Showing posts with label All Noir PR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label All Noir PR. Show all posts

Friday, 10 July 2026

BESVÄRJELSEN reveal lyric video power ballad 'Drifters on a Quiet Stream' taken from forthcoming new album "Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem"


Swedish forest rockers BESVÄRJELSEN unveil the beautiful lyric video 'Drifters on a Quiet Stream'. This power ballad comes in watercolour style with images bearing strange fruit as inspired by the album cover of their forthcoming third full-length "Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem" (Swedish and Latin for: "Into Oblivion").

"Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem" is scheduled for release on August 28, 2026, via Magnetic Eye Records. The album is available for pre-order here: https://spkr.store/collections/besvarjelsen


BESVÄRJELSEN comment: "'Drifters on a Quiet Stream' had the working title 'Elton' as Elton John was one of the musical inspirations for this song", drummer Erik Bäckwall reveals. "The intro and main riff was originally intended to be a part of another song. When I got our former bass player Johan to listen to the riff, he rather advised me to create a completely new song from this part. I am really glad now that I did that."

Lea Amling Alazam adds: "This track explores the ever-present companion of the self – the voice that follows you through life, both to comfort and to critique", the vocalist explains. "It is the quiet presence on your shoulder. When writing those lyrics, I revisited an old notebook and found a phrase I had once scribbled down: '...my ghost and I'. I'm not sure where I first came across this idea, but it stayed with me. It felt like a beautiful and honest way to describe living alongside your own anxiety, and I knew from the start that I wanted to build something around it."


Tracklist

01. The Greatest Sin
02. Accelerating Hearts
03. Battles
04. Counting Flies
05. Drifters on a Quiet Stream
06. The Mountain
07. Pulse
08. Interlude
09. Didn't Come to Party
10. Black Wave
11. Oblivion


Swedes are supposed to be cool, and musically, BESVÄRJELSEN sure live up to that stereotype in the best possible way. What the self-proclaimed forest rockers deliver on their third full-length "Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem" is so cool, in fact, that it's a hot early candidate for rock album of the year.

The 'forest rock' moniker is the Swedes' tongue-in-cheek answer to the term 'desert rock', which stylistically provides a great starting point to describe their particular musical brand. Being surrounded not by an abundance of sand but trees in their home province of Dalarna, it was also an obvious choice. On "Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem", BESVÄRJELSEN keep a profound punk-infused attitude, but have broadened their sound with a wide variety of sonic colours including blues, ska, metal, jazz and everything around and in between as long as it fits the mood of the song.

Add exceptional vocalist Lea Amling Alazam, who developed her passion for punk and stoner rock at the local skate park when she was just 13 years old, to the band's plethora of riveting hooks and riffs, and you get an album that feels fresh and ready to deliver surprises for months if not years to come. If there is any justice, "Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem" should make BESVÄRJELSEN as famous as the iconic wooden Dala horses that every tourist who visits the country takes home to put on their shelves.

That BESVÄRJELSEN were on the road to greatness became apparent on their previous album, "Atlas" (2022). This record received the prestigious Swedish Manifestgalan Award for "Metal Album of the Year" by the Swedish Independent Music Producers and partners, which crowned a string of excellent reviews around the globe.

BESVÄRJELSEN were co-founded by guitarists and vocalists Andreas Bajer and Staffan Vinrot in 2014. Their musical vision was based on the idea to channel the spirit and traditions of the vast Dalarna forests into a contemporary urban context. On this ancient crossroads of Norse and Finnish cultures, the echoes of runes and gods, shamans and spirits still linger. While drawing heavy inspiration from local lore, mysticism, and the dark, old musical traditions of their homeland, the band name was found in the old Swedish word for "conjuring": BESVÄRJELSEN.

While the band's story has its roots in the past of the land, the present came boldly knocking to demand its due. With the discovery of Lea Amling Alazam and her captivating vocals, the plot took a fascinating twist: She had grown up with her feet in more than one world. Accordingly, the charismatic singer added a fresh approach by embracing melodies and phrases of the grunge and emo sounds that defined her youth as well as African and Middle Eastern music with characteristic bluesy undertones.

In 2015, BESVÄRJELSEN released their debut EP "Villfarelser", followed by the "Exil" EP in 2016. At the time, former DOZER and GREENLEAF drummer Erik Bäckwall joined the line-up as a permanent member. Although both EPs were self-financed and released with minimal promotion, they ended up well-received, and even got airplay on Swedish national radio.

The Swedes' debut full-length "Vallmo" (2018) merged crushing riffs and storming drums with increasingly sophisticated melodies and thoughtful themes, even earning the band a festival slot opening for DEEP PURPLE. This paved the way for BESVÄRJELSEN to record their sophomore album "Atlas" with producer and drummer Karl Daniel Lidén (GREENLEAF, DOZER, CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX) in 2021.

