IT'S A TRAP! Scandinavian Music Journal

Switchblade - s/t (2012) (teaser)

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 15:25:58 -0700

2 minutes isn't much to go on when it comes to Switchblade, but that's all you get in this teaser for their upcoming album. The album will be self-titled as always and will feature guest spots from Per Wiberg (ex-Opeth, Candlemass) on organ plus vocals from Jonas Renkse (Katatonia), David Johansson (Kongh) and The Cuckoo (Terra Tenebrosa). Official release is September 21 via Trust No One Recordings (Sweden) and Denovali Records (everywhere else).

Agonia picks up Kongh

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 11:57:38 -0700

Swedish doom act Kongh has signed with Agonia Records for the release of their third album which they will be recording this summer with Karl Daniel Lidén (Dozer, Switchblade).

Presenting: Oscillotron

Wed, 30 May 2012 13:33:03 -0700

Coming later this year, the debut LP from Oscillotron -- the analog synth/imaginary soundtrack project of Kongh frontman David Johansson. This is the first teaser.

Kongh to record in June

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:04:17 -0800

Swedish doom act Kongh will be heading into Soundtrade Studios in Solna on June 15 to begin recording their third album.

Kongh now bass-less

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:43:49 -0700

Bassist Oskar Rydén has parted ways with Swedish doom act Kongh. The band will continue on as a two-piece in the short term, but are openly seeking a replacement: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=46690587&blogId=538372633

Kongh European tour

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:49:25 -0700

Swedish doom act Kongh is touring Europe in July, their last international jaunt before they start work on their next album:

07/08 - Alte Zuckerfabrik, Rostock (GER)
07/10 - Stoned from the underground, Erfurt (GER)
07/11 - Little Devil, Tilburg (NL)
07/12 - Kaddish, Schoten (BEL)
07/15 - Osteria da Tocchetto, Montebelluna (ITA)
07/16 - Lazzaretto, Bologna (ITA)
07/17 - Voodoo Arci, Comacchio (ITA)
07/18 - TBA (ITA)
07/19 - Nachtleben, Frankfurt (GER)
07/20 - Rote Flora, Hamburg (GER)

PopMatters reviews Kongh

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:47:40 -0700

PopMatters reviews the US release of Kongh's "Shadows of the shapeless": http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/123429-kongh-shadows-of-the-shapeless/

Switchblade and Kongh to release split LP

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:16:41 -0800

Switchblade and Kongh, two of Sweden's finest doom acts, will be releasing a split 12" LP later this year via Trust No One Recordings.

Kongh to get US release

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:17:43 -0800

Swedish doom act Kongh has signed with US label Seventh Rule Recordings (Buried At Sea, Akimbo). The band's latest album "Shadows of the shapeless" will be repackaged for a release over here in March and the band should be coming over to tour as well.

Icos and Kongh to appear on new comp

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:58:51 -0700

The 2nd volume of the "Falling down" compilation series of the world's best beardo-metal bands will include contributions from Swedish acts Kongh (previously unreleased) and Icos. Read more: http://www.myspace.com/fallingdowncompilation

Kongh back on the road

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:52:01 -0700

New European dates for Kongh:

10/22 - Lokal, Berlin (GER)
10/23 - Arena, Wien (AUS)
10/24 - Sklenena Louka, Brno (CZ)
10/25 - Obluda, Bratislava (SK)
10/26 - Dürer-Kert, Budapest (HU)
10/27 - CRK, Wroclaw (POL)
10/28 - Luft Kinoklub, Lysá nad Labem (CZ)
10/29 - Kunstverein, Nurnberg (GER)
10/30 - Liwi, Leipzig (GER)
10/31 - Martha Halloween Party, Kiel (GER)

Switchblade/Kongh September tour

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:04:35 -0700

Swedish doom masters/labelmates Switchblade and Kongh are heading out for a string of dates together in September:

09/04 - Winston, Amsterdam (NL)
09/05 - Frontline, Ghent (BEL)
09/06 - Ashes to ashes, Doom to dust (NL)
09/07 - Waldmeister, Solingen (GER)
09/08 - AZ, Aachen (GER)
09/09 - Hafenklang, Hamburg (GER)

