The first time the members of Guards of Metropolis came together to rehearse, it wasn't in a dank basement, a state-of-the-art recording studio, or any of the other traditional locations bands typically use to hone their musical vision. It was in an abandoned chocolate factory on the outskirts of Oslo, Norway while a furious blizzard raged outside.
Within 3 months of their first string of European concerts, the band left the Old World behind them for a 50 date U.S. tour which quickly garnered them glowing critical reviews, industry attention due to the "considerable buzz" (Hits Magazine) the band was creating, and an enthusiastic public response to their melodic pop rock sound, confrontational lyrics and intense live performances.
And all this solely on the strength of a self recorded demo.
Now you can discover what the excitement is all about with the release of Whatever It Is, their new 4-song EP release.
Along the way they've endured immigration hassles, hurricanes, and even a name change (they first toured the U.S. as Softcore), but they're still the same band:
Two girls from Norway’s Arctic Circle. Two guys from sunny California...
Influences from the laid-back northern reaches of Scandinavia and the frantic West Coast of America collide on the Guards of Metropolis' debut EP in a shimmering example of the best that both countries have to offer. A fistful of angst-driven rock and roll riffs tempered by the layered harmonies that Scandinavian groups are famous for lay the groundwork for this rock-pop manifesto. Think ABBA meets AC/DC...and then think again. Each song comes as a stylistic surprise, and singer Kristin Blix's lyrics filter the American experience through a foreigner's eyes; the title track "Whatever It Is" is a hard hitting slam against the U.S. Commander in Chief's reckless behavior while "Exhole" name checks such American "icons" as Jerry Springer and Molly Hatchet.
Rage never sounded as pretty as it does on this stunning debut!
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“With Garbage now on 'official' hiatus along comes Guards of Metropolis to fill your modern rock void. Kristin Blix's vocals are actually stronger than Shirley Manson's and you'd swear the big budget production comes from Butch Vig when it's actually the sleight of hand of the Guards' Charles Normal. Nice work.”
- Greg Glover / KNRK / Portland,OR
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L.A. Weekly - “Accomplished songwriting and a stylized sonic flamboyance rare among today's club fodder.”
Music Biz Magazine - "More hooks than a Montana fishing trip”
Music Connection - “Loaded with talent and intellect”
Village Voice - New York - “Nifty!"
Guards of Metropolis - “Nifty?... NIFTY?!?"
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The Guards of Metropolis have headlined shows at:
The Roxy - Hollywood, California
The Whisky A Go Go - Hollywood, California
The Elbo Room - Chicago, Illinois
The Bite of Salem - Salem, Oregon
The Viper Room - Hollywood, California
Pussycat Lounge - New York City
The Knitting Factory - Hollywood, California
They've played at:
The Wonder Ballroom - Portland, Oregon - w/ Frank Black
Roseland - Portland, Oregon - w/ Goldfinger
Bite Of Oregon (Main Stage) - Portland, Oregon - w/ The Decemberists, The Violent Femmes
Elsinore Theatre - Salem, Oregon - w/ Frank Black, Larry Norman
They have endorsement deals with:
Marshall Amps
Schecter Guitars
Zildjian Cymbals
Peace Drums
They have:
Strange accents
Loud guitars
A penchant for Lutefisk
Agent Jack Bauer's personal cell number
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Vocalist Kristin Blix grew up on a farm in northern Norway, but feels strangely at home on the stages and highways of America. "Every day I feel like I'm in a movie. Everything I see, from the corner liquor store to the cornfields and factories in the middle of this country, are familiar images. I saw them in American films while I was growing up, and now I'm actually living in them!"
Bassist Silver Sorensen grew up in a small town 300 miles north of the Arctic Circle. After seeing the world south of the 66th parallel, she decided she prefers stage lights to the Northern Lights...
Guitarist Charles Normal's previous band "The Merchants of Venus" was nominated for the coveted "Spellemannsprisen" (Scandinavian Grammy) for their debut album which he wrote, produced, engineered, and performed. The last album he produced, Mark Lemhouse's Great American Yard Sale won the Muddy Award in the blues genre for "Album of the Year." He has worked and recorded with such diverse artists as Guns 'n' Roses, Frank Black, Larry Norman, and Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols, but he still thinks the pilot episode of "Green Acres" is the highest work of art mankind has ever achieved. He is currently in the studio producing an album with Frank Black and Larry Norman.
Drummer Jason Carter spent his childhood playing in drum corps and touring the U.S. and Europe in various bands. Along the way, he was pleasantly surprised to acquire a well deserved reputation in the jazz world, playing with such notables as Victor Wooten (Bela Fleck), Tom Grant, Doc Severinsen, Eric Marienthal (Chick Corea), Patrick Lamb, etc. He has worked alongside Phil Collins and Dave Metzger on such film and TV soundtracks as Tarzan and the Magnificent Seven. Recently, Jason played drums on and mixed Frank Black’s newest album slated to be released in summer 2007. When he’s not on-stage or studio hopping, Jason (a.k.a. Skippy) enjoys buzzing over populated neighborhoods in small aircraft.
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