Darkane – Inhumanly strong

Posted on 09/09/2022 by pnille61

On July 1, 2022, Swedish thrash metal band Darkane (Helsingborg/Landskrona/metalsouth region) entered the scene in ‘Grytan’ (‘The Pot’) at 9:40 p.m. as a part of the Helsingborg city festival, HX. Light rain and we were so lucky to be there and to experience this fantastic gig.

On June 24, 2022, Darkane released a new album ‘Inhuman Spirits’ (Massacre Records, 2022), which is their first studio album in 9 years. When we back on December 3, 2016, were lucky to have tickets for Peter Wildoer’s and Christopher Malmström’s metal clinic at Dunkers in Helsingborg the question to them both was natural. Is Darkane working on a new album? The answer also from them both was quite mysterious, but created a positive sense, which the crowd collectively applauded. Something was definitely going on. Time flew and fans patiently waited and started to question a release. Was this the album, which never was meant to be produced? The waiting was rewarded, since it’s tremendously inhumanly strong.

The album speaks for itself and its totally recommended, as being on the highest metal level. To listen to the album the vinyl way ‘side by side/track by track’ is, of course, the recommended way, but for the streaming listener tracks like ‘Inhuman Sprits, The Quintessence Of Evil and A Spiral To Nothing’ are great to warm up the speakers with.

Please, let us pay back to the band (Peter Wildoer/drums, Christopher Malmström/guitars, Lawrence Mackrory/vocals, Jörgen Löfberg/bass and Klas Ideberg/guitars) by posting some happy impressions below from the intense event in the Pot.

Family gathering surprise

Former band members and singers Andreas Sydow (1999-2007) and Jens Broman (2007-2011) were welcomed up on stage by Lawrence by the words: ‘Well, Darkane has been doing this for 24 years now (formed in 1998) and it’s time to welcome up former singers and Darkane family members Andreas and Jens’. The ‘Chaos vs Order’ performance was magical!

Must have’s in vinyl collection

In order to not only recommend the purchasing of any Darkane vinyl you can get your hands on also tempting by posting these extremely good cover art works. The albums are all worth to listen to, but covers may also be put in vinyl frames, e.g. the show and listen type.

From own collection: Inhuman Spritis (Massacre Record, 2022), Rusted Angel (Massacre Records, 1998/2022), Insanity (Massacre Records, 2001/2022)

From own collection: Inhuman Sprits (Massacre Records, 2022).

A C D C P W R U P

Posted on 21/11/2020 by pnille61

In hard times the search for the positive is important. All of a sudden something happens that helps you to scatter heavy thoughts and reminds you to smile and laugh again. It was not really expected for an old AC/DC fan like myself…been there since the start in 1973…that a new album would be released. Brian Johnson, Phil Rudd, Cliff Williams are all unexpectedly back and Stevie Young is there again taking the place of the deeply missed Malcolm Young, who passed away in 2017. Angus Young gives the impression to never retire and will surely produce AC/DC riffs in one form or the other.

In connection to the recent release, I read some reviews in Swedish media with only a few really good beats of ‘Shot In The Dark’ from the Power Up album (Columbia, Nov. 13, 2020) in mind. The grading of 1-5, normally, or 1-10, messes up my expectations of the album and the ones I read gave only 3 of 5 with rather uninspired comments. These reviews give a feeling that the album has not been listened through enough times to form the base of a fair review. It has also been interesting to follow the marketing campaign of the album on social media and Brian Johnson in one clip explains that the main reason of the album is ‘to create some happiness, laughs and pay tribute to Malcolm’.

In that sense, this is a top album with a top-top score from metalsouth. It creates happiness, gives a lot of laughs and brings forward the positivism now heavily needed. The sound is technically perfect and the songs are without order all worth to listen through…at high volume. Thanks to the AC/DC boys for the hard work, which now creates hope for better times. Mission accomplished!

**Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden, July 19, 2015.**

The Guilt – New Knives

Posted on 20/03/2020 by pnille61

‘Never underestimate the therapeutical power of driving and listening to very loud music’. This is the introductory sentence in the metalsouth welcoming in October 2013.

