Released June 24, Lost to the Living is the North Carolina-based band’s second album for Candlelight Records. Mixed by Jens Bogren (OPETH, KATATONIA) and featuring artwork from Travis Smith (AMON AMARTH, PARADISE LOST), the album features nine new songs. “We were extremely pleased to see the glowing response to Lost to the Living from the media,” notes drummer Jesse Haff. “It’s especially rewarding to see the continued love from fans towards this album.”

Confirmed dates are noted below. Tickets are available now via www.enterthevault.com.

1/30/2009 Penny Arcade - Rochester, NY
1/31/2009 Harpo’s - Detroit, MI
2/02/2009 The Muse - Nashville, TN
2/03/2009 Jack Rabbits - Jacksonville, FL
2/04/2009 The Garage - St. Petersburg, FL
2/05/2009 Culture Room - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
2/06/2009 Backbooth - Orlando, FL
2/07/2009 The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
2/08/2009 Music Farm - Charleston, SC
2/09/2009 Amos Southend - Charlotte, NC

ABYSMAL DAWN Tour Dates:

November 21 Canoga Park, CA Cobalt Café (w/ RECIPROCAL)

Metal Maniacs Presents the “Endless Wintour” Tour feat. ABYSMAL DAWN, SOTHIS:
December 5 Bakersfield, CA Jerry’s Pizza
December 6 S. Lake Tahoe, NV Whisky Dicks
December 7 Auburn, CA The Bandstand
December 8 Portland, OR Satyricon
December 10 San Francisco, CA Thee Parkside
December 11 San Marcos, CA Jumping Turtle
December 12 Tempe, AZ Big Fish Pub
December 14 Hollywood, CA Knitting Factory

APESHIT: Alongside DIMMU BORGIR and BEHEMOTH, KEEP OF KALESSIN are on one of the biggest underground metal package tours so far this year.  How’s everything going so far?

Obsidian C.: Amazing so far… being able to play for these kinds of venues.  This is basically the best start in the U.S. we could ever [have] hoped for.

Wizziac: It’s just amazing how many people show up.  Like you said, it’s an underground metal tour, and people are only here to see extreme metal.  I think that’s actually quite unique to have a big tour like this for only the darker side of metal.

APESHIT: Have you been having fun with the guys from DIMMU and BEHEMOTH?

Obsidian C: Yes, we are getting along very good.

APESHIT: Are you guys going to be playing songs from the first two albums and EP?

Obsidian C: Well, we only have a 30 minute set and with our song lengths, that means actually just four songs.  So we have chosen two songs from Armada, one from the new album, Kolossus–which is not out yet, it will be out here in America on June 10th–and then one song from the Reclaim EP.

APESHIT: Armada is a very crucial album, a turning point for the band.  You guys got a lot of widespread attention and critical acclaim.  Also, the band’s sound evolved a lot, incorporating other styles of metal.  What influenced you to expand your sound on Armada?

Obsidian C: It was just a natural evolution of the band to take that direction. I think if you listen to Agnen, the second album, you can hear a lot of same riffing styles.  But the problem was lack of money or lack of production, the Agnen album never really sounded as good as it could have been.  And the band was much younger, and we didn’t have any experience and skills to pull it off until Armada.  So I think it has always been a natural evolution that, finally on Armada, came together as it should.

APESHIT: With Kolossus coming out, what can metal fans expect from the album?

Obsidian C: You can expect a very diverse album [from] a band that is not afraid of doing something different and a band that is not afraid of breaking the mold of black metal.  It’s a very big and epic sounding album.  It’s like the biggest songs from Armada taken to the next level.  I think it will be a very natural successor to Armada.

APESHIT: Tell us about your own rehearsal studio which you’ve utilized for the recording of Kolossus.  With that in mind, how did the recording process for Kolossus go?

Obsidian C: I think with this process, we probably couldn’t have it any other way.  We like to explore a lot in the studio instead of just rehearsing and then going into the studio for, maybe, just two weeks and recording without enough rehearsal.  Especially when it comes to the vocals, it’s important to try different angles and different approaches to the vocal styles.  So it’s really important to have enough time to explore that stuff.  But then again, it’s really hard to keep the band’s spirit up for three or four months of recording.  It’s both good and bad, but it’s a challenge to stay in the studio that long.  We actually always waited on the vocals until we’re actually finished with the recording of all other instruments.  We have done that with all our previous albums.  It’s just a natural way for me to work.

