The Next Swano Release...?

TheChastonMan · August 28th, 2011, 03:56 PM

Hello People, I was just wondering as Ive yet to come across it, (Either because I've looking in the wrong places or am just a lazy bum for not looking it up...) Are there any confirmed release dates for albums by Swano? (Such as Witherscape?) I've been dying to get my hands on a new release soon...

NoobSaibot · August 29th, 2011, 11:30 AM

Dan got lazy.

Skaldir · August 29th, 2011, 11:47 AM

I think its the other way around. When he doesn't post here much he is busy as hell and probably cooking some good stuff

TheChastonMan · August 30th, 2011, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unicorn

I think its the other way around. When he doesn't post here much he is busy as hell and probably cooking some good stuff

Agreed, I just hope it's released within the next two years though...I'm a patient man...but If your really busy with some other job or something not releasing an album is understandable, it's one hell of a long process and hard work making a high quality one.

~nightfall~ · August 31st, 2011, 08:22 AM

Dunno, but to me it seems like Dan lost some of his songwriting spark after breaking up with his wife.. which is very understandable! Remember he contributed only with lyrics to White Darkness, all melodies by brother Dag as far as I can remember.

I can only hope he strikes back with more of his awesome original stuff sometime soon, I miss my favourite musician..

Br,

Dan Swanö · August 31st, 2011, 11:54 AM

Howdy!

It's been a while, but like you already guessed, I have been busy and sometimes (yes I admit it) lazy!

To blame the lack on songwriting on my divorce is absolutely not right.

To me, my songwriting was losing its quality a long time ago (and therefore not being a very fun activity)
If you ask me, I have only written a few good songs since the mid 90's when I was at my peak.
But back then I released an album a week, so it's no wonder that the "well ran dry"

In 2004 I decided to put the songwriting to the side and focus 100% on mix and mastering, (a smart choice looking at what happened to the music industry since then)

For some time I worked full-time in a music-shop, and did all my mix and mastering stuff after work..and trust me, there is no braincell left to do any songwriting in that scenario.
Some time later I decided to cut back to half-time in the shop to be able to still focus on mixing, but also to have time to build up a new relationship (That is still going very strong

)

Of course there have been moments of divine inspiration, but mostly riffs or licks..and all of them have been recorded and around the time of writing this, most of them seemed to have found a future home!!

In 2004 I also started the most ambitious project to date, the Second Sky album.
This is a very special project for me, and I have spent thousands of hours working with those songs, both musically and sonically...and the songs keeps getting re-written and therefore also re-recorded.

Peter Damin re-recorded the drums in February 2010 (Thank you very much, again!! Awesome drummer deluxe!!)
and after that I have re-recorded all the Piano parts and edited stuff to work with the new, improved vibe of the drums..
and then a few lyrics started to feel "not good enough" which means a couple of sounds will have the lead vocals re-recorded...
after I write new lyrics....which I absolutely hate....but I have to...aaaarrrggghhh

I could have written 50 "Crimsons" in the time I have spent on this album (And I am afraid some of you will wish I had, because Second Sky is 100% Metal Free!!)
but these days I feel that I want each release to be as good as can be, because the record-industry for non-touring-projects are dead, and the only reason an album comes to life is because you need to get it out of your system!!

Hopefully I will find the time to finish the album this year.
Unfortunately the market isn't what it used to be...But it really doesn't matter.
This album is my gift to myself! But I hope it will still be released on CD.
The End Records have been awesome, for not pushing me to finish it. They know art from the heart takes time

In February 2011 I decided to quit the music-shop business after 14 years!!
And with more time on my hands, I decided it was time to give the songwriting and album recording another shot.

I teamed up with my ex-music-shop colleague Ragnar Widerberg and we decided to start writing some old Judas Priest meets Crimson-style E.O.S./Moontower kind of music.
and after every other good name was already taken, we settled on Witherscape, for the name for of my return to songwriting, and also to drumming, and maybe most surprisingly, Growling!!
Yep!! You read it right...and it sounds better than ever!!

