Website: www.opeth.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/opeth
Founded in 1990, Grammy award winning Swedish prog metal titans Opeth continue to garner plaudits worldwide by never pandering to scenes and genres and consistently producing the most original music in metal today. Widely acclaimed by the international press the band have ended up in numerous critical 'best of' lists with every album they have produced to date.
The band's 9th studio album "Watershed" was released in June 2008, backed up by a special limited edition which included expanded packaging, a 5.1 surround mix of the entire album, 3 bonus tracks and a 'making of' the album video selection. As well as scoring top album reviews in all major world wide press outlets the band saw the album reaching their highest chart positions to date with an entry of #23 in US Billboard Top 200 and various top ten chart entries throughout the rest of the world.
The band continuously toured the world in support of the album and continues to do so to this date. After taking part in the Progressive Nation tour in the US along with fellow prog metallers and label mates Dream Theater, they are scheduled to take the tour to Europe this fall. In the meantime, as customary, Opeth will play on the major European summer festivals.
March and April 2010 will see the band celebrate their 20th anniversary with 6 shows throughout Europe and the USA and with the release of a very special CD/DVD of their break-through album ‘Blackwater Park’ to be released through Sony in March.
Keep an eye out on the band's official website for up to date information on everything that will surround this remarkable achievement as well as the latest general news and detailed tour info.
Website: www.paradiselost.co.uk
MySpace: www.myspace.com/paradiselostuk
After 12 albums and over one million sales, Paradise Lost can claim to be the godfathers of Gothic metal having influenced generations of bands with their blend of metal and gothic overtones.
In 2007 the band has been subject of a documentary DVD release entitled "Over the Madness" which charts how the band have influenced other acts in the "cult of gothic metal". In 2008 Paradise Lost celebrated their 20th anniversary and, along with other special events, they released a live CD, CD/DVD (Ltd Edition) and DVD, all entitled "Anatomy of Melancholy" which was filmed at the London Koko in April, 2007. 2009 has seen the CD release of "Drown In Darkness - The Early Demos", a unique collection of early demo tapes and singles.
Current highlight is the release of a new studio album called “Faith Divides, Death Unites”, recorded in Örebro, Sweden by the very capable hands of producer Jens Bogren, best known for his work with Katatonia, Amon Amarth and, of course Opeth. The album saw its release on September 28th, 2009 and was backed up by an extensive European tour that ran from October throughout December. Faith Divides Us, Death Unites Us saw the band return to their trademark and influential riffing, raising the bar to a new height once more
Selected European Summer festival dates have been confirmed so far as well as a three day Australian tour and a few selected European dates in February. Please see the band's official website for more detailed information.
Website: www.oceansize.co.uk
MySpace: www.myspace.com/oceansizeuk
Manchester 5 piece Oceansize received huge critical acclaim for their two albums "Effloresce", and "Everyone into Position", which were released by Beggars banquet, the latter album spawning a series of syncs for the track "Music for a Nurse" which was used worldwide in the Orange mobile phone advert, the bands music is proving so popular for use in dramas and films that they have recently set up their own publishing company: Ornamental Songs Ltd.
The band released their third album, entitled "Frames", late 2007 to critical acclaim. Since then, the bands schedule has been busy with touring and promoting it. They did however, find time over Christmas to record and release over MySpace, a copy of their version of the song called 'The Snowman' made famous by the likes of Alled Jones many years ago.
"Feed To Feed", a 3DVD/4CD limited edition box set was released in September, 2009. The box set is taken from a series of three gigs the band played at Manchester's Roadhouse in October 2008 to celebrate their tenth anniversary as a band. Each gig was dedicated to a single Oceansize album - "Effloresce", "Everyone into Position" and 2007's "Frames". As well as nine hours of visual footage the box set also contains 3 audio CD's and a 4th bonus audio disc (with encores). The band have compiled the ultimate Oceansize DVD and CD package which the fans were quick to recognize as the 5000 units sold out in no time.
The future will see Oceansize go from strength to strength as they continue to tour and dazzle with their own immutable style. A new studio album is being planned for Fall this year.
Website: www.inmeofficial.co.uk
MySpace: www.myspace.com/inmeofficial
After their first two albums, which saw them dominate the UK charts, the band regrouped with Greg McPherson replacing Joe Morgan on bass and wrote the 2007 album "Daydream Anonymous" which was recorded and produced by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden.
Released in September 2007 by Northern Music co Ltd sister label Graphite Records in the UK and by JVC / Victor in Japan 'Daydream Anonymous showed a band more ambitious and more determined to move forward in which they greatly succeeded.
The band went back to the studio late 2008 to record the follow up album now entitled "Herald Moth' which was set for a September 7th, 2009 release in the UK though Graphite Records and released in November through Superball Music in the rest of Europe. A handful of UK shows were already played in April where the band performed a few tracks of the upcoming album to a very excited audience.
