GOLD – “Optimist” Out Today

Tags

Album Release, Amsterdam Recording Company, Ash Borer, Be Good, Come With Me, Donald Trump, Earth, Europan Tour, Gold, I Do My Own Stunts, Interbellum, King Dude, Marissa Nadler, Milena Eva, New Album, New York Times, No Image, No Shadow, Optimist, Pim Top, Randall Dunn, Rotown Rotterdam, Sulphurous Visions, Summer Thunder, Sunn O))), Tear, Teenage Lust, The Devil's Blood, Thomas Sciarone, Tour Dates, Track List, V11, Ván Records, White Noise, You Too Must Die

With their third full-length, Dutch quintet GOLD further establishes its focus on form and content, where their instruments are mere means to express – this contemporary rock band is heavy because of the songs, not because of the sound.

The songwriting core of GOLD exists of guitarist Thomas Sciarone (ex-The Devil’s Blood) and singer Milena Eva. Longtime friends Igor Wouters and Harm Haverman provide a rock steady yet adventurous foundation and new kid on the block Nick Polak completes the bunch with his talent for harmony and melody. On “Interbellum” GOLD have clearly crafted their own style with elements not unfamiliar to man. Milena Eva sets herself apart from other singers in modern rock music with her warm and soulful voice. She’s supported by a heavy rocking band whose effect is undeniable, but so is their joy in playing. Together they form an ambitious force that is eager to share its music with the crowds.

After the artistic success of 2015’s “No Image” – which united journalists, musicians, music lovers and even a pro-wrestler in its appraisal – GOLD returns with its successor. Together with producer Randall Dunn (a.o. Sunn O))), Earth, Ash Borer, Marissa Nadler), GOLD have put their angular drive, their blackened guitar textures, and the composed yet vulnerable vocal delivery of Milena Eva in an even broader context. GOLD have created an almost unlimited space for their unique unity of beauty and cruelty to crush and confuse even more.

Within her lyrics Milena Eva lays bare her insecurities, internal struggles and self-doubt, as a means to reach out and connect. To ultimately inspire acceptance and love of the self, of the known and of the alien. To resist the apathy as expressed in the album’s first lyric – ‘Binge-watching the world collapse’ – and to include. With their nonconformist outsider approach, which the New York Times strikingly defined as “serenely intense… near-metal”, GOLD has managed to find a previously uninhabited spot that is truly their own. To achieve this in the heart of such a densely populated musical landscape, rather than at its outskirts, is the exciting result of intense years of performing and self-reflection.

“Optimist” is an adventurous confirmation of GOLD’s reputation as an enthralling band, on stage and on record and will be presented to European audiences in March & April at the following dates displayed on the flyer.

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GOLD Homepage

GOLD on Facebook

GOLD on Ván Records

GOLD – New Album “Optimist” And European Tour Announced

Tags

Album Release, Amsterdam Recording Company, Ash Borer, Be Good, Come With Me, Donald Trump, Earth, Europan Tour, Gold, I Do My Own Stunts, Interbellum, King Dude, Marissa Nadler, Milena Eva, New Album, New York Times, No Image, No Shadow, Optimist, Pim Top, Randall Dunn, Rotown Rotterdam, Sulphurous Visions, Summer Thunder, Sunn O))), Tear, Teenage Lust, Thomas Sciarone, Tour Dates, Track List, V11, Ván Records, White Noise, You Too Must Die

Photography by Pim Top

Dutch “post-everything” sextet, Gold, have today confirmed details of their third full length album entitled “Optimist”. The LP will be released on February 24, 2017 via Ván Records. Recorded with Randall Dunn at Amsterdam Recording Company, the release party will take place on March 16th at V11/Rotown Rotterdam, which is the kick off of our European tour:

16.03 – NL – Rotterdam @ V11
17.03 – CH – Winterthur @ Gaswerk
18.03 – CH – Olten @ Le Coq d’Or
19.03 – AT – Linz @ Willy*Fred
20.03 – AT – Wien @ Venster 99
21.03 – DE – Leipzig @ 4rooms
22.03 – DE – Göttingen @ Freihafen
23.03 – DE – Rostock @ JAZ
24.03 – DK – Kopenhagen @ Stengarde
25.03 – NO – Oslo @ Blitz
27.03 – DE- Kiel @ Alte Meierei
28.03 – DE – Hamburg @ Hafenklang
29.03 – DE – Erlangen @ JUKUZ
30.03 – FR – Lille @ El Diablo
31.03 – TBC
01.04 – BE – Antwerpen @ Antwerp Music City

