Category Archives: Trance

KATHMANDU: Influential British DJ Paul Oakenfold has reached Mount Everest's base camp where he plans to host the "highest party on earth", performing a set at 5,380 metres.

As climbing season in Nepal kicks into gear, few of the mountaineers heading to the world's highest peak were likely expecting to be joined by the three-time Grammy nominated artist and his dance beats.

Oakenfold -- whose three-decade long career has included collaborations with Madonna and U2 -- is due to perform a set at base camp on Tuesday morning.

"We are here now doing sound checks. We are really looking forward to the show tomorrow. Everyone is really excited here," Oakenfold told AFP by phone from base camp today.

The 53-year-old artist said he had no trekking experience before he set out on the 10-day walk to Everest with a team of yaks and porters hauling the audio equipment needed for the event.

Oakenfold trained for four months before arriving in Nepal in between a hectic schedule of late night gigs, he said.

DJ Paul Oakenfold's SoundTrek on April 10, 2017 and taken on April 6 shows the British artist performing a practice set at Pheriche village on his way to Mount Everest's base camp. (Image:AFP)

"I'm not going to pretend it was easy to get here... but it has been a wonderful trek. If you could see the view I'm looking at, it is very inspiring," he said.

The world's highest peak will provide a very different kind of high to Oakenfold's usual shows, which often draw thousands of revellers.

"The audience will probably be sitting mostly. The air is so thin here, you will run out of breath quite quickly," said Ranzen Jha, a Nepali DJ accompanying Oakenfold.

The gig is the first in the record producer's SoundTrek series, aimed at drawing attention to the effects of global warming and raising money for charities.

Oakenfold is also raising funds to help survivors of Nepal's devastating 2015 earthquake, which killed nearly 9,000 people and left thousands homeless, many of whom are still living in temporary shelters.

"I want to support in the rebuilding and to shed light on the environment... I would like to do my bit," he said.

But not everyone is keen on the idea, with some complaining that the renowned DJ is disturbing the peace and tranquility of the Himalayas.

Continue reading here:

British DJ Paul Oakenfold takes trance to Mount Everest, world's highest gig ever - Economic Times

Mix 247 EDM: What inspired you to start making music?

Soren Andrews: Ever since I was a kid, I grew up on 80s music such as The Cure and Metallica and I got into drumming. However, I wasnt interested in DJing until I went to college at Eastern New Mexico University. One day I was sitting in the computer lab and a trance tune popped up and I told myself that I wanted to do that!

Mix 247 EDM: After inspiration came to you in the computer lab, what was your first step to try to set that goal of being a DJ?

Soren Andrews: My parents were against the whole idea but my sister personally thought it was great. I just stumbled into the whole DJing life because I thought it looked fun and it also looked like that it was something that I should be doing.

Mix 247 EDM: Did you ever take lessons, have mentors, or teach yourself?

Soren Andrews: At the beginning, I taught myself, but with my first official release in 2009, signed on with Elliptical Recordings in Chicago, there was another DJ that called himself DJ Menace that came out of New York. Hes a great guy that took me under his wing and he taught me everything from the basics and how to bold my sound. Also since 2012, a guy named Mark Sherry, whos originally from Scotland, helped mold me into where I want to go now.

Mix 247 EDM: What was your first big gig as a DJ?

Soren Andrews: My first big gig was at Spinning Vision in Chicago, back in 2010! I love the music and the people in Chicago because it is so molded and defined. You get all these people who all love one genre within an entire city.

Mix 247 EDM: After your huge gig in Chicago, what led your career to Utah?

Soren Andrews: While being raised in Roswell, with a town of around 50,000 people, my brother was stationed out in the air force in Utah and he told me to come over and start DJing in Utah. My first gig in Utah was at Area 51 in Downtown Salt Lake City. At the time there werent any monitors in the booth so I couldnt hear myself mixing. From that point on to where I am now, I couldnt have picked a better path!

Mix 247 EDM: I see that you have recently released a brand new track, Pacific Coast Highway, want to tell us all about it?