But I am only able to sing like 8 lines of lyrics before I completely mess up my throat, and the worst is the headaches and the feeling of being run over by a bulldozer from hell!
So, I won't be doing all the "evil" vocals. I have 3 other guys that will split the burden with me, and also bring some variety to the growled sections.
But there will be at least one section of growls from me, per song.
But I will do all the normal singing. Which ranges from mellow, old Nightingale "deep voice" to the more angry Dio flavored voice featured on Star One II.

We had a Witherscape session this very day, and we completed the guitars and bass for yet another song from the pre-production.
2 more to go, and then we'll start all over again, with more attention to detail. It's a tough job, since we are recording without a click track
(we both think most good songs were recorded without it... Let the song live!!) but once we nail the takes, it feels really alive and breathing!

We will aim for a sound similar to the hard rock albums of the mid to late 70's/early 80's.
Natural, well tuned drums, not too much distortion on the guitars, and a round, full bass.
Like Stained Class on steroids

Another project that just "opened up" is the restoration/re-recording of one of the best demo/albums in my career, "A Collection of Worlds II" from Unicorn.
We have a label interested in releasing it, together with the Weirdest of Tales, on a real CD!!
The vocals will be 100% re-recorded.
The sound of the original vocalrecording is impossible to get as good as the rest
(which sounds surprisingly awesome when restored in a special Spectral Balancing program)
and also my old vocal performance is far away from the other performances on the recording...
so with new vocals (also the backing vocals will be re-recorded..by the same 3 guys!!)
and some acoustic guitars will also be re-recorded, only because the sound sucks donkey-ass
(The playing is awesome..but Anders is a beyond incredible acoustic guitarplayer these days, so it will sound just as great again!!)

Wow. That was a lot of info..but since I have been absent from the forum a while..I felt that an update was just right!!

Back to the mixtering!!

Have a nice day!!

Dan

Mr.Seven · August 31st, 2011, 12:53 PM

That sounds great can't wait to hear that Witherscape album!

It's great to have you back on track

Earthbound · August 31st, 2011, 01:38 PM

The only response I can make for a post like that is: FUCK. YEAH.

NoobSaibot · August 31st, 2011, 02:23 PM

So, Witherscape will not have the weirdness factor of karaboudjan/PTM? I remember reading something along those lines. Anyway, glad to know there's some activity going on.

jimbob · August 31st, 2011, 03:21 PM

....and what about the new Nightingale album in the worx...how´s it going ?

~nightfall~ · September 1st, 2011, 12:51 AM

Thanks for the update on all of your projects!

TheChastonMan · September 1st, 2011, 01:06 AM

This totally made my day...

Stilgar · September 2nd, 2011, 02:47 PM

Thanks for the updates. Looking forward to all of the projects getting finished.

Kenneth R. · September 2nd, 2011, 04:14 PM

Awesome

Naglfar · September 2nd, 2011, 11:46 PM

holy shit the fucking emperor returns

METAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

dag gonna lose his manly crown to his brother

Tumn · September 3rd, 2011, 12:03 AM

This celebration calls for some "Like Swanö" listen to it!!!!!

He is Dan Swanö!!!!!!!

+unorthodox+ · September 3rd, 2011, 12:16 AM

Thanks for the updates!!! hoped to listen to ( reading ) something new of the Master

(He will rule until eternity ends!!!)

Darkday · September 4th, 2011, 06:28 AM

Thanks a lot! It's great to get new information on the various projects, although it makes the waiting even harder.

I hope we'll also see the Infestdead re-releases sometime soon. If I recall correctly, they will include three brand new songs and two old songs that were not released on CD before.

downandunder · September 4th, 2011, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Swanö

because Second Sky is 100% Metal Free!!

Eager to hear this, I've opened up a bit more and enjoy a fair bit of non-metal related stuff.

Thanks for the update!