Picture this: The Helsingborg based punkrock duo, The Guilt, released their second album on March 13, 2020, New Knives (Heptown Records, 2020).

We analogue driven nerds at metalsouth have listened to this fantastic album streamed via wifi based Sonos speakers and picked up at Spotify. We have also downloaded this pulse increasing intense album via Itunes for only 99 SEK. We have downloaded it from Itunes to an Ipod Classic. We have listened to this dance stimulating album while driving to shop for groceries for ourselves and our old mother being isolated in these disturbing times. Technically arranged by connecting the Ipod Classic to the car stereo via aux cable.

It makes us feel better to listen to great music like this and we are grateful to bands like The Guilt to help out in these tough and worrying times. Therefore, with all cancelled live gigs in mind and always relevant stream, download, buy music, as much as possible. We, the nerds at metalsouth, now also know that the album New Knives can be purchased on vinyl. Take care!

https://www.facebook.com/theguiltsweden/

Recommended tracks: Enemy, New Knives, I Have No Invitation, Stick to Your Guns…but, enjoy all tracks in a really compact production.

Swedish energy for Record Store Day

Posted on 13/04/2019 by pnille61

Record Store Day is here today, Saturday April 13, 2019, and we must take the opportunity to pay tribute to a couple of current Swedish hard rock-and metal productions. The Vinyl has become the natural choice for us when buying music and we would like recommend 6 albums, which are with Swedish origin.

Thundermother, Thundermother (Despotz records, 2018), formed by Filippa Nässil in Växjö 2009. A new and cruel line-up was formed in March 2017, which is right now harvesting on hard work on a tour in Europe.

Tribulation, Down Below (Century Media Records Ltd., 2018), formed in Arvika 2005. This and the previous album ‘The Children Of The Night’ (Century Media Records Ltd., 2015) voted Best Metal albums in their respective years of The Close-Up Magazine. More material on Tribulation from last summer is to be to found at this site.

Candlemass, The Door to Doom (Napalm Records Handels Gmbh, 2019), formed in Upplands Väsby 1984. The album is definitely a candidate for best metal album this year. With tracks like ‘Black Trinity’ and ‘House of Doom’ fantastic energy is created.

VA Rocks, Pull No Punches (Blackstar/Epiphone, 2016), Ida Svensson Vollmer, Klara Wedding and Frida Rosén had played together for 10 years when their first album was released in 2016. Their home base is Lund. Also now touring Europe adding massive groups of new fans with their AC/DC inspired sound and energy. Why not visit http://www.varocksofficial.com

Soilwork, Verkligheten (Nuclear Blast Gmbh, 2019), an all through metalsouth favorite, one of the reasons to start this site, with its roots in the next door village, Glumslöv. Started as Inferior Breed in 1995 and name changed to Soilwork 1996. ‘The Nurturing Glance’ and ‘Stålfågel’ kicks you right into this fantastic album.

Skraekoedlan, Eorpe (Fuzzorama Records, 2018), formed 2009 in Norrköping, the stoner influenced sound in theme produced albums has proven a success. The album needs to be listened through from first to last track…some knowledge in the Swedish language will help to get the story, but the music itself stands perfectly well!!

Have a great Record Store Day and buy buy buy!!

The Albums Of The Year!

Posted on 02/01/2016 by pnille61

A few days into the new year 2016 it feels necessary to put in a few words on the passed fantastic year 2015 of heavy metal and hard rock stemming from the metalsouth region. Numerous good albums have been released and highly effectful gigs are still fresh in memory.

Albums we would like to give honorable mentions to are 3 albums related to the metalsouth region, 1 album related to the northern part of Sweden and 2 US origin albums. Please, find the listing below first and foremost as highly recommended listenings and not as a serious attempt to make technical-or classifying analysis. It’s all about the feelings, but one album still, we feel, with a little stronger sense!!

The Sword, High Country, US (Razor & Tie Recordings LLC, 2015).

