Jesper and Anders were interviewed by Håkan Persson at P3 Rock about the latest album and the nomination for P3 Guld, the Swedish national radio music awards. Switch Opens are nominated in the category Rock/Metal Of The Year.
Listen to the interview at P3 Rock.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Review from The Metal Observer
Rating: 8/10
There are days when you sit up until late at night and you simply do not have any interest to go to bed, urinate or eat, even though you feel the desperate need to do such. Well what do you do in a time like that? Look for a doctor and get checked up for insomnia? Contemplate which album you're going to listen to next? Masturbate? There are a lot of possibilities on how to carry on with your feeble life, one of them is to simply take it easy, clear your head and listen to some decent harmless stoner music. That's where Sweden's newcomer SWITCH OPENS comes into function to take you to their own personal chill-out-zone.
Stoner Rock/Metal has always been a peculiar scene, with a lot of ups and downs in the music, sometimes really really hard to differentiate between the "Doom" side and the actual "Stoner" side. As early as SABBATH, the music was designed to take you through the darkest hallways of your mind and disconnect you from anything that bothered you. It's interesting that although so much time has passed, the basic formula still works for the typical slow style of music. As other styles, it has developed alongside its parallel evolution with gadgets and digital mastering/rendering/whatever to a sea of unlimited possibilities where even the most abstract imagination can be translated into something audible.
SWITCH OPEN's' debut, which is another brainchild of the 21st century is actually a pretty good start for a new band, easily securing the path to a bright future. The gimmicks are there, the use of modern electronics is omnipresent and creates that dramatic post-modern feeling modern music should incorporate, but something floats about in the overall feeling that makes you wonder about a couple of things. One aspect is the really strange, almost Nu-Metal-ish approach to Stoner Metal. The vocals are quite weak sometimes and resemble either a dog ("Paper Walls"), a screamo attempt or simply "KoRn". Apart from some regressive deliveries, the vocals are overall decent, with a nice rasp to them and fit with the rest of the music nicely, mostly when he doesn't try to scream, but varies between a relatively clean singing to a sort of half-sung rasp. The songs themselves, to be more exact: the instrumental parts, create most of the creepy and eerie atmosphere that will grasp you by the neck and pull you down. The music sometimes reminds me of a mixture between Desert Rock classics such as KYUSS or QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, but have a heavier feeling to them, while still keeping their subliminal message. A definite good start and interesting future awaits these Swedish warriors.
The Metal Observer
There are days when you sit up until late at night and you simply do not have any interest to go to bed, urinate or eat, even though you feel the desperate need to do such. Well what do you do in a time like that? Look for a doctor and get checked up for insomnia? Contemplate which album you're going to listen to next? Masturbate? There are a lot of possibilities on how to carry on with your feeble life, one of them is to simply take it easy, clear your head and listen to some decent harmless stoner music. That's where Sweden's newcomer SWITCH OPENS comes into function to take you to their own personal chill-out-zone.
Stoner Rock/Metal has always been a peculiar scene, with a lot of ups and downs in the music, sometimes really really hard to differentiate between the "Doom" side and the actual "Stoner" side. As early as SABBATH, the music was designed to take you through the darkest hallways of your mind and disconnect you from anything that bothered you. It's interesting that although so much time has passed, the basic formula still works for the typical slow style of music. As other styles, it has developed alongside its parallel evolution with gadgets and digital mastering/rendering/whatever to a sea of unlimited possibilities where even the most abstract imagination can be translated into something audible.
