Storm Seeker
Encyclopedia
Storm Seeker is the debut album by solo artist ICS Vortex
, set for release on August 22, 2011 in Europe and August 23, 2011 in North America.
Regarding the influences that went into the making of the album, ICS Vortex said, “Inspiration is usually drawn from the things that are close to me. I always write in code, it’s often doom related, but never ever whiny. The power of the elements, obscure beauty, religion, death and junk are a few favorites. Knowing I am drawn to the power of the dark side, I decided to include lighter topics into the mix this time to separate ‘Storm Seeker’ from ‘Sideshow Symphonies
’: ‘The Blackmobile’ about Mopar and ‘Aces’ about gambling are the result. Love songs, really.”
Commented ICS Vortex: “This song [The Blackmobile] was written way back when I still felt black metal was dangerous. Now, totally untrue to all that, it’s a tribute to the only beast I ever loved.”
“Storm Seeker” will be released in Europe as initial limited-edition digipak, 180-gram LP and as a digital download. According to a press release, the CD “takes the musical elements from ICS Vortex's 10-plus years of experience with Dimmu Borgir
as well as the legacy of the classic bands with whom he is still active (Borknagar
, Arcturus, and Lamented Souls), topping things off with his signature clean vocals in order to make ‘Storm Seeker’ become a perfectly balanced axe, whether a song is cutting fast, or dicing slow.”
“Storm Seeker” features appearances by ICS Vortex's former Borknagar bandmate Asgeir Mickelson
on drums and Terje “Cyrus” Andersen (Susperia
, Dimmu Borgir
) on some guitar solos. The CD was recorded at Toproom Studio (Mayhem
, Tristania
, Borknagar
) with engineer Børge Finstad and mastered by Peter in de Betou at Tailor Maid Studio (Arch Enemy, Dark Tranquility, Dimmu Borgir
) in Sweden.
ICS Vortex
Simen Hestnæs , also known as I.C.S. Vortex, or just simply Vortex, is a Norwegian musician, best known as the current vocalist of the avant-garde metal band Arcturus, the current vocalist and bass guitarist to the progressive black metal band Borknagar, and the former bass guitarist and backing...
, set for release on August 22, 2011 in Europe and August 23, 2011 in North America.
Album information
ICS Vortex describes “Storm Seeker” as “a tribute to the fall and rise of my kind. A generation of misfits, born of hippies and raised by Satan.”Regarding the influences that went into the making of the album, ICS Vortex said, “Inspiration is usually drawn from the things that are close to me. I always write in code, it’s often doom related, but never ever whiny. The power of the elements, obscure beauty, religion, death and junk are a few favorites. Knowing I am drawn to the power of the dark side, I decided to include lighter topics into the mix this time to separate ‘Storm Seeker’ from ‘Sideshow Symphonies
Sideshow Symphonies
Sideshow Symphonies is an album by the Norwegian avant-garde metal band Arcturus. It was released on September 19, 2005. It is the first to feature Simen "ICS Vortex" Hestnæs as the principal vocalist and Tore Moren as second guitarist, as well as the first Arcturus album released by Season of Mist...
’: ‘The Blackmobile’ about Mopar and ‘Aces’ about gambling are the result. Love songs, really.”
Commented ICS Vortex: “This song [The Blackmobile] was written way back when I still felt black metal was dangerous. Now, totally untrue to all that, it’s a tribute to the only beast I ever loved.”
“Storm Seeker” will be released in Europe as initial limited-edition digipak, 180-gram LP and as a digital download. According to a press release, the CD “takes the musical elements from ICS Vortex's 10-plus years of experience with Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir...
as well as the legacy of the classic bands with whom he is still active (Borknagar
Borknagar
Borknagar is a progressive black metal band from Bergen, Norway, founded in 1995 by Øystein Garnes Brun. The band's style combines folk metal and black metal with progressive and melodic elements...
, Arcturus, and Lamented Souls), topping things off with his signature clean vocals in order to make ‘Storm Seeker’ become a perfectly balanced axe, whether a song is cutting fast, or dicing slow.”
“Storm Seeker” features appearances by ICS Vortex's former Borknagar bandmate Asgeir Mickelson
Asgeir Mickelson
Asgeir Mickelson is a Norwegian musician, artist, photographer and music reviewer. Although primarily a drummer, Mickelson has stated that he considers himself a musician above a drummer, and is also a guitarist and bassist....
on drums and Terje “Cyrus” Andersen (Susperia
Susperia
Susperia is a Norwegian black/thrash metal band formed in October 1998 by Tjodalv and Cyrus.The band was originally named Seven Sins, but since there was another band with that name they changed it to the title of the horror film Suspiria, but changed the spelling to avoid copyright issues...
, Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir...
) on some guitar solos. The CD was recorded at Toproom Studio (Mayhem
Mayhem (band)
Mayhem is a Norwegian black metal band formed in 1984 in Oslo, Norway and regarded as one of the pioneers of the influential Norwegian black metal scene...
, Tristania
Tristania
Tristania is a monotypic genus, native to New South Wales, Australia, closely related to Cistemon. The genus had a number of species, but some have been reclassified as Lophostemon and Tristaniopsis....
, Borknagar
Borknagar
Borknagar is a progressive black metal band from Bergen, Norway, founded in 1995 by Øystein Garnes Brun. The band's style combines folk metal and black metal with progressive and melodic elements...
) with engineer Børge Finstad and mastered by Peter in de Betou at Tailor Maid Studio (Arch Enemy, Dark Tranquility, Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir...
) in Sweden.
Track listing
Personnel
- ICS VortexICS VortexSimen Hestnæs , also known as I.C.S. Vortex, or just simply Vortex, is a Norwegian musician, best known as the current vocalist of the avant-garde metal band Arcturus, the current vocalist and bass guitarist to the progressive black metal band Borknagar, and the former bass guitarist and backing...
- vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards - Asgeir MickelsonAsgeir MickelsonAsgeir Mickelson is a Norwegian musician, artist, photographer and music reviewer. Although primarily a drummer, Mickelson has stated that he considers himself a musician above a drummer, and is also a guitarist and bassist....
- drums - Cyrus - lead guitars on tracks 1, 2 & 7
- Arne Martinussen - hammond organ on tracks 3 & 6, piano on track 9