After the artistic success of 2015’s No Image – which united journalists, musicians, music lovers and even a pro-wrestler in its appraisal – Gold returns with its successor. Together with producer Randall Dunn (a.o. Sunn O))), Earth, Ash Borer, Marissa Nadler), Gold have put their angular drive, their blackened guitar textures, and the composed yet vulnerable vocal delivery of Milena Eva in an even broader context. Gold have created an almost unlimited space for their unique unity of beauty and cruelty to crush and confuse even more.

Within her lyrics Milena Eva lays bare her insecurities, internal struggles and self-doubt, as a means to reach out and connect. To ultimately inspire acceptance and love of the self, of the known and of the alien. To resist the apathy as expressed in the album’s first lyric – ‘Binge-watching the world collapse’ – and to include.

Thomas Sciarone comments: “Our activism and socio-criticism is strongly rooted in self-reflection and improving our selves. We do not only intend to break down walls and bridge gaps between scenes and genres, but also – more importantly – between people. And if it’s necessary to call out those who want to stand between us, we artistically will. It’s no coincidence that the last shot of the last video we took from No Image shows an awkwardly confident Donald Trump.”

With their nonconformist outsider approach, which the New York Times strikingly defined as “serenely intense… near-metal”, Gold has managed to find a previously uninhabited spot that is truly their own. To achieve this in the heart of such a densely populated musical landscape, rather than at its outskirts, is the exciting result of intense years of performing and self-reflection.

Optimist is an adventurous confirmation of Gold’s reputation as an enthralling band, on stage and on record.

Optimist – track list

1. You Too Must Die
2. Summer Thunder
3. White Noise
4. Teenage Lust
5. No Shadow
6. I Do My Own Stunts
7. Be Good
8. Come With Me
9. Tear

by Sulphurous Visions

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GOLD Homepage

GOLD on Facebook

GOLD on Ván Records

HELL OVER HAMMABURG – Metalizing The North

Tags

Adrenaline Distractions, Amsterdam Recording Company, Anton Fingal, Attic, Christoffer Svensson, Dejan Rosić, Denial of God, Die Burg, DJ Krugi, Essenz, Gold, Harm Haverman, Hell Over Hammaburg, Henrik Petersson, High Roller Records, Igor Wouters, Interbellum, Jess and the Ancient Ones, Johan Berg, King Diamond, Kristina Karlsson, Markthalle, Marx, Mercyful Fate, Milena Eva, Nick Polak, Niclas Svensson, Peter Henriksson, Phoenix, Pieter Kloos, Rock Hard Magazine, Screamer, Slingblade, Sure Shot Worx, Svart Records, The Devil's Blood, The Scams, The Void, Thomas Sciarone, Tobias Ander, Vanderbuyst, Ván Records, Willem Verbuyst, Wolf Mühlmann

SCREAMER: Dejan & Christoffer – Courtesy of Andreas Schulz

Word-of-mouth and online promotion was really big with the very first edition of HELL OVER HAMMABURG Festival, taking place on first saturday in march at Markthalle, Hamburg. It was even big enough to bring quite a number of metalheads from the Ruhrarea, among others a delegation from Rock Hard Magazine and the Rhineland all the way up to the north, bumping into each other as if it was any other weekend settled between Dortmund and greater Cologne-area. Turning out anything BUT usual, HOH is crowded with visitors from all corners of Germany and beyond. Several hundreds of people would even cause a bit of a jam in between sets, as the two halls of the venue has bands playing at the same time and the smoking area is placed right in the midst of them, thus delivering a true “Sold Out”-atmosphere.

