Spirits of The Dead
Oslo, Oslo County, Norway | INDIE
Music
Press
Sounds like King Crimson jamming to tracks from Physical Grafitti. Prog goes voodoo? Believe it! 8/10 Classic Rock Magazine(UK)
This debut is a intriguing beast Classic Rog Prog (UK)
A rollicking rhythm jostles us along as a latter-day Ray Manzarek hammers at his Hammond to the sound of Jim Morrison howling piercingly, frazzled syllables from beyond the grave" The Line of Best Fit (UK)
Spirits Of The Dead couldn’t be more welcome to hit our British market. There isn’t one bad song on this album and quite frankly we hope these guys do really well over here. Entertainment Focus (UK)
The epic ‘Spirits of The Dead’ closes out the album in a glorious display of riffing worthy of the great Tony Iommi. The Music Fix (UK)
Spirits of the Dead are unashamedly immersed deeply in the past, though with the ability to bring a fresh feel to their music; an album worth adding to any psychedelic collection. Room Thirteen (UK)
The album sounds heavenly. A dream debut. 4/5 Revolver Magazine(NL)
SOTD focuses his sights on both the past and the future. Their music points the way for the next generation of stoner bands - 8/10 Rock Tribune (NL)
Not a drop of water found in this wine. The debut of Spirits Of The Dead is an undisputed recommendation. - Progwereld (NL)
Spirits Of The Dead reigns! - 9/10 Lords of Metal (NL)
I've listened over and over trying to find at least one negative point to say about this album but the truth we must face is that there isn't one bit negative on this whole album.. it all falls to pieces perfectly and SOTD proves with this killer album that they are scandinavian top! - Metal to Infinity (BE)
The Norwegian act has found a rather intriguing voice that smacks of a lethal beauty - Muzikreviews(US) – Pick of the week!
It would appear that Norway, the band's home, is where the dead spirits of the rock gods go to be conjured up by young lads willing and able to channel them. – CMJ.com (US)
Never was a repeat button as valuable as it was today – Eclipsed (DE)
Behind a sophisticated silver-embossed cover hides another Scandinavian retro-trip to the golden age of hand-made guitar music.-Musikreviews(DE)
Spirits of the Dead have come here with a very hot iron from the cold Norway swept around the corner!!! - Rocktimes (DE)
We’re bewitched since the first notes. The fiery SPIRITS OF THE DEAD’s psychedelic rock sweep aside all that lay in its passage -Progressive-Area(FR)
Listen to the muscular rhythm section on that boogie-woogie bass riff-not a single extra note out of place, nor a poorly placed cymbal hit to be found.- Itsatrap (US)
Everything sounds and looks perfect in this release. Metal Perspective (GR)
They pull out some seriously sexy early Zep-esque strokes and some succulently drilled smoked till just right hazy transcendentalist slow burn freak outs – Losing today(US)
I'd say start off with “White Lady/Black Rave,” “Fields of Gold,” and “SOTD,” and if you like what you hear, go indulge in the rest. I sure did. Recommended! - Stonerrock.com (US)
- Spirits of the Dead
08.november 2007 at Parkteatret Scene.
Spirits Of The Dead is probably a bit unknown for the most of our readers, but if there is justice in the world there will not be many months before they are well known all over.
The band was a big surprise for me at the Oslo Musicfest this year. The Quartet's sound, with roots in both in 70's rock and newer stuff like Queens of the Stone Age, left me, quite extatic and hungry for more.
A couple of months later I got to see them again at a bigger venue and with a better sounding PA system. The expectations were high. They also had a great light rig with psychedelic elements and a lot of smoke effects which fitted Spirits Of The Dead perfect.
Musically it was as good as I had hoped for. With tight, punchy and groovy guitars, A steady hard hitting rythm section and a airy vocal on top, Spirits (no wonder we like em)did their best to capture the audience with a good result.
The bands myspace page is the only way you can listen to their music (as far as we know) And the songs from the site were better welcomed by the audience than the more unknown songs. So I guess both band and audience will appreciate their concerts better in the time to come.
Either way, we had a great evening. A couple of technical mistakes could not even come close to ruin this great concert.
Looking forward seeing them in the future on even bigger stages.
Check out the band: http://www.myspace.com/spiritsofthedeadmusic
- www.spirit.no
Discography
Spirits of The Dead - Spirits of the Dead (2010)
The Great God Pan (2011)
Rumours of A Presence (2012) Out Oct 9th.
