Mega Music Talent

Posts Tagged ‘Toxic’

The whispering clamour surrounded me and as it grew in intensity my fear of what was to come grew stronger. Suddenly the chanting started, the dread inside me rose as the chants grew louder and my anticipation greater. Each drum beat took me closer to the edge… a scream …then Preludium.

Fun over! As I looked at the hellish images on the Toxic album Fear just before I inserted the disc into my CD player I wondered if I had something to be afraid of. A whimsical thought I know but those thoughts continued as I looked at the play list:

01) Preludium

02) Lucifer

03) Fear

04) Live On

05) I am the Fire

06) Panic

07) Tinnitus

08) Feed me Bitch

09) Freedom

10) Truth

11) Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained

12) Greed

13) Every Beating is a Lie

14) Fear None

Those titles are not exactly pussy footing around, but my fears continued in a good way as I listened to Preludium. It began with the type of sound effects that are used to create fear and anticipation in horror films and then chanting as if a black magic ceremony was going on. My imagination was working overtime by the time the band kicked in with powerful vocals and backing. I’m told that Preludium was recorded in a large cathedral type of room and that it sounded wicked – I can imagine that!

The other tracks that stood out for me were:

Feed me Bitch – despite the title I loved this track. ‘You’ve got to be poor to feed the rich’ that’s true. A contrast of sounds with an edge that made me feel the music almost as much as Preludium.

I am the Fire reminded me a bit of Black Sabbath. A full on rock track that got me jumping. To get the full effect I wished that I were listening at a concert and not in my sitting room, but second best was still good.

Every Beating is a Lie tells you to stand up for your rights and not to let them hold you down. I absolutely agree with that. Musically I enjoyed listening to this stirring track and as with all over the other tracks Toxic are getting a good message across.

Fear None is a good finale to the album, strong instrumentals but it does get a bit screechy in places. Not enough to scare my cat who seemed to be enjoying it as much as I was. Seriously, I like the vocals, the instrumentals and the mad contrasts and was disappointed when the track faded out to nothing and half expected them to come back and shock me.

After listening to the 14 tracks several times I can reveal that there was nothing to be afraid of from Fear. I enjoyed listening and can recommend the album to anybody who likes heavy rock. It’s crazy in places, a creative album of unexpected events that left me wanting more. My favourite track has to be Preludium because it was so atmospheric and captured my imagination. Well done Toxic it isn’t often that happens.

The Norwegian heavy rock band Toxic recently toured the UK to promote their new album Fear. I was very pleased when bassist Rolf Lura agreed to be interviewed and following you will find the outcome:

Trish: I always wanted to play an instrument well but after a screechingly dismal attempt at violin lessons and not much more success with a piano I decided that it was best to leave music making to others like yourself whom I feel quite envious of – just how many instruments do you play and which is your favourite?

Rolf: My main instrument is the bass, that’s what I play live with my band, Toxic. On our new album “Fear”, I’ve also played some double-bass, cello and organ in the studio. I like all the instruments that I play very much. If I have to pick a favourite, it has to be the bass.

Trish: Which was the first instrument that you ever played and how old were you?

Rolf: I started to play the Tuba in my local school band at the age of 9.

Trish: Why did you choose the tuba?

Rolf: In fact it wasn’t I that choose the Tuba. It was my music teacher. I was the tallest and strongest boy in my class, so therefore he advised me to play the heavy Tuba.

Trish: Very democratic of him! Is there any instrument that you can’t play that you would like to learn?

Rolf: The Church organ it’s a majestic and powerful instrument, I would love to learn to play it.

Trish: Yes you are right there; perhaps I will invite you over to learn in the church at the bottom of my street! Now for something different.

The very first single that I ever bought was See Emily Play by Pink Floyd and I still think that track is amazing. Which was the first single that you ever bought and what do you think of it now?

Rolf: It was “I was made for loving you” by Kiss. Now I wonder “Where the hell was my brain at the age of 12?”

Trish: I think that I see what you mean after watching the video on YouTube, those outfits and the white face paint eeeewh. Do you have a record in your collection that the rest of the band would tease you about?

