Former MAYHEM Frontman Comments On His New Band's Direction

SKITLIV, the Norwegian doom black metal band headed by former MAYHEM frontman Maniac, has posted a new track on its official MySpace page. The song, entitled "Virescit Volnere Virtus", features Maniac on vocals and acoustic guitars, and Ingvar on guitars and bass. The music for the track was written and recorded in an all-night session and still needs a couple of "tweaks," but is more or less the finished article. According to Maniac, both "Virescit …" and "Slow Train Coming" (another track that can be found on the band's MySpace page),are perfect illustrations of the direction the frontman has wanted to take with his music for some time now. "The response to both those tracks has been fantastic, and I feel that for the first time I have control of what I produce, not just lyrically and vocally, but also musically, something I could never do in my previous incarnation," he said. "To say I am happy with the way 'Virescit...' has turned out would be an understatement!"

SKITLIV will hit the road with GALLHAMMER, the all-girl Japanese band, for a four-date mini-tour in the autumn. Already confirmed is an appearance at Loppen in Copenhagen on October 2.

Aside from SKITLIV, Maniac is also involved in TEAM ARMSTRONG, a side project for a number of Oslo-based musicians that allows whomever is around and available to come together and play whatever takes their fancy and have a good time while doing it. The current lineup, which includes Maniac on vocals and former ARCTURUS guitarist Tore Moren, will play Oslo's legendary Elm Street Rock Café on May 1.