BORKNAGAR Unleashes NEW Single "Roots"!

Norwegian avantgarde metallers BORKNAGAR are now premiering their first single off their much anticipated new studio album, 'Urd' (due out March 26th in Europe and March 27th in North America), via Decibel.com. Go check out the enthralling track "Roots" at the link below.

BORKNAGAR's mastermind Øystein G. Brun checked in to comment about the song:

"In regards to the depth, diversity and magnitude of our new album, 'Urd', it almost feels painful to slice off just a tiny bit of the bloody roast for the very first official 'starter'. I would argue that each and every song on the new album stands on solid ground, but as usual with our music, the songs empower each other in the context of a full album.

That said, 'Roots' is probably the song on the album that gives you the most representative impression of 'Urd'. Musically it contains most of the elements that framework the musical universe of BORKNAGAR, and lyrically this song is gnawing on the very spine of our lyrical tradition. Hope you enjoy this song, the first tiny glimpse into our new opus. The beast is about to be unleashed..."

The album's artwork was designed by Brazilian artist Marcelo Vasco (www.P2RDESIGN.com), who has not only already worked on the band's previous Universal release, but also with artists such as SOULFLY, BELPHEGOR, EINHERJER, and KEEP OF KALESSIN. The mixing duties for the album were taken care of by Jens Bogren at Sweden's Fascination Street Studios (OPETH, PARADISE LOST, KATATONIA, etc.).

The track-listing for the album is below.

1. Epochalypse
2. Roots
3. The Beauty Of Dead Cities
4. The Earthling
5. The Plains Of Memories
6. Mount Regency
7. Frostrite
8. The Winter Eclipse
9. In A Deeper World


BORKNAGAR is:

- Øystein G. Brun: Clean & Electric Guitars (Cronian, ex-Molested)
- Vintersorg: Grim Vocals, Clean Vocals & Choirs (Vintersorg, Fission)
- Lars A. Nedland: Keys, Clean Vocals & Choirs (Solefald, ex-Carpathian Forest)
- Jens F. Ryland: Lead Guitars (ICS Vortex)
- ICS Vortex: Bass, Clean Vocals & Choirs (ex-Dimmu Burgir, Arcturus, ICS Vortex)
Drums and percussion on 'Urd' were performed by David Kinkade (Soulfly, ex-Malevolent Creation)

BORKNAGAR Live 2012:

- 4/4-7: Oslo (Norway) - Inferno Festival
- 4/13-14 - Lichtenfels (Germany) - Ragnarök Festival

Related links:
Click here to listen to Borknagar's "Roots"
Official Site of Borknagar
Borknagar on MySpace
Borknagar on Facebook
Century Media Records

KREATOR Announce NEW Album Title, Release Date & Exclusive 7“ Single!

German Thrash Metallers KREATOR, are proud to announce the album title of our upcoming release, which is coming this June!

The album is currently being produced at the famous Fascination Street Studio with renowned producer Jens Bogren (OPETH, KATATONIA, SOILWORK, DEVIN TOWNSEND, AMON AMARTH) in Örebro, Sweden.

Entitled 'Phantom Antichrist', this album marks the bands debut for Nuclear Blast and is set to be released June 1, 2012 (Europe), June 5, 2012 (North America)

Furthermore, KREATOR will also release an exclusive 7“ single of the titlesong on April 20, 2012. The collector's item will be available in coloured red vinyl (limited to 250 pieces) as well as in clear vinyl (limited to 250 pieces, exclusively available at the Nuclear Blast Mailorder – www.nuclearblast.de/shop).

KREATOR will exclusively perform a NEW song during their shows at this years METALFEST open air events!

Related links:
Official Site of Kreator
Kreator on Facebook
Kreator on Nuclear Blast Records

BORKNAGAR Reveals Album Cover & Tracklisting For 'Urd'

Norwegian avant-garde Metallers BORKNAGAR are now unveiling the cover artwork for their much anticipated NEW studio album, 'Urd', set to be released on March 26th, 2012 in Europe as well as March 27th, 2012 in North America via Century Media Records.

The album's artwork was designed by Brazilian artist Marcelo Vasco, who has not only already worked on the band's previous 'Universal' release, but also with artists such as Soulfly, Belphegor, Einherjer, and Keep Of Kalessin.

BORKNAGAR's mastermind Øystein G. Brun comments on the artwork:

"The cover and design for 'Urd' is spot on when it comes to portraying the very core of the band. This time around we wanted an earthly expression through our cover and general design to support and empower the main themes on the album. You can almost smell and feel the texture of the old Norse wooden carvings - still there is a sophisticated and eclectic approach to the expression that entwines perfectly into the music. Marcelo Vasco enhanced our ideas into brilliance, he painted the face of the beast that is about to be unleashed..."

BORKNAGAR has recently finalized mixing duties for the album with Jens Bogren at Sweden's Fascination Street Studios (Opeth, Paradise Lost, Katatonia, etc.). The track-listing for the 'Urd' is as follows:

1. Epochalypse
2. Roots
3. The Beauty Of Dead Cities
4. The Earthling
5. The Plains Of Memories
6. Mount Regency
7. Frostrite
8. The Winter Eclipse
9. In A Deeper World

The band previously explained the album title and its overall concept as follows:

"Our previous album was called 'Universal' and where should we go after an album title with such a magnitude? Well, we decided to head back home to earth. We really wanted to get back to the core of the band, where it all started - the admiration and pondering about nature and mankind's place therein. 'Urd' is the name of one of the norns that according to northern mythology stands under Yggdrasill and weaves the lifeline of mankind. 'Urd' is representing the past, while 'Verdande' is representing the present and 'Skuld' is representing the future. You might very well say that this is an ancient expression of what we today know as DNA. And I have always been very fascinated by the fact that parts and bits of our DNA actually derive from the very beginning of time. All living creatures are somewhat connected to the very first organic cell. That is some of the story behind the album title..."

