We’d love to try our hand in Germany and Scandinavia. Our sound is influenced by a lot of European progressive and melodic metal acts.

N: If you could replace the soundtrack of any film with your own music, which one would you pick and why?

W: Sorry, could you repeat the question please?
A: Valhalla Rising. I spent the entire film waiting for some epic battle to start and it never did, so something from Trial By Fire might have spruced it up.

You can check out Dakesis at their official Facebook or at Bloodstock August 10th at 2:50pm over on at the Jagermeister Acoustic Stage.

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Amon Amarth w/Support @ Vicor Street, Dublin

Posted in Gig, Live with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on 23rd March 2012 by colmcasserly

Bands: Amon Amarth, Grand Magus, In Solitude
Location: Vicar Street
Date:  15th April 2012

Epic night of metal right here and my first assignment for Valkyrian Music so I was very excited about this! The night was  not just anticipated by me but the entire Dublin metal scene as it was Amon Amarth’s first time to bring their stage show with them. I had never heard Grand Magus or In Solitude before the night and I was very surprised by both bands they both had some seriously good tunes and they put on a great show. It was the second night of the tour and the bands seemed very confident on stage as the first date jitters had worn off it seems.

In Solitude were the opening act and they really played a blinder, they’re blend of black and old school metal was really interesting and they set the stage for a really good night. They could come off a little cheesy at times though and the vocals were far too low in the mix and that is one of their selling points I feel cause the style of vocals are very alluring. Also, what was with the dead fox? But quality songs and great stage presence combined made for an awesome set!

Grand Magus were on next and they’re something else! Soaring, powerful vocals with epic sounding songs without even a hint of power metal except some song titles, “Hammer of The North” for one, just good old Heavy Metal! They started a little shakey but pulled it together very quickly and delivered a very entertaining set and they truly looked like they were having the time of their lives! They did get a little samey over the course of the set though.

And the headliners, Amon Amarth, they have made quite a name for themselves over the years so we all really knew what to expect from them. They played the best part of an hour and a half which consisted of old faithfuls (The Pursuit of Vikings) and some newer tracks (Death In Fire) but they never relented and even the slower tunes never dropped the intensity. Any issues with the levels or sound were gone now and it was now crystal clear. I don’t think they made one mistake all night, and it being very close to St Patrick’s day in Dublin any crowd interaction went down really well. They had their stage complete with glowing ruins and the drum riser was massive and they had some pretty epic set pieces on it. A lot of Amon Amarth songs recently have guest guitarists playing solos and here is what annoyed me, they can’t do them live. They give them their best shot but never seem to pull them off convincingly. Other than that minor problem they really gave a 110% and it looked like they really had a blast. Epic gig, epic bands great night!

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IN SOLITUDE To Tour With AMON AMARTH

Posted in News with tags , , , on 23rd January 2012 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

IN SOLITUDE will join AMON AMARTH and Grand Magus on their Spring tour that kicks off in Glasgow on March 13, 2012.

The Swedish outfit return after destroying at their debut UK show at Live Evil in October 2011 and catching the eye of label mates Amon Amarth who were looking to bring an intense package to the UK and Ireland.

IN SOLITUDE has been declared “one of the hottest new metal acts around” by Decibel Magazine while Metal Hammer described the band as “Structurally and melodically complex, densely layered yet dynamic and fluid, often enthralling, always engaging, this is a metallic Feast.”

The band’s Metal Blade debut, The World.The Flesh.The Devil was released on May 20th and stands as a “trad-metal charge of Iron Maiden with doom metal’s ironclad grey” according to Kerrang! Magazine.

Additionally, Terrorizer heralded The World.The Flesh.The Devil as their “album of the month” in issue #210.

See them here:

AMON AMARTH + Grand Magus + IN SOLITUDE

March 2012

13th GLASGOW – ABC
14th BELFAST – Mandella Hall
15th DUBLIN – Vicar Street
16th WOLVERHAMPTON – Civic
17th PRESTATYN – Hammerfest @ Pontins (not Grand Magus, In Solitude)
18th CARDIFF – Solus

TICKETS: http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/

After these dates IN SOLITUDE will head to the USA where they join Behemoth, Watain and The Devil’s Blood on the Decibel Magazine tour in April. Dates will be announced soon.

IN SOLITUDE are:
Hornper: Vocals
Niklas Lindström: Guitar
Henrik Palm: Guitar
Gottfrid Åhman: Bass
Uno Bruniusson: Drums

http://www.metalblade.com/insolitude
http://www.myspace.com/insolitudeheavymetal
http://www.facebook.com/insolitudeofficial

‘THE WORLD: THE FLESH: THE DEVIL’ is out now on Metal Blade
BUY IT HERE FOR £6.99.

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