Rolf: Maybe “Gothic Impressions” by a Swede called Par Lind. It’s an organ-based album that I adore, but the rest of the Toxic lads probably think that I’m insane in my brain because I love that album.

Trish: Maybe they have secret likes too! Which band or artist do you currently listen to the most?

Rolf: I never stick with just one artist for a long period; I try to vary a lot, so that I don’t get tired of a good artist. The bands that I listen to for the moment is: System of a Down, Opeth, Queen, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica ++++

Trish: If you had just one wish and could perform with any band or artist – alive or dead; who would that be and why?

Rolf: Queen w/Mr. Mercury or Judas Priest.

Trish: Ah!! I wrote on my blog last week that if I could go back in time the band that I would most like to see perform live would be Queen with Freddie Mercury – you have good taste.

Whenever I return home from holiday it’s a real let down having to return to work and reality. Toxic have just completed a 2 week tour of the UK, how does it feel to be back to reality?

Rolf: To be honest. This return to work and reality was the hardest ever in my life. We had two fantastic weeks and were longing to go back to England on the air trip back home.

Trish: I hope that you will be coming back soon, is there another tour planned?

Rolf: Our manager is in touch with several UK festivals, so we’re awaiting the results of his work. So the plan is to base our next UK tour around a festival next Summer, early Autumn.

Trish: That’s great, something to look forward to through the dreary winter months. This is your second tour of the UK, how did it compare to the first?

Rolf: This tour was definitely the best. Everything was well planned and prepared by our English manager, Mark. We felt so much welcome everywhere. You Englishmen are such a great people.

Trish: Er don’t forget English women! What was the highlight of the tour for you and was there any low?

Rolf: The highlights:-

Our first night in England was fantastic. We spent it at Josi’s radio studio. She works for ”Hard Rock Radio Live” We did a live radio show. Her comment after the radio session was. “You’re the craziest Vikings I’ve ever met, and this has been my funniest/best radio show ever”. Our last gig at “The Purple Turtle” in Camden/London was the best one. We had an amazing audience and a fantastic sound engineer.

The “Downside”:-

We played a gig in South London, upstairs in a pub in a crummy area. There was just a few people attending the show.

Trish: Darn it I missed the radio show it sounds great. Do you have lots of groupies flocking around you or aren’t we allowed to discuss that?

Rolf: There is only one thing to say about that. You didn’t turn up at any of our shows lol

Trish: You sweet talker! We have a saying in the UK – ‘do not judge a book by it’s cover’, but people do judge others by appearances. For instance some people see a biker and they fear them – OMG a hells angel type of reaction – when really most bikers are decent folks who love riding bikes. In the Chronos video the bikers are the good guys, was that intended as a statement or just a different twist to make the video more interesting?

Rolf: Chronos is the God of time. Our intention with the video was to make people wake up and see that things aren’t always what they look like. We try to put things upside down. Like you said. A biker can be good man, and a vicar can be a cruel one. We also turned Elvis into a Messiah. But, I have to admit that we like to be a bit provocative!

Trish: Provocative I like and I agree with what you are saying. I’ve been listening to your album Fear and appreciate the contrasts. Image means a lot for a band and the perceived image is not what I believe to be the true Toxic who from my limited contact are much nicer guys than the image dictates.

Trish: I’d like to thank you Rolf for your cooperation with this interview, you have given me some great answers. Hopefully we will see you in the UK again soon.

Rolf: I would like to thank you also for your questions. They were very good. Most interviewers ask the same questions over and over again, yours were something different. It was a pleasure to answer you back. If you feel that my English sucks, feel free to adjust it

Trish: I always like to be different. Your English is excellent, much better than my Norwegian, which is limited to Tusen takk (thank you very much)

Every month we at Mega Music Talent showcase a band or artist who we enjoy listening to and we believe are talented and will do well with their music. Our October showcase is the Norwegian band Toxic.

