With its May 3 release date a little under a month away, Karisma Records have released a second single from BJORN RIIS’ upcoming third full-length album “A Storm Is Coming”.
The single, titled “Stormwatch”, can be streamed or downloaded at the following: https://karismarecords.fanlink.to/BjornRiis_Stormwatch
According to Riis, “Stormwatch” did not start out as it ended up:
“Stormwatch” originated as a completely different song but after countless rewrites, it turned into a 15 minute piece that in many ways sums up the theme of the new album, “A Storm is Coming”. The lyrics are a dialogue between two individuals, describing the violent tension and frustration in a relationship. As the song progresses, the storm unfolds. I’m very proud of how it turned out. There are a lot of musical references throughout that are sort of a homage to my influences and it was great fun working with both Henrik Bergan Fossum (drums) and Mimi Tamba (vocals). They both delivered outstanding performances.
With “A Storm Is Coming”, Riis, also known for his work as the co-founder, songwriter and lead guitarist of Norwegian Prog Rockers AIRBAG, has managed to combine the art of rock, prog and atmospheric pop, to produce a prog rock album laden with atmosphere, and which is both heavier, but at the same time more tender, than his previous releases.
With its themes of human relationships and loss, “A Storm Is Coming” is written as a dialogue between two people. Formed of six epic songs and clocking in at 51 minutes, the album was recorded at the Subsonic Society in Oslo, mixed by long-time collaborator Vegard Kleftås Sleipnes, and mastered by Jacob Holm-Lupo (WHITE WILLOW, THE OPIUM CARTEL).
In addition to Bjørn Riis on vocals, guitars and a wide variety of instruments, the album features performances by Henrik Bergan Fossum (AIRBAG) on drums, Simen Valldal Johannessen (OAK) on keys, Ole Michael Bjørndal on guitar, Kristian Hultgren (WOBBLER) on bass, and Mimmi Tamba on guest vocals.
With artwork by Asle Tostrup, tracklisting on “A Storm is Coming” is as follows:
With artwork by Asle Tostrup, tracklisting on “A Storm is Coming” is as follows:
1 When Rain Falls
2. Icarus
3. You And Me
4. Stormwatch
5. This House
6. Epilogue
“A Storm is Coming” will be available in Digisleeve CD, Digital, and two different vinyl formats, which include a limited edition, one-time-only pressing on marble vinyl with an alternative portrait album cover, as well as a standard black vinyl version. All formats are now available to pre-order from the following:
All formats: https://bjornriis.bandcamp.com
CD & Vinyl: https://www.karismarecords.no/artists/bjorn-riis/
US Webshop: https://karismarecords.aisamerch.com/
BJORN RIIS’ next live appearance will be on the 17 May at the three-day Terra Incognita Festival in Quebec, Canada, where fellow Karisma Records label-mates AIRBAG and OAK are also scheduled to perform.
In September he is also set to appear at the 2 Days Prog + 1 Festival in Veruno, Italy.
More information about BJØRN RIIS can be found on the guitarist’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BjornRiisMusician/ and on his website at http://www.bjornriis.com.
Those interested in guitar tutorials and equipment related matters may like to check out Bjorn’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6JRXuFfSeZ1AzenPh_krpA
A video by Kjetil Karlsen for the track “Where Are You Now” from Bjørn Riis’s album ‘Forever Comes to an End’ can be seen at https://youtu.be/cuGTuNKKgso
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Band contact: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BjornRiisMusician/
Website: http://www.bjornriis.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bjornriis/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6JRXuFfSeZ1AzenPh_krpA
Bandcamp: https://bjornriis.bandcamp.com
Promo and other information: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lucyinblue/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0bdyvIoOnl9swUeOCi1Afw
Bandcamp: https://lucyinblue.bandcamp.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucyinblueofficial/
Band contact and booking: [email protected]
Karisma Records
Karisma Records on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarismaRecords
Karisma Records on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karismarecords/
Karisma Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karismarecords
Karisma Records on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KarismarecordsNor
Karisma on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records
Karisma Records Webshop: http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/
Karisma Records US Webshop: http://karismarecords.aisamerch.com/