SWITCH OPEN's' debut, which is another brainchild of the 21st century is actually a pretty good start for a new band, easily securing the path to a bright future. The gimmicks are there, the use of modern electronics is omnipresent and creates that dramatic post-modern feeling modern music should incorporate, but something floats about in the overall feeling that makes you wonder about a couple of things. One aspect is the really strange, almost Nu-Metal-ish approach to Stoner Metal. The vocals are quite weak sometimes and resemble either a dog ("Paper Walls"), a screamo attempt or simply "KoRn". Apart from some regressive deliveries, the vocals are overall decent, with a nice rasp to them and fit with the rest of the music nicely, mostly when he doesn't try to scream, but varies between a relatively clean singing to a sort of half-sung rasp. The songs themselves, to be more exact: the instrumental parts, create most of the creepy and eerie atmosphere that will grasp you by the neck and pull you down. The music sometimes reminds me of a mixture between Desert Rock classics such as KYUSS or QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, but have a heavier feeling to them, while still keeping their subliminal message. A definite good start and interesting future awaits these Swedish warriors.
The Metal Observer
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Review from Kinda Muzik (Holland)
Hoewel Neurosis Switch Opens (voorheen Fingerspitzengefühl) omarmd heeft, valt het Zweedse viertal niet onder de enorme groep klonen van de aanvoerder van het genre. Switch Opens is te eigenzinnig om slechts te volgen, wat niet automatisch een positie als grote leider garandeert.
Aanvankelijk laat de band zich maar moeilijk taggen. Melodie voert de boventoon in het zeven minuten durende postpunkpareltje 'Express Death', dat op de voet gevolgd wordt door een stevige Crowbar flirt in 'Pyramids'. Gaandeweg zetelt Switch Opens zich in de mid-tempo regionen, daarbij constant wakend om niet op te gaan in de postmetalmassa. Liever ziet de band zich in gezelschap van Unsane, als we de ritmesectie mogen geloven.
Het titelloze album levert behalve tempo ook aan kracht in. De eerste drie nummers komen hard binnen en tonen de meerdere gezichten van de band. Aan die geslaagde serie openingsstoten weet men maar mondjesmaat gevolg te geven, wat resulteert in niemendalletjes 'Terra Incognita' en 'Superglobe of Pain'. Samen met de ritmesectie is vocalist Jesper Skarin degene die Switch Opens het hoofd boven water houdt. Zijn stemgeluid is de kameleon die zich probleemloos aanpast aan een nummer, zonder zangkwaliteiten te camoufleren.
Switch Opens bezit het magische verrassingselement dat nodig is om de oren van een geoefende luisteraar te spitsen. Bij een volgend album is het zaak om de aandacht niet te laten verslappen, zodat zwakke schakels overboord kunnen.
Tekst: Ruud van Esch
Kinda Muzik
Aanvankelijk laat de band zich maar moeilijk taggen. Melodie voert de boventoon in het zeven minuten durende postpunkpareltje 'Express Death', dat op de voet gevolgd wordt door een stevige Crowbar flirt in 'Pyramids'. Gaandeweg zetelt Switch Opens zich in de mid-tempo regionen, daarbij constant wakend om niet op te gaan in de postmetalmassa. Liever ziet de band zich in gezelschap van Unsane, als we de ritmesectie mogen geloven.
Het titelloze album levert behalve tempo ook aan kracht in. De eerste drie nummers komen hard binnen en tonen de meerdere gezichten van de band. Aan die geslaagde serie openingsstoten weet men maar mondjesmaat gevolg te geven, wat resulteert in niemendalletjes 'Terra Incognita' en 'Superglobe of Pain'. Samen met de ritmesectie is vocalist Jesper Skarin degene die Switch Opens het hoofd boven water houdt. Zijn stemgeluid is de kameleon die zich probleemloos aanpast aan een nummer, zonder zangkwaliteiten te camoufleren.
Switch Opens bezit het magische verrassingselement dat nodig is om de oren van een geoefende luisteraar te spitsen. Bij een volgend album is het zaak om de aandacht niet te laten verslappen, zodat zwakke schakels overboord kunnen.
Tekst: Ruud van Esch
Kinda Muzik
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Nomination for P3 Guld
Switch Opens are nominated for P3 Guld, the swedish national radio music awards, in the category rock/metal of the year. The awards will be held at Scandinavium in Gothenburg on January 19th and will also be broadcast on national television.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Review from Musicxtra (UK)
I thought Switch Opens from Stockholm, had a terrible name until I discovered that they were originally called FINGERSPITZENGEFÜHL. But what’s in a name eh?
