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

‘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

Endolith – ‘Rex’!

Endolith is set to release a track from their forthcoming album coming out this October. The single ‘Rex’ will be released digitally on Rob Mules Records June 29! Endolith is a Norwegian extreme metal band with no fear of branching out. Expect to be surprised and get ready to bang your head.

Cover art by Erling Malm

Rob Mules Records – Annual Rock Show

Annual Rock Show is an indoor festival that will occur once a year (annual, you know? …). Rob Mules Records wants to showcase bands that are signed to the label by kicking of a really cool and intimate festival.

The first Annual Rock Show will take place at Studenthuset Driv (Tromso) Feb 24, 2018. The lineup is as follows:

Vederkast
Ohmwork
Adjentist
Phandrom
Endolith

Buy tickets here.
Rob Mules Records – Annual Rock Show on Facebook

Endolith on Rob Mules Records!

These creative, eclectic and extreme metallers from Tromso/Harstad are onboard for a future release through our label.

We didn’t know much of them before they came to our attention a month ago. It took us no time to decide that this trio were more than welcome to join our roster. You can check out the links at the bottom of this article, and we’re pretty sure you’ll be amazed.

Endolith are for the time being working on their follow-up to ‘Voyager’ (released December 2016). Rob Mules Records have had the pleasure of listening to their new stuff, and let it be perfectly clear; the music sounds even more extreme than the predecessor – in all possible ways!

Go on and listen to them at Spotify, or check out their Facebook page.

[edgtf_icon icon_pack=”font_awesome” fa_icon=”fa-spotify” size=”edgtf-icon-tiny” custom_size=”” type=”normal” border_radius=”” shape_size=”” icon_color=”#1ed760″ border_color=”” border_width=”” background_color=”” hover_icon_color=”” hover_border_color=”” hover_background_color=”” margin=”” icon_animation=”” icon_animation_delay=”” link=”https://play.spotify.com/artist/45nOk734XEGy9i2SRycMQ6″ anchor_icon=”” target=”_self”]Spotify [edgtf_icon icon_pack=”font_awesome” fa_icon=”fa-facebook-official” size=”edgtf-icon-tiny” custom_size=”” type=”normal” border_radius=”” shape_size=”” icon_color=”#3b5998″ border_color=”” border_width=”” background_color=”” hover_icon_color=”” hover_border_color=”” hover_background_color=”” margin=”” icon_animation=”” icon_animation_delay=”” link=”http://www.facebook.com/endolith/” anchor_icon=”” target=”_self”]www.facebook.com/endolith/

Photo by Erling Malm

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