66CRUSHER – Limbo

RELEASE YEAR: 2023  BAND URL: https://66crusher.bandcamp.com/ Progressive thrashers 66Crusher have returned with their fourth album, and this is one juicy and explosive musical cocktail that appeals to me greatly. “Why is that?” I hear you ask. Well, these talented Norwegians have a firm grasp of how to weave outstanding melodies and muscular, meaty riffs together to…

DATADYR – 23.02.2023 – Bergen, Norway

VENUE: Apollon PlatebarDATE: 23.02.2023 ORGANIZER: Apollon Platebar/Is It Jazz? Records   Being a huge fan of Datadyr’s two outputs on Is it Jazz? Records, it goes without saying that yours truly could not miss out on the ridiculously skilled trio’s mini-concert at the awesome and always attractive Apollon Platebar in the city center yesterday. With…

INTRODUCING IS IT JAZZ? RECORDS – AN INTERVIEW WITH MARTIN KVAM

Earlier this year, a very exciting new venture named Is It Jazz? Records was launched by the gentlemen who are also responsible for running and handling everything in relation to the well-known Norwegian labels Karisma Records and Dark Essence Records. Now, the thing is that jazz is many things to so many people, which is…

HONEYVEIN – Honeyvein

RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/honeyveinmusic/ The talented Bastian Veland (Dobbeltgjenger, Ossicles) released this solo offering of his via the ever-reliable Apollon Records not that long ago, and what we have here is essentially a wildly eclectic and diverse collection of catchy tunes that harbor elements from experimental rock, quirky pop, electronic music, and something akin…

MELT MOTIF – A White Horse Will Take You Home

RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: https://meltmotif.bandcamp.com/album/a-white-horse-will-take-you-home The intriguing musical entity known as Melt Motif, which consists of members from Norway and Brazil, is something quite extraordinary and weaves electronica, synthwave, industrial rock, and some other elusive ingredient that I cannot quite put my finger on to great effect. While chunks of “A White Horse Will Take…

KNEKKLECTRIC – Alt Blir Verre

RELEASE YEAR: 2022BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/knekklectric/ This quirky and musically adventurous prog rock gem by the wonderfully cool Norwegian outfit sporting the creative moniker Knekklectric is a most inspired and fascinating listening experience. Why is that? Well, for one thing they are singing in their native language using an Aalesund dialect, which is charming as hell,…

PICTURE ANN RELEASE THE ‘WE MOURNED YOU’ DIGITAL EP

The 5-track EP entitled We Mourned You, which is the latest output by the weird post-rockers and formless noise-makers known as Picture Ann, is a musical exploration of disillusion consisting of thick and dense soundscapes that create an oppressive and claustrophobic feel. Inspired by the idea of the Byronic hero, the majority of compositions are…

DATADYR – Woolgathering

RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: Datadyr – Startside | Facebook The Norwegian trio known as Datadyr is a musically enticing one, and this dynamic group shows impeccable skill here with respect to delivering powerful tunes that are rooted in jazz but where prog, blues, and traces of Americana are expertly woven into the mix. What amazes…

STRANGE HORIZON – Beyond the Strange Horizon

RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: Beyond The Strange Horizon | Strange Horizon (bandcamp.com) Yes, this is just what the good doctor ordered; a thoroughly convincing and energetic stoner rock/doom metal opus that pays tribute to the days of yore when fuzzy riffs ruled the roost and records were heavy as fuck while simultaneously looking to the…

PROFESSOR TIP TOP – Lanes of Time

RELEASE YEAR: 2021  BAND URL: https://professortiptop.bandcamp.com/album/lanes-of-time The amazing Norwegian prog rockers Professor Tip Top are one of the greatest outfits this country has ever produced, and their latest album entitled “Lanes of Time”, which was released in late 2021, most definitely deserves a brief mention on these hallowed pages of ours. Eclectic and atmospheric prog rock…

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