The Sword has become us very warm at heart since the gig at KB, Malmö, together with Black Temple. The albums still grows by each listening.

Clutch, Psychic Warfare, US (Weathermaker Music LLC, 2015).

The album is highly listed in most Swedish Metal press and even the highest in some. The only pain is connected to our missing out of their tour passing by Copenhagen and Gothenburg. We hope for another chance towards the summer.

Refused, Freedom, SE (Epitaph Europe, 2015).

Swedish hardcore from Umeå. The album is an absolute must and the variation from song to song creates curiosity and the moment of surprises are many. A top album, which makes us book their coming gig at KB, Malmö, on Feb.26, 2016.

Hatesphere, New Hell, DK (Massacre-records, 2015).

A really close an great encounter when supporting Soilwork at KB, Malmö. The album gives us joy and a wish to go back in the bands career. A great live band with many humorous connections to the audience.

Soilwork, The Ride Majestic, SE (Nuclear Blast Records, 2015). Fantastic and goes without saying another masterpiece from band with roots in Helsingborg, Glumslöv and Landskrona (can it be more metalsouth…?). Earlier mentioned the great gig at KB, Malmö, together with T.A.N.K. (FR) and Hatespere (DK).

Black Temple, It All Ends, SE (Razzia Notes, Century Media, 2015).

Last, but not least in our listing comes this phenomenal first album under the Black Temple name. The band has successfully toured heavily with The Sword and Swedish metal giants In Flames. Both events are covered at this blog.

We have during 2015 seen great concerts like AC DC at Friends arena, The Sword, Soilwork, Black Temple, Hatesphere and T.A.N.K. at KB Malmö. Danko Jones was angry at The Tivoli, Helsingborg, for the closing down of the club. Devil You Know, Papa Roach and Five Finger Death Punch played at the Tap 1 in Copenhagen, the same evening as the Snow Ball Xmas Beer introduction.

‘It’s all about the feelings’ and strong feelings we have from this year, but we would like to put forward Black Temple as the ‘hardest working band of 2015’, with its roots in this region and with the ‘best album of the year’, ‘It All Ends’. By this we would like to see the band at more occasions and at festivals coming up during 2016. We take the opportunity to congratulate Black Temple of taking part at the ‘MetalTown 2016 Indoors festival’ on March 12, 2016, at Trädgår’n in Gothenburg!! 2016 has all the great possibilities to be a great heavy metal year!!

Latest buys – new and used!

Posted on 14/10/2015 by pnille61

New buys:

Clutch, Psychic Warfare, (Weathermaker Music LLC, 2015)

Slayer, Repentless, (Nuclear Blast, 2015)

Delivered by: http://www.ginza.se

Used CD’s:

Dregen, Dregen (Universal Music, 2013)

In Flames, A Sense of Purpose (Nuclear Blast, 2008)

Slayer, Undisputed Attitude (American Recordings, 1996)

Purchased at the excellent store in Helsingborg for used CD’s and vinyls:

http://www.roadhouze.se/

To be enjoyed on numerous train comuting rides to and from a new working place, still in the metalsouth region, of course, and to be commented upon later.

Immortalized – Disturbed is back with high energy!

Posted on 17/09/2015 by pnille61

We discussed this summer a sneaking urge to take up Disturbed again and investigate their comeback on the scenes and record production. Happily enough we stated that the album Immortalized was on its way.

My first encounter with the band was important when taking up a more active listening to hard rock and metal again after intense years with family life and the raising of 3 small children. Loads of soccer-, basketball-and gymnastics practices and tournaments kept bad thoughts and ghosts out of my head!! The children in that sense also were and are still life savers.

