BORKNAGAR Drummer ASGEIR MICKELSON Joins THORNBOUND

Drummer/producer/artist Asgeir Mickelson (SPIRAL ARCHITECT, BORKNAGAR) has issued the following update on his current and upcoming activities:

"It's time to enter the wicked melodies and painful tempos of death metal.

"A couple of months ago I joined a fairly new Norwegian band called THORNBOUND that had just released a three-track demo (check it out at www.myspace.com/thornbound, but know that it's not me on drums). Meeting — and playing with — guitarist Eirik and growler Vidar gave me the same great 'this can't go wrong' feeling as when SPIRAL ARCHITECT started out. The THORNBOUND guys definitely have the talent and dedication it takes to make it — and Eirik is a total riff machine! I'll probably have to kill him if he writes faster songs than the ones I'm currently struggling with… A full album will be recorded by next summer in my MultiMono Studio.

"The SCARIOT album 'Momentum Shift' is being released in February. I co-produced it, engineered, wrote lyrics, played drums, designed cover, took band photos and was there when it was mixed and mastered… Please buy the damn thing. The album is HEAVY!

"SPIRAL ARCHITECT started recording riffs a couple of months ago but got into a halt because of SATYRICON shows. It's going to be a long walk, but at least we're up on our feet. A lot of people are annoyed about the fact that we're doing 'everything' else than what we 'should' do — which is making another SPIRAL ARCHITECT album. But the fact is that we've always thought that we will make one when it feels right. Nothing has really ever gotten in the way. I'm not even sure it feels right this time either… Time will tell.

"I'm currently doing session drums on a project with KNUT BUEN (a well-known Norwegian folk fiddle player),Ihsahn and Ihriel. Then the MYOCLON album, which I'm also producing and then CODE's new album. Other 'projects' I'll play on this year is new IHSAHN albums, a new BORKNAGAR album and the already mentioned THORNBOUND debut.

"Be sure to check out the stuff that's been recorded in my studio: SOLEFALD ('Red For Fire, Black For Death'),TWISTED INTO FORM ('Then Comes Affliction To Awaken The Dreamer'),and the upcoming albums from SCARIOT and RED HARVEST. If you like the productions and want to record (not mix!) in my studio then contact me at azgr(AT)online.no.

"I recently left the company I started a year ago, so I'm now 100% freelance. This means I'm looking for design jobs, session drummer jobs as well as booking bands in my studio.

"I'm currently designing for the Inferno metal festival, TRITONUS and THE ESSENESS PROJECT, and I am about to start building a specially designed drum rehearsal room for the mighty Hellhammer. It will be a so called 'floating room' (or 'a room inside a room') in his house, which will be as sound proof as possible.

"There's of course more exciting stuff going on but I'll tell about that later! Won't spill all the beans in one go, hehe."