TheChastonMan · September 4th, 2011, 01:35 PM

And Dan, Laziness is the most understandable sin god feigned to put on the earth, I mean if I was half as busy as you I would probably collapse in the midday from nervous exhaustion.

Ryuuzaki · September 4th, 2011, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Swanö

Another project that just "opened up" is the restoration/re-recording of one of the best demo/albums in my career, "A Collection of Worlds II" from Unicorn.

This has me extremely excited!

The Neckless Lobster · September 4th, 2011, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryuuzaki

This has me extremely excited!

Me too. The songs are great, but it's not hard to tell that Dan hadn't hit puberty yet, when it comes to his vocals!

The Weirdest Of Tales should sound pretty stellar as well, with re-recorded vocals. That one is the best Unicorn demo, IMO.

Virgil. · September 6th, 2011, 11:28 PM

I so wish Dan would get back together with Bloodbath now that Mikael is back. They lost their magic with him gone. The new album is good, but it still feels "empty", if that makes sense.

Maelstrom78 · September 7th, 2011, 12:00 PM

Nice to have an update Dan.

Thanks for taking the time to let us know how things are going.
Realllly cant wait for Second Sky and Witherscape!

TheChastonMan · September 8th, 2011, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ubrsyntx

I so wish Dan would get back together with Bloodbath now that Mikael is back. They lost their magic with him gone. The new album is good, but it still feels "empty", if that makes sense.

Thats called the Dan Swano Syndrome, its an affliction a lot of bands that he's left appear to suffer with...

August 28th, 2011, 03:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
TheChastonMan Junior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 23	The Next Swano Release...? Hello People, I was just wondering as Ive yet to come across it, (Either because I've looking in the wrong places or am just a lazy bum for not looking it up...) Are there any confirmed release dates for albums by Swano? (Such as Witherscape?) I've been dying to get my hands on a new release soon...

August 29th, 2011, 11:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
Skaldir formerly known as Unicorn Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Germany Posts: 3,373	I think its the other way around. When he doesn't post here much he is busy as hell and probably cooking some good stuff __________________ my bands: Hel Elane Abscession my studio: Kalthallen --> Kalthallen Cabs - Library of cab IRs and Nebula programs <--

August 31st, 2011, 12:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
Mr.Seven Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 27	That sounds great can't wait to hear that Witherscape album! It's great to have you back on track __________________ Rocking from Mexico City, Mexico!

August 31st, 2011, 03:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
jimbob Nightingale and EoS fan Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Örebro Posts: 312	....and what about the new Nightingale album in the worx...how´s it going ? __________________ Jimmy

September 2nd, 2011, 02:47 PM	#13 (permalink)
Stilgar Berzerker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: OH, USA (originally from Sweden) Posts: 893	Thanks for the updates. Looking forward to all of the projects getting finished. __________________ When the night is to rouse your desires... In a dream... And the wind of darkness whispers... In a dream... Be prepared to leave your reality... In a dream... Wake up for a game called life... In a dream... (Tiamat - 1992)

August 29th, 2011, 11:30 AM	#2 (permalink)
NoobSaibot n00b Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 86	Dan got lazy.

August 31st, 2011, 08:22 AM	#5 (permalink)
~nightfall~ The Band called ROCK Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Molde, Norway Posts: 505	Dunno, but to me it seems like Dan lost some of his songwriting spark after breaking up with his wife.. which is very understandable! Remember he contributed only with lyrics to White Darkness, all melodies by brother Dag as far as I can remember. I can only hope he strikes back with more of his awesome original stuff sometime soon, I miss my favourite musician.. Br,

