kungensman

[kungensman]

'För samtida djur 2' out now on Majestic Mountain Records and digital platforms like Bandcamp, Spotify etc. The vinyls look delicious. Artwork and layout by Magnus Öhrn.

"Kungens Män from Stockholm have been quietly crafting their unique brand of free rock for over a decade, blending the earthy tones of the natural world with the relentless noise of urban life. Their music is a journey through landscapes both real and imagined, where Ayler-esque saxophone wails cut through chiming guitars, all anchored by drums that seem to pulse with an otherworldly energy.

‘För Samtida Djur 2’ marks the second part of their latest project. Where the first part offered shorter, more contained pieces, this album lets the music breathe and expand. With four long-form compositions, Kungens Män creates a space where sound drifts and evolves, taking the listener on a deep, introspective journey.

This is a band that understands the balance between chaos and calm."

/It's Psychedelic Baby Magazine

[kungensman]

After more than a decade in constant motion, Kungens Män is now ready to unleash one of their most ambitious projects thus far. In February 2024, the first part of "For Contemporary Animals" will be released. It consists of eight songs with Kungens Män in their most condensed form, at the same time with a great degree of variation and some soundscapes previously unheard in the improvised world of the adventurous Swedes. The second part which comes out in May is a more classic Kungens Män collection, with long, sprawling songs that are invitations to inner and outer space. The music has been recorded over the last two years in between tours of Europe and UK.

These twin albums also mark the band’s first cooperation with a Swedish label, Majestic Mountain Records. A label built on love for the music and a supplier of high-quality vinyl with an emphasis on psych, doom, and stoner, the label has asked about the possibility of releasing Kungens Män for several years. And now the time is right!

[kungensman]

https://www.adansoniarecords.de/shop

[kungensman]

In 2022 Kungens Män has existed as a band for 10 years. What started out with the sole purpose of hanging out as friends, occasionally with instruments in tow, has resulted in records on several labels and numerous European tours. The fundamental idea has never changed though – to get immersed in sound, and let the drone be the main trail taking the band to inner space – may it be through folkish melodies, noise, shoegaze sheets, free jazz outbursts, motorik beats or just good old head melting rock. And of course, it’s all improvised on the spot. 2022 also marks Kungens Män’s first vinyl release on their own label, Kungens Ljud & Bild. So that’s also what the album is called. Why make things complicated? Another first is the collaboration with the Nashville, USA based label Centripetal Force who releases a special US edition of the album. The songs in Kungens Män’s own words: När piskan viner (When the whip wines) The opening riff suggests we're teenage heavy metal rebels riding our mopeds, trying to grow mustaches, failing in every possible way, going half throttle anyway, middle finger raised. Slowly, as we rock, the guitars decide to take different routes, finding that wicked Kungens Män vibe, and we evolve into something beyond our own understanding. Let the freak flag fly! As it was, is and always shall be. (Indy) The stubborn energy with which we hold on to the riff shows the band's total belief in rock music's transcendental power in a tune that could otherwise be dismissed as a pastiche. It's calf-like, it's swaying, it's on its toes. (Gustav) Stora rummet (The big room) I think this represents my favorite go to head space with Kungens Män. We’re taking it pretty easy, letting things evolve slowly and with small means, but when you zoom in and out you recognise all these layers that are floating on top of each other in a slightly disjointed way. (Micke) This is a piece I would have thought was written beforehand, had I not known it's spontaneously improvised. The way the instruments present themselves one by one, taking their space in the mix, adding layers. A good example of the band's style of instant composition within the framework of rock'n'roll. (Gustav) One of those songs where I'm amazed that we manage to keep it all together. Letting the music guide you - not the other way around - is what's happening here as we're gently navigating our way down the rabbit hole. Never knowing where we're going is the real magic. (Indy) I Hjalles kök (In Hjalle’s kitchen) Poetic one-liners performed in a beat-poetry style by The Psych-Mike. Mikael always carries a document full of possible song titles. In band meetings, rehearsals and when traveling together, there is always someone who comes up with a "saying". It is not uncommon to see Mikael pick up his phone and scribble something down. I'm not on this recording, but my guess is that Mickes document has a finger in the psych-pie. But what do I know? (Gustav) Gustav is correct. The words are spoken by Mikael randomly from our long list of possible future song titles. While the rest of us were playing, he was scrolling through the list and creating lyrics on the spot. Sung in Swedish, here are some rough translations of what he's yelling about: "German ninjas! Watch out! They marry the most beautiful pigs! 800 years of constant change in Hjalle's kitchen. It's harder than hard rock in the bargain bin. They've got eyes in the nose. Angry dicks." If that sounds weird to you, you are probably right and fully functional. (Indy) Some of us often end up in our friend Björn Viking Hjalmar’s kitchen after a long night out. That’s where middle aged men with big record collections find their release, their soul mates, their meaning of life – and it never stops. Until it does at 5 AM. (Micke) Vaska lyckokaka (Scrap a fortune cookie) This is one of those travel songs, where we just tag along something in the middle of the room that leads us forward. The energy is the engine. A whirlwind to get lost in. (Micke) A restrained confidence that moves towards ecstatic T Rex riffing. (Gustav) Slow burner. Space traveling begins at 05:43. From then and onwards it's just free falling through the infinite cosmos that matters. The keyword is free. (Indy)  Peter Erikson: synth Hans Hjelm: guitar Gustav Nygren: guitar (1, 2, 4) Mattias Indy Pettersson: drums Mikael Tuominen: guitar, six string bass & vocals Magnus Öhrn: bass Recorded at Moderskeppet, Aspudden. Recorded and mixed by Mikael Tuominen. Mastered by John McBain. Cover artwork by Magnus Öhrn.