Those five years ago I paid a visit to a bancruptcy sale to one of two record stores in Helsingborg. I walked around the store and stopped a while at some for me unknown bands, but with a great will to make new musical discoveries. A big hand at the end of a heavily tatooed arm picked up a CD and said: ‘You’d better try this out. I think you will like it!’ I turned around and a man in dark leather clothes, at least 210 cm above the surface looked pretty violent, but had the kindest tone of voice. ‘Try them out, listen carefully and try to find the nuance and listen to the great singing. It would be nice if we by coincidence meet somewhere so I can to hear what you think!!’ I have never met the man again, but he comes back in my thoughts as the great representative of the unspoken friendship and kindness I feel in almost all cases of visiting festivals, concerts and smaller gigs! Hard rock makes people come together!

The album I purchased from the man’s recommendation was ‘The Sickness, 10th Anniversary Edition’ (Reprise Records/Warners, 2010). I have therafter also here aquired all their albums. ‘Immortalized’ (Reprise Records/Warners, 2015) stands up to the high quality Disturbed represents. The singing is as always outstanding from David Draiman and all instruments are skillfully handled by Dan Donegan (guitars), Mike Wengren (drums, percussion) and John Moyer (bass). This album’s cover song of Simon and Garfunkel ‘The Sound of Silence’ is only proof of succesful risk taking, but great entertainment. One of their best covers, for sure. Songs like ‘Open Your Eyes’ and ‘What Are You Waiting For’ makes us happy that Disturbed is back again after four years with this great production! The North America Tour 2015/2016 seems to be more or less sold out and we can only be ready for the release of European tour dates!!

Roadhouze Records – a life line!

Posted on 04/09/2015 by pnille61

Hej, and only briefly to give credit to a great record store with the focus on used CD’s, vinyls and DVD’s.

Taking my regular Friday ‘pad-on-my-own-shoulder-for-a-good-week-lunch-walk’. After a really nice talk with the really knowledgeable staff I returned with records of Hatesphere (the sickness within, Steamhammer, 2005), Entombed (Serpent Saints, Candlelight, 2007), Entombed (Entombed, Earache Records, 1997), Scott Walker (Tilt, Mercury Records, 1995) and Scott Walker (the Drift, 4AD Ltd., 2006). My weekend is in a fantastic way saved! Thanks to Roadhouze Records and its staff. And notice, please, the price is 79 SEK (8 EUR) per record!!

hatesphere-1

scott walker-the drift

Scott Walker-Tilt

Check it out via:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Roadhouze-Records/1610015319285739

http://www.roadhouze.se/

Have a really nice weekend! /metalsouth

Masters of Intro’s

Posted on 09/05/2015 by pnille61

Alter Bridge (Roadrunner Recors, 2013)

After another intense period of work, meaning frustration over not being able to maintain my main interest of great hard and loud music I ‘forced’ myself to order the since a few weeks released Soilwork Live in Helsinki DVD. When opening up the http://www.ginza.se site to place my order I just came to think about the 2013 Alter Bridge release ‘Fortress’. Alter Bridge has been on my best band list ever since my good and knowledgeable colleague recommended them a few years back. I was shortly thereafter and experienced a stunning live performance at Store Vega in Copenhagen, November 10, 2011. Myles Kennedy made a permanent impression in me that evening. Everyone knew that he had been struggling with an infection, but still running through the listed tour gigs and the evening before in Gothenburg, Sweden. Black Stone Cherry supported and were in a fantastic mood and made the whole building happy. When Alter Bridge came on stage some tension could be felt and Myles Kennedy had some problems…it was obvious. After an stumbling introductory song ‘Slip To The Void’ Myles turned to the audience and apologised and added: ‘I have some shit with my throat, I will do my best, but what the fuck…you will help me, won’t you!!! The respons was so massive I felt the roof would pop off Store Vega. It was the hard working hard rocking artist in a hard working band who spoke and still did the best he could for the fans. The week before our daughter’s highly expected and wished for concert with Rihanna was cancelled just before they were to enter the arena. The comparison needs no further saying.

The Album Fortress is Alter Bridge’s fourth studio album and it’s lifegiving!! It’s to be noted after a few listenings how well the songs are built up, paces are shifted, instruments and singing are concrete and clear. I can only smile when song after song is built up after fantastic intro’s. Each song stands alone and altogether make an astonishing album product when the order of the songs are well planned. If one song is to be picked in order to picture this analysis it will have to be Track 5 ‘The Uninvited’. No comments – just listen and enjoy!!