Soren Andrews: Yes! It all started when I took a trip to Oregon one time with my friends. Starting in Portland, we drove all the way down and stayed in this city called Bandon, which is four hours south of Portland. We then drove further south into Northern California to go see the Redwoods and the coastline and the forest that you drive through inspired me to write this track. This tune is a little softer than what I usually write but I was really encouraged to write something that made me come out of my comfort zone. It has a mixture of future house and progressive trance.

Excerpt from:

Behind the Beat: Soren Andrews Lightin' Up the Trance - Mix 247 EDM

"Yo pani bhavi le lekheko chha tyo pani bhavi le lekheko chha bhavi le lekheko metdaina tala tala nepal ma jada daju bhai nepala jane bato mapani khane padhero sangai ko sathi bhai sansarai ghumda malai chha diusai andhero malai chha diusai andheroEverythingis written by fateAnd fate cannot be erased.On the road down to Nepal, O Brother,So many sights to seeBut when I travel this world, my friendIts all just darkness to me" Bir Bahadur Bishwokarma

Apr 8, 2017-

As Bir Bahadur Biswokarma begins strumming the Tungna, anticipation among those who have gathered begins to peak.

We are sat at the courtyard of the Patan Museum where an album launch for the folk ensemble Kutumba has been transformed into a giant, public busk. As a travelling minstrel (gaine) who makes a living out of busking at bustops and chautaris of towns along the Kodari Highway, Biswokarma is used to the attention the Tungna attracts. But even he has never had an audience this big. Then as he begins to sing Kangla ko bato in his uniquely rustic voice, the donations begin to pour in.

Patan has a long history of being generous to its artists, and it doesnt look like it will disappoint us tonight.

***

When I found Bir Bahadur Biswokarma on YouTube, under labels like A blind man singing, or A beggar plays the Tungna, I had reached a dead-end of sorts. As a student of Ethnomusicologywhich studies music through cultural and anthropological lensesI had scoured what little literature is available on the Tungna, but had been left with more questions than answers. Even then, all roads seemed to eventually lead to Biswokarma, who had found small-time fame on the internet through mobile phone videos uploaded by curious travellers, arrested as much by his blindness as his music.

Bir Bahadur Biswokarma is 32, and he has been visually impaired since birth. A resident of Listikot in Sindhupalchowk, near the Kodari border, he picked up the Tungna when he was 16, after deciding that, because it allowed him to sing as he played, it yielded more returns at bus stops than just the flute. As hard as the Tungna is to master, Biswokarma plays it purely by ear; and while he does rely on traditional bhakas and tonal signatures, his penchant for improvisation means that no two songs that he plays is quite the same. Like the long line of traditional minstrels that he belongs to, Biswokarma is no stranger to inducing guffaws for moulding his music according to the crowd that he is playing for, in any of the four languages he can sing in.

The Tungna, Biswokarmas lute of choice, is a stringed folk instrument, one of the half a dozen guitar-like lutes found in Nepal. Played by the Tamang, Sherpa, Hyolmo and other communities, it is a close cousin of other Sino-Tibetan lutes like the Bhutanese Dramyin (Damgyang) and yet unique in its form. Fretless and without a standard scale length, the Tungna, like the 362 different musical instruments in the country, has traditionally been confined to its region, keeping it in a very crude form, making it hard to tune; and harder to master. And like many other folk instruments, the Tungnas popularity is on the wane, despite it being central to cultural staples like the Tamang Selo.

In 2015, while travelling with an arts initiative to Gatlang, Rasuwa, a scenic, traditional Tamang community, I was surprised to learn that there was just one individual in the large network of villages, that could make the instrument. At a school, when we asked the students to draw the first thing that came to their mind when thinking about music, almost all drew guitars and drums. A few drew madals, even fewer sketched a Tungna.

There are people like Agrim Lama, who makes the instrument in Kathmandu per custom orders; Arun Manandhar of Kutumba; and the Project Tungna which have sought to popularise, preserve and document the instrument in the past years, but the tungna continues to remain an obscure and mysterious instrument, its use limited to large cultural showcases or the handful of travelling minstrels, like Biswokarma.

