IT'S A TRAP! Scandinavian Music Journal

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:14:35 -0700

Swedish industrial act Sanctum will be doing a few US shows in July around the Cornerstone Festival: http://www.crescens-collective.com/livedates

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 12:25:21 -0700

Here's the playlist for this week's special spooky/scary Halloween edition radio show:

01. TALK 1
02. Entombed - Hollywood Babylon
03. ARM - Humming bug
04. Camouflage - Oktober
05. TALK 2
06. Notre Dame - Red Cross
07. Sanctum - Lie low
08. Bay Laurel - Pale colours
09. TALK 3
10. At the Gates - Blinded by fear
11. Frode Haltli - Lude
12. Brighter Death Now - Little baby
13. Death Breath - Lycanthropy
14. TALK 4
15. Breach - Mr. Marshall
16. The Skull Defekts - Carved in bones
17. The Cardigans - Mr. Crowley
18. TALK 5
19. Diabolique - Catholic
20. Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - Masks, walls and other ways to keep things out, to keep things in
21. The Bear Quartet - Broken heart
22. Mercyful Fate - Come to the Sabbath
23. TALK 6
24. Beyond Dawn - Cigarette
25. Pimentola - Heart's dementia (Phase I)
26. Repoman - Chemically obsessed
27. TALK 7
28. MZ412 - Infernal affairs II
29. Satyricon - Nemesis divina
30. Switchblade - Selfdestruct schematics / Open aftermath
31. TALK 8
32. Rasion D'etre - Metamorphyses Phase IV
33. Cortex - We are the dead
34. TALK 9
35. Emperor - I am the Black Wizards

MP3: Sanctum - {-}

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0800

Back in the early 90s I went through a period of being all about industrial music. Part of that was a result of being heavily steeped in BBS culture, though I never did go as far as to sew old circuit boards into my army jacket or anything like that. The dumb shaved-under haircut - yes, I will admit to that. While some of that music has aged well (Skinny Puppy being a prime example, up to "Last rights" at least), most of it has not (please let me never hear "Pretty hate machine" ever again). I bring this up because, even though I quickly became immersed in punk for the rest of my teenage years, I still kept a sympathetic ear open to the sounds of industrial. Discovering Cold Meat Industry later that decade was like a godsend - not only did it satisfy my desire for more Scandinavian music, but it also made me nostalgic for my roots. That many CMI artists were also on the fringes of black-metal was a bonus.
1998's two-disc sampler "The absolute supper" is the perfect introduction to the sound of CMI. The first disc offered the more "melodic" (I use that term very lightly) side of the label and the second was almost all brutal noise. The standout track: Sanctum's curiously titled "{-}" also known as "The library song". I believe the pictograph is meant to represent the ladder referenced in the first line. This is about as pop-oriented as CMI will ever get and I suppose it's not too far off from Portishead, though the rest of Sanctum's material is far more cold and dark. Approach lightly!

Mon, 18 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Crescens Collective, the association of people involved with the bands Sanctum, Mago, Parca Pace and so on, have revamped their website: http://www.crescens-collective.com/

Mon, 08 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Swedish industrial act Sanctum reports that they are working on new material and will be playing two shows this summer. Dates:

06/30 - The Stage, Arnhem (NL)
06/31 - Les Instants Chavirés, Paris (FRA)

Podcast: The new black (is the old black)

Sat, 22 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0700

DATE ADDED : 10.22.05
LENGTH : 28:13 min
DOWNLOAD : itsatrap_podcast_10222005.mp3 (19.4mb)
RSS : [click here]

Tracklist:
01. Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - The order of the phrases makes no difference at all
02. Alog - Red swing shift
03. Sanctum - Let's play
04. Single Unit - Moving in caves, enter abstract
05. EST - (hidden track)
06. Pacta Sunt Servanda - Work Idiot Work
07. Wimme - Oainnáhus (vision)
08. Tape - A spire
09. Rotoscope - Divide and dissovle

Mon, 13 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Cold Meat Industry has posted details and samples for new releases from industrial act Irm and Sanctum neoclassical electronic sideproject Parca Pace: http://www.coldmeat.se/

Tue, 07 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0800

In honor of their 10th anniversary, Swedish industrial/noise act Sanctum has posted mp3s of their live show from the 2001 Cornerstone Festival: http://www.ratblast.net/cc/node/view/57
The event was one of last shows that Lena Robért did with the group and is considered to be a classic performance.