October 2008 Showcase - Toxic

Heavy rock band Toxic was formed in 2003 in the Norwegian town of Stavanger. The band was formed by two workmates, two brothers of a workmate and the vocalist replied to an advertisement in a newspaper.The complete line up is: Trash Hamer: Vocals, Guitar Geir Ove Bernhoff: Guitars, Backing Vocals Daffy: Guitars Rolf Lura: Bass, Organ, Cello, Double-Bass Kristian Moen: Drums

Order Fear from Amazon Now!

Initially Toxic played cover songs but after a few months guitarist Geir Ove Bernhoff started to put together some songs for the band and now they have their own music for us to enjoy.

After playing together for a year Toxic started gigging and made 2 demo tapes which helped to get them a record deal with the Norwegian company Downbeach Music. Toxic’s first album was called Intoxicated. It was released to good reviews and especially the track Chronos.

Toxic made a video for Chronos featuring bikers as the good guys. The video is great to watch and unsurprisingly earned a gold medal at EuroFilmForum Skandinavia. Although I liked Chronos on first hearing it grows on me every time that I listen to it. You can see and hear the video yourself below.

Toxic – Chronos

After playing together for 5 years the Toxic sound has matured well. When I first heard them I likened them to 70s bands Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden and even Rainbow – that’s a compliment for Toxic because I love listening to those bands. Even so Toxic has some exciting originality and that shows on their second album Fear which was released under the UK label Rocksector Records in September 2008 – just in time for their October UK Tour Of Fear and Halloween!

That sounds scary but I can assure you that there is nothing scary about Toxic or Fear. They are a friendly bunch of guys producing a great atmospheric sound with lyrics that have a conscience. The looked forward to UK tour kicks off with a Red TV/Sky 186 TV interview on October 14th.

16th October 8.00 pm Grand Central 80 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 5NH UK With: Killheathen and Propax www.myspace.com/rockcentralmanchester 17th October 8.00 pm Hark to Towler 43 Market St, Tottington, Bury, BL8 4AA UK With: Killheathen http://www.myspace.com/hark2towler Hard Rock Radio Live Chorley, Northwest UK Live live radio interview @ Hard Rock Radio Live With: Killheathen www.hardrockradiolive.com 18th October 8.00 pm Sanctuary Rock Bar 73 Cow la, Burnley, BB11 1NN UK With: Killheathen & more TBC http://www.myspace.com/sanctuaryrockbar 19th October 8.00 pm The Snooty Fox 1 Brunswick St Wakefield, WF1 4PW UK With: Killheathen & more TBC http://www.myspace.com/snootyfoxlive 20th October 8.00 pm Manchester Radio Online Manchester, Northwest UK Live acoustic session @ Manchester Radio Online With: Killheathen www.manchesterradioonline.com 21st October 8.00 pm Yorkshire House 2 St. Marys Place, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, With: Killheathen http://www.myspace.com/theyork 22nd October 8.00 pm Sawyers 44 Montagu St, Kettering, NN16 8RU UK With: Killheathen + more TBC www.myspace.com/sawyersvenuecouk 23rd October 8.00 pm The Racehorse 15 Abington Sq, Northampton, NN1 4AE With: Fury UK, Killheathen www.myspace.com/sawyersvenuecouk 24th October 8.00 pm The Bedford Park 223 Streatham High Rd, London, SW16 6EN UK With: Killheathen + more TBC http://www.myspace.com/theoldkingsheadrocks Total Rock Radio Live interview @ Total Rock Radio With: Killheathen www.totalrock.com 25th October 8.00 pm Hall Cross Rock Bar 33-34 Hall Gate, Doncaster, South Yorkshir With: Killheathen www.hallcross.co.ukPurple Turtle 65 Crowndale Rd, London, With: Killheathen, Sigil, Muted http://www.myspace.com/turtlesmurtle

You can find Toxic at: www.toxic-rock.com MySpace Facebook Toxic Photos Toxic Posing Toxic Chilling Toxic Rocks More Posing From Toxic Toxic Live Toxic Rocks The Stage Toxic Order Fear from Amazon Now!