MP3: Kongh - Unholy water

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:30:38 -0700

Swedish trio Kongh step up the game on their new album "Shadows of the shapeless" by delivering a concise, punishing record. "Concise" is a stretch actually, but when you consider how many of their ilk go for the longer=better formula, any tracks < 15 minutes stand out. Only one band can hold chords and my attention for any longer and that's Khanate and they're long gone; broke the mold and took it with 'em too. Anyhow, music that despairing is almost too painful to revisit with any frequency, so I much prefer the far more straightforward pummel of Kongh. It's slow and heavy, it's got discernible head-banging riffs, it makes me happy in a way that only the most crushing doom can. We'll see if Trust No One label bosses Switchblade can top 'em whenever their new one drops, but for now this one stands alone.

Sirius playlist week #29

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:11:07 -0700

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

01. Gocart System - Always been the same
02. TALK 1
03. [ingenting] - Halleluja
04. The Kid - Transient dance
05. Thåström - Kort biografi med litet testamente
06. TALK 2
07. Small - Sunshine lover
08. Heroin and Your Veins - The trigger
09. Kongh - Tank pa doden
10. Villebråd - Vaknar aldrig
11. TALK 3
12. Anna Leong - Guillotine
13. Ison & Fille - Jag skrattar idag
14. Dyno - Burning blood
15. TALK 4
16. The Bear Quartet - Sweet beef
17. Entombed - State of emergency
18. Skatan - Top of the mountain
19. Familjen - Mine øyne de ska se
20. TALK 5
21. Suzy Thunder - Big

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 #22

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:23:39 -0700

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

01. Zacke ft. Movits - Spela mig på radion
02. TALK 1
03. Florence Valentin - Såld är såld
04. Ikons - Guns (Pistol Disco remix)
05. Logh - Death to my hometown
06. TALK 2
07. Thåström - Långtbort
08. Le Corbeau - Night stroll
09. Skriet - Fåglarna
10. TALK 3
11. Kongh - Unholy water
12. C.Aarmé - Blodet
13. TALK 4
14. The Bell - On and on
15. Heroes & Zeroes - Cipramillion
16. Ison & Fille - Jag skratter idag
17. TALK 5

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.

New Kongh to get vinyl release in June

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:19:49 -0700

French label MusicFearSatan will be handling the vinyl 2LP edition of Kongh's new album "Shadows of the shapeless". Expect a limited edition of 500 (300 black, 200 red) in June.

Kongh out to conquer Europe

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:05:12 -0700

Swedish doom act Kongh is heading out on a European tour this weekend:

05/02 - Hacienda Sonic, Sierre (CH)
05/08 - Martha, Kiel (GER)
05/09 - Willemeen, Arnhem (NL)
05/10 - De Rots, Antwerpen (BEL)
05/11 - La Mécanique Ondulatoire, Paris (FRA)
05/13 - Edaska Rock Club, Barakalda, Bilbao (ESP)
05/14 - La Caverna de medussa, León (ESP)
05/15 - Bola 8, Gijón (ESP)
05/16 - Fabrica de som, Porto (POR)
05/17 - Ritmo y Compás, Madrid (ESP)
05/18 - Centro Civico la Fonteta, Barcelona (ESP)
05/19 - Baloard, Montpellier (FRA)
05/20 - Vicolo Stretto Pub, Colorno (Parma) (IT)
05/21 - Sinister Noise Club, Rome (IT)
05/22 - Tubecult Fest @ Orange Café, Pescara (IT)
05/23 - Scalo San Donato, Bologna (IT)
05/25 - Haus Mainusch, Mainz (GER)
05/26 - MTC, Cologne (GER)

New Kongh album on May 15

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:02:26 -0700

Swedish doom trio Kongh reports that their new album "Shadows of the shapeless" is finished and confirmed for release on May 15 via Trust No One. 5 songs, 57 minutes, so you know it's a major epic. There's also word of a pending US release in a addition to a 2LP version, but no dates yet on either. Listen to samples of two tracks at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/kongh

Kongh to begin recording new album

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:21:35 -0800

Swedish doom act Kongh will be heading into the studio tomorrow to record their sophomore album "Shadows of the shapeless". Expect five "massive" tunes and a May release.