Mon, 27 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0700

At the risk of total bandwidth overload, I've added a crapload of new mp3s added today including something from one of my longtime favorites, Swedish industrial act Sanctum. Four more Kristofer Åström live tracks as well. Also, as I was so nicely informed by ex-drummer Janne Westerberg, those live Breach tracks are actually from 1997, not 1998 as they were originally labelled.

Thu, 09 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Sanctum celebrates their 10 year anniversary with the free Internet rerelease of the "Clarify" CDR EP that they sold on their 2001 US tour. The disc includes three tracks from the very excellent "[~]" 10" as well as other material the band felt was good, just not good enough for a 'full scale' release. Anyhow, since enough people seemed interested in the music, here it is again for your enjoyment: http://www.ratblast.net/cc/node/view/57

Tue, 31 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Sanctum promises to do something special to celebrate the group's tenth anniversary on September 10: http://www.ratblast.net/cc/node/view/54

Mon, 23 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Crescens Collective, home of Sanctum and Mago, finally have their new website online: http://www.ratblast.net/cc/

Streaming playlist: Nothing special

Sun, 01 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0700

DATE ADDED : 08.01.04
LAUNCH : Real / Windows

Tracklist:
01. The Hives - Abra cadaver
02. Eric Beyond - Step off
03. Niccokick - Run run run
04. Shout Out Louds - Oh, sweetheart
05. José González - Stay in the shade
06. The End Will Be Kicks - Streetcleaner
07. Kristofer Åström - I collect knives
08. The First Miles - Bottle don't let me down
09. Powersolo - Oak tree girl
10. Eskju Divine - Darkness all around
11. Sanctum - Foodchain
12. Logh - An alliance of worlds
13. Dream Evil - The book of heavy metal
14. Entombed - To ride, shoot straight and speak the truth (live Popstad '04)
15. Jan Martens Frustration - Pole position

Sun, 11 Jul 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Sanctum - Let's eat (Cold Meat Industry)
I don't listen to too much heavy electronic industrial music anymore and after a slightly disappointing Skinny Puppy show a few weeks ago, it's nice to hear something new from a band in the genre that kicks my ass. I've always known Sanctum to be a good band and made myself overlook some of the cheesy moments of their first album "Lupus in fabula" so I could appreciate them. Thankfully, those moments never recur here. A lot of the neoclassical influences have been ditched as well and replaced with a rawer and more droning sound, as showcased on the "NYC bluster" live album. There are still plenty of string and piano passages, but I feel like the emphasis has been shifted more towards rhythm and atmosphere. The move works. Just don't wait another 8 years to do the next one, okay guys?

Sanctum Let's eat Cold Meat Industry

Sun, 11 Jul 2004 00:00:00 -0700

I don't listen to too much heavy electronic industrial music anymore and after a slightly disappointing Skinny Puppy show a few weeks ago, it's nice to hear something new from a band in the genre that kicks my ass. I've always known Sanctum to be a good band and made myself overlook some of the cheesy moments of their first album "Lupus in fabula" so I could appreciate them. Thankfully, those moments never recur here. A lot of the neoclassical influences have been ditched as well and replaced with a rawer and more droning sound, as showcased on the "NYC bluster" live album. There are still plenty of string and piano passages, but I feel like the emphasis has been shifted more towards rhythm and atmosphere. The move works. Just don't wait another 8 years to do the next one, okay?