Switch Opens' first eponymous release - although they recorded two albums with their unpronounceable name - is an impressively downbeat stomping affair combining extended musical workouts, as most songs are around the seven minute mark, with an accessible groove and a combo of clean and barked vocals.
Opener Express Death is driven along by a pounding Motorhead-esque bass riff and a catchy vocal line, and it’s instantly apparent that the band has been playing together for a while, as they change gears through various grooves, and through extended riffage workouts, let the music evolve.
Pyramids is a heavy brooding song, while He Dives Down has an amazing melodic instrumental break that comes unexpectedly from amid a slowburning grind of sludgy bass guitar.
Lucky Me, Lucky You is a stand out track, and is probably as close as they come to traditional rock norms, with a chugging main guitar strum, and some melodic breaks, but it is still leftfield sounding compared to the run-of-the-mill rock music around now!
The Electric Hour boasts some great drum patterns that remind me of Tool.
Musically they excel in atonal doomy rhythmic forms, and squeeze the most potential out of their riffs, by having them grind on for minutes at a time without vocal interference. There aren’t a lot of lead guitar breaks or flashy solo spots, but everyone mucks in to keep the bands engine ticking along nicely.
It’s not easy to classify which genre Switch Opens belong. They hark back almost to prog sensibilities in that they play extended arrangements of their riffs and throw in unexpected musical direction changes. But they also remind me of the sludgy days of grunge, with their bass heavy riffing and plodding pace, and even throw in a catchy vocal line or two, such as on Super Globe of Pain.
They aren’t particularly modern sounding, but they are still a breath of fresh air when compared to the repetitive formulaic dross around in music at the moment.
If you are looking for something a little different from the mainstream, then Switch Opens are a highly recommended alternative to the norm. As much as I dug this album, the long passages of bass-laden, doomy riffage that make up the bulk of their material may not be to some people’s tastes.
Stoners however need look no further!
by Steven Hargraves
Musicxtra
Switch Opens' first eponymous release - although they recorded two albums with their unpronounceable name - is an impressively downbeat stomping affair combining extended musical workouts, as most songs are around the seven minute mark, with an accessible groove and a combo of clean and barked vocals.
Opener Express Death is driven along by a pounding Motorhead-esque bass riff and a catchy vocal line, and it’s instantly apparent that the band has been playing together for a while, as they change gears through various grooves, and through extended riffage workouts, let the music evolve.
Pyramids is a heavy brooding song, while He Dives Down has an amazing melodic instrumental break that comes unexpectedly from amid a slowburning grind of sludgy bass guitar.
Lucky Me, Lucky You is a stand out track, and is probably as close as they come to traditional rock norms, with a chugging main guitar strum, and some melodic breaks, but it is still leftfield sounding compared to the run-of-the-mill rock music around now!
The Electric Hour boasts some great drum patterns that remind me of Tool.
Musically they excel in atonal doomy rhythmic forms, and squeeze the most potential out of their riffs, by having them grind on for minutes at a time without vocal interference. There aren’t a lot of lead guitar breaks or flashy solo spots, but everyone mucks in to keep the bands engine ticking along nicely.
It’s not easy to classify which genre Switch Opens belong. They hark back almost to prog sensibilities in that they play extended arrangements of their riffs and throw in unexpected musical direction changes. But they also remind me of the sludgy days of grunge, with their bass heavy riffing and plodding pace, and even throw in a catchy vocal line or two, such as on Super Globe of Pain.
They aren’t particularly modern sounding, but they are still a breath of fresh air when compared to the repetitive formulaic dross around in music at the moment.
If you are looking for something a little different from the mainstream, then Switch Opens are a highly recommended alternative to the norm. As much as I dug this album, the long passages of bass-laden, doomy riffage that make up the bulk of their material may not be to some people’s tastes.