***

When Bir Bahadur Biswokarma ends his song with a frenzied crescendo, nearly Rs 30,000 has been collected through the donations. They will go a long way in helping his young family repay debts incurred while rebuilding their house after the 2015 earthquake. His 10-minutes in the limelight at the City of Fine Arts, we hope, will bring him further attention in the future.

For many like me, the impromptu set, served as a reminder that even while we sit in the cities and make tall claims and demands about the preservation of folk tunes and instruments, musicians like Biswokarmawho are keeping the traditions alive in their indigenous formare now more important than ever. Music, after all, is more than just entertainment; it is intricately tied to culture, society, religion, history and local lifestyles. And once an instrument or a musical tradition disappears, a part of our shared heritage and history dies with it.

Which is not to preach a purely nativistic approach to music; modern-day fusion ensembles have shown the versatility of folk instruments when paired with western musical styles. But as long as sarangi players continue to be labelled as pakhe or dalit, things are unlikely to change. In fact, a majority of traditional musiciansthe Gandarvas, Damai, Jugi, Badiare Dalit, and while social perception about caste is changing, without concerted effort, it might be too little, too late. But still, if Bir Bahadur Biskwokarmas entrancing Patan performance is anything to go by, there is hope yet.

- Deshar is a student of ethnomusicology at Kathmandu Universtiy and a member of the folk-fusion band Ma

***

Watch Bir Bahadur Biswokarma's Patan Musuem performance here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go-L2LJTl9I

Published: 08-04-2017 09:07

Read more:

The trance of the Tungna - The Kathmandu Post

Second Summer of Love celebrates its 30 year anniversary in style, inviting trance master Paul Oakenfold to perform at the highest party on earth!

Oakenfold is in the first stage of his GENERATIONS World tour, hitting 6 continents with a brand new immersive visual experience and extended sets spinning timeless records spanning three decades, with fresh new music from the man himself. And with such a glorious tour comes the desire to do something that will trump anything Oakenfold has ever done to date. On April 11, 2017,the Second Summer Of Love celebration will see Mount Everest Base Camp come alive with the sweet sounds of trance conducted by the Godfather himself; an appropriate genre and artist for such a stunning location.This is set to be Oakenfolds most extreme and record-breaking performance as he attempts to be the first DJ to hike 17,000 feet and perform on the hallowed Mountain! If he is successful he can add this incredible accomplishment to his already stunning resume which includes playing The Great Wall of China, The Hollywood Bowl, Coachellas main stage and Madison Square Garden. Of course, Paul wants to share this experience with his adoring fans and since most of us wont be making the trek with him, he will live stream his performance onEXTREMEas well as hisFacebook page!

TheSecond Summer of Loveis a name given to the period in 19881989 inBritain, during the rise ofacid housemusic and the euphoric explosion of raveparties and MDMA. The term generally refers to the summers of both 1988 and 1989whenelectronic dance musicfuelled an explosion inyouth cultureculminating in massfree partiesand the era of therave. After 30 years, Second Summer Of Love is taking the rave to one of the most gorgeous yet intimidating places on the earth, Mount Everest! I seriously cant think of a cooler (no pun intended) place to spread the word of dance music. Ever hear of the phrase sing it on the mountaintops? Well, Second Summer Of Love and Paul Oakenfold are set to do just that! But, instead of singing, Paul will be dishing out sweet trance melodies and pulse pounding rhythms with Mount Everest as his incredible platform!

Already underway, Paul is proud to announce that he hasdescendedupon Nepal to prepare for an event that will most certainly change his life. The project sees Paul Oakenfold and friends make the journey through Nepals remote villages to Mount Everest for a ground-breaking live concert event at a whopping altitude of 5,350 meters! Billed as the new music mix for the travelogue generation, Oakenfold will create a unique SoundTrek mix to provide his fans a full-on sensory journey. The SoundTrek mixes will be available for download, as well as being broadcast to millions of music fans and travel enthusiasts worldwide. But, in all seriousness, this is a project with a purpose as it aims to raise money for charities through game-changing events, sponsors, and donations, and looks to integrate local culture with music and global EDM! In addition to the main event at Mount Everest, Soundtrek has hired internationally recognized and award-winning cinematographer, Mark Fisher, of Fisher Creative to direct the Soundtrek documentary for an inside look at the trials and tribulations of hosting a concert at the top of the world.

