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Tour dates 2023:

07/06: Eldsberga, SE @ Gullbranna Festival 08/11: Villena, ES @ Leyendas del Rock

Featuring Rob Rock: 09/16: México City, MX @ HDX Circus Bar 09/17: Guatemala, GT @ Al Carajo 09/19: Bogotá, CO @ Ace of Spades 09/22: Belo Horizonte, BR @ Caverna Pub 09/23: São Paulo, BR @ Legends Music Bar 09/24: Rio de Janeiro, BR @ Agyto 09/26: Curitiba, BR @ Basement Cultural 09/27: Goiânia, BR @ Bolshoi Pub 09/29: Fortaleza, BR @ Hard Noise 09/30: Recife, BR @ Estelita 10/02: Santiago, CL @ Sala Metrónomo 10/03: Buenos Aires, AR @ Uniclub 10/27: Oslo, NO @ Nordic Fest

Tour dates 2024:

01/19: Silja Line, SE @ Gospelkryssning 01/20: Silja Line, FI @ Gospelkryssning 03/16: Norrköping, SE @ Bobfest 06/01: Crossrock Festival, Åmål, SE 09/27: Loud & Proud Festival, Wissen, DE 09/28: Loud & Proud Festival, Wissen, DE

Format: Album Label: Narnia Songs Release date: March 17, 2023

Twenty-seven years into a career that continues to grow, Swedish metal band Narnia takes huge steps into an exciting chapter with the new album ’Ghost Town’. The seasoned five-some once again shows how to shape a masterpiece with this melodic metal future classic.

On the ninth studio album,  ’Ghost Town’ , Narnia has picked the icing on the cake from its vast catalog. You can’t simply label this album a neoclassic metal album or a power metal album, even though these elements are present. There are also parts that are progressive, modern, heavy, or just creatively different. But you can summarize by saying this is well-crafted piece of classic and melodic metal.

Co-founder, guitarist, and producer  CJ Grimmark  is the crucial architect of the band’s sound, and also its primary songwriter along with co-founder and lead singer  Christian Liljegren  and bassist  Jonatan ”Jono” Samuelsson . Through well formulated lyrics and melodies created to enhance the music, the songwriting team has explored new modes of expression that are well represented in songs such as  ’Thief’ , with its dramatic arrangement, anxiety-laden, expressive imagery, and the progressive  ’Modern Day Pharisees’ , a song dealing with the subject of hypocrisy.

The title track,  ’Ghost Town’ , was first introduced to the cheering live-audience at  Sweden Rock Festival  2022 and is now an obvious part of the set list with its bombastic four on the floor-pulse and sing along chorus. The heartbeat of Narnia,  Andreas “Habo” Johansson , does a tremendous job behind the drums, and spares no energy. 

Martin Härenstam  and his keyboards have been given a large but tasteful space on the record, and range in sound from vintage synths to grand piano.

The record’s neoclassical gem,  ’Rebel’ , with a nod to the band’s earliest influences, should appeal to longtime fans. But also, more immediate songs like the soon-to-be crowd pleasers  ’Hold On’ ,  ’Wake Up Call’ , and  ’Alive’ .  ’Descension’ , on the other hand, is more progressive, but there is a constant and clear common thread throughout the entire production that ties it together brilliantly.

’Out of the Silence’  picks up where 2019’s  ’The War That Tore the Land’  left off as the album’s only ballad. Featured by  Saviour Machine ’s frontman  Eric Clayton , who reads the Lord’s prayer with his deep baritone operatic voice. 

’Glory Daze’ is perhaps the album’s heaviest song, which also addresses one of today’s biggest problems: Stress and chasing the wind. Something that Liljegren himself experienced during a burnout.

– Different songs will appeal to different people lyrically, but we cover a variety of topics throughout the album, and I’m sure people will be able to relate to them, both musically and spiritually. Some of these songs stand out a bit from our previous repertoire, but without abandoning our historical influences.  Liljegren explains and continues:

– This is an album with a positive message combined with bombastic music. You can’t have one without the other when it comes to Narnia.  Liljegren concludes.

Lyrics that make you reflect combined with the broad musical breadth the band possesses, along with a solid production, is Narnia’s musical trademark which runs throughout the entire album.

If the latest studio album ’From Darkness to Light’ from 2019 marked the way,  ’Ghost Town’  is a more than worthy sequel with a life of its own.

“Ghost Town” is produced by CJ Grimmark, mixed by the band”s sound engineer Viktor Stenquist, and mastered by Thomas Piec Johansson. It will be available on all digital platforms, CD, and vinyl on March 17th in collaboration with Sound Pollution Distribution.

Track list:

01. Rebel 02. Thief 03. Hold On 04. Glory Daze 05. Descension 06. Ghost Town 07. Alive 08. Modern Day Pharisees 09. Out of the Silence 10. Wake Up Call

Produced by CJ Grimmark

Recorded at Nordic SoundLab – Sweden, Lighthouse Mastering – Norway,   Stenquist Music Production – Sweden, Steigenberger Hotel – Germany   by CJ Grimmark and Viktor Stenquist.