BORKNAGAR is:

- Øystein G. Brun: Clean & Electric Guitars (Cronian, ex-Molested)
- Vintersorg: Grim Vocals, Clean Vocals & Choirs (Vintersorg, Fission)
- Lars A. Nedland: Keys, Clean Vocals & Choirs (Solefald, ex-Carpathian Forest)
- Jens F. Ryland: Lead Guitars (ICS Vortex)
- ICS Vortex: Bass, Clean Vocals & Choirs (ex-Dimmu Burgir, Arcturus, ICS Vortex)
Drums and percussion on 'Urd' were performed by David Kinkade (Soulfly, ex-Malevolent Creation)

BORKNAGAR Live 2012:

- 4/4-7: Oslo (Norway) - Inferno Festival
- 4/13-14 - Lichtenfels (Germany) - Ragnarök Festival

Related links:
Official Site of Borknagar
Borknagar on MySpace
Borknagar on Facebook
Century Media Records

Meshuggah Announce NEW Album Title!

Tomas Haake, drummer of the Kings of Swedish Metal, Meshuggah, has released the following update regarding the name of their seventh studio album:

“As always, we try to take our music in a slightly different direction with each album and with 'KOLOSS' we feel that we really nailed what we were going for. Organic brutality, viscera and groove all crammed into a 54-minute Metalicious treat, best avoided by the faint of heart!!”

Regarding the production of 'KOLOSS', this is what the band had to say about this:

"After a long time of deep soul searching and intense wrecking of the psyches, the new album is finally done. Soon you will meet this colossus that will pulverize your being. Welcome to the other side on March 27."

To this Meshuggah's shredder Fredrik Thordendal added:

"Yes, we are working on a new album and have been for a long time. I'm so excited about this one. We've always tried to change how we write songs to keep it exciting, but on recent albums we've also been moving further away from working together as a band. On this album, though, everyone is working together. Every day that we're in the studio, we'll play whatever song we're working on, record a demo version of it to analyze at home, and then come back the next day, talk about it and try to make it better. I think because of this, it's going to be our best album yet."

Related links:
Meshuggah's Official Site
Meshuggah on Facebook
Meshuggah on Twitter
Meshuggah on YouTube

BORKNAGAR Completes NEW Studio Album! Album Title & Release Dates Announced!

Norwegian Avant-garde Metallers BORKNAGAR have finalized mixing duties for their upcoming studio album with Jens Bogren at acclaimed Fascination Street Studios (Opeth, Paradise Lost, Katatonia, etc.) in Sweden, and they have now checked-in to announce that the long awaited NEW effort will be titled 'Urd' and is to be released on March 26th, 2012 in Europe as well as March 27th, 2012 in North America via Century Media Records.

BORKNAGAR's mastermind Øystein G. Brun has checked-in with the following message:

"Well, our new album 'Urd' was finished in mid-December and all in all we spent about 6 months to record, produce and mix it. In the 'Bork-World' this isn't really long, but I can assure you that we have never before invested so much time, energy and effort into one single production. It has been a tough, yet inspiring ride. Since June 2011 I have constantly been working with this album, recording, editing and so forth - day and night. The same goes for my comrades, never before have we made an album where everybody in the band has been so heavily involved and dedicated as this time around. 'Urd' is surely the peak of our musical journey so far and we are extremely proud to have made this giant of an album! It's massive, it's emotional, it's fast, it's slow, it's epic, and it's progressive...all the ingredients that we have crafted our musical world on! And not to mention the 'golden threesome' on vocals (Vintersorg, Mr. Vortex and Lazare) really shines on this album...Do I need to say more?!"

Furthermore, he explains the album title within the band's historical context as follows:

"Our previous album was called 'Universal' and where should we go after an album title with such a magnitude? Well, we decided to head back home to earth. We really wanted to get back to the core of the band, where it all started - the admiration and pondering about nature and mankind's place therein. 'Urd' is the name of one of the norns that according to northern mythology stands under Yggdrasill and weaves the lifeline of mankind. 'Urd' is representing the past, while 'Verdande' is representing the present and 'Skuld' is representing the future. You might very well say that this is an ancient expression of what we today know as DNA. And I have always been very fascinated by the fact that parts and bits of our DNA actually derive from the very beginning of time. All living creatures are somewhat connected to the very first organic cell. That is some of the story behind the album title..."

BORKNAGAR is:

- Øystein G. Brun: Clean & Electric Guitars (Cronian, ex-Molested)
- Vintersorg: Grim Vocals, Clean Vocals & Choirs (Vintersorg, Fission)
- Lars A. Nedland: Keys, Clean Vocals & Choirs (Solefald, ex-Carpathian Forest)
- Jens F. Ryland: Lead Guitars (ICS Vortex)
- ICS Vortex: Bass, Clean Vocals & Choirs (ex-Dimmu Burgir, Arcturus, ICS Vortex)
Drums and percussion on 'Urd' were performed by David Kinkade (Soulfly, ex-Malevolent Creation)

BORKNAGAR Live 2012:

- 4/4-7: Oslo (Norway) - Inferno Festival
- 4/13-14 - Lichtenfels (Germany) - Ragnarök Festival

Related links:
Official Site of Borknagar
Borknagar on MySpace
Borknagar on Facebook
Century Media Records