Visit Paul OakenfoldsInstagramor head to Soundtrek on Facebookfor more information and to follow Paul Oakenfold on his massive and groundbreaking journey to the clouds!

Tickets are still on sale for Paul Oakenfold Presents GENERATIONS and can be picked up by clickinghere!

Facebook|Twitter|Instagram|SoundCloud|Website

Maria first fell in love with electronic music in the early 2000's when she heard a little tune called "Satisfaction" by Benny Benassi. Since then she has dived head first into the scene and become passionate about the trance, techno, and tech house genre's. Festival's like EDC, Dreamstate, and TomorrowWorld hold the key to her soul and dance music will always and forever be a major part of her life.

View original post here:

Paul Oakenfold Takes Trance To Mount Everest! - EDM Identity (blog)

A World in Trance, featuring the music of Zimbabwe, Iran, India and Pakistan in this third edition of the festival, transcends boundaries and brings the listener to a state of ecstasy and enchantment.

This year's series includes the entrancing mbira music of Zimbabwe with master musician Chartwell Dutiro (Apr 28); mesmerizing 21st century global trance music with Niyaz featuring the spellbinding vocalist Azam Ali (Apr 29); and riveting interpretations of Sufi qawwali with the US-based Riyaaz Qawwali (Apr 30).

Since earliest times music and dance have played a major role in uniting people through ritual, often seeking union with the divine through trance or ecstasy. This festival seeks to bring back some spiritual nourishment to our lives; to focus our physical and mental selves. While the music and rituals associated with each genre are very different from each other, they share a common thread in bringing people together in search of enlightenment. These are just a few of the many forms that music takes to enrich our lives.

IF YOU GO:

A WORLD IN TRANCE

Fri Apr 28, 2017 8pm $25; students, seniors $21

CHARTWELL DUTIRO

Voices of the Ancestors: Mbira Music of Zimbabwe

Sat Apr 29, 2017 8pm $30 students, seniors $26

NIYAZ featuring AZAM ALI

21st Century Global Trance Music

Sun Apr 30, 2017 7pm $30; students, seniors $26

RIYAAZ QAWWALI

Sufi Music of Pakistan & India

At Roulette, 509 Atlantic Ave at 3rd Ave near BAM & Barclays Center, Downtown Brooklyn

Tickets: roulette.org, 917-267-0363

Info, videos, & tickets: http://www.aworldintrance.com

Fri Apr 28

Chartwell Dutiro

Voices of the Ancestors: Mbira Music of Zimbabwe

"If you can talk you can sing. If you can walk, you can dance - or just sit and reflect." - Zimbabwean proverb

This performance of entrancing mbira music features the internationally renowned traditional mbira master Chartwell Dutiro (mbira, lead vocal, dance), who played at all-night ritual ceremonies (biras) in his native Zimbabwe from the age of four and is best known for his eight-year stint with Zimbabwe's famEd Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited. He is joined by his son Shorai Dutiro (mbira, vocal), David Holmes (mbira, vocal), Nora Balaban (mbira, vocal) and Bill Ruyle (hosho - gourds, tabla - tuned drums, percussion).

For centuries the Shona people of Zimbabwe have connected with the spirits of ancestors. These spirits are summoned by spirit mediums at biras, all-night ritual ceremonies where mystical mbira (metal-pronged thumb piano) music is played and people participate through dancing, singing, ululating and sometimes whistling. The collective energy created evokes a trance atmosphere that summons the spirits of ancestors to come and give daily guidance and healing. Mbira music has played an important role in the recent history of Zimbabwe. After being banned by missionaries in colonial Rhodesia for its erroneous association with devil worship, it took a role in the liberation struggle in the '70s, where it became crucial in politicizing and encouraging people. During the '80s, it came to symbolize the country's independence.

