Sara Hammerzmith

Funeral Fog

Posted in Uncategorized on April 14, 2017 by Sara Hammerzmith

Today has been a day off here in Sweden due to holidays, and even for me, the workaholic that I am, have also had a day off for a change, but trust me when I say it hasn’t gone to waste. I’ve been doing laundry all day, as well as packing like crazy. I still feel a bit disoriented – I don’t really know exactly where to start with everything, so I of course decided to start with the most important things I possess – My Lordi collection.

I guess it’s just to start somewhere, you know. And if I get these things out of the way, it’ll make it easier. Or at least get me started, you know? But fuck me, it was hard. I know it’s just relocating, but still.

And yes, the Lordi albums are being packed down here and not with the rest – I want all the Lordistuff to be in one place. I’m also looking into doing a similar solution for Sabaton – it’s becoming time for it, don’t you think? But we will have to see.

Aside that, I’ve actually had the time, after I ran out of boxes, to play some The Sims 4. It’s been since January I last played, so it’s been a long time coming.

NP: De Mysteriis Dom Satanas – Mayhem

// Sara

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Ghost Town

Posted in Music on April 13, 2017 by Sara Hammerzmith

Some time ago, in the middle of all the tours and everything happening, Art Nation released yet another single from their upcoming album “Liberation”. As you know, I was all about the previous single “The Real Me”, and even more so for their deubt album. So naturally, I was excited as hell for “Ghost Town”.

To be honest… My feelings are a bit mixed about this song. I think generally, it is actually a very good song, I really love the chorus. However, I’m not the biggest fan of certain parts of the song – which for me, kills the mood a little, sadly. I guess this is what I was afraid of with “The Real Me”, and it had to happen, eventually. Even the best of albums, like “Tearing Down The Walls”, have their weaker songs (“We Will Never Die”) and perhaps this is the one.

It’s really too early to say, isn’t it? It’s just the second single. I guess we will have to wait and see. It’s not long now!

// Sara

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Pretty Little Distance

Posted in Uncategorized on April 12, 2017 by Sara Hammerzmith

So, I have started to box things up here at home for the upcoming move to the new apartment. I knew I wasn’t going to stay here forever, but it’s a surreal feeling know the days are now counted. Due to time, I haven’t packed a lot – just my closet really, but it is indeed a start.

I planned to actually have my unsorted CD’s sorted before I get out – that way I know what CD stand they will belong to, and I don’t have to feel bad about them never getting sorted.

I am really excited about the place. I know it will take time for me to make all the money necessary to decorate it the way I want it – but isn’t that the beauty? Once there, I’ll start making up the blueprints and plans on how to make it, and calculate exactly how much I’ll need for each and every room – making it the perfect living spot.

It’s good if anything, that I have something to entertain myself with these dreadful months without a single concert, don’t you think?

NP: White Flags – As Lions

// Sara

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United in a Scream

Posted in CDs on April 11, 2017 by Sara Hammerzmith

Today has been a really, really good day. Like, honestly. Firstly, I got a propers night sleep which is absolutely awesome for once. Secondly, I signed the contract for my new apartment! Woo! It’s going to be pretty great – it’s a nice place, my dreamplace, in fact.

And to top it off even more, I got a job I applied for which will make things sooo much easier to deal with, everything is really just going my way today, huh?

And to make it even better – I finally, after a long time of searching, found an album I had been looking for for the longest of time. I was originally down at Knastret in order to kill some time before the meeting, and when I stumbled upon the album I even got so shocked to see it that I stared at it for a good while before realizing what it was.

“Straight Down The Line” with Return. I’ve had this on vinyl for the longest of time, and now finally I have it on CD. FINALLY. While browsing about the CD’s, I came across another one from Return’s catalouge, and I figured, they, why the hell not? And this is the story on how “Attitudes” also came about my recordcollection.

I guess it is pretty safe that say that, good comes to those who waits. Couldn’t be more true in this case. If you excuse me, I’m just gonna go and add in these precious new albums!

// Sara

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I Am I Am

Posted in Uncategorized on April 10, 2017 by Sara Hammerzmith

First day at home since the tour, first day back at work since the weekend and the entire emptiness that is post-concert-depression hits. And what is the best way to deal with such a thing?

Planning new tours, of course.

I found out that a lot of the gigs I’d like to attend this fall is actually lining up pretty well with each other, allowing me to do multiple dates tours rather than going out on every single weekend all the time. I don’t mind it per se, but you know, time efficiency!