Scott Phillips (drums), Mark Tremonti (guitar and vocals), Myles Kennedy (vocals and guitar) and Brian Marshall (bass), thank you for the best inspiration and energy…it’s a ‘Wonderful Life’!!

Four Albums of a Christmas Eve!

Posted on 28/12/2014 by pnille61

Christmas with all its expectations, hopes and stress. The holiday which should give a great possibility for harmony and energy intake very often ends up in family drama and stress. What could be a better prevention action than to order some of the recently released albums and in my case read about, but not yet listened to. Since, I cannot longer go into a record store to buy new releases (still, used cd’s and vinyls are doing pretty well in Sweden in the old format of a record store managed by a very knowledgeable person), my new procedure of ordering records on the internet works very well. The delivery time is normally 1-3 days and the waiting time brings back the feeling of waiting for the weekly Spiderman magazine I received as a small boy. My order this time was placed a week before Christmas and the pack landed the day before Christmas Eve. The opportunity was then given to wrap the cd’s, put a sticker on with my name with Santa as the giver and to be placed under the Christmas tree just in time for Christmas Eve. At least one Christmas gift had now been secured for the metalhead, the ousider of the family.

I can therefore only promote http://www.ginza.se as a great on line purchase site with a great range of old and new music in all categories. Also their long list of films is impressive. With a very surprised face I opened up the Christmas gift with the following titles:

AC DC, Rock or Bust (Colombia Music, Sony Music, 2014):

The band has a special place in my heart. It was formed in 1973 when I was 12 years old. I picked them up towards the end of the 70’s and has followed them closely ever since. My three time live encounter (Paris, Gothenburg, Stockholm) with the band during their 2009-2010 Black Ice Tour created memories for life. After a first listening of the Rock or Bust album my happy feeling flows in the direction of the Friends arena July 19, 2015. When my whole family and my brother will be happy concert goers among 50.000 more! The album has great potential with its new set up (Stevie Young replaces Malcolm ‘the great’!) and deserves a higher score than the 3 out of 5 as I have seen in most reviews.

Entombed A D, Back To The Front (Century Media Records Ltd, 2014):

Another band with a new set up. The band was formed this year after the former Entombed broke up right in the middle of a very press covered new record production. Alex Hellid, guitarist and a member from the start left the band and concerns have been risen if the sound also would leave with him. After a first listening through at the gym yesterday I must say I have severe body ache and a lust of listening to it again today. The sound is still there and this Death ‘n’ roll still with a cruel L-G Petrov on song makes it listenable for a broader group.

Black Stone Cherry, Magic Mountain (Roadrunner Records, 2014):

When L-G Petrov’s cruel voice has pounded all of my ghosts away Black Stone Cherry’s southern blues oriented riff based rock fits fine. Even lyrics are possible to follow and in some cases to sing-a-long. I like this alot and their live performance at the Store Vega in Copenhagen together with Alter Bridge November 10, 2011, is among the best I’ve seen and heard.

Slipknot, .5: The Gray Chapter (Roadrunner Records, 2014):

My first encounter with the band was at the Metaltown festival in Gothenburg in 2010 visted together with our oldest son. He and his friends had a period end of the 90’s when Slipknot coloured their musical life. This was the introduction for me into the genre of ‘nu-metal’ with the more intense listening to bands like Slipnot and Korn. A review will here come later. Requires some focus and a few times more of listening than normal. The first few tracks now in the background makes me think about trying to get tickets to their concert in Stockholm in February!!

In conclusion, of this post, there will be more concrete impressions from these albums later. The above written may give the impression of a depressed Christmas, still in retrospect it has been good and our house is full of our dearest children, now adults and in great relations. The music here described is not my highest priority, but only a sweet addition to what is the most important in life – FAMILY!

metalsouth

Metalsouth in Helsingborg, Sweden.

Category Archives: The Album of the Day!