Stoners however need look no further!
by Steven Hargraves
Musicxtra
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Review from Über Rock (UK)
This self-titled debut album from Switch Opens is unquestionably a curious, unpredictable and ostentatious offering of the grandest proportions that appears to have divided opinions in the Über Röck camp, the obvious question being "Am I in the love it or hate it camp?"
Although 'Switch Opens' is technically their debut album, the Swedish rockers have released a further two albums under the outlandish moniker Fingerspitzengefuhl, apparently deciding on a name change after discovering it means something offensive in certain parts of the world (I've tried Googling it but to no avail, fellow smut peddlers).
The artwork to the album features an illustration of a man flicking a switch attached to his brain, and nothing could be more appropriate as you open your mind to 'Switch Opens' and prepare yourself be taken on a musical voyage of the bizarre and insane ranking a full number 9 on mind fucking scale of magnitude.
Album opener and, incidentally, album highlight is the joyous wonder of 'Express Death', an impressive, rollercoaster ride of flamboyant, progressive rock that features a fantastic Geddy Lee-esque vocal technique that fits the song effortlessly.
We are next greeted by the sensational, stoner, space rock triumph of 'Pyramids' featuring an almost death metal growl from vocalist/bassist Jesper Skarin. 'Paper Walls' meanwhile are something you certainly don't want fitted in your new semi Barrett home if Switch Opens are your new neighbours as they plunge you back into death metal territory, but not before fusing it with a huge wedge of stoned-as-fuck progressive rock just for good measure.
'He Dives Down' evokes memories of flared jeans, platform boots and for some follically challenged Über Röck scribe's flowing curtain locks of hair, as Switch Opens descend into a Seventies Sabbath doom laden groove.
As the nine minute 'Terra Incognita' leads you down an atmospheric passage of musical distinction you could be forgiven for thinking that you were listening to a vintage instrumental number from King Crimson before it transforms into a true majestic rock belter.
'Lucky Me Lucky You' is a more straight forward up tempo rock number featuring a more punked up, screaming vocal style than the rest of the album; that leads nicely into the heavy groove of 'Super Globe Of Pain'. 'The Electric Hour' finishes the album in fine style, imploding in a mass of psychedelic, progressive, metal splendour.
The verdict on Switch Opens from this Über Röcker is....I fucking love 'em; in a world of musical mediocrity Switch Opens hold a rare glimpse of true sanctuary.
Written by David Whistance
Über Rock
Although 'Switch Opens' is technically their debut album, the Swedish rockers have released a further two albums under the outlandish moniker Fingerspitzengefuhl, apparently deciding on a name change after discovering it means something offensive in certain parts of the world (I've tried Googling it but to no avail, fellow smut peddlers).
The artwork to the album features an illustration of a man flicking a switch attached to his brain, and nothing could be more appropriate as you open your mind to 'Switch Opens' and prepare yourself be taken on a musical voyage of the bizarre and insane ranking a full number 9 on mind fucking scale of magnitude.
Album opener and, incidentally, album highlight is the joyous wonder of 'Express Death', an impressive, rollercoaster ride of flamboyant, progressive rock that features a fantastic Geddy Lee-esque vocal technique that fits the song effortlessly.
We are next greeted by the sensational, stoner, space rock triumph of 'Pyramids' featuring an almost death metal growl from vocalist/bassist Jesper Skarin. 'Paper Walls' meanwhile are something you certainly don't want fitted in your new semi Barrett home if Switch Opens are your new neighbours as they plunge you back into death metal territory, but not before fusing it with a huge wedge of stoned-as-fuck progressive rock just for good measure.
'He Dives Down' evokes memories of flared jeans, platform boots and for some follically challenged Über Röck scribe's flowing curtain locks of hair, as Switch Opens descend into a Seventies Sabbath doom laden groove.