Mixed by Viktor Stenquist at Stenquist Music Production

Mastered by Thomas “Plec” Johansson at Panic Room Mastering

Cover art by Jani Stefanovic

Graphic design by Jonatan Samuelsson

Band photos by Jeffrey Heijnen

Christian Liljegren

Lead vocals, backing vocals

CJ Grimmark

Guitars, backing vocals

Jonatan "Jono" Samuelsson

Bass, backing vocals

Martin Härenstam

Andreas Habo Johansson

Drums, percussion

Reel Single 1

Reel Single 2

Teaser Album

Teaser Single 1

Teaser Single 2

Soli Deo Gloria

Compilation Album | Narnia Songs Released Nov 5, 2021

From Darkness to Light

Studio Album | Narnia Songs Released Aug 2, 2019

We Still Believe

– made in brazil.

Live Album | Narnia Songs Released Sep 1, 2018

Studio Album | Ulterium / Massacre Released Sep 16, 2016 / Jul 21, 2017

More…

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Metal concerts in Stockholm, Sweden

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34 upcoming concerts

• Friday 19 April 2024 – Sunday 21 April 2024

Silja Rock 2024 10cc and The Crypt (SE)

Stockholm, Sweden

• Sunday 21 April 2024

Carl Verheyen

Fasching , Stockholm, Sweden

• Monday 29 April 2024

Tenacious D Crusade with Mike Bray and John Konesky

Hovet , Stockholm, Sweden

• Saturday 18 May 2024 – Saturday 18 May 2024

Downtown Riot 2024 The Night Flight Orchestra, Cyhra, Avatarium, Crank, Världen Brinner, Man.Machine.Industry, Xorsist, and Wormwood(SWE)

Slaktkyrkan , Johanneshov, Sweden

• Monday 20 May 2024

Bar Brooklyn , Stockholm, Sweden

• Thursday 23 May 2024

Gröna Lund , Stockholm, Sweden

• Saturday 25 May 2024 – Saturday 25 May 2024

Sthlm Psych Fest 2024 Year of the Goat, Goddess, Spiral Skies, and Mary Jane And the Flying shoes

Patricia , Stockholm, Sweden

• Friday 31 May 2024

Kollektivet Livet Bar & Scen , Stockholm, Sweden

• Saturday 01 June 2024
• Friday 07 June 2024

Ice Nine Kills

• Sunday 09 June 2024

Alice Cooper

• Tuesday 11 June 2024

Bruce Dickinson

• Friday 14 June 2024 – Sunday 16 June 2024

Rosendal Garden Party 2024 M.I.A., Massive Attack, Raye, The Cardigans, The Heavy, Grace Jones, Turnstile, and Refused

• Saturday 15 June 2024

Chelsea Wolfe Kælan Mikla

• Monday 17 June 2024
• Tuesday 18 June 2024

The Offspring

• Tuesday 25 June 2024

Tele2 Arena , Johanneshov, Sweden

• Monday 01 July 2024

Bring Me The Horizon and Bad Omens

Gärdet , Stockholm, Sweden

• Tuesday 06 August 2024

Deep Purple

• Saturday 14 September 2024

Jethro Tull

Filadelfia Convention Center , Stockholm, Sweden

• Saturday 21 September 2024

Apocalyptica

Kagelbanen , Stockholm, Sweden

Centinex Svartkonst and Katakomba

• Friday 04 October 2024

Cannibal Corpse Municipal Waste, Immolation, and Schizophrenia

Klubben Fryshuset , Stockholm, Sweden

• Saturday 05 October 2024

1349 and Kampfar Afsky

• Wednesday 09 October 2024

Within Temptation

Annexet , Stockholm, Sweden

• Tuesday 22 October 2024

Russian Circles REZN

Slaktkyrkan , Stockholm, Sweden

• Saturday 02 November 2024

In Flames and Arch Enemy Soilwork

• Friday 08 November 2024

Dream Theater

Stockholm Waterfront Congress Centre , Stockholm, Sweden

• Sunday 24 November 2024

Harry B. James , Stockholm, Sweden

• Tuesday 26 November 2024

Cirkus , Stockholm, Sweden

• Thursday 28 November 2024

Dark Tranquillity Moonspell, Wolfheart, and Hiraes

• Friday 29 November 2024
• Saturday 30 November 2024
• Friday 13 December 2024

Nalen Klubb , Stockholm, Sweden

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"It’s been a long time coming." In Flames, Arch Enemy and Soilwork are teaming up for the ultimate melodeath tour across Europe

Three of Sweden's most legendary melodic death metal bands are touring Europe together next year!

Three of the most important and influential bands from Sweden's legendary melodic death metal scene are teaming up for a huge European tour in Autumn 2024. Scene heavyweights In Flames and Arch Enemy will be co-headlining the trek, while fellow veterans Soilwork will be opening the shows. 

The tour will kick off with a quartet of UK dates, before heading to the European mainland with stop-offs in France, Luxembourg, Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Norway and a run of dates in Sweden, before finishing up in Finland. 

