Metal Storm logo
Keep Of Kalessin - Competing To Represent Norway In Eurovision Song Contest


Norwegian black metal band Keep Of Kalessin are among the artists competing to represent Norway in next year's Eurovision Song Contest.

Last Tuesday (December 1), Keep of Kalessin guitarist and songwriter Obsidian C (real name: Arnt Grønbech) told the Norwegian TV show "Lydverket" that he's looking forward to performing the song "The Dragon Tower" alongside Norwegian pop artists and mainstream songwriters.

"I read an interview with Per Sundnes (host of the Norwegian Eurovision finals) where he said they wanted darker and harder songs for the Norwegian Eurovision finals," he said. "At the same time, we had made a song with a catchy chorus, so I just sent it to them."

On being called sellout:

Obsidian: "I think we are gonna get some reactions from the black metal scene, and lose some credibility. Some people, at least, will call us sellouts, but people saying those things are usually people who have an underground band themselves but make a living from selling hot dogs at a gas station. I think it's less of a sellout to play in the Eurovision than to sell hot dogs."

Finnish rock band Lordi won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006 with the song "Hard Rock Hallelujah". Obsidian C doesn't believe Keep of Kalessin will achieve the same type of success in the competition, but he's looking forward to getting more mainstream attention for the band.

"The song might be a little too extreme for us to win, but hard rock has performed well in the Eurovision earlier, so we'll just have to wait and see," he said. "The song will at least give us a little more attention with a broad audience back here in Norway."

Leif Åge Reme, executive producer of the Norwegian Eurovision Song Contest finals, says that the TV show did not ask Keep of Kalessin to take part in the competiton for publicity. "Eurovision is a songwriting contest that reflects the type of songs that are being written around the country, even if that means it is not pop. We are seeking a broad selection of songwriters, and not the publicity."

Source: blogs.myspace.com
Band profile: Keep Of Kalessin
Posted: 04.12.2009 by Krankheit


Comments page 2 / 2

‹‹ Back to News
Comments: 38   [ 1 ignored ]   Visited by: 178 users
06.12.2009 - 13:49
Syk
myspace/bonerama
Written by Troy Killjoy on 05.12.2009 at 01:33
It's only a matter of time before the Eurovision competition is ransacked and burned to the ground with the judge being crucified by legions of overzealous -- I mean passionate -- black metal fans who felt their favorite band was cheated as a result of society bowing to Christianity or something. I dunno...I'm not psychic. I mean I was going to become a clairvoyant, but I couldn't see a future in it.


I agree with the backlash re: hot dogs... I don't even like them, but what a dumb thing for him to say. Where's the logic in that?
----
death ? thrash ? death/doom/prog ? Hail Zoldon!

he's not the kind you have to wind up on Sundays
Loading...
07.12.2009 - 05:17
ItalktotheWind
Wood Troll
Quote:
"I think it's less of a sellout to play in the Eurovision than to sell hot dogs."

What an asshole. Honestly, those who have to keep a shitty job to pay for their underground band have a lot more integrity than this guy.
----
"A witty saying proves nothing."
-Voltaire
Loading...
10.12.2009 - 19:58
skatmat

This is just... I dunno, either totally fuckin awesome, or completely utterly embarassing? Well I must certainly be voting my ass off if they make it...
Loading...
02.01.2010 - 23:46
Westvann

Written by RhaegarTargaryen on 05.12.2009 at 12:46

Written by Zhao on 04.12.2009 at 22:11

Written by RhaegarTargaryen on 04.12.2009 at 21:20

Btw there were talks that Stratovarius will represent Belarus since it matters from which country the writer of the song is ...

This is getting more and more bizzare, just heard from a friend of mine who is from Turkey that they got a metal band in thier contest too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBL5DcJbR_A

Imagine a eurovision with only metal bands

That would be quite cool. Few days ago I spoke with friend, how all scandinavian countries should make a "secret plan" to send only metal bands to eurovision

WOW, MPG couldn't be better than that=)
Loading...
08.01.2010 - 23:52
Westvann

Check out the live video:D they went to the national final Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW3wU2fDc2o
Loading...
12.01.2010 - 02:18
Ellrohir
Heaven Knight
Written by Enissa on 05.12.2009 at 16:58

Black Metal band in Eurovision???


dont worry...this (at least the song they presented for) isnt black metal anymore...
----
My rest seems now calm and deep
Finally I got my dead man sleep


Loading...
15.01.2010 - 21:15
Zhao
The Arkaholic
I love the way this is going. All we need to do now is send Varg to the Vatican and metal will rule the world!

on topic: lol, lets hope Pain of Salvation brings something more in their genre
Loading...
21.01.2010 - 01:47
matos

So, what happened ? Are they out yet ? still competing ?
----
Loading...

Hits total: 5426 | This month: 9