As the nine minute 'Terra Incognita' leads you down an atmospheric passage of musical distinction you could be forgiven for thinking that you were listening to a vintage instrumental number from King Crimson before it transforms into a true majestic rock belter.
'Lucky Me Lucky You' is a more straight forward up tempo rock number featuring a more punked up, screaming vocal style than the rest of the album; that leads nicely into the heavy groove of 'Super Globe Of Pain'. 'The Electric Hour' finishes the album in fine style, imploding in a mass of psychedelic, progressive, metal splendour.
The verdict on Switch Opens from this Über Röcker is....I fucking love 'em; in a world of musical mediocrity Switch Opens hold a rare glimpse of true sanctuary.
Written by David Whistance
Über Rock
Monday, November 23, 2009
Interview with Anders at Soundshock
There's an interview with Anders at the British site Soundshock. The drummer in the picture attached to the interview is not him though :)
Soundshock
Soundshock
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Review from Progressive Waves (France)
Rating: 8,0/10
Switch Opens propose un Stoner métal souvent proche du Doom aux influences progressives et psychédéliques assez prononcées. Le chanteur se veut très expressif et incisif, donnant l’impression de tout donner sur chacune de ses prestations. Le résultat est efficace, dans la tradition du genre, avec de longs titres bien heavy, 7 au total, pour 50 minutes de musique
L’entrée en matière de cette galette est assez percutante. Le premier titre « Express Death » est très rapide avec un pilonnage des guitares et de la batterie pour un résultat efficace et très moderne faisant penser un peu aux Queens of the Stone Age. Par la suite, la formation propose des titres plus clairement Doom avec le très heavy « Pyramids », porté par un chant caverneux très impressionnant, une rythmique pachydermique et un break instrumental sorte de croisement entre Black Sabbath et Cathedral, suivi de « Paper Walls » caractérisé par un chant hurlé dans le style d’un Devin Townsend et magnifié par un splendide passage acoustique d’inspiration 70’s. S’ensuit la plus intimiste « He Dives Down » dont les quelques passages acoustiques agrémentent parfaitement une chanson assez inquiétante, très stoner rock dans l’âme et dans laquelle plane une fois de plus l’ombre de Black Sabbath sur des soli qui nous renvoient directement à l’époque de Master of Reality.
Mais c’est avec sur les neufs minutes de Terra Incognita que Switch Open se montre le plus ambitieux. Le groupe propose un titre purement Doom avec une basse mise très en avant sur toute l’introduction créant une atmosphère toute particulière. Puis tout doucement, on glisse dans un univers presque psychédélique, sans jamais perdre l’aspect Doom, avec un riff de guitare discret mais efficace et des vocaux lents et sombres. L’esprit d’un Neurosis n’est pas loin avec un aspect mélancolique et progressif très prenant.
La fin de l’album est à l’avenant et ne présente aucune faiblesse avec notamment le plus court et aéré « Lucky me, Lucky You », sorte de mixe entre Mastodon et Black Sabbath ou « Super Globe of Pain » et son atmosphère plus purement stoner rock.
Ce premier album sous le nom de Switch Opens est donc une réussite complète qui devrait ravir les fans du genre. Après Neurosis et Mastodon, cette scène Doom progressive tient sans nul doute un nouveau futur grand nom qui a toutes les cartes en main pour exploser auprès d’un large public.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Interview with Micke
There's an interview with Micke about the new album and Switch Opens in general on the Dutch site Lords Of Metal.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Review from Hardrock Haven (USA)
Rating: 7/10
Having abandoned their barely pronounceable former name, this Swedish quartet has now released their third album under the new name Switch Opens. An intense, earnest and highly experimental affair it makes a bold stab at conceptualism from the very first track. Putting you off kilter with a deceptively simplistic dance-tingled electronica set over a propulsive punk groove, the opener “Express Death” discards the clever disguise after the first few minutes to reveal what this release is really about. This is where we get the first whiff of the band’s trademark heavy stoner riffs, neurotic minimalist guitar and a propensity towards prog-rock avant-garde.