Thu, 29 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0700

It's been eight long years, but Cold Meat Industry finally has confirmed the details on the new Sanctum album "Let's eat". The release marks the debut of new vocalist Sara-Lo av Ekstam and the sound is described as 'less bombastic, rougher and more powerful.' The release date is set for May 21 and the first 2000 copies will come in a 6-panel digipack. Read more: http://www.coldmeat.se/catalogue/cmi/cmi132.html

Wed, 31 Mar 2004 00:00:00 -0800

Cold Meat Industry has posted info on new releases from Desiderii Marginis and Ataraxia and has also revealed that the titled of the new Sanctum CD will be "Let's Eat": http://www.coldmeat.se/home.html

Tue, 10 Feb 2004 00:00:00 -0800

Janne of Crescens Collective says that they will be taking care of the last recordings for Sanctum in late February before sending em off to get pressed as their third album. They will follow-up the release with a number of shows around Europe this summer and have already confirmed one, the "Cybergothic Lifestyle Meeting" in Uutrecht, Netherlands on August, 13-15. More details when I get them.

Wed, 19 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0800

The B2 Club in Moscow is hosting a Finnish Independence Day celebration concert on December 6 with performances by The Flaming Sideburns, Don Johnson Big Band, Puola, Huoratron, DJ Erkko, Kimmo Pohjonen Kluster, Cleaning Women, Eläkeläiset, and Alamaailman Vasarat. Eight hours and three stages!

The Information Wants to Be Free "spoken word, video-art, performances and experimental electronica musique" festival has announced more details of their lineup today. The international event takes place in three separate locations (Berlin, London and Stockholm) and features a myriad of speakers and performers. As mentioned before, representing Sweden in Berlin on December 6 is Sanctum sideproject Mago. They'll also be playing at one of the Stockholm shows which will take place December 4-6. A ton of other artists are also scheduled to appear, including Chicken el Diablo, Krister Linder, 4 x 3 Stockholms Saxofon Kvartett, and Memo. Full details: http://www.iwtbf.org/

Tue, 30 Sep 2003 00:00:00 -0700

Sanctum/Crescens Collective project Mago is set to perform at the "Information Wants to Be Free" festival in Berlin on December 6. The international 'spoken word, video-art, performance and experimental electronica' event also takes place at the same time in Stockholm and London with different performers at each. Details: www.iwtbf.org

Mon, 17 Mar 2003 00:00:00 -0800

Some nine days and 4000 miles (~6437 km) later, I'm back home and exhausted. We had a blast and I'm happy to report that everything went quite smoothly. Pictures will be forthcoming! For those that might be interested, I've got a bit of leftover KVLR merch to sell. How's $12 ppd sound? Order more items and I'll make it worth your while. The list:

KVLR - Great Collapse CD and/or 12" vinyl
KVLR - On Planted Streets CD
KVLR - Let Me Worry Some More 12" vinyl
The Crystal Committee - Forever Overhead

North American orders only, please. Everyone else can order direct from Chalksounds. Email me and we'll work out the details.

And now back to the news! Updates will be a bit slow today as I bring myself back up to speed and catch up with everything I missed.

Deleted Art is starting to accept pre-orders for the new 4-song 7" from C.Aarmé and the gatefold ep from The New Mess. They just shipped off the masters to get pressed, so expect them to start shipping in early April. And if you act now, they promise to throw in a free button along with first dibs on the limited colored vinyl. Email 'em at mailorder@deletedart.org to get on it.

The debut album "Ruminate" from The Virtues will come out April 26 on San Francisco's Zip Records. They describe it as "Northern Soul" and say "it shimmers with originality and melodicism. In the vein of The Posies and Ron Sexsmith."