"Couldn’t be more excited to announce this tour," says In Flames frontman Anders Fridén. "It’s been a long time coming and we are finally back together again on stage with our friends in Arch Enemy and Soilwork. We plan to bring you an unforgettable night of melody and mayhem! This is some of Sweden's finest - a tour you simply should not miss!"

“Check this Swedish metal extravaganza across Europe in 2024!" adds Arch Enemy guitarist Michael Amott. "We go way back with In Flames and Soilwork to the very early days of Arch Enemy and honestly couldn’t be happier to announce this run with our Swedish comrades - this tour is going to be a special one!"

"Finally we can release the great news of one of the greatest tour line ups to hit the streets in at least a decade!" says Soilwork singer Björn Strid. "We are super excited and we are pretty damn sure that this is a tour that a lot of people have been longing for. We go way back with both Arch Enemy and In Flames, so prepare yourself for an absolute legendary Swedish melodic metal assault!"

See the full list of dates below. Tickets for the tour will go on general sale this Friday November 24 at 9am GMT.

In Flames, Arch Enemy and Soilwork European tour 2024 dates

03.10.  UK       Glasgow – O2 Academy 04.10.  UK       Manchester – Manchester Academy 05.10.  UK       Birmingham - O2 Academy 06.10.  UK       London - Eventim Apollo Hammersmith 08.10.  FR        Paris – Olympia 09.10.  LU        Esch-sur-Alzette – Rockhal 11.10.  DE       Hamburg – Sporthalle 12.10.  DE       Düsseldorf – Mitsubishi Electric Hall 13.10.  NL       Den Bosch - Mainstage 15.10.  CH       Zurich – The Hall 16.10.  IT         Milan - Alcatraz 18.10   DE       Stuttgart – Schleyer-Halle 19.10.  DE       Frankfurt - Jahrhunderthalle 20.10.  DE       Munich – Zenith 22.10.  AT        Vienna – Gasometer 23.10.  HU       Budapest – Barba Negra 25.10.  CZ        Prague – Sportovni Hala Fortuna 26.10.  DE       Dresden – Messe 27.10.  DE       Berlin – Columbiahalle 29.10.  NO       Oslo – Spektrum 31.10.  SE        Malmö – Malmö Arena 01.11.  SE        Gothenburg – Scandinavium 02.11.  SE        Stockhom – Hovet 03.11.  SE        Sundsvall – Nordichallen 05.11.  FI         Helsinki – Ice Hall

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Stockholm metal music guide – things to see and do

Published by soliloquium on november 16, 2023 november 16, 2023.

Welcome to my Stockholm metal guide. Here you’ll find the best metal things to in Stockholm, Sweden, including metal bars, gig places and stores. I’ll tell you a bit about the state of the Stockholm metal scene in 2020, and give you best local tips to have a nice time visiting the city.

This is certainly the first, and maybe last, travel guide on this page. We will see how it goes down. The Metal Travel Guide is usually the best source for this type info, but I’ll do my best top them with my local knowledge.

About me – deathdoom.com, music and more

• Stefan Nordström
• Musician, songwriter, content creator, digital freelancer
• Stockholm, Sweden
• Bands: Desolator, Soliloquium, Ending Quest, Ashes of Life, Trees of Daymare, The Ashen Tree
• Social: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

How is the Stockholm metal scene in 2023?

Hmm.. I suppose the answer is “good” and “bad”. There is certainly no lack of ambitious musicians or quality bands in Stockholm. If you’re coming here looking for musicians to collaborate with or to hear new bands, you’re in luck. If you’re coming to witness raunchy underground live gigs, you’re probably better off heading to Gothenburg.

A lot of venues have closed down recently due to a mix of neighbor complains and economy. This is especially something that hit the metal underground in Stockholm. Finding gigs with the big touring giants in Stockholm won’t be a problem in 2023. However, an underground metal gig in a small venue isn’t as easy to find as it once was.

Metal gigs and metal bars in Stockholm

The quality (and quantity) of metal bars in Stockholm depends a lot on how extreme your taste in metal is. Sadly, the chances to hearing extreme metal loud on stage or in the bar speakers decreased a lot after Copperfields stopped having local metal nights in 2019. It was the recurring epicenter for the Stockholm metal people and nothing has really replaced it yet.

There is a new live metal project going on out in the Northwest suburb of Jakobsberg called Fredagsman gel . We will see how long it lasts. Hopefully it will be a success, as it once again gives the local extreme metal bands somewhere to play live. 2023 update: Fredagsmangel has been a great success, and now you will find extreme metal gigs there every Friday and Saturday. Great local atmosphere – highly recommended!

The Stockholm metal scene is in a bit of state, at least the underground part, due to a lot of mid-size concert arenas closing down. What are we left with? Well, mostly bars playing heavy metal, power metal and other forms of traditional metal. Some of the most famous (or infamous for some) metal bars in Stockholm are:

• Kelly’s
• Harry B. James

Many local people in Stockholm will talk shit about these bars, myself included, but we still find ourselves going there. Sometimes, the shit-talking is ironic, sometimes not so much. Anyway, if you’re on a Stockholm metal trip, they’re good places to find fun company.