With "Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem", BESVÄRJELSEN have conjured 'Into Oblivion' twice, in both Swedish and Latin, but the spellbinding five-piece also deliver a cathartic rock album that will rank among the finest heavy releases of the genre and beyond in 2026

Line-up

Lea Amling Alazam – vocals
Staffan Vinrot – guitars, vocals (& accordion, violin, keys, keyed fiddle)
Andreas Bajer – guitars, vocals
Erik Bäckwall – drums
Marcus Lindqvist – bass

Guest musicians

Fred Burman (SATAN TAKES A HOLIDAY) – lead & backing vocals on 'Accelerating Hearts' & backing vocals on 'Didn't Come to Party'
Pelle Andersson (LOWRIDER) – organ on 'Black Wave'

Recorded by Andreas Baier & Marcus Lindqvist at Glashuset, Ludvika (SE)
Mix & mastering by Karl Daniel Lidén at Tri-Lamb Audio Studios, Solna (SE)

Cover art by Björn Olars
Layout by Erik Bäckwall

Links



Thanks to All Noir PR for the details.

Wednesday, 8 July 2026

ELDER Return to Australia for 2027 Headline Tour With Special Guests KHAN!

Photo: Leon de Backer

After more than a decade, progressive psychedelic rock heavyweights ELDER are finally heading back Down Under. The band has announced a string of Australian headline dates for May 2027, joined by special guests KHAN. Tickets are now on sale via www.beholdtheelder.com

The announcement arrives as ELDER continue their busy 2026 schedule, currently performing at major European summer festivals before embarking on an extensive North American headline tour this September, with BASK and BLACKWATER HOLYLIGHT joining the band on selected dates. Following a run of European shows with TEMPLE FANG and REZN in early 2027, ELDER will finally make their long-awaited return to Australia, bringing material from their acclaimed new album Through Zero alongside fan favourites from across their ever-evolving catalogue.

Regarding their long-awaited return, the band comments:

"For over a decade we’ve been waiting for things to line up for us to finally get back to Australia, and we’re extremely stoked this finally came together! We had so many great times and met so many lovely people on our first trip in 2015 and are more than looking forward to returning with the 10+ years of new music we’ve made since then. Of course we’ll bring a generous helping of our new record Through Zero alongside our older repertoire. Get those tickets and we’ll see you down under!"


Upcoming ELDER Live Dates Europe 2026:

10.07. Pleszew, PL - Red Smoke Festival
11.07. Alperstedter See Erfurt, DE - Stoned From The Underground
23.07. Reutlingen, DE - Hafensounds Festival w/ Kadavar
24.07. Budapest, HU - Monolit Festival
25.07. Tolmin, SI - Tolminator Festival
26.07. Milan, IT - Circolo Magnolia Summer
28.07. Rockstadt, RO - Rockstadt Extreme Fest
30.07. Breitenbach am Herzberg, DE - Burg Herzberg Festival
31.07. Michelau, DE - Rock Im Wald
04.08. Rostock, DE - MAU Club
05.08. Josefov-Jaromer, CZ - Brutal Assault Festial
08.08. Âncora, PT - Sonic Blast Festival
14.08. Valais, CH - PALP Festival

ELDER North America 2026:

September 09 - Richmond, VA - The Broadberry*
September 10 - Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel*
September 11 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade*
September 13 - Levitation Festival
September 16 - Mesa, AZ - Nile Theater‡
September 17 - San Diego, CA - Music Box‡
September 18 - Los Angeles, CA - Regent Theater‡
September 19 - San Jose, CA - The Ritz ‡
September 21 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre‡
September 22 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater‡
September 23 - Seattle, WA - Neptune Theatre‡
September 25 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge‡
September 26 - Denver, CO - Federal Theater‡
September 28 - Chicago, IL - Avondale Music Hall‡
September 30 - Toronto, ON - Opera House‡
October 01 - Montreal, QC - Theatre Fairmount‡
October 02 - New York, NY - Webster Hall‡
October 03 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club‡

with Bask
‡ with Blackwater Holylight

ELDER Europe / UK 2027

with TEMPLE FANG and REZN:

3rd Feb - Oberhausen - Kulttempel
4th Feb - Brussels - Botanique
5th Feb - Amsterdam - Melkweg
6th Feb - Hamburg - Gruenspan
8th Feb - Gothenburg - Monument
9th Feb - Oslo - Rockefeller Music Hall
11th Feb - Stockholm - Kollektivet Livet
12th Feb - Copenhagen - Pumpehuset
13th Feb - Berlin - Festsaal Kreuzberg
14th Feb - Leipzig - UT Connewitz
16th Feb - Prague - Futurum Music Bar
17th Feb - Vienna - Flex
18th Feb - Munich - Technikum
19th Feb - Zurich - Plaza
20th Feb - Saarbrucken - Garage
21st Feb - Paris - Trabendo
23rd Feb - Bristol - Trinity Centre
24th Feb - Leeds - Brudenell Social Club - Main Room
25th Feb - Glasgow - The Garage
26th Feb - Manchester - Academy 2
27th Feb - London - Electric Brixton


Two decades into their existence, ELDER remain an anomaly in the heavy underground - a rare band with the ability to absorb and shed influences from a myriad of genres without falling into pastiche or losing their own identity. Their new studio offering, Through Zero, stands as a strong reaffirmation of their commitment to pushing boundaries in the world of heavy rock and cements the group’s status as leaders of the pack in heavy psychedelic rock.

Over the past twenty years, ELDER have mastered crushing riffs, melodic jaunts, progressive patterns, hypnotic grooves and ethereal atmosphere. On Through Zero, the band channel these years of experience into what may be their most immediate and engaging record to date, while allowing seeds from outside the sphere of rock music to take root and bloom within their progressive framework. Listeners will find familiar elements of new textures, sequences, and sounds alongside ELDER’s iconic take on heavy rock. As always, every spin reveals new details.