Isolation Years are heading out on the road in support of their new album "It's Golden", which you can preview here. The dates:

4/4 - Skellefteå, Pinkerton
4/5 - Östersund, Tingshuset
4/10 - Linköping, Herrgårn
4/16 - Halmstad, Diezel
4/17 - Malmö, KB
4/18 - Gbg, Playground@Pustervik
4/19 - Köpenhamn, Rust
4/25 - Lund, Mejeriet
4/27 - Sthlm - Södra Teatern/KGB
5/2 - Oslo, So What

Division of Laura Lee are heading out on a Swedish tour, too. Their dates:

4/2 - Vänersborg, Roccad
4/4 - Västerås, Västerås Kulturhus
4/5 - Gbg, Chalmers Kårhus
4/9 - Mariehamn, Pub Bastun
4/10 - Sthlm, Kafé 44
4/11 - Sthlm, Klubb Accelerator @ Debaser
4/12 - Norrköping, Kammaren
5/2 - Lund, Wermlands Nation

Sanctum has decided to cancel their upcoming planned US tour citing the unstable world condition and the possibility that they might not be able to make the journey when the time comes. Their statement:

We can't risk to give our word for something we might not be able to hold. We're very sorry about this decision, to be precise it sucks and it was not easy to make. we have been looking forward to perform, to see old friends and make new ones.

Surely you heard about the flying sheep head incident at the Mayhem show in Norway? Well, here's a pic of the damage. It also turns out that victim Per Kristian Hagen is suing the band for lost income as a result of the injury. He says he's still a fan, but says "if it turns out I've got permanent injuries after this, it's important to have some sort of record to refer to... since I can't work for awhile."

The Ark's fourth single from "In Lust We Trust" will be for the song "Disease". Preview it here along with the b-side "Opera".

Finntroll/Impaled Nazarene guitarist Teemu "Somnium" Raimoranta died at age 25 on Sunday morning. There's no word on what happened or what this means for the bands' future, but I'll keep you posted as soon as I hear anything. My condolences.

Check out Paola's new single and video for the song "Interstellar Love" right here.

Wed, 11 Dec 2002 00:00:00 -0800

BREAKING NEWS: A reformed Union Carbide Productions will be playing the Hultsfred Festival next year. The band broke up many years ago and members went on to form The Soundtrack of Our Lives, but they've decided to come together again in celebration of their upcoming box set release. More news about Hultsfred here. No time has been set yet for the box set's release, but we're hearing that an April or May date is expected.

Speaking of TSOOL, here's some photos from their recent tour with Oasis. (Text in Swedish)

Watch a video of The Ark's performance from Faddergalan over at the Arkfreaks website.

Mustasch is in the studio once again. Jakob Hellner (Rammstein, Clawfinger) is producing and it is expected to be out late 2003.

The Plan are working on their next album. Ronald Bood is producing once again and it should be out by Autumn next year.

Darkthrone managed to record and mix their new album in 26 hours. That's pretty damn fast! Described by singer/guitarist Nocturno Culto as "spontaneous black metal with spirit", it will be released on Moonfog in February.

The tracklist for the upcoming 2xCD Emperor greatest hits and rarities collection "Scattered Ashes - A Decade of Emperial Wrath" has been revealed. Here it is:

Disc One:
01. Curse You All Men
02. The Tongue Of Fire
03. The Majesty Of The Night Sky
04. Cosmic Keys To My Creations & Times
05. Wrath Of The Tyrant
06. The Loss & Curse Of Reverence
07. An Elegy Of Icaros
08. I Am The Black Wizards
09. Thus Spake The Nightspirit (live)
10. Ye Entrancemperium
11. In The Wordless Chamber
12. With Strength I Burn
13. Inno A Satana

Disc Two:
01. A Fine Day To Die
02. Aerie Descent
03. Cromlech
04. Gypsy
05. Funeral Fog
06. I Am
07. Sworn (Ulver remix)
08. Lords Of The Storms
09. My Empire's Doom
10. Moon Over Kara-Shehr
11. Witches Sabbath
12. Ancient Queen
13. In Longing Spirit

Sanctum is scheduled to play the Cornerstone Festival in the US in July. They're also working on booking a west-coast tour to follow. The band is also said to be demoing material for their next album, with the goal of getting started in the studio around February. In related news, the Crescens Collective is doing another collaboration with the dance group Agnes. The topic will be "choices" and they are expected to finish around March.