Another place that some metalheads enjoy and hang out at is Bröderna Olssons Garlic & Shots . It’s also owned by some famous Swedish metal musicians since 2020 . Just like the name suggests, it’s a garlic place where everything has garlic in it, including the drinks. Prices are too steep for my taste, but it’s a fun one-time tourist visit, especially if you like garlic.

If you’re looking to be out very late and pay unreasonable amounts of money, Heaven’s Gate in the fancier parts of town does a nightclub take on metal (not sure if it’s active anymore, as it’s not my part of town).

Where can you find live gigs?

Your best bet for finding Stockholm metal gigs is searching for them on the usual online places like Songkick and Bandsintown . Using Last.fm and changing your location to Stockholm is another smart way to get upcoming gigs matched with your music taste.

The local metal bands in Stockholm are also pretty good at posting flyers around streets and subway stations around the city. It’s worth to keep an eye out, since many of these shows are more underground. Kafé 44, Snövit and Brother Tuck on Södermalm are among the places where these smaller gigs can pop up.

Some of the most common metal live venues (if we’re not talking Metallica or Iron Maiden type bands at national Friends Arena, Avicii Arena or Tele2 Arena) in Stockholm are:

• Fryshuset (Klubben and Arenan)
• Debaser Strand
• Slaktkyrkan
• Nalen (including the smaller Nalen Klubb)
• Bryggarsalen

As I previously said, many mid-size music venues shut down during 2018 and 2019. I wouldn’t be surprised if even more of these metal venues disappear in 2020 and 2021.

Late 2023 update: Cryptic Concerts now started having live gigs in the Patricia boat, a venue previously more famous for glammy partying. I attended a couple of gigs there, and it’s definitely a nice one. Let’s hope this initiative keeps going throughout 2024!

Also, keep an eye out for metal cruises to Finland and Estonia. These are usually hosted by Tallink Silja and go out for multiple days of metal gigs at sea. If you’re not from Scandinavia, it can also be a pretty crazy culture experience to behold. People tend to go pretty wild. And not only the metalheads.

Recurring Stockholm metal festivals

As a capital city, Stockholm doesn’t have anything going in terms of open air festivals. If you’re looking for that, you’ll need to go a few hours north to attend Gefle Metal Festival . Stockholm Slaughter is (2023 update: was? Website is dead and I’m not sure if it will return) a recurring indoor event dedicated to extreme metal. The first edition of Scandinavia Deathfest was also held in Stockholm in October 2019.

Metal music stores in Stockholm

Sound Pollution in Gamla Stan is your best for finding metal merch in Stockholm. It’s a store that’s been around since about forever and stocks a lot of metal and punk stuff. Sound Pollution is worth a visit even if you don’t intend to buy something, just to take a look at the most famous metal store in Stockholm.

Don’t forget the death metal Entombed cross in Skogskyrkogården

No Stockholm metal tour is complete without hitting up the Entombed cross where the band took the legendary pics for “Left Hand Path” (Katatonia also posed at the same place many years later). It’s easy to get to Skogskyrkogården by subway (green line south towards Farsta Strand), and the UNESCO-awarded cemetery in itself is a beauty to behold. You won’t regret going there.

Also, don’t miss Entombed vocalist L.G. Petrov’s cool-looking headstone (R.I.P.) that’s located in the cemetery. You can also find the grave of Bathory mastermind Tomas Forsberg at neighboring Sandsborgskyrkogården. If you’re a metal tourist in Stockholm, don’t miss out on these sights! If you want to know more about transport or exact locations of the graves, feel free to hit me up on Instagram .

In which areas of Stockholm can you find the most metal people?

I know how easy is it is to get stuck in the central tourist zone when you come to a new country or city. That’s why I wanted to include a highly subjective paragraph like this as well. You’re not likely to find many metalheads in upper-class parts like Östermalm, Vasastan or Gamla Stan (unless you enter Sound Pollution, of course).

I’d recommend heading slightly south to Södermalm, the more alternative part of Stockholm. It’s easy to find interesting bars and original (sometimes crazy) people there, and it has everything from nicer hipster places to some of the most rundown bars central Stockholm has to offer. Try getting off at subway stations like Medborgarplatsen, Skanstull or Mariatorget.

Aside from meeting other interesting people, it’s also the part of Stockholm where you have the best chance of spotting underground musicians.

Final words on the Stockholm metal scene

I know I’m a bit of a downer about the state of the Stockholm metal scene, but sadly it’s an ongoing situation that definitely effects the local bands. Anyway, I hope I provided you with enough cool tips to have a nice Stockholm metal experience. As a tourist, I’m pretty sure you’ll dig it! If you have questions, feel free to hit me up on Instagram .

How about some Stockholm metal music?