Recorded at Big Snuff Studios in Berlin across several months between tours in 2025, Through Zero marks the first album the band not only produced themselves, but also co-mixed together with longtime collaborator Richard Behrens. Mastered by Carl Saff, the result is a record that feels more like a full extension of the band’s creative intentions than ever before.

Through Zero is out now on Stickman Records (Europe/UK), Blues Funeral Recordings (North America), and Bird’s Robe (Australia).

Purchase your album copy here: https://mailchi.mp/bluesfuneral/elder-through-zero-preorders

[Cover Art by Adam Hill]

ELDER is:

Wednesday, 1 July 2026

BEES MADE HONEY IN THE VEIN TREE drop first advance single 'Departure' & details of new album "In Between Strides"


BEES MADE HONEY IN THE VEIN TREE drop the first advance single, 'Departure', from their fourth album "In Between Strides". The forthcoming new full-length by the German shoegaze rockers has been slated for release on September 18, 2026, via Magnetic Eye Records.

Pre-orders are available HERE

Listen to 'Departure' below:


BEES MADE HONEY comment: "'Departure' was the first song that we wrote for 'In Between Strides'", frontman Simon Weinrich reveals. "It was by far the hardest song to write for this record. It exemplifies our struggle of finding out where to go next after 'Aion'. It was clear from the start that we wanted to go into a more melodic direction and more straightforward songs compared to our previous album. The second part of the song started as a separate composition, but we added it later since it is a nice conclusion of the first part. Our first demo of the second part was recorded at a studio near Passau. This is where the inclusion of a Fender Rhodes piano played through our regular guitar-setup stems from. It began as an experiment and was later re-recorded at Milberg Studios. Lyrically, 'Departure' portrays the first step and point of departure for our journey beyond our old ways of working. We recorded each song without knowing what the next one was going to sound like."



Tracklist:


1. Departure
2. Respite
3. Clutching at Straws
4. Elisa
5. Return, Precipice

When German four-piece BEES MADE HONEY IN THE VEIN TREE began to find their bearings on where to go next from the success of their previous full-length, "Aion" (2023), the core idea for the fourth album, "In Between Strides", was to take a more melodic approach. All else, they would leave to the creative process and somewhat to chance.

Recording one song at a time without knowing what the next would sound like, the track 'Elisa' was the first step forward and became the binding link between the previous and new albums. 'Elisa' came into being as a jam captured on the last day of recording during the "Aion" sessions, which was later heavily condensed and augmented with added instrumentation to create more structure and depth.

BEES MADE HONEY recorded every other song on "In Between Strides" in various settings that were available to them at the time of creation: a cavernous cellar, a concert stage, an indoor balcony, a living room, their rehearsal space, even returning to the studio where their first album "Medicine" was tracked.

Through this spontaneous and shifting approach, BEES MADE HONEY began to move texturally and stylistically from ambient and drone toward shoegaze along with more acoustic elements. According to their original plan, "In Between Strides" stepped into more melodic territory, with each song representing a different aspect of the band's musical vocabulary.

Lyrically, "In Between Strides" portrays a journey of uncertain outcomes, a departure, and a search for something not yet defined. Although this mirrors the experience of BEES MADE HONEY in finding new creative paths and ways of expression, the lyrics paint a broader picture that is not limited to the German's personal experiences or life-circumstances.

BEES MADE HONEY IN THE VEIN TREE originate from the Swabian capital and German city of Stuttgart. All four members grew up together, eventually forming the band in 2014. Their musical template of ambient psychedelic doom was established with the debut album "Medicine" in 2017, and their sound has continued to evolve ever since.

With their sophomore full-length "Grandmother" (2019), their sonic scope expanded through lower tunings, densely layered effects, faster passages, and harsher vocals. The Swabians began performing live, both at home and abroad, in front of continuously growing audiences. This development physically manifested in the recording and release of "Harvestmen (live)" in 2022.

BEES MADE HONEY took a leap forward with third full-length "Aion", which was widely praised by audiences and critics alike. This album features spacious, dynamic compositions that move from drifting tranquility to raging power in a constant tidal movement of spaced-out guitars, pounding basslines, and dripping drum fills.

While "Aion" easily transcended BEES MADE HONEY's psychedelic doom label into something deeper and more resonant, "In Between Strides" roams faster and further.

With "In Between Strides", BEES MADE HONEY have turned rage into reflection by developing a more organic and spontaneous approach to their songs, opening up wide spaces and letting the melodies flow freely. This musical honey tastes simply delicious.

Line-up

Simon Weinrich – guitar, vocals, Rhodes piano
Marc Dreher – drums, vocals, Rhodes piano
Lucas Dreher – guitar
Christopher Popowitsch – bass

Guest musicians

Luis Deffner (JAMHED) – piano on 'Elisa'

Recorded by Ralv Milberg at Zentrum Zinsholz, Ostfildern (DE)
Mixed by Ralv Milberg & Simon Weinrich at Milberg Studios, Stuttgart (DE)
Mastered by Ralv Milberg at Milberg Studios, Stuttgart (DE)

Artwork & layout by Christopher Popowitsch

Links



Thanks to All Noir and Magnetic Eye Records for the details.