Chartwell Dutiro has been dedicated to spreading mbira music worldwide. As a child in rural Zimbabwe, he and his brother often played mbira all night, calling the ancestral spirits for guidance, as has been done in Zimbabwe for centuries. When he was a teenager, he joined the Salvation Army band, and played in a military marching band when he moved to the capital of Harare. From 1986 to 1994 he toured the world with the legendary Thomas Mapfumo. Since 1994 he has been based in Britain, performing, recording, teaching, and building bridges through his infectious music. He has appeared at WOMAD festivals in such places as Singapore, Australia and Reading; founded the long-running International Mbira Gatherings; composed and performed with England's Serenoa String Quartet; collaborated with refugee musicians from Africa in anniversary celebrations of the UNHCR; and composed and performed at the Royal Shakespeare Company's award-winning Breakfast with Mugabe. Chartwell has a degree in ethnomusicology from SOAS University of London, where he taught for many years.

Sat Apr 29

Niyaz featuring Azam Ali

21st Century Global Trance Music

Niyaz has created a 21st century global trance tradition by seamlessly blending Sufi poetry and folk songs from its native Iran and surrounding countries with rich acoustic instrumentation and modern electronics. Formed in California in 2004 and based in Montreal, Niyaz has a far-reaching repertoire that tears down cultural boundaries and bridges the gap between East and West. The group was founded by the spellbinding vocalist/composer Azam Ali, whose Iranian heritage and Indian upbringing have deeply influenced her music, and multi-instrumentalist/composer Loga Ramin Torkian (oud & kamaan lutes). They are joined by Didem Basar (kanun-zither), Gabriel Ethier (keyboards, programming), Vaneet Vyas (tabla-drums), and whirling dervish dancer Miriam Peretz.

Performing uplifting, transformative music, Niyaz, (which means "yearning"), was established as a platform to create social and political awareness through music rooted in, yet not limited by, tradition. Niyaz is committed to creating music with a deep social message aimed at uniting people from different cultural and religious backgrounds through our shared humanity. Guided by the mystical poetry of legendary Sufi poets and the ancient wisdom of traditional folk songs that impart the beauty of ethnic and religious minority groups in Iran and its surrounding regions, Niyaz steps into a future that is ancient and invites listeners to embark upon a philosophical quest into the depths of humanity. The group conveys a message of hope against injustice and oppression, as well as a universal tribute to beauty, cultural and spiritual diversity, freedom and dignity for all.

Niyaz's four bestselling albums, released on Six Degrees Records, debuted at #1 on iTunes and garnered the band media attention, including features on NPR, PRI, BBC World and the Huffington Post. Its most recent album, The Fourth Light, is a tribute to the first female Sufi mystic and poet Rabia Al Basri who was born in the 8th century in Iraq. Recognized as a saint, she had set forth the doctrine of Divine Love and non-duality, which today lies at the heart of Sufi mysticism. Though her role continues to be diminished in value because she was a woman, it bears great significance in today's modern world where women are still relentlessly striving in every aspect of life, to rise above the status of inferiority placed on them by patriarchal societies and laws. "Tam e Eshq," which appeared on the album, was named one of NPR's favorite songs of 2015 and called "a mesmerizing mix of rapturous vocals and electro-acoustic beats."

Since 2005, the group has performed in the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Singapore, Turkey, India, Russia, Dubai, Morocco, and Tunisia. Its music has been featured in various major film and television scores, including Prince of Persia, Body of Lies, Crossing Over, True Blood, Nip Tuck, Bones, and Alias.

Sun April 30

Riyaaz Qawwali

Sufi Music of Pakistan & India

Riyaaz Qawwali performs the ecstatic improvisational Sufi vocal tradition made famous in the West by the late Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, enthralling listeners with its lively rhythms, joyous melodies and inspirational poetry. In addition to paying homage to traditional qawwali that has been in existence for over 700 years, the ensemble also weaves various songs and poetry of South Asia into the qawwali framework, using qawwali as a universal message of oneness that transcends religious boundaries. Most qawwali troupes are composed of Muslim family members, but Riyaaz Qawwali, which is based in Texas, is composed of musicians who represent the diversity of South and Central Asia; they are of Indian, Pakistani, Afghani, and Bangladeshi descent, and come from various spiritual backgrounds, including Islam, Hinduism, and Sikhism.

