• Skip to main content

Vanzig Studios

Punk Rock Metal: Music You Need to Know, Industry Knowledge, Music Podcast, Music Blog & Music Community Supporting Independent Artists/Musicians, Record Labels & Recording Studios

Mickey Squeeze

Oct 20 2022

Sahara Hotnights “Love In Times of Low Expectations” Album Review 2022 – Sweden Pop Rock

Sahara Hotnights 2022 Album Cover Love In Times of Low Expectations Swedish Rock
Sahara Hotnights Love In Times Of Low Expectations 2022

Release Date

May 6, 2022

Universal Music AB

Tracklisting

1.”Reverie” -> Background Music

2. “Avalanche” -> Recommended

3. “Vertigo” -> Recommended

4. “Predictable” > Favorite Track

5. “Gemini” > Favorite Track

6. “Diving For Pearls” -> Recommended

7. “Heavy Load” – > Recommended

8. “Athena” -> Favorite Track

9. “Mind Games” -> Skip

10. “Leander” -> Background Music

Total Recommended / Favorite Tracks – 7 / 10

Total Background Tracks – 2 / 10

Total Skip Tracks – 1/ 10

Who is Sahara Hotnights, Love In Times Of Low Expectations for?

Sahara Hotnight’s, Love In Times Of Low Expectations, is for fans of mellow 80’s pop. The music that instantly pops into my head when I listen is Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time”, Talk Talk “It’s My Life”, Wham! “Last Christmas”, Goldfrapp “Rocket” and all the other music that’s 80’s tastic.

The Sahara Hotnights took ten years off and came back with an album that has some classic hotnights tones but for the most part is out of left field. Most people, I think, will either love it or hate it.

Members

Vocals – Maria Andersson

Guitars – Maria Andersson / Jennie Asplund

Bass – Joanna Asplund

Drums – Josephine Forsman

Sahara Hotnights Promo Band Photo Love Int Times of Low Expectations 2022
Sahara Hotnights – Robertsfors, Sweden

Why are the Sahara Hotnights Unique?

The Sahara Hotnights to this day actually have all original members since originating in 1991.

The Sahara Hotnights blew up in the late 90’s when there was this garage rock, rock n roll resurgence. The Swedish band, The Hives, exploded on Mtv along with The Donnas, Buckcherry & Monster Magnet. Soon to follow would be The Vines, The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand and many more.

Sahara Hotnights front woman, Maria Andersson, & The Hives frontman, Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist, also could not resist each other’s charisma and were romantically involved for a time until moving their separate ways sometime 2006.

The Sahara Hotnights became part of my record collection with the 1999 major label debut of C’mon Lets Pretend. The late 90’s was a weird period for rock and this one of those bands that filled a void.

I can honestly say after the C’mon Lets Pretend album there were a few tracks on each album I dug but not an album as a whole. Although after listening to Love In Times Of Low Expectations I rediscovered the album What If Leaving Is A Loving Thing released in 2007.

What If Leaving Is A Loving Thing featured “Cheek to Cheek” & “Visit to Vienna”. What If Leaving Is A Loving Thing and Love In Times Of Low Expectations pair really well together and I think showcases the Sahara Hotnight’s best songwriting.

Sahara-Hotnights Color Band Photo
Sahara H, Nikki Brumen

Where Were the Sahara Hotnights for 10 Years?

There isn’t much information out there, but this is what I got.

Courtesy of Newsbeezer.com:

Singer and guitarist Maria Andersson Lundell has released a solo album and was assistant to Plura from Eldkvarn on the TV show Plura’s Kitchen. Bassist Johanna Asplund toured with Love Antell and became a project manager on television. Guitarist Jennie Asplund bought a farm in Skåne and started a furniture company. Drummer Josephine Forsman played with the band Casablanca and did music shows for Utbildningsradion before moving to Los Angeles where she works with LOUD, an international music school for young people.

Pro tip: Even if 10 years goes by with your bandmates, it’s never over until you all say it’s over. Keep in touch keep doors open this could be the year for new music.

Maria Andersson Live Stockholm Sweden Festival
Maria Andersson Live Stockholm, Sweden

Love In Times Of Low Expectations – Review

On first listen of debut single “Reverie” and the corresponding photo shoot I had very low expectations. I like many wanted to hear some distorted guitars and the see the band in leather jackets. Instead I got no guitars just mellow keyboards and oversized 80’s/90’s mom sitcom attire.