It all continues from then on: more stoner-inspired grooves, more dirty and deliberately crude guitar leads, plus oscillations of singer Jasper Skarin’s voice between crisp and airy indie rock tone and borderline growling. The latter, however, he has enough intelligence not to overdo or to engage in too often.
Cutting through fleeting obsessions with Eastern modalities, punk riffs and brief nods to Black Sabbath, the magnum opus of the record, “Terra Incognita”, finally reveals the band’s real ambition. While knowing how to amuse, Switch Opens also want to reach beyond the servile function of pure entertainment and even beyond experimentation, and on this track they dig deeper into the realm of pure conceptualism.
Technique makes a sizable step back to make way for sound and rhythm striving toward a purpose beyond genres, styles and purposes they serve. The concept is to create an inimitable atmosphere while discarding any allegiance to history or tradition. Amazingly, here the band succeeds, and their stabs in different stylistic directions and experiments with creating their own environment, work.
In the end, this release proves a fascinating record to get into - unexpected, well-thought-through and with an element of surprise lurking around ever corner. The band’s eclectic choices which drive them to go from doom metal to folk and from contemporary phsychedelia to industrial music and beyond is what keeps you on your toes. Once they learn who to consistently cohere these at times conflicting urges into one whole, we will be able to call this band a revelation. So far they remain a tantalisingly intriguing band and definitely the one you would want to catch up on live - just to see how the motley tapestry of their eclectic style would survive outside of the studio.
- Alissa Ordabai
Hardrock Haven
Having abandoned their barely pronounceable former name, this Swedish quartet has now released their third album under the new name Switch Opens. An intense, earnest and highly experimental affair it makes a bold stab at conceptualism from the very first track. Putting you off kilter with a deceptively simplistic dance-tingled electronica set over a propulsive punk groove, the opener “Express Death” discards the clever disguise after the first few minutes to reveal what this release is really about. This is where we get the first whiff of the band’s trademark heavy stoner riffs, neurotic minimalist guitar and a propensity towards prog-rock avant-garde.
It all continues from then on: more stoner-inspired grooves, more dirty and deliberately crude guitar leads, plus oscillations of singer Jasper Skarin’s voice between crisp and airy indie rock tone and borderline growling. The latter, however, he has enough intelligence not to overdo or to engage in too often.
Cutting through fleeting obsessions with Eastern modalities, punk riffs and brief nods to Black Sabbath, the magnum opus of the record, “Terra Incognita”, finally reveals the band’s real ambition. While knowing how to amuse, Switch Opens also want to reach beyond the servile function of pure entertainment and even beyond experimentation, and on this track they dig deeper into the realm of pure conceptualism.
Technique makes a sizable step back to make way for sound and rhythm striving toward a purpose beyond genres, styles and purposes they serve. The concept is to create an inimitable atmosphere while discarding any allegiance to history or tradition. Amazingly, here the band succeeds, and their stabs in different stylistic directions and experiments with creating their own environment, work.
In the end, this release proves a fascinating record to get into - unexpected, well-thought-through and with an element of surprise lurking around ever corner. The band’s eclectic choices which drive them to go from doom metal to folk and from contemporary phsychedelia to industrial music and beyond is what keeps you on your toes. Once they learn who to consistently cohere these at times conflicting urges into one whole, we will be able to call this band a revelation. So far they remain a tantalisingly intriguing band and definitely the one you would want to catch up on live - just to see how the motley tapestry of their eclectic style would survive outside of the studio.
- Alissa Ordabai
Hardrock Haven
Review from Fury Rocks (Holland)
Rating: 7,9/10
In the (very short) biography that accompanies this release they state that Switch Opens uses very heavy progressive rock as its basis. That does stick, just as the bit about them getting their influences from every nook and cranny available. That does and doesn’t please me one bit.
