Q&A with Endolith

January 18th Endolith will premiere their second album Chicxulub – The Fossil Record. We sat down to have a chat with Erling Malm. As always he had much to offer on different aspects of their band and next album release. Read on to find out!

Who are Endolith, and what is the story behind your band name?

Endolith is an extreme metal band from northern Norway, based in Tromsø. The band consists of Frode Horsøy on vocals, myself on guitars, vocals and electronics, and Roger Tunheim Jakobsen on drums. We draw on a wide range of musical influences from a plethora of genres, and really feel that any more precise categorization is near impossible. But we guess that is what the all say. An Endolith is a microbe that dwells on the surface and inside of rocks. Many are extremophiles, meaning that they live in conditions normally thought inhospitable to life. They are of interest to astrobiologists because of their potential for helping us understand possible extraterrestrial life. For us, it was the perfect metaphor for humanity – for are we not anything but insignificant organisms clinging to a rock, floating in the most inhospitable environment imaginable?

Your album is titled Chicxulub – The Fossil Record and consists of nine tracks. What can you tell us about the music and lyrics?

The album was written almost entirely in 2017, in a very intense production phase that included two rounds of preproduction, orchestral arrangement and rehearsals. It is a concept album dealing with the extinction of the dinosaurs, and the music was written to a structure that Frode set up for us early on. As the writing progressed, a lot of contemporary global political issues made their entry as abundant double entendres all over the record. The music itself is maybe more structured and straight forward than last time around, more melodic, but possibly also a little darker overall, owing to our black and death metal roots shining through a little more clearly.

In short, tell us about the recording process, and also why you chose to produce and mix it yourself?

As is usual these days, the recording was done in increments. Because of the nature of our arrangement with the Arctic Philharmonic, we had to record the strings first. We did this with an 18-strong full string ensemble in just one day in Kysten Studio, with epic arrangements courtesy of Bernt Simen Lund. Next up we recorded drums during an oval weekend also in Kysten. We tracked DIs for the guitars at home, and re-amped them in Schille Media Studio in Narvik. All real drums and amps this time, as opposed to our previous releases that were V-drums and modelers. This contributed to a much more organic sound, that we are quite happy with. We have always recorded everything ourselves, and the production is a part of the creative process for us. This time we actually had a little more help with engineering than previous releases, and the plan was initially to have someone else mix for us. However, budget and time restraints led us to do it myself. Mastering was handled by Henning Bortne at Oslo Mastering.

Tell us about the cover art of the album. Who is Kristine Marie Børresen?

The cover is put together in a true team effort, based on a photo of an ammonite fossil taken by Frode, an our supporting symbol the “Impact Sigil”, designed by me. Kristine Marie Børresen is a friend of the band and a professional in the Tromsø music scene, and she was gracious enough to lend us her Photoshop and Illustrator skills to pull the whole thing together.

What’s in store for Endolith in 2019? Any tours planned?

We have two live appearances slated in February, first our split release party with Vederkast the 9th, and then Rob Mules Records Annual Rock Show two weeks later. We are working out further plans as we speak.

Tell us about your influences, bands you like?

Our influences are truly too many to mention, but we all appreciate Strapping Young Lad, Meshuggah, and lots of classic death and black metal. We are also influenced a lot by other genres, like jazz, electronic music, classical and contemporary orchestral music and film scores.

Remember people, January 18th the double LP Chicxulub – The Fossil Record hits the stores – hard! Don’t miss out on this one! The coming weeks we recommend that you to have a go at their mixtape. Listen to Endolith’s favorite Christmas carols …

Endolith on Facebook

Endolith on Spotify

Photo by Normark Photography

Q&A with Me And You Va-Va-Voom

Newly signed on Rob Mules Records we took the opportunity to have a chat with Odd Erik Dingøyr from Me And You Va-Va-Voom. Read on to discover more of this Høyanger-outfit.

Who are Me And You Va-Va-Voom, and what is the story behind your band name?

MAYVVV is a hard rock band from the west coast of Norway, Høyanger. We started playing together in the early cold winter of 2017. We often describe our sound as a unique blend of 80’s and 90’s American and Norwegian hardcore, with a good dose of the 90’s alternative rock. MAYVVV is delicious-load-crashing-energy-music. 

Your album is titled The Perfect Slot and consists of eight tracks. What can you tell us about the music and lyrics?

Well, every track is built on the same recipe; riffs, lyrics about pros and cons of deep rooted culture and attitude.

Bergen Lydstudio’s Dag Erik Nygaard has mastered your album. What is the story behind it?

