ICS VORTEX: New Audio Interview Posted Online
August 30, 2011Spain's Goetiametal.com recently conducted an interview with former DIMMU BORGIR and current BORKNAGAR member ICS Vortex (real name: Simen Hestns) about his new solo album, "Storm Seeker". A six-minute clip from the chat can be streamed below.
"Storm Seeker" was released on August 22 in Europe and August 23 in North America via Century Media Records.
The track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. The Blackmobile
02. Odin's Tree
03. Skoal!
04. Dogsmacked
05. Aces
06. Windward
07. When Shuffled Off
08. Oil In Water
09. Storm Seeker
10. Flaskeskipper
11. The Sub Mariner
ICS Vortex describes "Storm Seeker" as "a tribute to the fall and rise of my kind. A generation of misfits, born of hippies and raised by Satan."
Regarding the influences that went into the making of the album, ICS Vortex said, "Inspiration is usually drawn from the things that are close to me. I always write in code, it's often doom related, but never ever whiny. The power of the elements, obscure beauty, religion, death and junk are a few favorites. Knowing I am drawn to the power of the dark side, I decided to include lighter topics into the mix this time to separate 'Storm Seeker' from 'Sideshow Symphonies': 'The Blackmobile' about Mopar and 'Aces' about gambling are the result. Love songs, really."
"Storm Seeker" wwas released in Europe as initial limited-edition digipak, 180-gram LP and as a digital download. According to a press release, the CD "takes the musical elements from [ICS Vortex's] 10-plus years of experience with DIMMU BORGIR as well as the legacy of the classic bands with whom he is still active (BORKNAGAR, ARCTURUS and LAMENTED SOULS),topping things off with his signature clean vocals in order to make 'Storm Seeker' become a perfectly balanced axe, whether a song is cutting fast, or dicing slow."
"Storm Seeker" features appearances by ICS Vortex's BORKNAGAR bandmate Asgeir Mickelson on drums and Terje "Cyrus" Andersen (SUSPERIA, DIMMU BORGIR) on lead guitar. The CD was recorded at Toproom Studio (MAYHEM, TRISTANIA, BORKNAGAR) with engineer Brge Finstad and mastered by Peter in de Betou at Tailor Maid Studio (ARCH ENEMY, DARK TANQUILLITY, DIMMU BORGIR) in Sweden.
After the recordings for the CD were completed, the ICS VORTEX project evolved into a real band, eager to perform live with the following permanent lineup:
* ICS Vortex (ex-DIMMU BORGIR, BORKNAGAR, ARCTURUS) - Vocals
* Asgeir Mickelson (SARKE, SPIRAL ARCHITECT, ex-BORKNAGAR, ex-TESTAMENT) - Drums
* Terje "Cyrus" Andersen (SUSPERIA, ex-SATYRICON, ex-DIMMU BORGIR) - Guitar
* Jens F. Ryland (BORKNAGAR) - Guitar
* Steinar "Azarak" Gundersen (SPIRAL ARCHITECT, ex-SATYRICON) - Bass
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/icsvortexofficial.
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