Qawwali is a musical tradition that dates back to the late 13th century and is typically associated with Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam popularized throughout the Middle East, South Asia and North Africa through various "brotherhoods." Qawwali means "utterance" in Urdu and is derived from the Arabic word qaul (saying). Said to have been introduced to the Mughal court of India by the Persian mystic, poet, musician and philosopher Amir Khusrau, it is essentially a form of sung poetry. The qawwal engenders a state of transcendence in his audience, drawing on verses that ponder the meaning of Divine love through allegory, or are devoted to the sayings of the Prophet (Mohammed) or a particular Sufi saint. The ensemble builds a state of ecstasy through rhythmic handclapping, drumming and powerful vocals (similar to gospel in its call-and-response manner). While originally a form of prayer associated with Sufi shrines, over the past 30 years qawwali has been performed on secular stages throughout the world and has even found its way into Bollywood.

Riyaaz Qawwali is an ensemble of eight musicians who have been professionally performing qawwali for a decade, appearing across the US at such venues and festivals as Asia Society (Texas), the 2015 globalFEST, and the Richmond Folk Festival. Numerous languages are used, including Urdu, Punjabi, Persian, Gujarati, and Hindi. The ensemble is under the artistic direction of Sonny Mehta, its lead vocalist, whose musical influences include Ravi Shankar, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Sher and Mehr Ali, Jagjit Singh, Pandit Jasraj, Bhimsen Joshi and Abida Parveen. His poetry favorites are Bulleh Shah, Baba Farid, Amir Khusrau, Saint Kabir, Mir Taqi Mir, Mirza Ghalib and Shiv Kumar Batalvi.

See the original post here:

Chartwell Dutiro, Niyaz & Riyaaz Qawwali Set for A WORLD IN ... - Broadway World

Dreamstate is hitting the road and on May 11, 2017 Atlanta will spark to life as Paul van Dyk takes Opera Nightclub on a glorious journey of dance floor driving beats!

Dreamstate, an Insomniac Event, has become the official destination for trance here in the United States after kicking off its inaugural event in San Bernardino,California back in 2015. With a momentum that sparked like a wildfire,soon everyone would be privy to Dreamstates glory as the brand blasted off and landed in cities like San Francisco, Las Vegas, New York, Los Angeles, London, Mexico City, and even Melbourne, Australia! Boasting all trance, all the time, with a desire to grab on to the resurgenceof the genre that has been unleashed all over the planet, Dreamstate brought its vision to fruition with a glorious combination of uplifting melodies, pulse pounding rhythms,and a spectacular visual experience with a slew of the most beloved and sought after names in the trance universe.Naturally, Paul van Dyk would be named as one of the ambassadors of the Dreamstate brand, alongside trance Godfather Paul Oakenfold, so it was only a matter of time before Dreamstate would set in motion a tour that would highlight a man that helped Dreamstate in its rise to success since the very beginning.

A true asset to the trance genre, Paul has inspired fans all over the planet to cherish every waking moment, love each other like there is no tomorrow, and dance like you have never danced before! Kicking off on April 27 in Boston, Massachusetts, and running until May 27 with the massive Dreamstate event in San Francisco, California, Paul van Dyk alongside some very special friends that include Vini Vici, Simon Patterson, Alex M.O.R.P.H., Heatbeat, and Solarstone, will take to the stage to dish out an experience unlike any that has come before. Each location will offer a unique experience as the lineup is not identical for every stop.

Well, wait no more my southern trance fanatics because Paul van Dyk in partnership with Insomniacand Liquified, is coming for you on May 11, 2017, at one of my favorite spots to party, Opera Nightclub! With support locked in by local trance hero and founder of Unity Events, Ryan Michael will warm up the decks with brilliance and grace. A true master of his craft and someone who is passionate about growing the trance scene in a city saturated in EDM, Ryan Michael is the perfect choice for this game-changing event. Stay locked in with us as we present a very special ArtistSpotlight highlighting Ryan Michael right before the show and make sure to grab your tickets before they sell out! I hope to see you on the dance floor!