August 31st, 2011, 11:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
Dan Swanö The Watcher Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 930	Howdy! It's been a while, but like you already guessed, I have been busy and sometimes (yes I admit it) lazy! To blame the lack on songwriting on my divorce is absolutely not right. To me, my songwriting was losing its quality a long time ago (and therefore not being a very fun activity) If you ask me, I have only written a few good songs since the mid 90's when I was at my peak. But back then I released an album a week, so it's no wonder that the "well ran dry" In 2004 I decided to put the songwriting to the side and focus 100% on mix and mastering, (a smart choice looking at what happened to the music industry since then) For some time I worked full-time in a music-shop, and did all my mix and mastering stuff after work..and trust me, there is no braincell left to do any songwriting in that scenario. Some time later I decided to cut back to half-time in the shop to be able to still focus on mixing, but also to have time to build up a new relationship (That is still going very strong ) Of course there have been moments of divine inspiration, but mostly riffs or licks..and all of them have been recorded and around the time of writing this, most of them seemed to have found a future home!! In 2004 I also started the most ambitious project to date, the Second Sky album. This is a very special project for me, and I have spent thousands of hours working with those songs, both musically and sonically...and the songs keeps getting re-written and therefore also re-recorded. Peter Damin re-recorded the drums in February 2010 (Thank you very much, again!! Awesome drummer deluxe!!) and after that I have re-recorded all the Piano parts and edited stuff to work with the new, improved vibe of the drums.. and then a few lyrics started to feel "not good enough" which means a couple of sounds will have the lead vocals re-recorded... after I write new lyrics....which I absolutely hate....but I have to...aaaarrrggghhh I could have written 50 "Crimsons" in the time I have spent on this album (And I am afraid some of you will wish I had, because Second Sky is 100% Metal Free!!) but these days I feel that I want each release to be as good as can be, because the record-industry for non-touring-projects are dead, and the only reason an album comes to life is because you need to get it out of your system!! Hopefully I will find the time to finish the album this year. Unfortunately the market isn't what it used to be...But it really doesn't matter. This album is my gift to myself! But I hope it will still be released on CD. The End Records have been awesome, for not pushing me to finish it. They know art from the heart takes time In February 2011 I decided to quit the music-shop business after 14 years!! And with more time on my hands, I decided it was time to give the songwriting and album recording another shot. I teamed up with my ex-music-shop colleague Ragnar Widerberg and we decided to start writing some old Judas Priest meets Crimson-style E.O.S./Moontower kind of music. and after every other good name was already taken, we settled on Witherscape, for the name for of my return to songwriting, and also to drumming, and maybe most surprisingly, Growling!! Yep!! You read it right...and it sounds better than ever!! But I am only able to sing like 8 lines of lyrics before I completely mess up my throat, and the worst is the headaches and the feeling of being run over by a bulldozer from hell! So, I won't be doing all the "evil" vocals. I have 3 other guys that will split the burden with me, and also bring some variety to the growled sections. But there will be at least one section of growls from me, per song. But I will do all the normal singing. Which ranges from mellow, old Nightingale "deep voice" to the more angry Dio flavored voice featured on Star One II. We had a Witherscape session this very day, and we completed the guitars and bass for yet another song from the pre-production. 2 more to go, and then we'll start all over again, with more attention to detail. It's a tough job, since we are recording without a click track (we both think most good songs were recorded without it... Let the song live!!) but once we nail the takes, it feels really alive and breathing! We will aim for a sound similar to the hard rock albums of the mid to late 70's/early 80's. Natural, well tuned drums, not too much distortion on the guitars, and a round, full bass. Like Stained Class on steroids Another project that just "opened up" is the restoration/re-recording of one of the best demo/albums in my career, "A Collection of Worlds II" from Unicorn. We have a label interested in releasing it, together with the Weirdest of Tales, on a real CD!! The vocals will be 100% re-recorded. The sound of the original vocalrecording is impossible to get as good as the rest (which sounds surprisingly awesome when restored in a special Spectral Balancing program) and also my old vocal performance is far away from the other performances on the recording... so with new vocals (also the backing vocals will be re-recorded..by the same 3 guys!!) and some acoustic guitars will also be re-recorded, only because the sound sucks donkey-ass (The playing is awesome..but Anders is a beyond incredible acoustic guitarplayer these days, so it will sound just as great again!!) Wow. That was a lot of info..but since I have been absent from the forum a while..I felt that an update was just right!! Back to the mixtering!! Have a nice day!! Dan

August 31st, 2011, 01:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
Earthbound Trust No One Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 410	The only response I can make for a post like that is: FUCK. YEAH.