SOLACE - Fading Failing Ruin (Album Review)

Release Date: July 03rd 2026. Record Label: Magnetic Eye Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Fading Failing Ruin - Tracklist

1.Spiral Will 

2.Fettered to a Stone

3.A God Changes His Plans

4.Wrath's Object (The Big Fall)

5.Culling the Herd

6.Beyond Below

7.Malengine (The Scaffold) 

8.Every Day Is A Loaded Gun

9.Ridden


Members


Justin Skyler Daniels – guitar

Justin Goins – keyboard, vocals

Tim Schoenleber – drums

Mike Sica – bass

Tommy Southard – guitar


Review


Legendary Doom/Stoner Metallers Solace return with their fifth full length album Fading Failing Ruin and with the band also celebrating their thirtieth anniversary this year, it’s great to see the band continue to enhance their overall sound on this record. The record is perhaps their most relevant and modern based effort they’ve released to date as Solace touch upon areas of music they haven’t played before such as that thrilling modern day Progressive Doom/Stoner Metal sound.


This album is less operatic than their 2019 effort The Brink. This feels like SOLACE reinventing themselves whilst paying respects to their earlier records which reminded me of their classic records Further, 13, The Black Black and A.D. There is a broader cinematic scope appearing with how SOLACE deliver their music as they touch upon areas of music inspired by the likes of YOB and PALLBEARER within the lengthier and progressive moments on the record.


Though, Solace focus mostly on creating their classic style of Stoner Metal that fuses that classic Seventies Doom Metal energy with the twin-guitar led energy of Thin Lizzy and Wishbone Ash at times whilst keeping that intense SABBATHIAN riff-worship attitude going. However, Solace are known for their self proclaimed style of Dirt Metal which is fully intact that appears fully intact on the early stages of the record on tracks such as Spiral Will, Faltered To A Stone and A God Changes His Plan. 


These tracks see Solace combine groove orientated sounds with that dark twisted style of seedy Doom Metal passages with lead vocalist Justin Goins perhaps offering his best musical performance to date. There are echoes of Occult Rock, Punk Rock, Psych Rock and Proto-Metal forming an epic foundation of music for SOLACE to pulverize listeners with. The lyrics are quite obsessed with Proto-Doom and Occult Metal imagery inspired by the likes of Saint Vitus and The Obsessed but with SOLACE’s seedy “DIRT METAL” appetite being quite original in their own right.


The fourth track Wrath’s Object (The Big Fall) is an absolute game changer for the band as they transform into Doom Metal prophets which does remind me of YOB here. The song starts really slow by introducing Ambient and Psychedelic textures before Solace adding intricate levels of Post-Doom, Shoegaze and Post-Rock sounds that feels like a completely different band. However, Solace returned to their vicious monolithic ways within the second half that elevated the track to a more bombastic style of modern WEDDIAN sound. Though, the earlier stages of this track allows Solace to continue with this Spaced Out journey on the later stages of the record.


Fading Failing Ruin becomes more driven by a riff-centric delivery with changing SONIC movements becoming extra progressive on the standout tracks of Culling The Herd, Beyond Below, Malengine (The Scaffold) and Every Day Is A Loaded Gun. These tracks see Solace combine play strands of classic HEAVY METAL that have a certain IRON MAIDEN and THIN LIZZY relevance to them but still broadening their musical horizon into that familiar SOLACE landscape.


With amazing work done by the ever versatile Eric Rachel who produced the album with SOLACE but also doing sublime work on mixing, mastering and recording duties as well. This is the best that Solace have ever sounded in over twenty years and perhaps creating some of the finest music they’ve released to date. 


Fading Failing Ruin is an absolute masterpiece which once again solidifies Solace as one of the best and legendary Doom/Stoner Metal bands to emerge within the last forty years or so. Long may that continue!!!! 


Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to All Noir PR for the promo.


Fading Failing Ruin is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Magnetic Eye Records.


Links 


Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram


Friday, 26 June 2026

Sweden’s KONGH Return with New Album "Dissolved in Time" and First Single "Staining the Ether"!

Photo by Malin Helenius

After nearly a decade of silence, Swedish sludge/doom metal heavyweights KONGH return with "Staining the Ether", the first single and lyric video taken from their long-awaited fourth full-length album, "Dissolved in Time", due for release on September 25 via Trust No One Recordings.

Between 2007 and 2013, KONGH released three critically acclaimed albums that established the band as one of Sweden’s most distinctive voices in heavy music. Extensive touring alongside acts such as Meshuggah and YOB earned the band a devoted international following before entering an extended hiatus.

Now, KONGH re-emerge with a record that does not seek to recreate the past, but rather continues and sharpens it. Written from ideas accumulated over the last decade and developed during six months of intensive work, "Dissolved in Time" expands upon the band’s trademark blend of crushing heaviness, vast atmosphere and hypnotic repetition, while incorporating electronics, layered textures and some of the most ambitious compositions in the band’s history.

The album was written and recorded under the direction of founding member David Johansson, who performed guitars, bass, electronics, and lead vocals, while also handling the mixing process. Drawing on years of experience gained both within Kongh and through his time as a touring guitarist for Cult of Luna between 2013 and 2019, Johansson shaped a record that is both deeply personal and structurally expansive.

