IT'S A TRAP! Scandinavian Music Journal

Abandon - The dead end (live video)

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:17:54 -0700

Doomsday has live video of Abandon's one-time performance of "The dead end" this past weekend: http://doomsdaymag.blogspot.com/2011/08/abandon-dead-end-live.html

Abandon to perform "The dead end"

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:06:52 -0700

Swedish doom act Abandon will reunite for one night only to perform their posthumously-released masterpiece "The dead end" in its 100+ minute entirety with friend Ufuk Demir (of the similarly-minded/also-awesome Walk Through Fire) filling in on lead vocals for passed away vocalist Johan Carlzon. It all goes down August 25 at Pustervik in Göteborg and will correspond with the long-awaited 3xLP release of said album from Black Star Foundation.

MP3: Walk Through Fire - Furthest from heaven

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:35:15 -0700

I was originally planning to discuss summer music this week, but it seems a bit inappropriate considering recent circumstances, not to mention the fact that, despite what the calendar says, it doesn't really even feel like summer here anyway. As the clouds build outside, it doesn't really look like it either. Instead, I bring you something new from Walk Through Fire, one the absolute most devastating doom acts I've heard since Abandon. Which makes perfect sense, since the two are related in some way. Anyhow, if you're looking to envelop yourself in the sounds of pure, soul-crushing darkness, look no further. Put this on, turn it up LOUD and be prepared to get fucking bummed.
Listen to the rest of the band's new record at Bandcamp: http://walkthroughfire.bandcamp.com/

Presenting: Walk Through Fire

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:13:31 -0800

Ex-Abandon members continue where they left off, creating some of the most punishing doom Sweden has to offer: http://www.myspace.com/walkthroughfire420

Abandon The dead end Black Star Foundation/Discouraged Records

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:29:33 -0800

Abandon have always had an air of grace about them that belies their sludgy roots and perhaps that's down to the integral part that Mehdi Vafaei's pump organ plays in laying the foundation on which the band's music is constructed. Whether it's pushed to the forefront of the music, as in "There is no escape" or "The dead en", or looming with menace behind guitar-driven tracks such as "Lost we are" or "It's all gone", it's difficult to imagine Abandon having an impact as sinister as they do without. That's not to say they would lack appeal without it. The Göteborg doom crew have always done a sterling job in constructing some of the most crushing and heavy gut-churners out there and they know their craft like seasoned professionals. On "The dead end" they once again prove that they can write songs capable of tearing the very souls from those who embark on a listening experience and they achieve that not only by utilizing the sheer power behind their collective instrumentation, but by knowing when to drop an all-out aural depth charge and when to recede back into the darkness to create an eerie, transcendental mood that's almost hypnotic. Vocalist Johan Carlzon sadly passed away before this album met its awaiting public, but some sort of comfort can be taken in knowing that this was, without doubt, the finest performance the man has given in a complete body of work that comprises nothing but exceptional output. The fact that he had, unlike many vocalists, the intelligence to use his talent sparingly, only when the music really required his presence, served to heighten the impact he had on Abandon's music and showcased not only a creative genius but also a certain modesty. A unique and essential memorial.

Manifest 2010 winners

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:11:30 -0800

Here are the winners of the 2010 Manifest Awards, Sweden's alternative Grammy:

Punk/Hardcore: Troublemakers - Made in Sweden (Svindel)
Dance: Samuel L Session - The man with the case (Be As One Imprint)
Jazz: The Opposite - Intertwined (Kopasetic)
Dansband: Blender - Välkommen in (Blender Records)
Rhythm: Jaqee - Kokoo Girl (Rootdown Records)
Composer: Lisa Nordström and Lisen Rylander Löve (Midaircondo)
Lyrics: Ken Ring
Rock: Makeouts - In A Strange Land (Bachelor Records)
Pop: El Perro Del Mar - Love Is Not Pop (Licking Fingers)
Hårdrock/Metal: Abandon - The Dead End (Black Star Foundation)
Synth: Arvid - Andetag (Wonderland Records)
Singer/songwriter: Kristofer Åström And The Rainaways - Sinkadus (Startracks)
Folk/ballad: Tore Berger - I huset långt på landet (Brus & Knaster)
Hip-hop: Mohammed Ali - Processen (Bad Taste Records)
Best poplabel: Information
Best live: Fever Ray (Rabid Records)
Best unsigned: Fulmakten

Manifestgalen 2010 nominees are go

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:43:31 -0800

The nominees for the 2010 Manifest Awards, Sweden's alternative Grammy, have been announced:

Punk/Hardcore:
En Svensk Tiger - Versace style (Buzzbox records)
Troublemakers - Made in Sweden (Svindel)
Tysta Mari - Sveriges Casino (11743)
The Clichés - Monkey see, monkey do (Randale)

Dance:
Minilogue - Samlad årsproduktion
Samuel L Session - The man with the case (Be As One Imprint)
The Field - Yesterday and Today (Kompakt)
Tomas Andersson - Stiff Disco (Funk Noir)

Jazz:
Bengt Berger - Beches Brew (Country & Eastern)
Jonas Kullhammar Quartet - The Half Naked Truth 1998-2008 (Moserobie)
The Opposite - Intertwined (Kopasetic)
Plunge With Bobo Stenson - Origo (Kopasetic)

Rhythm:
Calle Real - Me Lo Gané (Timba Records)
Jaqee - Kokoo Girl (Rootdown Records)
Music is the weapon - Music is the weapon (Music is the weapon)
Syster Sol - Dömd att bli bedömd (Swing Kids)

Rock:
Florence Valentin - Spring Ricco (Startracks)
Makeouts - In A Strange Land (Bachelor Records)
Murder by guitar - Murder by guitar (Jeet Kune Records)
Skriet - Skriet (Novoton)

Pop:
Anna Järvinen - Man var bland molnen (Häpna)
El Perro Del Mar - Love Is Not Pop (Licking Fingers)
JJ - JJ n° 2 (Sincerely Yours)
Jonathan Johansson - En hand i himlen (Hybris)

Hårdrock/Metal:
Abandon - The Dead End (Black Star Foundation)
Candlemass - Death Magic Doom (Nuclear Blast)
Katatonia - Night Is The New Day (Peaceville)
Tribulation - The Horror (Pulverised)

Synth:
Arvid - Andetag (Wonderland Records)
Dupont - Entering The Ice Age (Progress Productions)
Emmon - Closet Wanderings (Wonderland Records)
Rupesh Cartel - Anchor Baby (Megahype)

Singer/songwriter:
Ane Brun - Live at Stockholm Concert Hall (Balloon Rangers Recordings)
David Åhlen - We Sprout In Thy Soil (Compunctio)
Jonna Lee - This Is Jonna Lee (Razzia)
Kristofer Åström And The Rainaways - Sinkadus (Startracks)

Folk/ballad:
Taken By Trees - East of Eden (Rough Trade)
Miriam Aida - Letras au Brasil (Ajabu)
Tore Berger - I huset långt på landet (Brus & Knaster)
Esbjörn Hazelius - Blunda och du ska få se (Amigo)

Hip-hop:
Mohammed Ali - Processen (Bad Taste Records)
Organismen - Om Gud vill och vädret tillåter (Organismen)
Promoe - Kråksången (Pope Records)
Stor - Nya skolans ledare (Redline Records)

Best live:
Frida Hyvönen (Licking Fingers)
Jenny Wilson (Gold Medal Recordings)
Fever Ray (Rabid Records)
Florence Valentin (Startracks)

Best unsigned:
Den Svenska Björnstammen
Extended Heads
Fulmakten
Nora

Go here for more: http://www.manifestgalan.se/122.aspx

Sirius playlist week #43

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:37:22 -0700

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU, a special pre-Halloween edition:

01. TALK 1
02. Switchblade - 1815
03. TALK 2
04. Abandon - In reality suffer
05. Raison d'Etre - Metamorphyses phase III
06. TALK 3
07. Notre Dame - Le theatre du vampire
08. Mercyful Fate - Desecration of souls
09. Cortex - Warrior night
10. TALK 4
11. Immortal - All shall fail

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

Sirius playlist week #39

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:22:39 -0700

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Joensuu 1685 - I'm on fire
02. TALK 1
03. Boy Omega - Dinosaur drugs
04. Katatonia - Forsaker
05. Moloken - Die fear will
06. TALK 2
07. Rising - Dead kings
08. The Cardigans - Erase/rewind
09. The Amazing - Dragon
10. TALK 3
11. The First Miles - Black heart
12. [ingenting] - Medan vi sov
13. Skriet - Kärlekens land
14. TALK 4
15. Abandon - It's all gone