The best part about the tours is probably the way Battle Beast, Serious Black and Lordi line up with each other in September. Two countries, three shows – should be great. I really can’t wait for next season of gigs, but first, festival summer. How will I get through that?

// Sara

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Keepers of Fate

Posted in Uncategorized on April 9, 2017 by Sara Hammerzmith

Got up early this morning in order to catch the bus back to the airport. Despite having this little… scare? Do I call it such? I still went there with the same marginal as I usually do, and all was well. Got some time to do some writing for once – I’m slowly getting better at that.

It was a slow flight, not a lot of people and all went smoothly. There were some problems at the airport delaying it a bit once landed, but no big problems. I traveled into Stockholm City in order to pay my respects to the people who were lost in the attack on Friday, and also to our amazing police force that got the situation under control so incredibly fast. It was emotional, yet beautiful to see how the entire town has come together because of this.

After some quick lunch I got on the bus home.

It has been an intense couple of weeks with shows literally every weekend. It is both relieving that it’s over, but also sad. I guess it’s because of the circumstances – new job and all together with that, but I can’t wait to get on the road again. Which would be festivalsummer. Some long months ahead for sure…

// Sara

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Amaranthe @ The Circus, Helsinki, Finland 8/4 -17

Posted in Concerts, Music, Uncategorized with tags amaranthe, blind channel, ember falls, helsinki, the circus on April 8, 2017 by Sara Hammerzmith

And with that, it was time for me to embark on my last concert for some time. To be honest, I have to admit that it’s going to be pretty nice to have some “time off” from this, as the past weeks has been exhausting. If it was the concerts themselves, or the fact that I also started a new job a town over at the same time, I will leave unspoken of, but something has made it really tiring.

Of course, it was not all fun and games. Firstly, I slept on the bus to the point I actually missed my stop. And it’s funny, because I dreamt that I would miss my stop. And then I wake up to us leaving Terminal 5. So, as you can hear, it wasn’t superbad. All that happened was that I got off at Terminal 4 and walked back to Terminal 5…. only to discover the HUGE LINES everywhere and nowhere.

Yesterday, a terroristattack happened in Sweden and because of this, the security had been increased. So, waiting time for securitycheck was about an hour – and for once, I was even out in good time, and despite that, the airport staff had to escort us ( I found another girl who was in the line for Helsinki) ahead of the line so we could, barely, catch our flight. Oh how good it is to be TWO people when shit like this happens. But I’d like to tell you about something – when I first got in the line, there were a couple ahead of me that were getting on a plane that was taking off at 06.55. The time was 06.40.

I guess I never saw it before, because I was lucky – but the reviews on Arlanda’s websites are true. It is a pretty slow airport, and it doesn’t seem to know how to deal with massive amounts like this.

So, safe and sound and in time, I landed in Helsinki, collected my luggage and headed off into the city for some breakfast or possibly lunch. Basically, I was in Helsinki by 10.30 or so, and my hotel wasn’t open for check in until 16, so you could easily say I had some darn waiting to do. Spent the first two-three hours at Espresso House – in these cases it is real good that I’m such a slow eater – and after that I killed some time in the Forum shoppinggallery. The last hour in Forum I sat and read the sales book by Fredrik Eklund, before I could FINALLY get out and check in the hotel. The gallery is only five minutes away, so it was a looong wait.

Once in the hotel, I quickly got settled and then went to bed. I had had to take an earlier bus than expected, and because of that, I hadn’t gotten a lot of sleep and figured I’d be better off actually resting a little bit before the show. Once woken up, I got ready for the show and then went off to The Circus – which is no less than five minutes away – this hotel is nothing but golden.

Ember Falls

I arrived just on time as the first band walked on stage (phew!). So, first opener of the night was Ember Falls, a Tampere based metalband formed in 2010. They delivered a very energetic set, and they actually seemed to have some fans in the audience. Not too common, so it was cool to see! The band was okay. I’m not entirely taken by them, but it could have been worse… as I was about to see.

Blind Channel

Next band on stage was Blind Channel. Based in Oulu, the band was formed in 2013. All clad in white they performed some strange merge of rap and metal. I guess it’s had some nu metal elements to it, but I really could not like this. And it did not get any better, whatsoever, when the singer came out in a robbers hood acting like a basic rapper. I have a hard time for these kind of merges, as the kind and side of metal I like is not the “fuck the police”, and well… Yeah. Simply not for me. But they did seem to have quite some fans in the audience, and they had charisma.

Amaranthe

They left the stage and at 21.15, Amarathe’s very very long intro started and at 21.30, it finally hit off with “Maximize”. It was a pretty…. slow? audience. Like, it wasn’t as much response from it as I would have thought it would be. The opening was quickly followed up by “Boomerang” and their big hit “Hunger”.