The reason I know so much about Stockholm is of course that I am a Stockholm metal musician. Hopefully, you found some valuable info for your visit to Stockholm in this article, and now it’s my time to do my best to pimp my bands. If you like extreme metal, give Soliloquium and Desolator a shot!

Soliloquium, progressive death/doom metal

Progressive death/doom metal for fans of Katatonia, Daylight Dies, Swallow the Sun, October Tide, Anathema, Novembers Doom and more. All music is written by me, and my 4th full-length album “Soulsearching” was released in 2022.

Links: Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube

Desolator, old school death metal

Old school death metal for fans of Immolation, Morbid Angel, Bloodbath, Vader, Blood Red Throne and more. We have released two full-length albums and performed live in Spain and Poland.

Now I’ve got a guide for Gothenburg too! ->

50 best Swedish death metal bands ->

The ultimate doom metal genre guide ->

In-depth Stockholm metal articles:

How to get to the Entombed cross and why it’s worth it ->

Why Fredagsmangel is the best place for metal gigs in Stockholm ->

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The Swedish metal stars’ dates kick off on April 9 in Manchester, UK, and conclude on May 18 in Budapest, Hungary.

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Ghost will embark on a massive European headlining tour in April 2022. The band’s ‘Imperatour’ will kick off on April 9 in Manchester, U.K. and conclude on May 18 in Budapest, Hungary. Support on all shows will come from Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats and Twin Temple.

In September, Ghost released a new single titled “Hunter’s Moon” which is featured in the latest blockbuster installment of the legendary film franchise Halloween Kills . The Halloween Kills soundtrack arrived on October 15 via Sacred Bones, with the film hitting theaters the same day.

Produced by Klas Åhlund and mixed by Andy Wallace, Ghost’s “Hunter’s Moon” plays as the Halloween Kills end credits roll, and will be released January 21, 2022 as a collectible seven-inch single by Loma Vista Recordings. “Hunter’s Moon” can be streamed, purchased, and/or pre-ordered in its vinyl incarnation. The retail version of the seven-inch will feature the special B-side “Halloween Kills (Main Title)”, performed, produced and engineered by John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies.

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“Hunter’s Moon” features Opeth’s Fredrik Åkesson on guitar and The Soundtrack Of Our Lives founder Martin Hederos on the piano. Producer Max Grahn and “A Ghoul Writer” are listed as the song’s composers and lyricists. The official music video for the infectious first new track from Ghost since 2019’s “Seven Inches Of Satanic Panic” was directed by Amanda Demme.

Also two months ago, Ghost announced a 26-date co-headlining U.S. arena tour with Volbeat and special guests Twin Temple , coming to cities including Seattle, Denver, Chicago, Houston, and Phoenix.

Buy or stream Ghost’s “Hunter’s Moon” .

Ghost’s ‘Imperatour’ 2022 European dates are as follows:

Apr. 09 – Manchester, Arena, UK Apr. 11 – London, O2 Arena, UK Apr. 13 – Glasgow, Hydro, UK Apr. 15 – Birmingham, RWA Arena, UK Apr. 17 – Rotterdam, RTM Stage Ahoy, Netherlands Apr. 18 – Paris, Accor Arena, France Apr. 19 – Cologne, Lanxess Arena, Germany Apr. 21 – Leipzig Quarterback Immobillen Arena, Germany Apr. 22 – Frankfurt, Festhalle, Germany Apr. 24 – Prague, Arena, Czech Republic Apr. 27 – Tampere, Nokia Arena, Finland Apr. 29 – Stockhom, Avicii Arena, Sweden Apr. 30 – Oslo, Spektrum, Norway May 01 – Malmo, Malmo Arena, Sweden May 03 – Brussels, Forest, Belgium May 05 – Milan, Mediolanum Forum, Italy May 07 – Barcelona, Olympic Arena Badalona, Spain May 08 – Madrid, Vistalegre Arena, Spain May 11 – Vienna, Stadthalle, Austria May 13 – Zurich, Hallenstadion, Switzerland May 15 – Hannover ZAG Arena, Germany May 16 – Munich, Olympiahalle, Germany May 18 – Budapest, Arena, Hungary

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MESHUGGAH Announces Fall 2023 North American Tour With IN FLAMES And WHITECHAPEL

Swedish metal icons MESHUGGAH will return to U.S. and Canadian stages for a nineteen-date tour this fall. Produced by Live Nation , the journey will commence on November 21 in San Diego, California and run through December 16 in Laval, Quebec. The tour marks the first time in five years that the band has played Canadian soil. Support will be provided by special guests IN FLAMES and WHITECHAPEL . The final show will also include the addition of VOIVOD .

A special BLABBERMOUTH.NET presale will begin on Wednesday, July 12 at 10:00 a.m. EST and end on Thursday, July 13 at 10:00 p.m. local time. When prompted, type in the presale code "BMMESHUGGAH" to access tickets before the general public. General on-sale will be Friday, July 14 at 10 a.m. local time.