I assumed the Sahara Hotnights jumped the shark with this new crop of music until I heard the second single, “Gemini”. I have no idea why this was not the first single, but I guess it doesn’t matter since the rest of album sounds like alternate versions of these two songs.

Love In Times Of Low Expectations chose a tone & vibe and went whole hog. If you need a mellow album that sounds like Cyndi Lauper or something similar while your vibing out late at night then this is your album.

I was actually really surprised how many times I played this album skipping really only one track consistently, “Mind Games”. Hands down “Gemini”, “Predictable” & “Athena” carry this album. These three tracks are the “best of” what Love In Low Times Of Expectations offers. Other tracks like “Avalanche” & “Vertigo” have great hooks in them but do not come close as a whole to the three I just mentioned.

I have read reviews of this album where the consensus seems to be good but unsatisfied. What I really like about this record is that the Sahara Hotnights showcase great songwriting, attention to vocal melodies & music hooks.

The biggest negative I would have to say is the zero tempo change. The album sounds like one long song in the same key at the same slow tempo, even a slight key change in one of the choruses would add some nice color. When the banjo dropped on “Predictable” I was like fuck yeah, it elevated the hell out of the song without changing tempo.

I love the 80’s pop sound and the Sahara Hotnights paid serious homage to it. I also love thrash metal, Ryan Adams and the UK Subs. Honestly I am weirdly addicted to Love In Times Of Low Expectations, but definitely not the look.

Sahara Hotnights Videos

Tour

Sahara Hotnights Tour Dates

Let’s Talk Amigos!

Please hit us personally here at Vanzig Studios for any reason whatsoever using the Contact Form. If you’re curious where Carly and I come from then read over our bio.

SOCIALS

  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Podcast
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook

Written by Mickey Squeeze · Categorized: Reviews · Tagged: 2022, Album Review, Female Fronted, New Album Release, Pop Genre, Rock Genre

Sep 21 2022

Blood Command – 2022 Praise Armageddonism Album Review – Norway DeathPop Metal

Blood-Command-Praise-Armageddonism-Norway-2022
Blood Command Praise Amageddonism 2022

Release Date

July 1, 2022

Loyal Blood Records

Hassle Records

Tracklisting

1.”Praise Armageddonism” (Awake Theme) -> Recommended

2. “Saturday City” -> Recommended

3. “The End is Her” -> Recommended

4. “Everything You Love Will Burn” > Sick Transition Track

5. “Questionable Taste in Friends” > Background Music

6. “A Villains Monologue” -> Favorite

7. “Nuns, Guns & Cowboys” – > Recommended

8. “I Just Want That Movie Ending” -> Recommended

9. “Burn the Blasphemer” -> Recommended

10. “Last Call for Heaven’s Gate” -> Recommended (includes killer instrumental)

Total Recommended Tracks – 8 / 10

Who is Blood Command, Praise Armageddonism for?

Blood Command’s, Praise Armageddonism, is for fans of Paramore, Marmozets and the like, but the aggressive metal, punk, hardcore version if you can picture that. The song “Saturday City” and “The End is Her” are pretty picture perfect representations of the pop side of the band.

This is one those albums that has the ability to bond music lovers. If you like your music with screams, heaviness laced with punk energy and your significant other is into Paramore like pop hook madness then crank this album together.

Not every song will be a winner with both sides, but there will definitely be some shared cuts.

Members

Vocals – Nikki Brumen

Guitars – Yngve Andersen

Bass – Simon Oliver Økland

Drums – Sigurd Haakaas

Blood-Command-Praise-Armageddonism-2022
Blood Command – Bergen, Norway

Why is Blood Command Unique?

Here is some interesting background info circling Blood Command.

I am almost positive vocalist, Nikki Brumen, is the third Blood Command singer. Praise Armageddonism, Blood Command’s fourth album, and is Nikki Brumen’s first Blood Command album. Becoming the new singer required Nikki to relocate from Melbourne, Australia to Bergen, Norway.

Nikki Brumen is the former singer of the Australia band, Pagan. Pagan disbanded and Nikki was hit up by Blood Command through social media asking her if she wanted the gig. This album was completely recorded with former singer, Karina Ljone, and then shelved when she hung up her dancing shoes for motherhood.