We got in touch whit Dag Erik and connected. Bergen Lydstudio is a highly professional studio, and have a great reputation.

Tell us about the cover art of album and single? Who is Daniel Longfellow?

Daniel Longfellow is a great artist that we luckily can call a friend of ours. He lives in our hometown Høyanger, but was born in Washington DC and got his art education in California. He’s a talented and skilled artist – you should all go and check out his work. One of his latest project was called Fjord Monster. Which is a cool project.

What’s in store for Me And You Va-Va-Voom the coming year? Any tours planned?

MAYVVV will be playing shows and promoting the album. We will play at the local Christmas rock show and have a release show in Høyanger in January. We will then play a double show, one for the youth and one for the old rockers of Høyanger. Then we’re booking festivals and other shows. We are always writing riffs and lyrics, MAYVVV takes no days off!

Can you tell us about your influences, bands you like?

MAYVVV draws a line to 1980. We can’t stand Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and those kind of bands. We are into the eighties metal; Metallica, Slayer and Twisted Sister, hardcore bands like Bad Brains, Fugazi, Beastie Boys and alternative rock such as The Pixies,  Jane’s Addiction, PJ Harvey and NIN. That, plus everything in between sums MAYVVV up!

That’s all for now. Check out their coming single “No Days Off” (14 Dec) and album The Perfect Slot (11 Jan), and don’t forget to dig into their mixtape below! Fits your Christmas party like a glove!

Cover art by Daniel Longfellow

Follow them at this address: Me_and_you_va_va_voom

‘Chicxulub – The Fossil Record’ by Endolith!

Endolith continues their musical journey with an album seething with groove, tension and dark atmosphere, fusing old and new into a unique extreme metal expression.

Chicxulub – The Fossil Record will be out 18 January 2019 on double vinyl and digitally!

Track listing:
1. Grazing Herbivores
2. Bloodfiends
3. Nest Scrape Display
4. Rex
5. Ichthys
6. Mount Evidence
7. Diseasons
8. KPg Impactor
9. Chicxulub

Art work by Kristine Marie Børresen and Endolith

Endolith with new single!

Endolith present the second single “Ichthys” from their upcoming sophomore album! The album will be a concept album on the extinction of all non-avian dinosaurs 66 million years ago, and this second single deals with the sea-dwelling ichtyosaurs …

Release date: 7 Dec 2018

Cover art by Endolith

“Alle Mann Alle” by Veislakt

Watch out! Veislakt gives you an early Christmas gift by releasing “Alle Mann Alle” as a single. It’s a digital release, but it comes with a “B-side” too. Why not? Included is the cool track “Blod I Manesjen”.

Release date: 29 Nov 2018

Cover art by Good Things Design

Me And You Va-Va-Voom!

New band signed on Rob Mules Records – Me And You Va-Va-Voom!

Coming from Høyanger, a band with an odd but spectacular name will soon amaze you with untraditional, cool as hell hard rock music! Kicking it off right away, new single “No Days Off” will be released 14 Dec on Rob Mules Records. Album is due in January.

Go to Instagram and take a peak at Me And You Va-Va-Voom: Me_and_you_va_va_voom

Cover art by Daniel Longfellow

 

New band name: Deception!

Art of Deception has changed their band name. From now on it’s simply ‘Deception’.

The band writes on their Facebook page: “A new era has begun! We have decided to change our name to ‘Deception’ to mark the change in the band. Same music, shorter name!”

Photo by Helge Knutson

Kvikksand on Rob Mules Records!

We proudly announce the addition of Kvikksand to our ranks!

An album release is scheduled to March/April 2019. We can’t wait to dig into new music from this mean, dark and powerful metal quartet from Raufoss/Norway.

Check out their Facebook page here.

Photo by Raven Photography

 

 

New track from Vederkast!

Reflections Linger

Vederkast – Reflections Linger

5 Oct 2018, on all digital outlets.

Vederkast is set to release the second and last single from their new album, And In The Abyss They Sleep. The single named ‘Reflections Linger’ explores relations between people in a challenging situation, and though the word «ballad» is not a correct description, the sound is massive, melodic and emotional.

The song was, like the rest of the album, recorded live at the small village of Bleik on Andøya Island, surrounded by majestic mountains and the mighty sea. This made the recording process really special and definitely created a unique atmosphere in the music. Members from the local brass band also contributes on the single.

Cover art by Marni Kruse

Pre-order And In The Abyss They Sleep here! Release 16 Nov.