August 31st, 2011, 02:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
NoobSaibot n00b Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 86	So, Witherscape will not have the weirdness factor of karaboudjan/PTM? I remember reading something along those lines. Anyway, glad to know there's some activity going on.

September 1st, 2011, 12:51 AM	#11 (permalink)
~nightfall~ The Band called ROCK Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Molde, Norway Posts: 505	Thanks for the update on all of your projects!

September 1st, 2011, 01:06 AM	#12 (permalink)
TheChastonMan Junior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 23	This totally made my day...

September 2nd, 2011, 04:14 PM	#14 (permalink)
Kenneth R. Cináed Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hallways of Always Posts: 17,528	Awesome __________________ The greatest story leaves you before a door to the dark. felix, qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas.

September 2nd, 2011, 11:46 PM	#15 (permalink)
Naglfar As Naglfar devours us all Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The United States of Canada (not Jesusland) Posts: 1,962	holy shit the fucking emperor returns METAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH dag gonna lose his manly crown to his brother __________________ Originally Posted by Gurgelguff Some people have two assholes istead of ears. Let´s hope they are gay so they can do something uselful with them instead of judging music

September 3rd, 2011, 12:03 AM	#16 (permalink)
Tumn baptized in blood Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Washington, USA Posts: 4,167	This celebration calls for some "Like Swanö" listen to it!!!!! He is Dan Swanö!!!!!!! __________________ ABSCESSION Dan: "EVERYBODY DOIN ALRIGHT?!?!" Dan: "Give me one more shot!" Dan: "EVERYBODY DOIN .......... ALRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT?!?" Dan: "Thank you, thank you" Mike: "Thank you very much Dan." LIKE SWANÖ - DOWNLOAD Tumnbath Hellfuck lyrics project

September 3rd, 2011, 12:16 AM	#17 (permalink)
+unorthodox+ Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Chile Posts: 3	Thanks for the updates!!! hoped to listen to ( reading ) something new of the Master (He will rule until eternity ends!!!) Last edited by +unorthodox+ : September 3rd, 2011 at 12:22 AM.

September 4th, 2011, 06:28 AM	#18 (permalink)
Darkday Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 33	Thanks a lot! It's great to get new information on the various projects, although it makes the waiting even harder. I hope we'll also see the Infestdead re-releases sometime soon. If I recall correctly, they will include three brand new songs and two old songs that were not released on CD before.

September 4th, 2011, 01:35 PM	#20 (permalink)
TheChastonMan Junior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 23	And Dan, Laziness is the most understandable sin god feigned to put on the earth, I mean if I was half as busy as you I would probably collapse in the midday from nervous exhaustion.

September 6th, 2011, 11:28 PM	#23 (permalink)
Virgil. djingling my djenitals Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,177	I so wish Dan would get back together with Bloodbath now that Mikael is back. They lost their magic with him gone. The new album is good, but it still feels "empty", if that makes sense. __________________ I do reamps at affordable rates. PM me for details. Amps: 5150, Diezel Herbert, 74' Marshall JMP Super Lead MK2 100w. Cabs: Mesa 2x12, Diezel 4x12 stereo V30's, Marshall 1960BHW Handwired Series 120 watt script logo 4x12 cab w/ celestion g12h-30 speakers. Mics: Shure sm57's x5, sm58's, audix i5, sennheiser 421 mdii's x4, Advanced Audio (AA) CM414x3, AA CM47 tube mic, AA CM fet 47, EV RE-20, AKG D112, Neumann KM184, AKG 451b stereo pair, oktava MC 012-01

September 7th, 2011, 12:00 PM	#24 (permalink)
Maelstrom78 Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 59	Nice to have an update Dan. Thanks for taking the time to let us know how things are going. Realllly cant wait for Second Sky and Witherscape!