Purely because I have no idea how to classify this properly. One thing is for sure, this is metal! And very good metal at that. I do love a band that really tries to step outside the comfort zone. Especially when they make it all sound so natural, instead of the forced entries you regularly hear.
Musically Switch Opens is well built. The songs are powerful and by not giving them a smooth production and keeping them rough around the edges. The latter is emphasized by the pounding bass guitar. On top of that there is this singer who has an incredibly flexible voice that always seems to fit the music perfectly. These vocals give the whole thing that uniqueness that a lot of new blood lacks. I just can’t help but love the stubbornness these guys have, as it reminds me of Mastodon en Keelhaul, only a little less explosive. And that is where the prog element rears its ugly head.
Switch Opens is an album full of beautiful progressive passages that would also fit bands like Voi Vod and Opeth, but also wouldn’t go amiss with Porcupine Tree and Prong. And of course the two bands I mentioned earlier. I can understand if you are now completely lost as to classifying Switch Opens, but I just can’t think of any other names that pop up.
In fact, I think I shouldn’t mention anyone at all, as this is more than good enough to stand up on its own accord. That is, if you love music that gets you brain working. If you do appreciate that a band doesn’t serve you a readymade meal or finely sliced bread. If you are one who can enjoy a musical exploration trip. If you are, you will find me at your side.
- Wim van Grunsven
Fury Rocks
In the (very short) biography that accompanies this release they state that Switch Opens uses very heavy progressive rock as its basis. That does stick, just as the bit about them getting their influences from every nook and cranny available. That does and doesn’t please me one bit.
Purely because I have no idea how to classify this properly. One thing is for sure, this is metal! And very good metal at that. I do love a band that really tries to step outside the comfort zone. Especially when they make it all sound so natural, instead of the forced entries you regularly hear.
Musically Switch Opens is well built. The songs are powerful and by not giving them a smooth production and keeping them rough around the edges. The latter is emphasized by the pounding bass guitar. On top of that there is this singer who has an incredibly flexible voice that always seems to fit the music perfectly. These vocals give the whole thing that uniqueness that a lot of new blood lacks. I just can’t help but love the stubbornness these guys have, as it reminds me of Mastodon en Keelhaul, only a little less explosive. And that is where the prog element rears its ugly head.
Switch Opens is an album full of beautiful progressive passages that would also fit bands like Voi Vod and Opeth, but also wouldn’t go amiss with Porcupine Tree and Prong. And of course the two bands I mentioned earlier. I can understand if you are now completely lost as to classifying Switch Opens, but I just can’t think of any other names that pop up.
In fact, I think I shouldn’t mention anyone at all, as this is more than good enough to stand up on its own accord. That is, if you love music that gets you brain working. If you do appreciate that a band doesn’t serve you a readymade meal or finely sliced bread. If you are one who can enjoy a musical exploration trip. If you are, you will find me at your side.
- Wim van Grunsven
Fury Rocks
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Review from Aardschok Magazine (Holland)
Rating: 81/100
Sommige bands blazen je vanaf de eerste seconde omver, en andere pakken je beetje bij beetse in om je vervolgens geen moment meer los te laten. Switch Opens (waarschijnlijk vernoemd naar het gelijknamige nummer van Soundgarden) is er een in die laatste categorie. Deze Zweedse band, die onder naam Fingerspitzengefühl al twee CD's uitbracht, komt nu met die titelloze 'debuutalbum', dat fans van bands als Burst en Bison B.C. zal anspreken. De muziek, die bestaat uit moddervette riffs in combinatie met groovende bas- en drumpartijen en vuige zang, klingt op het eerste gehoor niet al te bijzonder, maar halverwege moet je opeens concluderen dat Switch Opens je als een sluipmoordenaar heeft overmeesterd. Op dit album kom je dan ook geen duidelijke uitschieters tegen; je moet het meer zien als één stuk muziek van ruim vijftig minuten dat in acht stukken is geknipt. Het enige moment waarop je echt even je oren moet spitsen, is tijdens de break in "Lucky Me, Lucky You", waarin alle instrumenten tegelijkertijd naar een erg gave climax toewerken. Als je 'Switch Opens' de tijd geeft, zal dit album je niet teleurstellen.