MESHUGGAH tour dates with special guests IN FLAMES and WHITECHAPEL :

Nov. 21 - SOMA - San Diego, CA ( buy tickets ) Nov. 22 - Hard Rock Live Sacramento - Wheatland, CA ( buy tickets ) Nov. 24 - Paramount Theatre - Seattle, WA ( buy tickets ) Nov. 25 - Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre - Vancouver, BC ( buy tickets ) Nov. 27 - Midway Music Hall - Edmonton, AB Nov. 28 - Grey Eagle Event Centre - Calgary, AB ( buy tickets ) Nov. 30 - Burton Cummings Theatre - Winnipeg, MB ( buy tickets ) Dec. 01 - The Fillmore Minneapolis presented by Affinity Plus - Minneapolis, MN ( buy tickets ) Dec. 02 - The Sylvee - Madison, WI ( buy tickets ) Dec. 03 - GLC Live at 20 Monroe - Grand Rapids, MI ( buy tickets ) Dec. 05 - The Hard Rock Live Northern Indiana - Gary, IN ( buy tickets ) Dec. 06 - The Andrew J Brady Music Center - Cincinnati, OH ( buy tickets ) Dec. 08 - The Paramount - Huntington, NY ( buy tickets ) Dec. 09 - MGM Music Hall at Fenway - Boston, MA ( buy tickets ) Dec. 10 - The Wellmont Theater - Montclair, NJ ( buy tickets ) Dec. 12 - Toyota Oakdale Theater - Wallingford, CT ( buy tickets ) Dec. 14 - Wind Creek Event Center - Bethlehem, PA ( buy tickets ) Dec. 15 - HISTORY - Toronto, ON ( buy tickets ) Dec. 16 - Place Bell - Laval, QC (with VOIVOD) ( buy tickets )

MESHUGGAH 's ninth studio album, "Immutable" , was released in May 2022 via Atomic Fire . The follow-up to 2016's "The Violent Sleep Of Reason" was recorded at Sweetspot Studios in Halmstad, Sweden; mixed by Rickard Bengtsson and Staffan Karlsson ; and mastered by multiple Grammy Award winner Vlado Meller ( METALLICA , RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE , RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS , SYSTEM OF A DOWN ). Visionary artist Luminokaya once again created the stunning cover artwork.

MESHUGGAH guitarist Mårten Hagström discussed "Immutable" during an appearance on MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn 's "No Fuckin' Regrets With Robb Flynn" podcast. He said: "It's a double album, if this was a vinyl. It's 13 tracks; 66 or 67 minutes of music. It's the longest album we've put out so far, to this date. And it's a bit funny, 'cause when we started writing, I was really adamant that, 'Let's try to make a 'Reign In Blood' album' — like the MESHUGGAH 'Reign In Blood' album; just short but sweet. Not maybe 27 minutes, but keep it just over half an hour. 'Cause albums aren't what they used to be anyways; it's singles. So, obviously, we went the opposite direction and made a double album and just built it as an album and thought of it as, like back in the day, very important with the track listing and all that shit.

"For us, it was, like we always do, trying to find the… What's the MESHUGGAH sound? How do we keep it but make it interesting to us?" he continued. "'Cause that's been our modus operandi all along: if we please ourselves, we please our fans. That's how it's been. So that's what we need to take care of.

"We started writing it when we came off that COVID truncated touring cycle, and then, after that, it was just all systems go. We've been working our asses off for almost three years now. And we're really happy with the result. We may have tried out a few things that we haven't done before — not anything mindblowing. But from the reactions we've been getting so far, I think it's pretty much what we hoped for. 'Cause people are saying that it's an unexpected album. And that might sometimes be a bad thing, but in our minds, it can never be. And nobody said that it was surprising in a bad way; only positive so far. So we'll see.

"You know what it's like. When you work on an album, you really don't know. When you're done with it, everything's so jumbled up in your head, you don't know how to feel about it. It's just, like, 'Okay. Good enough. Let it go.'

"But we're really fired up about it," Mårten added. "It's a lot of music. It's by far the most dynamic we've been on an album. And that's something we've been going for. And I look forward to see how it comes across."

Hagström previously stated about the "Immutable" title: "The title fits perfectly for where we are as a band. We're older now. Most of us are in our fifties now, and we've settled into who we are. Even though we've been experimenting all along, I also think we've been the same since day one. The way we approach things and why we still make new albums, and why we still sound the way we do, it's immutable. Humanity is immutable, too. We commit the same mistakes over and over. And we are immutable. We do what we do, and we don't change."

MESHUGGAH completed its first pandemic-era U.S. tour in September and October 2022.

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Swedish Metal

All about Sweden’s vibrant metal music scene, including artists, bands, and festivals. 

Our Inspiration

On December 8th, 2019, one of our favourite Swedish metal bands, Zephyra , announced that it was the end of the road for them. The announcement on Facebook was an enormous blow to thousands of fans in Sweden and all over the world – and we are part of that community. While Zephyra takes a break (we want to believe it is a break) from the Swedish metal scene, we intend to keep the band’s spirit and that of metal music alive.