Date:Thursday, May 11, 2017 Ages:18+ Hours:10pm 3am Venue Address:Opera Nightclub 1150 Crescent Avenue, Atlanta, GA, 30309 Tickets:HERE Facebook Event Page:HERE

Facebook|Twitter|Instagram

Facebook|Twitter|SoundCloud|Website

Maria first fell in love with electronic music in the early 2000's when she heard a little tune called "Satisfaction" by Benny Benassi. Since then she has dived head first into the scene and become passionate about the trance, techno, and tech house genre's. Festival's like EDC, Dreamstate, and TomorrowWorld hold the key to her soul and dance music will always and forever be a major part of her life.

Read the original:

Dreamstate Presents Paul van Dyk @ Opera Nightclub || Event Preview - EDM Identity (blog)

For decades, extreme metal looked to Hell for inspiration. From Venoms Welcome to Hell to Slayers Seasons in the Abyss, as well as countless Satan-invoking black metal miscreants, the fiery underworld was the meeting point where heavy music came to party, slosh around in pigs blood, drink from bone chalices, crush a few beer cans and then go back to the surface to scare the normals. Its an appealing image for anti-authority types, and not mysteriously so; the Satanic Panicwasnt really that long ago, in the scheme of things, and megachurches somehow still manage to get asses in the seats. If individuality and free expression are more your thing than faith and self-denial, then why wouldnt you play up the devil thing? Whether or not anyone in a metal band ever believed in Satanwhich is unlikelythe rise you get out of someone who does is very real.

As metal has evolved, though, Hell itself has become less interesting as a source of inspiration. As a group like Oranssi Pazuzu proved with Vrhtelij, distant planetary colonies can be just as terrifying as a sea of fire. Germanys Venenum feels like a sort of spiritual kin to that unconventional Finnish group, their music seemingly born of something alien or supernatural rather than of orthodox villainy. In their press photos, they look a little bit like The Ramones in an abandoned subway tunnel, but the music on new album Trance of Death tells a different story. This is intense, cosmic and strange music that showcases the true potential of death metal when allowed to get weird.

Theres an undeniable gothic sensibility to what Venenum does, but not in the same way that Mercyful Fate or Swedish contemporaries Tribulation would display. Entrance, the leadoff track from Trance of Death, is a mournful and haunting instrumental played on cello and piano that wouldnt be out of place on an Agalloch album. The band maintains that darkness throughout, but they do so in the service of some furiously righteous death metal born of a twisted and unfamiliar realm. The title of Merging Nebular Drapes offers the possibility that alien blood really does run through their system, though its arguably the most straightforward death metal offering here, galloping forth with tight rhythmic dynamics and tremolo riffs. The Nature of the Ground takes things into a more complex direction, shifting tempos and introducing some dizzying, psychedelic guitar leads into the mix. And Cold Threat shakes up the approach even more, slowing to a crawl before launching back into a blast-beat explosion and eventually a section of crunchy grooves and acid-laced guitar leads that send the listener through a portal to a thrilling, terrifying terrain.

More than half of Trance of Death is composed of its three-part title suite, which finds the band at their most ambitious. In the first piece of the triptych, Reflections, the band balances spookiness with accessibility, its melody one of the strongest on the album despite an overall sense of foreboding. The middle section, Metanoia Journey, is instrumental occult rock with a heavy emphasis on 60s and 70s psych, its construction as much an emphasis of impeccable style as it is a showcase for the bands songwriting when removed from the context of death metal aggression. It seems only fitting that the third and final part is titled There Are Other Worlds. Its a long track and one that offers no shortage of compelling elements. Even more so than on the tracks leading up to itall of which are phenomenalThere Are Other Worlds finds Venenum taking the listener on a journey from one end of their sonic spectrum to the next, alternately beautiful and menacing. There are other worlds, indeed, and on Trance of Death, Venenum suggests theres still so much more for metal to explore.

Similar Albums: Oranssi Pazuzu -Vrhtelij Blood incantation Starspawn Occultation Three and Seven

Apr 5, 2017Jeff Terich

Excerpt from:

Venenum : Trance of Death - Treble

British rock band Coldplay literally left Manila with A Head Full of Dreams (AHFOD).

Thanks to Globe and MMI Live, Filipinos wait for the bands long overdue visit has ended, Tuesday night, April 4.