APESHIT: You noted in your studio report that you are only taking a week off between recording Kolossus and the next KEEP OF KALESSIN album.  Why such the quick turnaround?

Obsidian C: We were supposed to do that.  We were supposed to start the next album, but the production of Kolossus took a lot longer than expected.  So we didn’t actually have time because we had a few shows coming up, and we had to get ready for that.  Then this tour came along, so it was actually impossible for us to start recording the next album.  But we’ll start doing pre-production and stuff.  We have actually started pre-production on some of the songs.  But we’ll start when get back from this tour.

APESHIT: With that original goal, were there ever any plans to release Kolossus as a double album?

Obsidian C: We were thinking about that early on, but then we decided to focus on getting one album out right now.  And then we’ll do the next.  After the next album, we are actually thinking of doing a double album that will be a huge, epic thing!

APESHIT: With the response that Armada has a received and the band’s increased activity, would you say that now is the most creative and exciting time for the band?

Obsidian C: Definitely.  It’s been a hell of a ride since the release of Armada.  In the past two years, we have done so much more than all the 13 years prior to that.  So, definitely the most exciting period.

APESHIT: Why did you decide to license the album to Nuclear Blast in the U.S.?

Obsidian C: Because Nuclear Blast is a very good label, and we were looking for partners who were really fans of the band and want to work with the band.  If you look at the record that Nuclear Blast has with all the bands from Europe doing pretty well in the States…and because they believe the most in the band, it was the natural thing to do.  They really are fans of the band.

APESHIT: Where do you envision taking the band? Do you want to elevate to DIMMU or BEHEMOTH status?  Or are there obstacles limiting what you can achieve like work, school, or family?

Thebon: I think the goal is to go as far as we can.  We don’t have much [inaudible]… this is what we do.

Wizziac: I would quit my day job if that was the case.

Obsidian C: We definitely want to be the next DIMMU or even METALLICA for that matter [laughs].  That’s quite impossible, but of course we want to go as far as possible.  Making music is our living and everyone in the band has that as our goal, our top priority.

APESHIT: A great example of a fast-rising band is BEHEMOTH, because they were on Avantgarde Music like you were, and they were licensed for Olympic Recordings in America.  Then Olympic went out of business and Century Media decided to take on BEHEMOTH.  Then it just took off from there, and they’re playing all these tours.  Now you see all these BEHEMOTH shirts out there!

Obsidian C: We will definitely work hard to do that.  But it’s also a matter of keeping our network with all the correct contacts to get all the right kind of tours and stuff.  So that’s really important, to tour a lot in the States.  And, we are willing to do that, but it’s not always that easy.  We are not big enough to headline yet, even though we meet fans everyday that say, “Hey, you guys should come and play more often.”  We want to… if someone would give us the opportunity.

APESHIT: Every member of KEEP OF KALESSIN is extremely talented as musicians. Do you ever feel that there is no limit to what you can do technically and creatively?

Obsidian C: I think there are a lot of bands better than us, individually.  You have all kinds of crazy bands that have guitarists with great technique and drummers who are just insane.  But, the most important thing for us is to create atmosphere and our own sounds like we are our own band.  We don’t want to sound like anyone else, and making good songs is the most important part for us… and adding playing skills to the atmosphere without compromising the music is the most important thing.

APESHIT: Obsidian C., your guitar playing style is unique.  You mix different strumming patterns and accentuate notes well.  Despite the fast, busy playing, there is a lot of clarity.  How did you develop your style of guitar playing?

Obsidian C: It’s kind of hard to explain how I developed the style.  It’s been a priority to sound like no one else.  I started out playing heavy metal stuff, then got into black metal.  Now I’m just incorporating all the different guitar styles I’ve been playing all along, like blues and stuff like that… especially thrash metal.  I always think melody when I’m making the riffs and while I’m thinking of the different chords while the melody is progressing.  It’s just been the same with the band.  It’s been a natural development for me to evolve in that direction.  It just happened on its own because of the melodies and atmospheres I try to create.  A couple of us here have become more aware of how I should do it and evolve that unique style even more.

APESHIT:  Black metal has come a long way.  No longer are there $30 import CDs and kids in high schools are wearing DARKTHRONE or EMPEROR shirts.  What do you guys think of Norwegian black metal in 2008 and how it has grown?