This website is a special dedication to Zephyra – a metal band that became known for its professional delivery and awesome stage presence. It’s a dedication to the sound of metal music in Sweden. The country is critical to the history of metal music and is incredibly influential on the genre the world over.

On this website, we scrutinise metal music in Sweden, including:

• Finding out what makes metal bands from Sweden tick
• Some of the best metal festivals Sweden has hosted
• Exploring the link between Sweden and metal

Swedish Metal Bands Taking Over the World

With a population of just over nine million, you wouldn’t expect Sweden to produce as many chart-topping bands as it has in the last couple of decades. Ok, most of the world may point to Abba as the country’s greatest contribution to the modern music scene, but metal bands from Sweden are influencing the genre too.

A Country of Metal Festivals

Every year, Sweden plays host to different music festivals. These range from pop music to our favourite metal tunes. Most festivals are held in the summer months when the days are long and warm. Metal festivals in Sweden offer the perfect meeting point for metalheads, no matter their gender or age.

Some of the biggest metal festivals in Sweden has multiple-day affairs that are dedicated to several forms of metal. These festivals feature several stages and usually lined up with tens of international and Swedish bands. Read on to find out how you can join some of the biggest metal parties of the year.

From Sweden to the World: An Overview

Scandinavian metal became a dominant heavy metal force in the 90s with a reputation for some of the most extreme black metal recorded. Swedish metal bands in the death subgenre favoured grinding, thick, and detuned riffs. In the early 1990s, various bands improved upon the basic metal blueprints using progressive instrumentals to add to the music’s core intensity.

The second wave of bands took over the Swedish scene with the “Gothenburg sound”. The sound has ultra-heavy, memorable riffs that combine with death-style vocals. Today, Swedish metal bands are inspiring intense fandom that easily stretches across the world. Want to find out more? Dive in and let us explore!

Frequent Questions We Get Asked About Swedish Metal and Metal

The complexity of heavy metal music. At the basic level, heavy metal fans crave sounds outside the mainstream. Plus, there is higher acceptance for the genre than in most other countries. Last, the Swedish government provides artists with plenty of support as grants that help during touring, for instance.

The melodic death metal (melodeath) is a death metal subgenre attributed to starting with Swedish metal bands. Melodeath borrows from traditional heavy metal and characterised by melodic guitar riffs. Swedish melodeath bands usually combine growling and harsh screaming with melodic singing, with an emphasis on one technique.

Death metal bands provide a more kinetic and primal performance compared to black metal bands. The latter bands have ghostier riffs, shrieked vocals, and a European flavour not available in death metal music. Death metal bands are about playing to the extreme of sound instead of emotion.

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Why is heavy metal so popular in happy Sweden?

Swedish Metal is your number one source of Metal in Sweden, from the inside info on bands, to the latest releases, to concerts.

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Everyone knows that Sweden plays host to some amazing festivals. Anyone planning to visit the Scandinavian nation this year should be aware of these incredible

Types Of Metal Music

As rock became popular, different creative bands started making new types of metal music. This led to a whole new world of subgenres.

Who are the top Swedish metal bands and artistes? The best metal festivals? Find out the answers to these and more questions here.

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The country of Sweden has always been a hotbed of heavy metal , launching the careers of some of the most successful metal artists of the past several decades, from the straightforward doom metal of Candlemass to the progressive experimentation of Evergrey to the thundering Viking metal of Amon Amarth. There are so many amazing bands to choose from that it's difficult to compile a top 20 list. With apologies to those that don't appear, here are some of the best Swedish metal bands that fans of this genre won't want to miss.

Formed in 1989, Opeth not only is arguably the best band in Sweden, they also rank as one of the best bands in the metal genre, period. They are extremely musically diverse, mixing death metal with many other styles, and even using acoustic instruments in some songs. The vocals are diverse as well, and the lyrics are exceptional. In more recent years, the band has begun to lean toward a more progressive sound, but that has done little to diminish their metal bona fides. 

Dark Tranquillity

Dark Tranquility, formed at the end of the 1980s, were pioneers in the melodic death metal movement. Unlike some groups whose time in the sun has come and gone, Dark Tranquility continues to progress and release great albums.

Utilizing unusual time signatures and tempo changes, combined with thrash and death metal elements and out-and-out experimentation, Meshuggah never fails to surprise. While some of their projects can be more hit than miss, when they are on target, they are exceptional. 

At the Gates

At the Gates also stood at the forefront of melodic death metal in the early '90s. Before disbanding in 1996, they recorded several influential and respected albums. Some of their members went on to form The Haunted. The band reunited in 2007, released their sixth full-length album, "To Drink From The Night Itself," in May 2018, and continue to tour.

The metal world was blown away by the ungodly sounds that the Swedish band Bathory let out in the early 1980s. Arguably one of the first true black metal bands, Bathory had a major influence on the sudden rise of the genre during the early 1990s. Bathory would eventually evolve into an epic Viking Metal (the subgenre with a lyrical focus on themes from Norse mythology) solo project that oozed a darkened atmosphere. The band ended with the death of frontman Quorthon in 2004.

