Another combo effort.
This blurb covers very recent musical releases of bands from Finland, Norway, Sweden and Nashville, Tennessee. Ville Jokilehto created Champions of Sorrow, a “melodic Viking death metal” from Finland. Mr. Jokilehto’s press release also describes his music as “symphonic melodic death metal.” He definitely has the cookie-monster vocal style to wedge himself into either of these new original genres. The self-generated publicity links one to the self-produced song, Ragnar, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dEWI5_c5fk . The band’s YouTube channel has 14 videos that range in views from 26 to 8,400. Regarding the most watched video, “The Horde,” I conclude that I simply cannot embrace this genre(s).
The press release for the Norwegian band Sugarcane Hangover greases the listener with embellishment that the remixed 2019 “Keeping the Peace” release “has returned with a vengeance, delivering a thunderous new rendition of their fan-favourite track.” Also, lead singer Ingrid Jogerud “cuts through the storm like a battle cry, giving fresh weight to lyrics that resonate even more deeply in today’s turbulent world.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFGmG07cNks The somewhat stereotypical #emotionalrock – for a band with a female lead – appears with the video. Sugarcane Hangover appears on Sodeh, a Canadian label. SH has tunes on Spotify, but I do not have an account. I found an EP from 2023 named “Cindy” on Apple music, but since I am not a subscriber, I heard just a snippet from this unremarkable band.
A sugarcoated press release for the Swedish band, Flight of Icarus (a duo), describes its genre as “melodic pop metal.” The band’s name is obviously an homage to Iron Maiden, a band I never enjoyed or patronized. I listened to four songs from the band’s next album which will be out in the next few months– two included keyboards – but no ear candy ala Nicky Hopkins or Jon Lord. If you’re curious about the band, a song and video from their previous album may be found here. Speaking of pop, Flight of Icarus identifies with Within Temptation, Evanescence, Battle Beast, Roxette, and ABBA. True, these bands have female singers as does FOI with Elisabeth Särneräflt Rösehag, but conversion time for this huge ABBA fan will not occur during the Donut Rump tenure.
I have previously written about a hypothetical North American festival comprised solely of Scandinavian musical artists. However, given an international travel backlash against 47 who embodies Bertrand Russell’s maxim that ”the fortunate must not be restrained in the exercise of tyranny over the unfortunate,” my dream will likely be unfulfilled. You see, there is already measurable declines in capacity and number of flights to the USA, including a 75% decline from Canada, within the last two months. The New York Times recently described that foreigners have “significantly” curtailed travel to the land of the new overlords. The empire is crumbling; ill fares the land. Crackers, farmers, and the undereducated will soon, if not already, suffer the adverse effects of tariffs, soaring debt an income inequality, repeated attempts to neuter checks and balances taught during 7th grade Civics, the full-tilt propaganda misinformation and disinformation campaigns, and the forthcoming, long recession, if not stagflation.
Enter Waxed, from Nashville, Tennessee! And yet another new original genre, i.e., “dirty south crossover.” I prefer rock and roll with a dash of punk to describe Waxed. Check’em out at https://linktr.ee/waxedtn or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTw7fcOjbs8 The latter (“BBB”) features a 150 second movie that includes Richard Nixon, skateboards, and an armed robbery with humorous references to Pulp Fiction and Fast Times at Ridgemont High. I am home in the DIY Waxed mosh pit, and just last week Waxed played a set in Nashville before headliner Jack White! “Big Blind” is their latest release: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd6ZzD337zQ Energetic Waxed definitely plays more beats per minute than the previous three bands. Get on the road, Waxed, become a part of a festival, and spread your dirty southern wings!! Pretty please with sugar on top!?