A new UK tour is now set for February followed by a number of shows in Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands. More news on "Herald Moth” and upcoming shows can be found on the band's official website
Website: www.katatonia.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/katatonia
Immediately after their 1993 debut album 'Dance of December Souls' Sweden's Katatonia joined the ranks of My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost and Anathema, showing the world that the UK did not hold the exclusive rights to quality Doom Metal. Upon release the album became an instant classic within its genre and showed a firm statement of a band with a very bright future.
Still, it took 4 years to release their second studio album "Brave Murder Day", featuring Opeth's Mikael Åkerfeldt on vocals. It was their first album to be released world wide through metal giant Century Media and it became an instant hit. Despite the many line-up changes, the band continued to release studio albums throughout the '90s and early '00s, each of which showing a graduate change in the band's sound until the point that the band could hardy be categorized anymore. Whichever box you'd like to put them in, fact remains that this is a hugely unique and versatile band that inspired many of today's great rock and metal artists.
Katatonia recorded their 8th full-length studio album ‘Night Is The New Day” in Stockholm, Sweden early 2009 which got released on November 2nd in Europe and November 10th in North America. The album so far has seen tremendous critical acclaim, being hailed by many as the best album of 2009 within its genre. The first single ‘Day & Then The Shade’ will be released February 1st followed by a second single on March 15th.
The upcoming European tour, dubbed ‘New Night Over Europe’, will run from March through April followed by major European Summer festivals and a North American club tour.
More news on the upcoming singles and touring plans to be found on the band’s official website
Website: http://bloodbath.biz
MySpace: www.myspace.com/bloodbathband
What started off as a group of friends who wanted to let off some steam while paying homage to old school death metal legends such as Entombed and Napalm Death quickly became a full fledged super band, receiving huge critical acclaim immediately after the release of their first '99 EP 'Breeding Death' even though this was no more than a few tracks that were quickly put together during their initial jam sessions.
The band, currently consisting of Opeth's Mikael Åkerfeldt & Martin Axenrot, Katatonia's Anders Nyström & Jonas Renske and latest member Per Eriksson (21 Lucifers, Genocrush, Ferox), has since produced three full length studio albums, a second EP and a legendary live album recorded at the world's biggest metal fest; Wacken Open Air in 2008.
Their latest album, "The Fathomless Mastery" was released world wide by Peaceville Records in October 2008 and has reinforced the band's super group status even further.
Despite the members' busy activities with their main bands, they still tour as Bloodbath wherever possible and 2010 will see them play a number of Europe's biggest summer festivals. To see which ones, be sure to check out their official website for the latest info.
Website: www.whitelightparade.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/whitelightparade
Newest members of the NMC family are White Light Parade. While still fairly unknown the band have toured the UK supporting 'Switches', 'Kasabian' and other well established artists in 2007. Turning point came in when 2008 saw the release of the two singles which were extremely well received by the critics. The debut single 'Wait for the Weekend' entered the UK Indie Charts at a very respectable 17th position and the single's b-side 'Riot in the City' was featured on the multi-million selling video game Grand Theft Auto IV. After the release of their second single 'Turning All The Lights Down' the band spent the rest of the year promoting it through extensive touring.
All this was more than enough to attract the attention of multiple record labels which led to the band inking a deal with London based Split Records. The band went on to record their debut album 'House of Commons' which got released on May 25th 2009.
Armed with a fantastic album, great musicianship, tons of dedication and a truck load of enthusiasm White Light Parade is ready to conquer the planet. Be sure to keep an eye out on their on their official band website or MySpace page.
Website: www.fascinationstreet.se
Besides all bands mentioned above, Northern Music Company also represents Swedish producer Jens Bogren who came to our attention on the production and mix of Opeth's "Ghost Reveries".
Jens is a multi-talented producer, mixer and engineer who has worked on albums by Katatonia, Soilwork, God Forbid, Amon Amarth and Symphony X amongst others. Residing in his residential studio in Orebro, Sweden Jens is the man to make any album sound fantastic. Jens is currently working on projects for Enslaved and Turisas.
To see which other bands Jens will be working on in 2010 or to watch his show reel, please be sure to check out his website: http://www.fascinationstreet.se
Websites: www.jancyrka.com & www.bluesjamtracks.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/jancyrka
Formerly "Flash Bastard" in Zodiac Mindwarp's Love reaction, Jan is probably one of the most formative guitarist in the UK having released three solo albums, more recently he has turned his attention to being one of the most sought after producers of jingles and soundtracks.
What have 'Oil of Olay' and 'Toyota' got in common? The music in the ads is by Jan Cyrka.
Jan's current project is the launch of www.bluesjamtracks.com - a website where people can purchase backing tracks to play along to their favourite Rock / Blues tunes.
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