The first glimpse into this new era comes with "Staining the Ether", presented here as a specially edited ten-minute single version, while the full album version unfolds across nineteen minutes. The track moves through overwhelming weight, expansive sonic space, and moments of fragile and eerie restraint, offering a condensed entry point into the broader world of the album.

Watch the lyric video here:


Speaking about the song, David Johansson comments:

"During the years when the band was on hiatus, with no plans in sight of bringing it back, this song slowly and silently developed in the back of my mind. It began with that eerie opening riff and gradually expanded into what it is today. I think it’s a very complex yet organic composition. Not the kind of song I would sit down and write over a weekend. It evolved over several years and through different phases of my life. It’s a 20-minute journey through heaviness, complexity, and existential themes. In my opinion, it is the ultimate Kongh song."


Tracklist:

01. Staining the Ether (18:51 min)

02. Guided to The End (07:02 min)

03. Dissolved in Time (13:21 min)

Furthermore, "Dissolved in Time" features contributions from several key figures in the Scandinavian heavy music scene, including three of Johansson’s former bandmates from Cult of Luna. Christian Augustin performed drums and engineered the vocal sessions, while Kristian Karlsson engineered and mixed the drum recordings. The album was mastered by Magnus Lindberg, who also worked on KONGH’s 2013 release, reinforcing a sense of continuity in sound and vision. Additional backing vocals are provided by Jörgen Sandström, known for his work with Grave, Entombed, and many other seminal acts.

David Johansson on the new album:
 "After 'Sole Creation', it felt as though Kongh had fulfilled the artistic vision that inspired its creation in the first place. There was no reason to continue simply because another album was expected. Music needs to come from a genuine creative necessity. For many years, Kongh remained dormant while life moved in other directions. Eventually, new ideas began to emerge, and over time they became too strong to ignore. During those years, I also immersed myself in audio engineering and music production, which ultimately allowed me to take on the role of the album’s main producer. That became a way of bringing the music even closer to the vision that has always defined Kongh. This album exists not because of nostalgia, but because there was once again something that needed to be expressed."

Tim Bertilsson of Trust No One Recordings comments:
 "Having worked together almost two decades ago, releasing the band’s debut album 'Counting Heartbeats' and the follow up, 'Shadows of The Shapeless', I’m stoked to welcome David and Kongh back to the label. Kongh has always been in a league of their own and 'Dissolved in Time' is a further proof of that."

Rather than functioning as a reunion in the nostalgic sense, KONGH’s fourth album stands as a continuation - a record shaped by absence, persistence, and renewal. It reconnects with the foundations of the band while presenting its most focused and fully realized expression to date.

"Dissolved in Time" will be released September 25 via Trust No One Recordings on CD, LP + digital formats and is now available for pre-order here: PHYSICAL | DIGITAL

Line-up:

David Johansson - guitar, vocals, bass, electronics
Christian Augustin - drums
Jörgen Sandström - backing vocals

For more info visit:

https://www.facebook.com/KonghDoom
https://www.instagram.com/kongh_official
https://www.kongh.net
https://www.facebook.com/tnorec/
https://www.tnor.se/



Thanks to All Noir PR for the details.

Wednesday, 3 June 2026

Stoner Metallers BESVÄRJELSEN unveil video single 'Didn't Come to Party' & details of new album "Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem"


Swedish forest rockers BESVÄRJELSEN drop the first advance single from their third album "Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem" (Swedish and Latin for: "Into Oblivion"), accompanied by a slightly disturbing music video 'Didn't Come to Party' about that guy, the one nobody ever wants at their social gathering.

"Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem" is scheduled for release on August 28, 2026, via Magnetic Eye Records. The album is available for pre-order here: https://spkr.store/collections/besvarjelsen


BESVÄRJELSEN comment: "There's a scene in the Titanic movie that has always stayed with me, when the musicians keep playing as everything falls apart around them", vocalist Lea Amling Alazam muses. "This is one of my all-time favorite moments in cinema, because it captures something important about music: the devotion, the need to create, and to hold onto something beautiful, even in the face of disaster. Like, we're literally going under, but hey, let's play. Dance to the sirens. In this day and age, it's hard not to be affected by the chaos of the world. 'Didn't Come to Party' is not a political statement but rather a cry of frustration. We're living on this incredible planet, so why are we destroying it? Why war, why poverty, why harm the most vulnerable, when we have the resources to make life better for everyone? This quite reminds me of people who show up to parties just to ruin it for everyone else. Why is there such a drive to hurt, to dominate, to tear things apart in the pursuit of power? It's senseless."


Tracklist

01. The Greatest Sin
02. Accelerating Hearts
03. Battles
04. Counting Flies
05. Drifters on a Quiet Stream
06. The Mountain
07. Pulse
08. Interlude
09. Didn't Come to Party
10. Black Wave
11. Oblivion

Swedes are supposed to be cool, and musically, BESVÄRJELSEN sure live up to that stereotype in the best possible way. What the self-proclaimed forest rockers deliver on their third full-length "Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem" is so cool, in fact, that it's a hot early candidate for rock album of the year.