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:43:06 -0800

Swedish doom act Kongh will be making their US live debut at Kuma Corner's Doom Fest, happening at the Double Door in Chicago on December 20. Check it: http://www.myspace.com/kumasdoomfest

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:45:34 -0800

Check out episodes #55 and #56 of Combat Music Radio program "Obdurate Ground" for an extended interview/feature with Swedish doom act Kongh: http://www.combatmusicradio.com/obdurateground/

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:43:06 -0700

Swedish doom act Kongh will be going into Teknikkompaniet Studios in Vetlanda with producer/engineer Peter Lundin on October 25 to begin work on their next album, tentatively due out next spring.

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:18:42 -0700

Kongh plans to enter the studio this fall to record their new album, tentatively titled "Shadows of the shapeless". Expect an early 2009 release, but in the meantime, be sure to catch them on tour with labelmates Switchblade - dates (and samples) at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/kongh

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:55:41 -0700

Swedish doom acts Switchblade and Kongh are doing some shows together in September:

09/03 - Utkanten, Malmo (SWE)
09/04 - Cassiopeia, Berlin (GER)
09/05 - Kunstverein, Nurnberg (GER)
09/06 - Negasonic, Aalst (BEL)
09/07 - 013 (Ashes To Ashes, Doom To Dust III), Tilburg (NL)
09/08 - tba

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:35:37 -0800

Swedish punks (and recent Manifest Awards champions) Wolfbrigade have a new website: http://www.wolfbrigade.se/
The band recently recorded seven new tracks for a new 12"/CD and will be heading out on the road for a lot of dates this year. Plans are still being worked out for Australia and Japan, but here's what they have so far:

03/01 - PunkPartaj 6.66, Sandviken (SWE) w/Meanwhile, Counterblast, Kongh, more
03/09 - Kafé 44, Stockholm (SWE) w/DSB, Sista Sekunden
03/13 - Ar D'arto, Coimbra (POR)
03/14 - Porto Rio, Porta (POR)
08/29 - Balkanika Core festival, Kranj (SLO) w/ENT, Mob 47, more
09/06 - Play Fast or Don't 5, Hradci Králové (CZ) w/Selfish, Massgrave, more

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:22:11 -0800

The nominees for the Swedish Radio P3 Guld awards have been announced:

Pop:
Anna Järvinen - Jag fick feeling
Friday Bridge - Intricacy
Jens Lekman - Night falls over Kortedala
Sambassadeur - Migration
Taken By Trees - Open Field

Dance:
Aril Brikha - Ex machina
Axwell - collected work
Minilogue - collected work
The Field - From here we go sublime
Tiger Stripes - collected work

Rock/metal:
Arch Enemy - Rise Of The Tyrant
Dark Tranquility - Fiction
Kongh - Counting heartbeats
Marduk - Rom 5:12
Mustasch - Latest version of the truth

Hiphop/soul:
Petter - God damn it
Ken - Äntligen hemma
Adam Tensta - It's a Tensta Thing
Million stylez - From A Far
Basutbudet - Svensk bas

Newcomer:
Adam Tensta
Maia Hirasawa
Million Stylez
Neverstore
Those Dancing Days

Female artist:
Laleh - Prinsessor
Maia Hirasawa - Though, I'm Just Me
Miss Li - God Put A Rainbow In The Sky
September - Dancing Shoes
Säkert! - Säkert!

Male artist:
Danny - Heart. Beats.
Jens Lekman - Night falls over Kortedala
Lars Winnerbäck - Daugava
Mange Schmidt - Känslan kommer tillbaks
Salem Al Fakir - This Is Who I Am

Group:
Kent - Tillbaka till samtiden
Mando Diao - Never Seen The Light Of Day
Sahara Hotnights - What If Leaving Is A Loving Thing
Shout Out Louds - Our Ill Wills
The Ark - Prayer For The Weekend

Song:
Kleerup with Robyn - With Every Heartbeat
Mange Schmidt feat. Petter - Giftig
Oh Laura - Release Me
Sahara Hotnights - Cheek To Cheek
Säkert! - Vi kommer att dö samtidigt