Obsidian C: I think its great to see that it has been accepted as a leading genre.  It’s almost as important as any other metal genre.  I also think that there was a certain atmosphere with the [black metal] albums from the 90’s.  I also think it’s a collective goal to try to retain some of that atmosphere because all of those bands have changed so much that the atmosphere is lacking on their new albums.  So i think that it’s important to keep that certain atmosphere that was [prominent] in ‘93-’97, maybe.  There were so many good albums coming from Norway.  I think that was really something unique in that era.  As far as album sales and how big the bands are now, I think it’s great that the bands are much bigger.  Everyone deserves it.

The ten songs that receive the highest votes, make the cut and final setlist will be revealed on their website prior to the tour.  Voting will close December 12, 2008.

Go here to vote: http://www.soilwork.org/votehere.php

ENSLAVED guitarist and founding member Ivar Bjørnson shares his thoughts on this accomplishment and the upcoming 2009 North American tour:

“We were on the first day of our European tour in Copenhagen when we got the update from the U.S. on the Vertebrae release. We’ve been told the first sales figures are very good! We are very grateful for the reception Vertebrae has received in America; and now to see the first-week sales being doubled compared to those of Ruun is nothing short of amazing. We wish to thank the fans for backing the release, the media for the in-depth reviews and features, and everybody at Nuclear Blast for getting 100% behind ENSLAVED on this release.”

“The new songs sound like a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and we can’t wait to take this album on the road – luckily the wait is over! The confirmation of the North American dates in May 2009 is the best news we could get. The two tours over there in 2007 were fantastic; the response was overwhelming and we got to meet and know so many dedicated fans and followers of ENSLAVED all over North America. Going back now, with the massive welcome Vertebrae has received, is something we can’t wait to do. Having SWALLOW THE SUN and KEEP OF KALESSIN as support is absolutely great. We can’t wait!”

Confirmed North American tour dates are below. Advanced tickets are on sale now exclusively through EnterTheVault.com until November 26th. On November 27th, tickets will go on sale through normal ticketing outlets.

May 01 Mokena, IL @ Pearl Room
May 02 St. Paul, MN @ Station 4
May 03 Winnipeg, MB - Royal Albert Arms
May 04 Regina, SK - The exchange
May 05 Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room
May 06 Calgary, AB - Warehouse
May 07 Vancouver, BC - Plaza Club
May 08 Victoria, BC - Sugar
May 09 Seattle, WA - El Corazon
May 10 Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theater
May 11 San Francisco, CA - Slims
May 12 West Hollywood, CA - Key Club
May 13 San Marcos, CA - Jumping Turtle
May 15 San Antonio, TX - Scout Bar
May 16 Houston, TX - Scout Bar
May 18 Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room
May 19 Orlando, FL - Backbooth
May 20 Atlanta, GA - Masquerade
May 21 Raleigh, NC - Volume 11
May 22 Baltimore, MD @ Sonar - Maryland Deathfest
May 23 Worcester, MA - Palladium
May 24 New York, NY - The Blender Theatre at Gramercy
May 25 Montreal, QC - Foufounes Électriques
May 26 Toronto, ONT - Opera House
May 27 Rochester, NY - Penny Arcade
May 28 Springfield, VA - Jaxx
May 29 Louisville, KY - Uncle Pleasants
May 30 Milwaukee, WI - The Rave

Bands confirmed for Heathen Crusade III:

MOONSORROW (Finland)

ANCIENT RITES (Belgium)

WOODS OF YPRES (Canada)

METSATOLL (Estonia)

INQUISITION

OAKHELM

MORIBUND OBLIVION (Turkey)

ULVEHEIM (Mexico)

WOLVEN ANCESTRY (Canada)

NECHOCHWEN

CHAOS MOON

UNDER EDEN

VELNIAS

LUNARIUM

GRAND DEMISE OF CIVILIZATION

http://headbangersblog.mtv.com/2008/11/07/video-premiere-dir-en-greys-dozing-green/

THE ANSWER will play a short set and sign copies of Never Too Late for fans during the November 11 in-store. Everyone who attends their Virgin Megastore (52 East 14th Street, NYC, NY, 10003) performance that evening will be entered into a prize drawing to win a pair of tickets to see THE ANSWER perform as support act for AC/DC at one of their Madison Square Garden concerts on November 12 and 13. The AC/DC tour represents THE ANSWER’s debut tour of America.