SCREAMER: Anton & Henrik – Courtesy of Andreas Schulz

Initializing the festival at its more spacious part of the venue, Swedish Metalheads SCREAMER prove to be just the best choice for an opener at this hour. Young and sparkling full of energy the four musicians from Ljungby and Malmö easily get the entire audience going along with their forceful action. With their latest record “Phoenix” just out for about a month and a handful of well-known tracks from the previous one “Adrenaline Distractions”, choruses echo through a few dozens of spectators, spreading even more joy between band and fans. SCREAMER are able to live up to their reputation as one of the most frequently touring bands, as well as a guarantee of full power and a damn good time. An extended review on the SCREAMER shows in Hamburg and Cologne can be found here!

Up next at the big venue are the highly acclaimed ATTIC, that apparently like to raise a lot of tension with their endlessly long intro. One word about ATTIC from my personal point of view: I have never been much into KING DIAMOND and/or MERCYFUL FATE, hence my slighty awkward feeling when it comes to ATTIC and their vocalist in particular. Their show is at least consequent with make-up and a seemingly sacral stage decor. But this won’t keep me lingering for the entire act.

GOLD Vocalist Milena Eva – Courtesy of Andreas Schulz

Leaving early from the ATTIC show gives me the chance to make my way to the front row of the other venue hall called “Marx”, which has a capacity of about 300 and reminds me of some of the local clubs from the Ruhrarea, specially concerning the amount of oxygen available in the cause of a night…Breathtaking is an attribute one might use to describe dutch newcomers GOLD or rather their singer Milena Eva. If it’s not her hair or her nose that gets the audience’ attention, it is for sure her wiggling ass in those glitters pants! The colour perfectly matches with that of the drumset, turning the lower part of her body into an interactive lava-lamp, so to speak. Those who won’t get mesmerized by her siren-like voice will so by her loose pelvis. But enough about visual aids, GOLD are a great live band, which they demonstrate really well tonight in Hamburg. Former THE DEVIL’S BLOOD guitarist Thomas Sciarone, drummer Igor Wouters and bassist Harm Haverman as a reliable rhythm section and the latest addition, second guitarist Nick Polak totally jam the small stage. Their debut “Interbellum”, which was Recorded in the summer of 2012 by Igor Wouters and VANDERBUYST fronter Willem Verbuyst at Amsterdam Recording Company and Mastered by Pieter Kloos at The Void Eindhoven, was released via german label Ván Records, on December 7th 2012.

JESS AND THE ANCIENT ONES – Courtesy of Andreas Schulz

After a much-needed break during the sets of ESSENZ and DENIAL OF GOD it is time for a little more Swedish flair in the allegedly most beautiful city of germany: Stockholm based quintette SLINGBLADE plays straight forward Heavy Rock led by the raw vocals of their leather loving female fronter Kristina Karlsson. Besides SCREAMER yet another protegé of german label High Roller Records to perform at HELL OVER HAMMABURG. Together with lead guitarist Johan Berg, bassist Niclas Svensson, drummer Peter Henriksson and a stand-in for the unavailable second guitarist Tobias Ander, who is currently touring Spain with THE SCAMS, SLINGBLADE truly manage to entertain the crowded that squeezes itself inside the Marx.

Headlining a new festival might be enough of a challenge or probably even burden itself, with no one knowing how well the all over spirit will be at the final show of one long day. Filling the most important position with just a debut album out and a follow-up EP recently published  – both available on Svart Records – could be called a risk organiser Wolf Mühlmann of Sure Shot Worx & Rock Hard Magazine and his team take. Having a band, that has never played in germany before concluding an event is verging on insane. JESS AND THE ANCIENT ONES has become one of the most promising acts of the moment and expectations are above the roof as the finnish musicians enter stages this night. Even more so, they do combine all the factors named before and as good as their sound is, their stage acting is an edgy outbreak at best. After waiting to see JATAO for months, I am sorry to say that they could not fulfill the self-created rumors about rituals that have been spreading online in advance of HELL OVER HAMMABURG.

JESS AND THE ANCIENT ONES – Courtesy of Andreas Schulz

Altogether a successful start of a new event, going on sometime until 2am, when DJ Krugi (“Die Burg”) shut down his modern-day turntables.
A major thanks to everyone working this day! Second edition of HELL OVER HAMMABURG will take place march 15th, 2014 at Markthalle, Hamburg. All information available at the festival homepage.