Blood Command then re-recorded this record with Nikki Brumen along with navigating massive distance between Nikki and the band due to Covid traveling restrictions.

I discovered Blood Command through Spotify with the 2017 album Cult Drugs and was instantly hooked on the creative heavy, dance, thrash aggression. I highly recommend checking out Cult Drugs. Both albums very similar but different and both you can set to repeat without fail.

Pro tip to all the young bands: band chemistry effortlessly creates a unique sound everyone digs, there is no chasing this sound, being genuine kills it live every time

Blood-Command-Nikki-Brumen-Live
Blood Command Vocalist, Nikki Brumen

What happened to Nikki’s previous band, Pagan?

From what I found, Pagan decided to just go their separate ways in January of 2020.

Courtesy of ManiacsOnline interview with Nikki Brumen:

“Pagan announced are break up in early 2020 and I knew I still wanted to play music, so I started jamming with friends and then all of a sudden I got a message on Facebook from Yngve and he introduced himself and said that he knew my band Pagan had split up, and he loved Pagan and that he had a proposition for me, would I want to front Blood Command, because their singer was leaving and I’d always had his dream voice.

I was a fan of Blood Command already, I’d actually put Blood Command as one of my top 5 bands of 2019 in an interview with Kerrang. So the stars really aligned. I couldn’t actually believe it when I read the message, like every friend that I told that I’d been asked to join a band not only from Norway but from Bergen which is my favourite place I’ve ever been, they were just laughing, saying that this cannot be real, surely you’re getting catfished. But it was real and it is real and it’s just amazing. ” –Nikki Brumen

Pro tip: Go hard or go home. It’s so easy to call it quits, but so hard to believe in yourself & keep going. Hard work & patience gives you a better chance at succeeding in this ridiculous industry

Nikki-Brumen-Pagan-Blood-Command
Pagan Featuring Nikki Brumen pre Blood Command (Why doesn’t Nikki have a beard too?)

Praise Armageddonism – Review

I can’t say enough good things about the new 2022 Blood Command album, Praise Armageddonism. The album has been out for two and a half months and I can honestly say I listen to the album in its entirety all the time.

Praise Armageddonism has this umami thing to it, to put it in foodie terms. It’s a bowl of food where every bite looks the same & initially tastes the same, but in every bite you notice something different and as a result you can’t stop eating because you might taste something new and exciting.

Blood Command has a crazy knack for squeezing the most out of every album by using an instrument that comes out of left field. An example of this is the closing track “Last Call for Heaven’s Gate”. Blood Command likes to throw keyboards and horns into the mix and it always takes the song and album to another level.

I have always loved this super creative style of writing taking thrashy aggression and smashing it with ultra pop. Cheap Trick brought this type of song writing to my attention and The Wildhearts as well as all of the Ginger Wildheart projects such as Hey Hello or Mutation further amplified my creativity as a songwriter.

There is always something special when a single bass line, “Villains Monologue”, is enough to stir your shit up. It won’t stop playing in my head. The band chemistry & performance on Praise Armageddonism alone is enough to demand high praise. The bonus that the songs are as hooky as fuck is some tasty icing.

It feels like Nikki Brumen will be the vocalist for quite some time. Nikki compliments the band extraordinarily well and completes the band. Blood Command comes off as a band on a mission to devour and conquer not the Nikki & the dudes show. Really excited about what follows.

If you dig what you hear and are interested in some band merch then head over to Blood Command’s bandcamp for exclusive vinyl record, apparel & music deals. If you don’t see anything you like make sure you visit the website store.

Skål,  Cheers Mates!

Blood Command Videos

Tour

Blood Command tour dates

Let’s Talk Amigos!

Please hit us personally here at Vanzig Studios for any reason whatsoever using the Contact Form. If you’re curious where Carly and I come from then read over our bio.

SOCIALS

  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Podcast
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook

Written by Mickey Squeeze · Categorized: Reviews · Tagged: 2022, Female Fronted, Metal Genre, New Album Release, Punk Genre, Rock Genre

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to page 4
  • Go to page 5
  • Go to page 6
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 12
  • Go to Next Page »

Vanzig Studios © 2023 · *All Rights Reserved