So, as you guys probably know, Jake E decided to completely leave the band in February this year after having a hiatus from the band for some time. At the time, the news were heartbreaking, and the initally we all thought the spot would go to Chris Adam who’s been filling in for Jake during the past tour. It turns out, he has in fact turned down the offer, and while he still did some of the Swedish show, it was a new face on stage tonight filling in for Chris Adam, who is filling in for Jake.

And this person is no one less than Nils Molin, the singer from Dynazty. Dynazty is one of my favorite bands that I very very rarely see. They are incredibly hard to catch live, and seeing that Nils personally is one of my all time favorite male vocalist, seeing him on stage with Amaranthe, or seeing him perform all in all was very.. emotional. It was a moment of “Finally.” I was in ecstasy, as well as being smitten by the prescence and just happy. We will see if he will remain in Amaranthe or not.

They followed up with their big hit “Hunger”, and then “Invincible”. These songs had a little better audience response, even though it left much to be desired. The band was really good though – Elize is not as shy as I remember her, which is soo good to see. It’s so good to see her really get out there, connecting with the crowd and everything.

“1.000.000 Lightyears” was next on the list, followed by “Trinity” before it was time for Nils and Elize to have their moment in “True”. And you know, just hearing him work his voice and them two harmonizing together is simply amazing. They work so well together.

Right after this two person song, Henrik got to have his own little moment in “Fury” before everyone left Elize to her own thing with “Endlessly”. The thing is… I’m gonna say this, and get so many haters. Elize can sing. And she can sing well. But I never understood why she keeps stretching things – It’s a lot of, in my eyes, unnecessary screams and extensions, and this happens in almost every song. I don’t see the point in that.

“On The Rocks” was next on the list, and the audience seemed a bit more awake this time around. Morten was left on his own to perform his mandatory drumsolo before it merged into “Automatic”. “The Nexus” was next on the list, followed by the big audience favorite “Amaranthine” before they wrapped up the set with “Call Out My Name”.

After a little bit of wait, Andreas came out and did his… “stand-up-comedy” part before they hit off the encores with “Digital World”, followed by “That Song”, “Dynamite” and then have the whole set wrapped up with “Drop Dead Cynical”.

Speaking of that song. As the band was about to thank for the time and walk off stage, a record label representant came on stage and delivered gold singles for “Drop Dead Cynical” for Finnish sales. Congratulations Amaranthe! Well deserved.

After THAT, the band thanked for the evening and walked off the stage.

And me myself, I hurried off to the hotelroom, had some quick dinner and then went to sleep. Early day tomorrow.

// Sara

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Princess of the Dawn

Posted in Uncategorized on April 7, 2017 by Sara Hammerzmith

There’s nothing quite like the empty feelings that surronds you after a good tour – or more precisely, after a good tour finale. The empty feeling of knowing that this is it. That it was the last time, no more can you see this tour. The days you shard with the bands, the tours, the routines, it’s all gone.

I guess that is the bittersweet parts about touring, that it’s amazing at the time – but it all eventually comes to an end. And then you slow down, take a breath and gather new powers for the next round.

I realize now that I never actually showed you guys what I picked up while at the shows, and I figured I might as well do so.

Firstly, I got both albums of Twilight Force. I usually have this thing that, if the artist has only two albums then I get both of them. I can’t even motivate CD’s – like, I pretty much open my wallet and just let the money fall out.

Secondly, I got myself a Twilight Force shirt and Sabaton shirt each – this is my first proper tourshirt with Sabaton. Took me ten years, but at last!

And lastly, and this is perhaps the only actually necessary purchase – the Twilight Force tote bag. I have had mine from Lordi for ten year, and it’s really starting to give in. I plan to repair and fix it, but I have also decided to give it a bit of a break – and use Twilight Force more for my daily businesses. The thing is, I was supposed to get one from Epica – but at each of the three (!) gigs I went to – no totebag was available. Doesn’t it absolutely suck? Well, good for Twilight Force! Sadly, I have managed to displace it, so no picture as of now…

With all of that said, I’m currently in the process of preparing for my last show in a while, Amaranthe tomorrow in what sometimes feel like my second home Helsinki. It’s gonna be good seeing them again – and I’m not mistaken, they have Nils Molin on vocals right now, which makes it even better. I’m really excited for that specifically.

