Artist: ANIMAL ALPHA
Album: PHEROMONES (CD)

Year: 2007
Media type: CD

Norwegian five-piece Animal Alpha was formed in 2002. After spending a great deal of 2004 in a battered old van gigging around Norway, the band soon earned a growing fan base and interest from the music industry. This alongside performances at Oslo’s prestigious Шya Festival, earning them 8 of 10 points in British Metal Hammer Magazine, combined with an appearance on national TV program ‘Lydverket’ created a buzz around the band that led to two sold-out nights at Oslo’s 500-crowd-capacity John Dee club. Without any released material this is quite unique by any standards. From being one of Norway’s best hidden musical secrets, the band rose from relative obscurity into the musical mainstream by the end of 2004. A bidding war between none less than 11 record-labels ensued, and the band chose the small indie label Racing Junior, penciling the release of their first EP and album spring 2005.

Status:
Animal Alpha spent year 2005 playing all over Norway supporting their self-titled EP and debut-album “pheromones”. They both received smashing reviews from fans and industry. In short time the EP sold to gold and their two singles/videos got massive national airplay. With gold sales in combination with exploding live-performances, best music video 2005, best debut artist nominees as well as a fast growing following, no wonder Animal Alpha caught the attention of music industry worldwide. Animal Alpha is now breaking into new territories. Winter 2006, the band played different industry festivals in the US, England and The Netherlands earning great interest from record-labels, booking-agencies, press and festivals worldwide. Animal Alpha spent most of the festival-summer playing big European festivals like Rock am ring, Rock im park, The Download festival in England and Pukkelpop in Belgium. At the moment the band is supporting the release of ”Pheromones” in different territories, as well as working on their upcoming second album. Recording-sessions is scheduled to begin in May.

Sound:
The rare talent of powerhouse live performances, original imagery and songwriting skills combined with musicianship and perfectionism are ingredients that form the Animal Alpha sound. Some critics have tried to tag their music as horror-pop and post modern rock, but their music delightfully continues to challenge musical genres. The music could perhaps be described as a musical jack-in-the-box, at first glance beautiful and serene but upon closer inspection ugly, ragged and sharp. In concert the boys always give 100% plus the little extra of what’s needed of them to captivate the audience while lead singer Agnete Kjшlsrud exudes the kind of stage charisma that makes it difficult to look away, creating a visceral and seismic show with the weird and wonderful Animal Alpha.

“Beware, beware! Don’t go to bed, don’t close your eyes”
- Quotes/ Words from The Wise:

“Seeing this band play is like finding a raw diamond in the coal dust, rugged yet beautiful, something to treasure, yet it can slice through steel with little effort. Agnete’s lyrics are unexpected, brash, sultry, nasty, brutally sweet and genuine - she grabs your attention and does not let go. And the band is thrashing away relentlessly behind her. “Pheromones” is a twisted visit into the world of Animal Alpha, a place of snarling dogs and circus freaks and glittering diamonds.”
- Sylvia Massy Shiv/ producer

TRACKLIST:

01. Billy Bob Jackson
02. I. R. W. Y. T. D.
03. Bundy
04. Most Wanted Cowboy
05. Catch Me
06. 101 Ways
07. Deep In
08. My Droogies
09. Bend Over
10. Remember The Day

LINE-UP:

Agnethe Skjolsrud (vocals)
Christer Andre Cederberg (guitar)
Christian (guitar)
Lars Imre Bidtnes (bass)
Christian (drums)