Coldplays concert; a night of live music and bright lights to entertain the Filipino fans at the Mall of Asia Concert grounds last April 03, 2017. ( Jun Ryan Araas ) Manila Bulletin

Coldplay opened the #AHFODTour with the albums first single of the same title, followed by the hit song Yellow, instantly sending the crowd to a frenzy.

After which, Coldplays frontman Chris Martin greeted the fans, Magandang gabi sa inyo.

Martin, who arrived in the Philippines ahead of Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland and Will Champion, had made some casual visits around the metro, surprising some of his lucky fans.

Lucky fan meets Chris Martin in Mcdo | credit Philippine Concerts via Facebook | Manila Bulletin

The singer also met with MMI Live CEO Rhiza Pascua, who joined him in visiting cancer patient Ken Santiago.

According to his brother, Ken was among the fans who braved long lines to avail a ticket for the concert. He, however, was diagnosed with cancer just last February, rendering him unable to watch the show.

Later in the concert, Coldplay dedicated their song Ink for Ken.

Chris Martin meets cancer-stricken Ken Santiago | credit Coldplay Philippines via Twitter | Manila Bulletin

The band also performed fan favorites The Scientist, Viva La Vida, and Fix You, as well as AHFOD hits Everglow, Hymn for the Weekend, Birds, and Adventure of a Lifetime.

Further, as part of the bands usual concert acts, Chris composed an impromptu song for the Philippines, in which he described the amazing Filipino crowd.

Ill tell you that the crowd is a thriller, just listen to how they sound in Manila, Martin sang, which right away received an uproar from the audience.

Tagged as the concert of the year, the band not only gathered over 35,000 fans, music enthusiasts and even celebs, #Coldplay also set the standard for other artists next to invade the Manila concert scene.

For their final songs, the band made the audience dance to their newest single Something Just Like This, followed by A Sky Full of Stars, and closed with Up & Up.

The crowd, after the lights went out, screamed We want more! in unison; but, was not granted an encore. Despite, fans can expect Coldplay will come back because Chris Martin promised it himself.

Tags: #AHFODTour, #ColdplayManila, Chris Martin, Coldplay, Globe, MMI Live

Read the original:

Coldplay leaves Manila in a trance - Manila Bulletin

Transmission Prague is pleased to announce the date for Transmission Prague 2017is set for Saturday the 25th of November 2017. ALimited amount of early bird tickets will go on sale on Thursdaythe 6thof April2017 at 9AM (CEST) through Ticketportal and Paylogic network http://www.bit.ly/TMTICKETS

After last years sold out edition which attracted visitors from over 60 countries to Prague, and the very successful introduction in Asia a few weeks agowhich attracted visitors from over 50 countries to Thailand, a new experience and a new mind blowing show will be created for Transmission Prague.

Once again, thebeautiful O2 arena in Prague, one of Europes most modern multifunctional venues, will be transformed into a giant dance temple to celebrate in style all night long. Transmission has developed and evolved into one of Planet Earths most spectacular trance events and has built a reputation its showcasing outstanding productions with mind blowing light and laser extravaganza.

Paving the way to the future with a deep-rooted passion and drive, Transmission will continue to dazzle the senses and astonish the crowds. The theme and line-up for this edition will be announced in a later phase but its well known that every edition is a new exciting adventure

Co-Founder of Trance Hub, Curator of The Gathering events in India and ALT+TRANCE in Czech Republic. By day, a Digital Marketing Enthusiast with love for Food and Technology. By night, a dreamer who wants to grow the Trance scene in India.

Next Post

Its been five years since the trance maven last released a studio album. Its fair...

See the rest here:

Central Europe's biggest trance event Transmission announces date - Trance Hub (satire) (press release) (blog)

Mix 247 EDM

[Behind The Beat]: Bringing Trance Back with Markus Schulz | Mix ... Mix 247 EDM Markus Schulz has gradually kept the flow of trance alive among the community. He is not only known as a DJ, but as a music producer. and more »

Read more here:

[Behind The Beat]: Bringing Trance Back with Markus Schulz | Mix ... - Mix 247 EDM