[kungensman]

"Innanför boxen" Box Set is ltd to 234 copies world wide. (48 via Kungens Män, 94 via Adansonia and 92 via Cardinal Fuzz) Individual editions - 50 via Kungens Män, 100 via Adansonia and 100 via Cardinal Fuzz. All editions are black heavyweight vinyl. KUNGENS MÄN - Innanför boxen (5xLPs, 30x30cm 40 page chunky full colour booklet, housed in a gloss laminated box with lid outer box) KUNGENS MÄN - spelar i evighet. Amen KUNGENS MÄN - Diskbänksockultism KUNGENS MÄN - Bränna tid KUNGENS MÄN - Tomhetens furste KUNGENS MÄN - Den nya skivan Edited for vinyl by Mikael Tuominen and mastered for vinyl by the ever amazing and wonderous Chris Hardman. New artwork by the master of the magic arts, Magnus Öhrn. It's all good.

[kungensman]

Playing improvised music is a gift. It’s alchemy, chemistry, interlocking heartbeats and sometimes a struggle. A lot of it is about ambience. The legendary Silence studio in the deep woods of Värmland is a perfect example of how much setting actually effects the music made. Kungens Män usually record at home, in busy Stockholm, coming directly from the Underground, rolling escalators, the everyday stress latent in the back of the mind. We rumble for about two-three hours, mirroring frustration and built up energy from the work week we just left behind. This session was different. Silence is a place for contemplation. It was the end of May, the sun was shining, the grass was green and we took walks to the lake in between takes. We recorded 13 hours of music at a quite slow pace over the course of three days. Every moment of the record isn’t perfect, even sloppy sometimes, but we’re not in a competition. ”Trappmusik” is the Kungens Män chill out album. It has its peaks, but the overall vibe is calm, introspective and vibing off the fantastic recording room that has hosted so many giants. ”Främmande i tillvaron” is a nod and celebration of one of the masters of Swedish music, Bo Hansson, who was the spark that made Silence happen in the seventies together with Anders Lind who actually rigged the equipment for our session. What’s also interesting from a historical point of view is that the recording engineer we brought with us, our friend Isak Sjöholm, is the son of Jakob Sjöholm from Träd, Gräs och Stenar, who were also really important for the community around Silence. Use this music however you want. Play it loud or put it on as background music. Lie down on the floor or dance to it. The woods are singing. creditsreleased February 10, 2020 Peter Erikson - Synthesizer, Drum Machine Hans Hjelm - Guitar Mikael Tuominen - Guitar, Bass VI, Organ, Percussion, Voice Mattias Indy Pettersson - Drums, Percussion Gustav Nygren - Guitar, Saxophone, Guitar XII, Percussion Magnus Öhrn - Bass Recorded in Silence studio, Koppom, May 2019 Recording Engineer - Isak Sjöholm Rigging - Anders Lind Mix - Mikael Tuominen Mastering - DJM Cover artwork - Magnus Öhrn

[kungensman]

[kungensman]

[kungensman]

The orange repress, out now on Riot Season Records!

[kungensman]

CHEF is the most effective Kungens Män album yet. Four pieces, one LP. Four different moods, the Kungens Män sound distilled. Dive in, walk around, start over again. It never stops.  Out now on Riot Season Records.

[kungensman]

Fuzz på svenska, out now! https://kungensman.bandcamp.com/

[kungensman]

Dimman Musikfest, Kulturhuset Rebus, Helsingborg 26 maj

[kungensman]

[kungensman]

Supercool video from last weekend at Finki Open Air 2017. We were the last band of the festival, went on stage after Guru Guru and Arthur Brown, at 2 AM. The rain was pouring down, so we actually didn’t expect anyone to stay – but they did! This was the first song of the set.

Filmed by Andi Weimann, Sabine Klopf and Ralf Sattler. Beautifully edited by Andi Weimann.

[kungensman]

Three in the morning at Finki Open Air! 

[kungensman]

Very honoured to be a part of this! See you at Finki Open Air on Saturday, August 12!