{"product_id":"4562387200436","title":"grand magus Sword Songs\/Grand Magus Japan Music CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eProduct Description\u003cbr\u003e\nContents: Celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, Swedish heavy metal band Grand Magus releases their 8th full-length album, \"Sword Songs\"! This album, a culmination of blood, sweat, and tears, is more aggressive and extreme than ever before! Having cultivated their old-school spirit for 20 years and become seasoned heavy metal defenders, they no longer need prefixes like \"former Spiritual Beggars singer\" or \"doom\"! Includes a bonus track: a cover of Deep Purple's \"Storm Messenger\"! [Japanese liner notes included\/lyrics translation included] Grand Magus was formed in Stockholm in 1996, centered around Janne \"JB\" Christofferson (vocals, guitar), who would later join Spiritual Beggars, with Mats \"Fox\" Skinner (bass) and Frederick \"Trisse\" Liefwendahl (drums). After releasing several demos, in 2001 they released a split single with Spiritual Beggars on Southern Road Records, run by Greg Anderson of Goat Snake\/Sun O))). The label had already established its own style and was gaining momentum by releasing UK acts such as Electric Wizard and Cathedral, US legends such as The Obsessed and Internal Void, and Japanese acts Boris and Church of Misery. This release on the label brought Grand Magus worldwide recognition, and in the same year they released their first full-length album, Grand Magus, on Rise Above Records, run by Lee Dorrian (Cathedral), solidifying their high profile. The sound that Grand Magus initially aimed for was doomy hard rock rooted in blues hard rock?in other words, Black Sabbath infused with a stony Southern rock flavor, played with heavy and big riff work. JB's soulful and soaring vocals, and the brutal sound production that reflects their origins in Stockholm-style death metal, which gave rise to bands like Nihilist\/Entommed, Grave, and Unleashed, all worked in their favor, and it didn't take long for them to become a central force in Scandinavia in the fiercely competitive doom\/stoner scene. Subsequently, they released two full albums on the same label, Rise Above: Monument (2003) and Wolf's Return (2005). The fact that JB joined Spiritual Beggars in 2002, and performed the important role of replacing Spice with a performance that exceeded expectations, and was warmly welcomed by long-time fans, undoubtedly boosted Grand Magus's success. The turning point came with their first ever member change. The year after the release of \"Wolf's Return,\" Trisse, who had played with them for many years, left, and Sebastian \"Seb\" Cipora, a veteran drummer who had played in various bands, joined the band. This marked the beginning of Grand Magus unleashing their longing for traditional heavy metal, which had been gradually becoming apparent from \"Monument\" to \"Wolf's Return.\" The direction embodied in their 4th album, \"Iron Will,\" released again in 2008 by Rise Above, expanded upon the raw, bluesy rock sound of their early days, drawing on the doom metal aspects of early Trouble and Ronnie James Dio's Black Sabbath era. Their music evolved into something that can only be described as \"heavy metal,\" connecting them to bands like Judas Priest, Manowar, and Mercyful Fate. Here, their aforementioned vocal prowess was fully utilized, and the dynamic heaviness helped them establish themselves as a contemporary heavy metal band, distinct from mere laid-back music. Their characteristic melancholic melodies also played a crucial role in highlighting their heavy metal identity. They established a fresh, old-school yet modern take on heavy metal, albeit with a different history and style than High on Fire's \"Blessed Black Wings.\" Having found his niche in heavy metal, JB left Spiritual Beggars in 2010 to become exclusive with Grand Magus, and in the same year released \"Hammer of the North\" on the long-established Roadrunner Records. After the release of that album, they underwent another lineup change, with Ludwig Witt, a close friend from Spiritual Beggars, joining as the new drummer. Having secured a contract with the prestigious Nuclear Blast Records, they subsequently released \"The Hunt\" (2012) and \"Triumph and Power\" (2014) on the same label, both underpinned by a consistent heavy metal aesthetic. A recent characteristic of their work is the increasing emphasis on epic\/pagan elements. And without delay, \"Sword Songs\" was released. What else could one imagine from this title besides heavy metal? [Members] Janne ?gJB?h Christophersson (Vocals\/Guitar) Mats ?gFox?h Skinner (Bass) Ludwig (Drums) [Track Listing] 1. Freya's Choice 2. Valangian 3. Forged in Iron - Crowned in Steel 4. Born for Battle (Black Dog of Broc?liand) 5. Master of the Land 6. Last One to Fall 7. Frost and Fire 8. Hooger 9. Everyday There's a Battle to Fight [Bonus Tracks] 10. In for the Kill 11. Storm Messenger (Deep Purple Cover) Media Reviews and More In 2016, Swedish heavy metal band Grand Magus, celebrating their 20th anniversary, released their 8th full-length album! This album, a culmination of blood, sweat, and tears, is more aggressive and extreme than ever before! Having cultivated their old-school spirit for 20 years and become seasoned heavy metal defenders, they no longer need labels like \"former Spiritual Beggars singer\" or \"doom\"! 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