visitors since dec 2004

You have the chance for an exclusive pre-listening of the entire album starting at 22.00. Additionally there will be free giveaways to the first at the door.

“Sonic Diary” in stores all over Scandinavia from 6th of December.

@ Maiden, Øvrevollgate 13. Doors: 22.00. ID: 20 years. CC: 30 NOK.

Apoptygma Berzerk – “Sonic Diary”
Throughout the history of pop and rock music, artists have repeatedly reinterpreted their favorite songs from other artists. But since their start in 1991, Norwegian band Apoptygma Berzerk has maintained a particularly close relationship to songs by other artists, and have often presented their own diverse versions of these numbers as single b-sides or on obscure compilations. The first example of this was featured on their “Soli Deo Gloria” debut album in 1993, with their heavily electronic version of the 1967 classic “All Tomorrow’s Parties” from the Velvet Underground – not exactly a reference one might readily expect from a modern electropop band. But Stephan Groth, mastermind and frontman of Apoptygma Berzerk, has always had his own take on cover versions:
“It’s always been important for me to introduce Apoptygma Berzerk fans to classic songs so they can better understand where I come from. I covered `All Tomorrow’s Parties´ on my first album, and I got so many letters – this was before e-mail – about what a cool song it is and who is this Reed guy anyway?! And I replied that this was the Velvet Underground, and you’ve got to know your history! This was the most important band ever!”, revealed Stephan in an interview. And the later version of “All Tomorrow’s Parties”, an absolute gem for which Stephan was personally selected to rework, actually contains the original vocals from Nico, something which had never been permitted before, making this Apoptygma Berzerk version a worldwide exclusive. “With my cover versions, I want to motivate the people to listen to the original, even at iTunes if they want, so they can learn about where our roots are, who I am and what all this is about. Because frankly, I’m a product of all these songs. They say a lot about who I am.”

And so the story continued, with both humor and ambition. The result was the adaptation on a regular basis of songs that were an influence on these Norwegian chameleons, sometimes more, sometimes less. The 7-track “Mourn” EP for example featured the OMD song “Electricity” and “Ohm Sweet Ohm” by Kraftwerk, two powerful, daring covers revealing important Apop roots.
“There’s so many covers I’d like to make”, explains Stephan. “When I get an album in the mail, I always look first to see if there are any covers. I just like that, especially when they’re songs that I like myself. It’s really interesting to hear what the people have done with the songs. If you’ve got a good song, then you can make a good cover. It’s still a good song. When I do a cover version, it’s my way of paying respect to those people who have been important in my life.”

And so the discography of these Norwegians contains many a forgotten pearl of pop and rock history: “A Strange Day” by The Cure, “Fade To Black” and “Nothing Else Matters” from Metallica, “Coma White” by Marilyn Manson or “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses” from U2. Apop’s 2005 album, “You And Me Against The World”, featured two classics from the 80’s and 90’s with Kim Wilde’s “Cambodia” and “Shine On” from The House Of Love. All of these covers have now been gathered into one collection on “Sonic Diary” (Release date: December 1st, 2006), and to round things out, Apoptygma Berzerk have additionally recorded three new, previously unreleased cover versions: “Bend And Break” from Keane, “The Damned Don’t Cry” by Visage and New Order’s “Bizarre Love Triangle”.

The limited edition version of the album also comes with a bonus EP, containing for the most part new and exclusive remixes, including a very special interpretation of the Apop classic “Deep Red” by Blackmail and a fantastic reinterpretation of another Apop staple, “Mourn” from the band, Mesh. And watch out for “Cambodia”, which is scheduled for single release with an accompanying video.

Tracklist “Sonic Diary” (single CD album)
1. Cambodia - Version from ´05, Orig. Kim Wilde
2. Bend And Break - Version from ´06, Orig. Keane
3. Who's gonna ride your wild horses - Version from 02, Orig. U2
4. A Strange Day - Version from ´04, Orig. The Cure
5. Coma White - Version from 02, Orig. Marilyn Manson
6. Fade To Black - Version from 2000, Orig. Metallica
7. Shine On - Version from 06, Orig. House Of Love
8. The Damned Don't Cry - Version from ´06, Orig. Visage
9. All Tomorrow's Parties - Version from ´93, Orig. Velvet Underground
10. Electricity - Version from ´97, Orig. OMD
11. Ohm Oweet Ohm - Version from ´97, Orig. Kraftwerk
12. Bizarre Love Triangle - Version from ´06, Orig. New Order
13. All Tommorow's Parties (Nico Vs. APB Remix) - Version from ´03, Orig. Velvet Underground

Tracklist “Sonic Diary” (2 CD edition)
1. Cambodia - Version from ´05, Orig. Kim Wilde
2. Bend And Break - Version from ´06, Orig. Keane
3. Who's gonna ride your wild horses - Version from 02, Orig. U2
4. A Strange Day - Version from ´04, Orig. The Cure
5. Coma White - Version from 02, Orig. Marilyn Manson
6. Fade To Black - Version from 2000, Orig. Metallica
7. Shine On - Version from 06, Orig. House Of Love
8. The Damned Don't Cry - Version from ´06, Orig. Visage
9. All Tomorrow's Parties - Version from ´93, Orig. Velvet Underground
10. Electricity - Version from ´97, Orig. OMD
11. Ohm Oweet Ohm - Version from ´97, Orig. Kraftwerk
12. Bizarre Love Triangle - Version from ´06, Orig. New Order
13. All Tommorow's Parties (Nico Vs. APB Remix) - Version from ´03, Orig. Velvet Underground

Tracklist Bonus EP
1. Mourn (Mesh Remix)
2. Back On Track (Northern Lite Remix)
3. Until The End Of The World (Ladytron De-Shape Remix)
4. Deep Red (Blackmail Version)
5. Maze (Zombie Girls Remix)
6. Love To Blame (Sono Remix)
7. Pikachu (Darkdream Mix by SONI CODE)
8. Love To Blame (Pelton Trashy Remix)
9. Tuning In To The Frequency Of Your Soul (Cyberpunk Remix)

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08.09.2007
DJ DARKSHARK & DJ BURLESK @ "Rock'n'Roll + Electricity" at GARAGE.

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