The 'forest rock' moniker is the Swedes' tongue-in-cheek answer to the term 'desert rock', which stylistically provides a great starting point to describe their particular musical brand. Being surrounded not by an abundance of sand but trees in their home province of Dalarna, it was also an obvious choice. On "Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem", BESVÄRJELSEN keep a profound punk-infused attitude, but have broadened their sound with a wide variety of sonic colours including blues, ska, metal, jazz and everything around and in between as long as it fits the mood of the song.


Add exceptional vocalist Lea Amling Alazam, who developed her passion for punk and stoner rock at the local skate park when she was just 13 years old, to the band's plethora of riveting hooks and riffs, and you get an album that feels fresh and ready to deliver surprises for months if not years to come. If there is any justice, "Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem" should make BESVÄRJELSEN as famous as the iconic wooden Dala horses that every tourist who visits the country takes home to put on their shelves.

That BESVÄRJELSEN were on the road to greatness became apparent on their previous album, "Atlas" (2022). This record received the prestigious Swedish Manifestgalan Award for "Metal Album of the Year" by the Swedish Independent Music Producers and partners, which crowned a string of excellent reviews around the globe.

BESVÄRJELSEN were co-founded by guitarists and vocalists Andreas Bajer and Staffan Vinrot in 2014. Their musical vision was based on the idea to channel the spirit and traditions of the vast Dalarna forests into a contemporary urban context. On this ancient crossroads of Norse and Finnish cultures, the echoes of runes and gods, shamans and spirits still linger. While drawing heavy inspiration from local lore, mysticism, and the dark, old musical traditions of their homeland, the band name was found in the old Swedish word for "conjuring": BESVÄRJELSEN.

While the band's story has its roots in the past of the land, the present came boldly knocking to demand its due. With the discovery of Lea Amling Alazam and her captivating vocals, the plot took a fascinating twist: She had grown up with her feet in more than one world. Accordingly, the charismatic singer added a fresh approach by embracing melodies and phrases of the grunge and emo sounds that defined her youth as well as African and Middle Eastern music with characteristic bluesy undertones.

In 2015, BESVÄRJELSEN released their debut EP "Villfarelser", followed by the "Exil" EP in 2016. At the time, former DOZER and GREENLEAF drummer Erik Bäckwall joined the line-up as a permanent member. Although both EPs were self-financed and released with minimal promotion, they ended up well-received, and even got airplay on Swedish national radio.

The Swedes' debut full-length "Vallmo" (2018) merged crushing riffs and storming drums with increasingly sophisticated melodies and thoughtful themes, even earning the band a festival slot opening for DEEP PURPLE. This paved the way for BESVÄRJELSEN to record their sophomore album "Atlas" with producer and drummer Karl Daniel Lidén (GREENLEAF, DOZER, CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX) in 2021.

With "Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem", BESVÄRJELSEN have conjured 'Into Oblivion' twice, in both Swedish and Latin, but the spellbinding five-piece also deliver a cathartic rock album that will rank among the finest heavy releases of the genre and beyond in 2026

Line-up

Lea Amling Alazam – vocals
Staffan Vinrot – guitars, vocals (& accordion, violin, keys, keyed fiddle)
Andreas Bajer – guitars, vocals
Erik Bäckwall – drums
Marcus Lindqvist – bass

Guest musicians

Fred Burman (SATAN TAKES A HOLIDAY) – lead & backing vocals on 'Accelerating Hearts' & backing vocals on 'Didn't Come to Party'

Pelle Andersson (LOWRIDER) – organ on 'Black Wave'

Recorded by Andreas Baier & Marcus Lindqvist at Glashuset, Ludvika (SE)
Mix & mastering by Karl Daniel Lidén at Tri-Lamb Audio Studios, Solna (SE)

Cover art by Björn Olars
Layout by Erik Bäckwall

Links


Thanks to All Noir PR and Magnetic Eye Records for the details.

Sunday, 24 May 2026

ELDER - Through Zero (Album Review)

Release Date: May 29th 2026. Record Label: Various. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Through Zero - Tracklisting

1.Sigil To Ruin

2.Capture/Release 

3.Through Zero 

4.Strata

5.Sight Unseen

6.Blighted Age


Members


Nicholas DiSalvo - Guitar, vocals, synthesizer

Jack Donovan - Bass guitar

Michael Risberg - Guitar, Rhodes piano, slide guitar

Georg Edert - Drums, percussion


Review


Elder are celebrating their twentieth anniversary as a band this year and finally perhaps cemented their place and reputation as the premier Heavy Psychedelic Stoner Rock band the scene currently has right now. The band have released multiple critically acclaimed albums since then and some are considered classics of the scene. Elder may still get their usual round of critics saying they prefer the heavier Doom Metal sound they delivered on their earlier records but the band have soldiered onto bigger and better things with each subsequent release.


Through Zero is their seventh album and it’s another masterclass of everything that came before it with Elder rewriting their own musical legacy with a record that manages to be brilliantly heavy and laid back at the same time. This record feels like ELDER has discovered the lost art of storytelling with the way they open up with each individual track that includes emotionally charged lyrics that make you sit up and take notice.