Guldmicken (live):
Laakso
Mustasch
Salem Al Fakir
Säkert!
Timo Räisänen

More info: http://www.sr.se/cgi-bin/p3/nyhetssidor/index.asp?programID=3014

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 16:18:51 -0800

Creative Eclipse interviews Swedish doom act Kongh: http://www.creative-eclipse.com/file/interviews29.htm

MP3: Promise and the Monster - Sheets

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 11:27:43 -0800

Promise and the Monster in a word: haunting. For awhile, I had her CD sitting on my desk next to Kongh's "Counting heartbeats" and it's amazing how similar the cover art for the two albums are. Kongh, a band on Trust No One (the label run by Switchblade drummer Tim Bertilsson), play loud, crushing doom which of course is far from the quiet, reserved sounds of Promise and the Monster, but they both evoke similar feelings of despair. The dark woods, the serif font, represent it well. As the best doom bands know, heaviness is not always related to volume and distortion. It's the space between that's often darkest.

Sun, 23 Sep 2007 23:11:54 -0700

The playlist for this week's radio show:

01. Isolation Years - Frosted minds
02. TALK 1
03. Hyacinth House - Lucky stranger
04. Immanu El - Kosmonaut
05. Kamera - Fragile
06. TALK 2
07. Pay TV - Fashion report (clubmix)
08. Fun - I've got a truck
09. Timo Räisänen - Sixteen
10. TALK 3
11. Superfamily - Warszawa
12. Majessic Dreams - Still inside
13. The Indecision Alarm - Time for the big guns, baby
14. Boeoes Kaelstigen - Flir
15. TALK 4
16. The Fine Arts Showcase - Modern love
17. Karin Ström - Ordlös
18. Meleeh - Malign
19. TALK 5
20. Kongh - Pushed beyond
21. Baby Woodrose - Let yourself go
22. TALK 6
23. Mixtapes & Cellmates - Quiet (Cat Burgler remix)
24. The Je Ne Sais Quoi - Rhythm
25. The Bell - I need nothing
26. September - Satellites
27. TALK 7
28. Piroth - Waltz for prima ballerina
29. Sällskapet - Järnstaden
30. Montt Mardié - Birthday boy (drama)
31. TALK 8
32. CS Nielsen - Bottle for the road
33. Susanna and the Magical Orchestra - Love will tear us apart
34. Voices Break the Silence - Mopo3
35. TALK 9
36. Plain Fade - Blue skies ahead

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Kongh's half of the forthcoming Ocean Chief split can now be heard on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/kongh

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Kongh is recording a new 25-minute track entitled "Drifting on waves" for an upcoming split 12" with fellow Swedish doom act Ocean Chief who will also be contributing a similarly long and heavy piece for their own side. Look for it soon via Land O Smiles Records.

Thu, 31 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Swedish doom act Kongh, who will release their new album "Counting heartbeats" on Trust No One on July 7 (7/7/7), have confirmed that UK label Sound Devastation will be doing a limited vinyl edition as well. Double LP in gatefold, 600 on dark brown and 200 on dark green w/black starburst. Release date is still TBA, but soon. They'll also be doing a couple vinyl-only releases with US-based label Land O Smiles. First up will be a split 12" with fellow Swedes Ocean Chief featuring the single 20-minute epic "Drifting on waves". Next will be a split 7" with Reno-based band Witch-Lord featuring the older track "Turn into dust". This record will be released as part of a five-record set compilation entitled "Pharmacopeia" which will also include splits with acts such as Accept Death, Behold! The Living Corpse, Coffins, Deadbird, Fossegrimen, The Misanthrope Project, Ravens Creed and Raw Radar War. Again, no official release date yet for either, but expect something by late summer/early fall.

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Listen to song clips from recent Trust No One signees Kongh: http://www.myspace.com/kongh
You know you're in for some serious doom brutality when the clip (not the entire song) clocks in at 10 minutes.

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Trust No One reports that their entry into the Logh "Raging sun" 7" series (theirs is 3/4, mine is 4/4) will soon be available for preorder: http://trustnoonerecordings.blogspot.com/2007/04/sorry-for-abscence-of-updates-lately.html
Also on the way from the label is the debut album from Kongh as well as a possible Switchblade live DVD.