Even with multiple lineup changes, In Flames continues to be at the top of the melodic death metal genre. Mixing death metal growls with clean singing, they have a wide appeal that grows with each release—although some critics believe their latest releases drift too far toward the mainstream.

Many listeners and critics dismiss Soilwork as being "too commercial." Sure, their style of melodic death metal is more palatable compared to some bands in the genre, but it's still unlikely that you'll hear any of their music on your local pop station anytime soon. They write great songs that mix the brutal and the melodic.

In a country where melodic death metal reigns supreme, it may seem unusual to rank a largely progressive metal group like Evergrey so highly. However, when you factor in their extraordinary musical ability and great songwriting, it's an easy choice. Tom S. Englund has one of the best voices in metal, their videos are beautifully shot, and they put on a great live show. 

Amon Amarth

Originally called Scum, Amon Amarth eventually changed its name to what the elves in  J.R.R. Tolkien's  books call Mount Doom. Amon Amarth could be considered the most Viking of the Viking Metal bands due to their lyrics and videos, but the band prefers to just be called metal. With Johan Hegg's seriously low register voice, the band's tightly structured playing, and videos that run like mini-films, the quintet manages to be rousing and fun as well as heavy and extreme.

Candlemass is one of the pioneers of doom metal, which debuted as a genre around 1984. Messiah Marcolin was their singer in the band's heyday, followed by Robert Lowe. Mats Leven is currently the vocalist. The band continues to tour, even though they said that 2012's "Psalms for the Dead" would be their last studio album. In 2017, Candlemass released a picture disc of "Nightfall" and a "Dark Are the Veils of Death" vinyl to celebrate 30 years since recording the hit album.

Arch Enemy is unusual in the Swedish metal world as they are fronted by a female vocalist, although you'd be hard-pressed to tell from just listening. Original lead singer Angela Gossow death-growled with the best of them, and current vocalist Alissa White-Gluz continues that powerhouse tradition.

Katatonia is another band whose sound has evolved over the years. They started in the early 1990s as more of a death/doom band. These days their music is much more complex and dynamic, but still heavy. Jonas Renkse's vocals have also evolved from being harsh to melodic.

Starting out as a no-frills death metal band, Therion would completely change their sound in the mid-1990s, adding more operatic and classical influences. Choirs and orchestration would become the norm in Therion’s core sound. Even with many lineup changes, Therion has kept to a symphonic metal sound, with the band’s mastermind Christofer Johnsson leading the way.

Marduk is probably the most controversial of our picks, given their anti-Christian, pro-Satanism lyrics, as well as their preoccupation with the Third Reich and accusations of anti-Semitism, but the band is super-tight musically. Since first emerging on the scene in the 1990s, they have developed a distinctive fast and intense style, with lots of blast beats and typical black metal shriek-y vocals. 

Entombed is largely credited for starting the Swedish death metal sound. The band’s music is an amalgam of thrash metal influenced by American death metal bands like Death and Morbid Angel. Relying on stout, primal riffs, Entombed eschews many technical aspects of the genre in favor of a more stripped down and raw approach. In 2014, Entombed split over legal disputes, and guitarist Alex Hellid formed Entombed A.D. Then, late in 2016, the original trio reformed.

Dissection was a band whose musical accomplishments were overshadowed by their actions. They released two very influential death/black metal albums in the mid-1990s, but then frontman Jon Nödtveidt was jailed for murder in 1997. Although Dissection resumed after his release, "Reinkaos" (2006) got mixed reviews. Nödtveidt committed suicide in 2006, and Dissection disbanded.

The Haunted

When At the Gates dissolved in 1996, three of the five members (the Björler brothers and drummer Adrian Erlandsson) formed a new band with guitarist Patrik Jensen and vocalist Peter Dolving. Dolving left for a few years and was replaced by Marco Aro. He returned in 2003, then left again in 2013 and was once again replaced by Aro. The band's heavy thrash sound and Dolving's penchant for speaking his mind have kept the band in the headlines and on the charts.

Since their formation in 1993, HammerFall has been one of the leading bands in the power metal genre. Dark Tranquillity vocalist Mikael Stanne was also with HammerFall for their first few years but was replaced by Joacim Cans before the band's 1997 debut.

Dark Funeral

Dark Funeral is a black metal band started in 1993 by Lord Ahriman and Blackmoon. Their full-length debut was 1996's "The Secrets of the Black Arts ." Blackmoon and original vocalist Themgoroth left the band shortly thereafter. Themgoroth was replaced by Emperor Magus Caligula who was later replaced by current vocalist Heljarmadr. They are clad in corpse paint and play fast, brutal, and intense black metal.

Vintersorg ("winter sorrow") is the creation of Andreas "Vintersorg" Hedlund and blends many different genres. Harsh black metal is combined with mellower folk metal and elements of more experimental and avant garde styles. Swedish lyrics eventually gave way to English ones, although 2007's "Solens Rötter" saw the band return to its roots.

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