There’s a wonderfully surreal moment in The Simpsons when Abe Simpson inexplicably proclaims, “the Swedish are coming! The Swedish are coming!”. Well, tonight in frosty Birmingham, that’s exactly what’s happening. Hailing from the land of Abba, Ikea, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, three of the finest exponents of melodic death metal have landed in Blighty to bang heads and kick bottom.Continue reading
Formed in 2006, and including members past and present of Soilwork, Arch Enemy and Spiritual Beggars, are The Night Flight Orchestra. Despite their heavy origins they are anything but, this Swedish sextet are enamoured with the sounds of the late 70’s and early 80s – so expect big riffs, huge choruses, corny lyrics and artery-clogging amounts of cheese. Continue reading
Following up 2016’s widely acclaimed In His Infernal Majesty’s Service album, Witchery have announced the release of their new album “I Am Legion” for November 10th via Century Media. The group consisting of bassist Sharlee D’Angelo (Arch Enemy), guitarists Patrik Jensen (The Haunted) and Richard Corpse (ex-Seance), vocalist Angus Norder (Nekrokraft), and drummer Christofer Barkensjö (Lik) have also shared the first incredible single online. Continue reading
Arch Enemy is planning for a busy fall, 2018 and beyond. On the heels of announcing their new album, Will To Power, due out on 8th September via Century Media Records, and a co-headline tour of the USA with Trivium, the band has announced additional headline tour dates in Europe for early next year. Details can be found below:Continue reading
Bjorn Strid is someone who likes to keep himself busy when it comes to creating music. Aside from his ‘day job’ with Swedish metallers Soilwork, he has found himself loaning his voice to multiple side projects and guest appearances over the years.
He shared some of them he has done. “Disarmonia Mundi – That’s just a guest thing. So whenever they put out an album together, they ask me if I’m available and I do it. That’s always a lot of fun. They’re friends of mine.”
Disarmonia Mundi
“The only other band that I really have, like a real band, that’s The Night Flight Orchestra. I don’t need any more. It’s classic rock and that’s one side of me, and there’s the metal side of me and that’s Soilwork. I think that’s perfect.”
“There’s Terror 2000 as well. We haven’t done a record since 2006. So it’s been a while. I’m happy where I am right now. I don’t need any other bands. I do guest vocals here and there. That’s fine but as far as starting new projects I don’t feel like it right now.”
Terror 2000
He elaborated on The Night Flight Orchestra, his 70s rock/AOR rock band featuring fellow Soilwork guitarist David Andersson, Arch Enemy bassist Sharlee D’Angelo, Von Benzo keyboardist Richard Larsson, Mean Streak drummer Jonas Källsbäck and congas/percussion/guitarist Sebastian Forslund.
The Night Flight Orchestra
“It’s really our vacation band. We have been doing shows. We did Sweden Rock which is a huge festival as well. Our fan base is really growing as well and it’s a totally different musical expression obviously. It’s really cool and it’s whenever we have time. It’s hard to sync sometimes because Sharlee D’Angelo with Arch Enemy. They’re on tour a lot. It’s hard finding the time but then again we don’t want to feel any pressure with that band. It should be all about fun entering the studio and jamming out and doing as many shows as we can.”
“If anyone wants to check out The Night Flight Orchestra, it’s called Skyline Whispers. It came out in June. Like I sad, it’s a totally different thing. Try to be objective. It’s nowhere near any kind of metal. It’s late 70s- early 80s Dad rock, if you want to call it that.”
The Night Flight Orchestra will be releasing their second album this spring, with reported song titles such as “Lady Jade,” “Stiletto,” and “Spanish Ghosts” set to appear.
THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA is:
Björn “Speed ” Strid (SOILWORK) – Vocals
David Andersson (SOILWORK, MEAN STREAK) – Guitar
Sharlee D’Angelo (ARCH ENEMY, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS) – Bass
Richard Larsson (VON BENZO) – Keyboards
Jonas Källsbäck (MEAN STREAK, ORCHID) – Drums
Sebastian Forslund (KADAWATHA) – Congas, Percussion, Guitar
If you’re a young, rosy-cheeked metaller then the likelihood is that you would’ve been little more than a glint in the milkman’s eye when the like of Black Sabbath, Blue Öyster Cult and Deep Purple ruled the UK with an iron fist. Yes, “going retro” is down with the kids these days, but Spiritual Beggars do it with such love, passion and unrivaled musicianship that it doesn’t feel like simple bandwagon jumping. But, this is unsurprising considering the line up.Continue reading