This album is perhaps Elder’s most sonically diverse release yet with the band moving areas into Post-Rock, Shoegaze, Electronica and Progressive elements unlike ever before. There’s even some creative callbacks to their classic 2007 debut album Dead Roots Stirring along the way. Elder leaves no creative stone unturned or untouched with Nick’s stunning work on Synths and Michael’s haunting Rhodes Piano instrumental passages allowing Georg on Drums and Jack Donovan on Bass to form a superbly intelligent rhythm section which holds everything together.


The record is full of passionate musical surroundings with Elder creating a Space Rock landscape to build their musical ideas upon especially within the epic opening track Sigil To Ruin. The track runs for over ten minutes that sees Elder relive past musical glories and modernise them for a new found audience discovering this great band for the first time. Elder effortlessly blends areas  Psych, Post-Rock, Doom, Stoner and Prog Rock into music of such rich musical depth you can’t help but fall in love with what's being played. There is a wonderful “orchestral” and “classical” feel that is being teased and developed on this track that’s used throughout the rest of the album.


Sigil To Ruin is just the doorway to expand the listener’s mind into ELDER’s increasingly hopeful and brilliantly musical quest. The other tracks allows Elder to breathe new life into the whole Heavy Psychedelic scene with different levels of musical heaviness bringing a sense of calm and distorted awareness which fully sells the whole Space Rock vibe whilst being superbly grounded at the same time. 


There are some parts of the album where Elder veer into Post-Metal territory and perhaps challenging the likes of PELICAN and RUSSIAN CIRCLES of developing some of the most sublime Post-Rock/Post-Metal sounds I’ve heard in a very long time on tracks such as Capture/Release, Through Zero and Strata. Though, it’s the ethereal soundscapes that keeps the record firmly within the Heavy Psych and Stoner Rock environments. 


The music is beautifully played with everyone putting in truly magnificent performances with Nick’s vocals once again showing a wealth of knowledge and maturity way beyond his years. Though, it’s the complete musical package that Through Zero takes the listener upon with a never-ending array of uplifting Ambient sounds and forward thinking progressive melodies that’s backed up by first rate production values that make this a real grand musical adventure.


I remember reviewing Dead Roots Stirring for a defunct webzine back in 2008 and I never thought I would be doing the same thing almost two decades later with another new record from them. Fast forward and ELDER have released seven full length albums, four EP’s and two live albums.


The music may have changed directions slightly but they have always remained the same band with a level of warmth and uplifting quality that remains virtually unmatched in today’s scene. Through Zero is a testament to that fact and how Elder proves once again why they’re masters of their musical craft that other bands can’t even come close to fully matching or even surpassing. 


Elder may have just released the finest Heavy Psychedelic / Stoner Rock album of the year for me. 


Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to All Noir for the promo..


Through Zero is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Stickman Records, in North America through Blues Funeral Recordings and Bird’s Robe in Australia.


Links


Wednesday, 13 May 2026

ELDER Announces North America Tour 2026; New Album "Through Zero" Out May 29th!

[photo: Leon de Backer]

In support of their highly anticipated new studio album Through Zero, followed by an extensive run of European and UK live appearances, progressive heavy rock torchbearers ELDER have announced a North American headlining tour for September and October 2026.

The band states:

"This fall we'll hit the road across much of North America in support of our new album Through Zero. This will be our first 'proper' headlining tour showcasing the record after our summer festival run in Europe and we can't wait to perform new material for our friends in the US and Canada.

We're very excited that the fantastic bands Blackwater Holylight and Bask will join us on selected shows - check the symbols for each date."

Tickets will go on sale from Friday, May 15th at 10:00 AM local time.

Visit https://beholdtheelder.com/tour for more info and all upcoming live dates.

[Artwork by Adam Hill]

Tour Dates

September 09 - Richmond, VA - The Broadberry*
September 10 - Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel*
September 11 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade*
September 13 - TBA
September 16 - Mesa, AZ - Nile Theater‡
September 17 - San Diego, CA - Music Box‡
September 18 - Los Angeles, CA - Regent Theater‡
September 19 - San Jose, CA - The Ritz ‡
September 21 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre‡
September 22 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater‡
September 23 - Seattle, WA - Neptune Theatre‡
September 25 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge‡
September 26 - Denver, CO - Federal Theater‡
September 28 - Chicago, IL - Avondale Music Hall‡
September 30 - Toronto, ON - Opera House‡
October 01 - Montreal, QC - Theatre Fairmount‡
October 02 - New York, NY - Webster Hall‡
October 03 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club‡

* with Bask
‡ with Blackwater Holylight


Two decades into their existence, ELDER remain an anomaly in the heavy underground - a rare band with the ability to absorb and shed influences from a myriad of genres without falling into pastiche or losing their own identity. Through Zero stands as a strong reaffirmation of their commitment to pushing boundaries in the world of heavy rock and cements the group’s status as leaders of the pack in heavy psychedelic rock.

Over the past twenty years, ELDER have mastered crushing riffs, melodic jaunts, progressive patterns, hypnotic grooves and ethereal atmosphere. On Through Zero, the band channel these years of experience into what may be their most immediate and engaging record to date, while allowing seeds from outside the sphere of rock music to take root and bloom within their progressive framework. Listeners will find familiar elements of new textures, sequences, and sounds alongside ELDER’s iconic take on heavy rock. As always, every spin reveals new details.