// Sara

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March in Music

Posted in Music, Uncategorized with tags amaranthe, battle beast, epica, h.e.a.t., sabaton, twilight force, wiktoria on April 6, 2017 by Sara Hammerzmith

A little delay, here comes the report of how I listened to music in March. First off, most played bands.

5. Amaranthe

This still doesn’t strike me as a chock, since they are the bands with the most songs total in my on-the-go iPod, even thought it doesn’t feel like I listen to them that much. But apparently, I do!

4. Sabaton

Not a big shocker. I did honestly think they’d be higher seeing I’ve seen quite a few shows with them this month, but I guess not. Still going strong in the top though. I blame my sudden love for “Blood of Bannockburn” for this.

3. Battle Beast

Ah here they are! An excellent release in “Bringer of Pain” and a show that was better than most sends the group up to a higher place. I swear to God, “Bastard Son of Odin” is really MY song. Seriously.

2. Epica

Epica delivered some great shows in Helsinki and Stockholm, and “The Holographic Principle” is such an awesome album.

1. Twilight Force

Well, I guess this answers why Sabaton has been so low this month – it’s the introduction of Twilight Force. I feel so stupid, because I’ve rapidly grown to like them a lot, and well, it feels stupid – this is all honesty, as I have so many friends who are already into them, and here I come a little late. Well, at least I never spoke shit about them. So, with that said, I’m not surprised they are on top!

Lets move onto albums.

5. Bringer of Pain

No surprise! The new little masterpiece by Finlands now, in my eyes, most promising bands. I’m certain my love for “Bastard Son of Odin” is pushing this a little bit higher, but aside that – this is one killer album.

4. The Power of the Ancient Force

Well, considering Twilight Force is amongst the bands in my top artists, it’s not a big surprise their albums would make it onto the list. “The Power of the Ancient Force” is their debut album, and I really like it.

3. As I Lay Me Down (Single)

This is awesome. So, you know how I love Wiktoria? This is the single for that very song, and it has made the third place on most played album. And very well so, the song is just that fucking amazing.

2. Heroes of Mighty Magic

Another one of Twilight Force’s albums, I think this one might be a tad more epic than the previous, but it’s too soon for me to say too much already to be honest. Check back in a month or two, haha.

1 . The Holographic Principle

This album is absolute killer, and not to mention, “Beyond the Matrix”. Seriously, I just love that song so much. This album has quickly climbed to be one of my favorites, but if it’s just a new crush or forever, is yet to see.

And lastly, songs. Last.FM really shows you top ten songs, but I’ll cut it down to five.

3. Touch in the Night – Battle Beast

Battle Beasts flagship is you like, and also my personal favorite. This song has so many memories to it, I can barely count anymore how many trips has this song as their “song of the trip”.

3. Bastard Son of Odin – Battle Beast

Another one of Battle Beast’s, another favorite, but a different album. Seriously, this is my personal bootcamp song.

3. The Real Me – Art Nation

So, you probably noticed how there’s three 3’s, and this is because all of these songs had the same amount of plays. Art Nation’s first single of the upcoming album, and I just love it that much. I can’t get over it. At all.

2. Emergency – H.E.A.T

Oldie but goldie! This song has rapidly risen, and it’s just… When you have so much music around, it’s easy to forget what you have, and then all of a sudden you just rediscover it and realize how much you love it. I’m so happy H.E.A.T is making new music again finally, I cannot wait.

1 . As I Lay Me Down – Wiktoria

Well, no surprise. I’ve been obsessed with this song ever since I first saw her in Melodifestivalen, and I cannot stop listening to this. Honestly. Beyond amazing. I’m eager to check out more of her stuff later.

So. That was that recap. I always find it somewhat facinating to see what songs you do actually listen to, and which you don’t.

// Sara

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Lady Lightning

Posted in Travels, Uncategorized on April 2, 2017 by Sara Hammerzmith

I fell asleep while trying to write, and then I got up and went to bed properly. After getting up for the second time, I was as tired as ever. Like, I shouldn’t be, because for once I get a good nights sleep, but I was. Perhaps that was the problem. Another first, was the fact that there was breakfast!

Then it was back to the room, sleep a little more, pack up the last things and then time to check out. It was the saddest thing ever, because quite honestly, I love this little hotel room.

Once checked out, I headed out to just look around a bit. I have never been here before, and I reckon it will take some time before I get back. I went shopping a wee bit – The Body Shop had their sale AND their limited edition Raspberry body butter on sale, and you just have to get them while you can.

After that, I headed down to the harbour, the seaside, and spent a good few hours there. It was magical sitting in those sheds of snow watching people walk across the lake as if it was nothing. A winter wonderland, if you like.