ÁRSTÍÐIR (ARSTIDIR) are now premiering their complete new masterpiece, ‘Nivalis’, which is scheduled for release on June 22nd, 2018.
The enigmatic Icelanders are streaming ‘Nivalis’ via the official Season of Mist YouTube channel, HERE
Taken from the album “Nivalis”. Out now!
Order Nivalis HERE
Subscribe to Season Of Mist for new releases HERE
ÁRSTÍÐIR comment: “At the same instant that we celebrate our tenth year as a band, we raise our glasses to the release of our 5th studio album ‘Nivalis’. The latin word ‘nivalis’ means ‘Like Snow’, and our album will drop right during our summer solstice, as to underline the meaning of our band’s name Árstíðir. Musically ‘Nivalis’ is a pivot point between our acoustic roots and new musical horizons explored for the first time. With our glasses raised we’d also like to make a toast to Season of Mist for including us in their family and supporting our artistic and musical visions. Drink with us and let ‘Nivalis’ into your summer!”
Nivalis Track-list:
1. While This Way (3:11)
2. Lover (2:53)
3. Please Help Me (3:06)
4. Entangled (2:51)
5. Like Snow (3:34)
6. Þar sem enginn fer (sjálfviljugur) (4:00)
7. Circus (3:10)
8. Órói (3:32)
9. Mute (4:38)
10. Conviction (3:38)
11. In the Wake of You (3:35)
12. Wasting Time (3:21)
13. Passion (4:38)
Total playing time: 46:07
ÁRSTÍÐIR redefine their sound and take an evolutionary quantum leap that will catapult the eclectic Icelandic band from a highly praised phenomenon at the fringe straight to the centre of international attention. ÁRSTÍÐIR were never an ugly duckling, but now their musical swan has emerged in its full glorious beauty on ‘Nivalis’.
The Icelanders have never easily fit into any stylistic drawer and hence attracted a particular long list of attempts of a musical definition that ranges from indie rock via progressive rock, indie folk, chamber folk and pop, neo-classical to minimalism.
There is some truth in all these categories assigned to ÁRSTÍÐIR, but no single description entirely catches their overall sound entirely. Always something else is appearing that is adding and contradicting the first impression. Although everything said above about the band still remains true, new elements appear on ‘Nivalis’ that add up to a big change. One of these items can easily be identified as drums playing a much stronger role than it did on previous releases, which is a welcome side-effect of ÁRSTÍÐIR recently supporting label-mates SÓLSTAFIR on their extended European tour. Other changes are harder to specify, yet the Icelanders seem to have turned all those switches into the right direction – and not only due to a brilliant, crystalline, warm, and transparent production that perfectly brings together the dominant acoustic instruments with their electronic counterparts to evoke a fragile melancholy and embracing emotionality.
Line-up to record Nivalis:
Daniel Auðunsson: guitar, vocals
Gunnar Már Jakobsson: baritone guitar, vocals
Ragnar Ólafsson: keyboards, vocals
Guest musicians for Nivalis recording:
Magnús Magnússon: drums and percussion on all tracks
Hálfdán Árnason: bass on track 2, 5
Arnar Guðjónsson: bass on track 4, 6, 9, 12
Guðrún Hulda Pálsdóttir: double bass on track 7
Sigrún Harðardóttir: violin and viola on all tracks except 8
Guillaume Lagravière: cello on track 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13
Jean-Samuel Bez: violin on track 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13
Unnur Jónsdóttir: cello on track 1, 6, 11, 12
Margrét Soffía Einarsdóttir: violin on track 1, 6, 11, 12
Þórunn Harðardóttir: viola on track 1, 6, 11, 12
Official website: HERE
Facebook page: HERE