Recorded at Big Snuff Studios in Berlin across several months between tours in 2025, Through Zero marks the first album the band not only produced themselves, but also co-mixed together with longtime collaborator Richard Behrens. Mastered by Carl Saff, the result is a record that feels more like a full extension of the band’s creative intentions than ever before.

Through Zero will be released on May 29th viaThe record is set for release on May 29 in Europe via Stickman Records, in North America through Blues Funeral Recordings and Bird’s Robe in Australia. 

Pre-order the album here: https://mailchi.mp/bluesfuneral/elder-through-zero-preorders

[Cover Art by Adam Hill]

Through Zero Tracklist:

1. Sigil To Ruin
2. Capture/Release
3. Through Zero
4. Strata
5. Blighted Age

Elder is:

Nick DiSalvo - Guitar/Vocals
Jack Donovan - Bass
Mike Risberg - Guitar/Keyboards
Georg Edert - Drums

Elder Live Dates 2026:

13.06. Derby, UK - Download Festival
14.06. Colchester, UK - Colchester Arts Centre w/ Blood Incantation
15.06. Southampton, UK - The 1865 w/ Blood Incantation
16.06. Brighton, UK - Concorde 2 w/ Blood Incantation
18.06. Clisson, FR - Hellfest
19.06. Dessel, BE - Graspop Metal Meeting
20.06. Dortmund, DE - Junkyard Open Air w/ Kadavar
21.06. Frankfurt, DE - Das Bett
23.06. Winterthur, CH - Gaswerk
24.06. Karlsruhe, DE - P8 w/ REZN
26.06. Oslo, NO - Tons of Rock
27.06. Thyrnau, DE - Blackdoor Festival
30.06. Sofia, BG - Mixtape 5
01.07. Thessaloniki, GR - Eightball Club
02.07. Athens, GR - Arch Club
07.07. Slunj, HR - Bearstone Festival
10.07. Pleszew, PL - Red Smoke Festival
23.07. Reutlingen, DE - Hafensounds Festival w/ Kadavar
24.07. Budapest, HU - Monolit Festival
25.07. Tolmin, SI - Tolminator Festival
26.07. Milan, IT - Circolo Magnolia Summer
28.07. Rockstadt, RO - Rockstadt Extreme Fest
30.07. Breitenbach am Herzberg, DE - Burg Herzberg Festival
31.07. Michelau, DE - Rock Im Wald
04.08. Rostock, DE - MAU Club
05.08. Josefov-Jaromer, CZ - Brutal Assault Festial
08.08. Âncora, PT - Sonic Blast Festival
14.08. Valais, CH - PALP Festival

More tour dates announced soon

For More Info Visit:

https://beholdtheelder.com
https://www.facebook.com/elderofficial
https://www.instagram.com/elderband
https://elder.bigcartel.com
https://www.stickman-records.com
https://www.bluesfuneral.com



Thanks to All Noir PR for the details.

Wednesday, 6 May 2026

Stoner Metallers STEAK Unleash Music Video For Crushing New Single “Cometh”

STEAK - Unleash Music Video For Crushing New Single “Cometh”. The band are set to appear at Desertfest London & Berlin and Ffllowed by Tour Dates supporting ALL THEM WITCHES!

photo credit: Sylvain Golvet

London-based heavy fuzz rock outfit STEAK have released their sludge-soaked new single “Cometh”, the first track to be revealed from their upcoming studio album, set for release in Autumn 2026 via Stickman Records.

“Cometh” arrives as a dense, doom-laden statement of intent; a slow-burning, crushing wall of fuzz that leans deep into the band’s signature blend of groove-heavy desert rock and monolithic riff worship. The track is accompanied by a striking dark animated video that visually amplifies the song’s ominous and immersive atmosphere. As the first glimpse into the forthcoming album, “Cometh” sets the tone for what promises to be STEAK’s heaviest and most expansive work to date.

STEAK will bring their high-voltage live presence to stages across Europe this year, including appearances at Desertfest Berlin and Desertfest London. Following these festival shows, the band will join All Them Witches as special guests on selected tour dates, further cementing their reputation as a must-see act within the heavy underground scene.

Watch the video for “Cometh” here:


Hailing from London, STEAK have established themselves as a key force within the global desert rock and stoner scene. Known for their relentless riffs, hypnotic grooves, and high-energy live performances, the band has built a strong following across Europe and beyond.

Blending elements of classic heavy rock with modern fuzz-drenched intensity, STEAK continue to push their sound into darker and heavier territories while staying rooted in the spirit of the desert rock movement. Self-described as a “shit kickin’ band”, their ethos reflects the raw, no-frills energy that defines both their recordings and their explosive live shows.

STEAK Live:

May 14 (DE) Desertfest Berlin
May 17 (UK) Desertfest London
Jun 17 (UK) Edinburgh, La Belle Angele w/All Them Witches
Jun 18 (UK) Nottingham, The Palais w/All Them Witches
Jun 19 (UK) Birmingham, O2 Institute w/All Them Witches
Jun 20 (UK) Bristol, O2 Academy w/All Them Witches
Jun 21 (UK) Brighton, Chalk w/All Them Witches
Jun 23 (DE) Hamburg, Markthalle w/All Them Witches

For More Info Visit:


Thanks to All Noir PR for the details.