Photos
Bio
Spirits of the Dead is a psychedelic-stoner-folk-rock band with one foot in the electric magic of the sixties /seventies and the other in the modern electric rock sound. Norway's Spirits of the Dead released their self titled album in 2010 to critical acclaim and was honored onto Classic Rock Magazine's top 50 albums-of-the-year list and included with a track on their cover mount CD - "The Best Of 2010"
Spirits of The Dead's album was a well executed and well crafted debut from a band with one eye set on the past and the other fixed firmly forward. Their debut album received great reviews all over the world giving them a growing attention as definitely a band to watch.
Their second album "The Great God Pan" is a much more folk, psychedelic and jazzy record. It takes you immediately on a journey through deep forests, over high mountains, where beautiful landscapes opens up and sometimes tricks you into the darkest (and brightest) corners of Pan's Kingdom.
Somewhat more a conceptual album than the debut, yet still has the great diversity of songs that are SOTD's brand. As the first album it is recorded in Grand Sport Studios by Christian Engfeldt and mastered by George Marino/Sterling Sound NY.
Musicians: Ole Øvstedal (guitars), Ragnar Vikse (vocals), Geir Thorstensen (drums) and Deadly Nightshade (Bass)
ALBUM QUOTES
Reviews Quotes on the second album, "The Great God Pan":
"This is superior stuff, and as a Soundtrack to a trip trough imaginary green and pleasant lands, delivers in full"
- 7/10 Classic Rock Magazine
"Spirits of the Dead are giving psychedelic rock a welcome with bold colourful brushstrokes and a genuine sense of wonder"
- Classic Rock Prog
"Deeply powerful and captivating every second of the way"
- Shindig Magazine
"This is a rich and surprisingly elegant album"
- 4/5 Rock and Reel
"A pagan folkocalypse. SOTD do it incredibly well and with a remarkable flair for balancing the modern and classic sides of their sound"
- The Obelisk
"The prog-tinged Norwegian classic rockers have ensured they maintain the momentum by rolling out the fantastic follow-up The Great God Pan. Dead Good!"
- 9/10 Rush on Rock
"Spirits Of The Dead have gone out of their way to more than fulfill any high expectations."
- 83/100 Altsounds
" Hallucinogenic may been involved in making some of the music. For fans of King Crimson, Nick Drake and Tame Impala"
- 7/10 Rock Sound
"The Great God Pan will stand as one of the best Norwegian Rock albums this year"
- 5/6 Norway Rock Magazine
With The Great God Pan, Spirits Of The Dead have managed to create an album that’s completely unique, every single track takes you on a journey of discovery into a previously uncharted world, it’s eclectic, it’s different and it’s oh so very daring in a musical world of sound-a-like bands. If you want something to challenge, to seduce, to mesmerize I suggest you get hold of The Great God Pan, you won’t be disappointed.
-10/10 Rhythm and Booze
Review Quotes from the debut album "Spirits of the Dead";
"Sounds like King Crimson jamming on tracks from Physical Graffiti. Prog goes voodoo? Believe it."
- 8/10 Classic Rock Magazine (UK)
(Track on Best of 2010 CD and on the top50 vote of 2010 best album list)
"This debut is an intriguing beast"
- Classic Rock Prog (UK)
"The album sounds heavenly. A dream debut"
- 4/5- Revolver Magazine(NL)
"SOTD focuses his sights on both the past and the future. Their music points the way for the next generation of stoner bands"
- 8/10 - Rock Tribune (NL)
"Not a drop of water found in this wine. The debut of Spirits of the Dead is an undisputed recommendation."
- Progwereld (NL)
"A rollicking rhythm jostles us along as a latter-day Ray Manzarek hammers at his Hammond to the sound of Jim Morrison howling piercingly, frazzled syllables from beyond the grave"
- The Line of Best Fit (UK)
"SOTD couldn’t be more welcome to hit our British market. There isn’t one bad song on this album and quite frankly we hope these guys do really well over here."
- Entertainment Focus (UK)
"Recommended !"
- Stonerrock.com (US)
"Spirits Of The Dead reigns!"
9/10 Lords of Metal (NL)
"The epic ‘Spirits of The Dead’ closes out the album in a glorious display of riffing worthy of the great Tony Iommi."
- The Music Fix (UK)
"I've listened over and over trying to find at least one negative point to say about this album but the truth we must face is that there isn't one bit negative on this whole album.. it all falls to pieces perfectly and SOTD proves with this killer album that they are scandinavian top!"
- Metal to Infinity (BE)
"Magnificent psychedelia. From melodic and delicate tender to really hard and frenetic; fearless Spirits of the Dead is grand and fascinating"
5/6 Bergens Tidene (N)
"Tasteful psychedelia. This debut album is the best I have heard of rock this year"
- 5/6 Trønderavisa (N) - A
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