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

MP3: Moloken - Die fear will

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:27:02 -0700

Along with The Amazing's self-titled debut (discussed briefly here), my pick for September's album(s) of the month would have to go to Moloken's "Our astral circle". Yes, [ingenting]'s new record is also brilliant and well-deserving of praise and Abandon's "The dead end" is likewise incredibly powerful, but I've listened to Moloken a heckuva lot more often that anything else. Now if you remember, I wasn't that impressed with the band's epic debut EP, but it did show promise and on this new effort they have delivered in full. Once again, the band sound is rooted in heavy, dark hardcore ala "Souls at zero"-era Neurosis, especially considering the prominent bass presence, but they're also not afraid to go full-on metal when necessary. They're also unafraid to show off their chops either, as you'll hear on the song I've posted today. Some of their flair is subtle, but any musician should recognize that this rhythm section is a monster and that those long instrumental passages kick serious ass. Kinda like Tool minus the pretentious restraint, I'd say. And with better songs too, though that's not saying much considering Tool has always been way more about craft and mood than catchy riffs. Anyhow, this is a great release with broad appeal to all fans of heavy music, whether it be crust, doom or whatever. I hope other metal fans take note.

MP3: Abandon - Pitch black hole

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:09:24 -0700

Regardless of whether or not you are aware of frontman Johan Carlzon personal life issues or the circumstances of his all-too-early death, I think that his contributions to Abandon's posthumous double-disc album "The dead end" speak for themselves. His performance, his lyrics and his paintings are a reflection of misery, an outpouring of extreme darkness and pain. His anguish is fully tangible, visceral. When so much music barely aspires beyond "let's not be bored," Abandon transcends into art through purity and force of expression. It is not easy listening by any means, but it is powerful and necessary. Johan will be missed, but not forgotten.

Black Star Foundation confirms two new releases

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:49:40 -0700

Black Star Foundation has confirmed a September 28 release date for Jesaiah's debut record "Et tu, hope" as well as Abandon's "The dead end". Both records will also be available in Europe on October 9 via Cargo distribution and in the UK on November 18 via Plastic Head.

Black Star Foundation now distributed by Sound Pollution

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:57:08 -0700

Malmö-based indie/hardcore label Black Star Foundation (Holmes, Pg.Lost) has signed on with Sound Pollution as their new distributor. Look for new albums from both Abandon ("The dead end" 2CD) and Jesaiah ("Et tu hope") soon.

RIP Johan Carlzon

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:40:08 -0800

RIP Johan Carlzon, vocalist for Abandon: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=167218349&blogID=461900886

New music from Abandon

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:49:40 -0800

Swedish crusties Abandon have three new tracks streaming at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/inrealitywesuffer

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:16:50 -0700

Swedish doom act Abandon has completed work on their massive new album "The dead end" and have samples posted on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/inrealitywesuffer
There's no deal signed yet for a release, but if you're up for putting out a 106-minute 2CD/3LP album, get in touch.

Mon, 15 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0800

Blackstarfoundation has licensed the new Abandon album "In reality we suffer" for release in the UK via Codebreaker (the new label from the Rage of Achilles people) and in the US via Earache. Hopefully that means it should be easy to find just about everywhere. In other BSF news, Tias Carlson filmed a video for the song "Butterfly" in Häckeberga this past weekend and should be available online shortly.

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Updated tourdates for Crowpath and Abandon:

10/29 - Baracke, Münster (GER)
10/30 - Witte Theatre, Ijmuiden (NL)
10/31 - CS Turenne, Reims (FRA)
11/01 - Juz, Saarlouis (GER)
11/02 - Molodoi, Strasbourg (FRA)
11/03 - GG31, Winterhur (SWI)
11/04 - Ex Steffi, Karlsruhe (GER)
11/05 - Rote Zora, Altenburg (GER)
11/06 - tbc, Magdeburg (GER)

Fri, 08 Oct 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Swedish hardcore act Crowpath is touring Northern Europe with countrymen Abandon from Göteborg. Dates so far:

10/29 - Baracke, Münster (GER)
10/30 - tba
10/31 - tba
11/01 - Juz, Saarlouis (GER)
11/02 - Molodoi, Strasbourg (FRA)
11/03 - GG31, Winterhur (SWI)
11/04 - Ex Steffi, Karlsruhe (GER)
11/05 - Rote Zora, Altenburg (GER)
11/06 - tba

Thu, 22 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Blackstar Foundation reports that they've received the master for the new Abandon album and should be sending it off for pressing soon. "78 minutes of pure anxiety." Sounds good to me. They also report that the new Araki album will be pressed as a double LP and should be ready by the end of May. That's Tiger Lou's old band, for those that don't know.