- Rudi Engel
Review from Metal Factory (Switzerland)
Rating: 8,7/10
Groove, Groove und nichts anderes als Groove dominiert die 51 Minuten der früher unter dem selten dämlichen Namen "Fingerspitzengefühl" (sic!) agierenden Schweden von Switch Opens. Eigentlich bieten die Stockholmer 70er Jahre-Rock bei dem Einflüsse von Canned Heat, Queens Of The Stone Age, The Raconteurs oder Cathedral ebenso vertreten sind wie diverse analoge Soundspielereien. Das Grundgerüst wird eigentlich nur vom tighten Schlagzeugspiel und dem unglaublich drückenden, knurrenden Bass getragen. Die Gitarren verkommen dabei neben Rythmusunterstützung und ein paar Twin-Angriffen fast zu einem Mittel zum Zweck und füllen die Zwischenräume des bereits extrem dichten Soundgewands der Rythmusabteilung mit sphärischen Klängen, verklärten Soli und LSD-beeinflusstem Noise. Über allem thront der melodische, aber rauhe und mehr als nur intensive Gesang des Bassisten, der mir des öfteren eine amtliche Gänsehaut bescherte. Ein nahezu perfektes Album für fast alle Lebenslagen, sei es für den betrunkenen Heimweg, um nach der Arbeit runter zu kommen, ein verschwitztes Schäferstündchen oder einen energetischen Kifferabend. Die saubere, aber dreckige und extrem dynamische Produktion lässt dabei Übersongs wie den Opener "Express Death", "Paper Walls" oder "Lucky Me, Lucky You" noch besser erstrahlen und gefällt mir persönlich ausserordentlich. Ich begegne dieser Spielart von Switch Opens zum ersten Mal, bin aber auf Anhieb ziemlich begeistert. Denn es regt niedere Instinkte an, hat auch in den ruhigen Momenten unterschwellige Power zu bieten und kriegt deshalb und wegen der sehr gelungenen Machart zwei fette Daumen nach oben.
- Hardy
- Hardy
Friday, October 23, 2009
Review from Sonic Dice (UK)
Rating: 5/6
Switch Opens are a Stockholm based 4-piece and were actually named Fingerspitzengefühl before 2006. I am glad they changed it.
This, their self-titled album, immediately gets my attention. Not only does the intro have what I think is an echoplex effect which starts off with the faintest hint of feedback, looping around before trailing off into the atmosphere, but the bass and drums thunderclap into an aggressive Motorhead-style verse. I thought: yep, this could be a pretty straight-up crusty and fuzzy rockin’ band. And they are, but Switch Opens have created an album with an incredible amount of depth and dexterity around the core of driving doom rock.
The first track Express Death continues with the same driving force, whilst soaring phaser fx guitars glide over the top. The vocals complement the melodic playing before a change of direction in the track. Screams, shouts, off-kilter drums and strong Queens Of The Stone Age-sounding riffs dominate the rest of the track. It’s a lengthy track at a tad over 7 minutes long, but the majority of the tracks are over 5 minutes. Jesper Skarin’s vocals hiss and snarl just as much as the bass fizzes through the album. There is an authoritative air about the delivery of the tracks and one of a great deal of intent and force, in the same way each of the personalities of Mastodon manage to push their own individual styles in their music. No instruments hide in the background looking sheepish; you can hear the multiple guitars clearly in a way they are meant to be heard. For instance, on Paper Walls and He Dives Down there are moments of acoustic playing, but they are never hidden; there is even enough space left in the mix for the odd solo as well.
The forceful nature of the album continues with Terra Incognita, a doomy/psychedelic album with a real nod towards Neurosis. There are heaps of sustain on the bass and, at times, the guitar-playing suggests to me what Kim Thayil would have sounded like if Soundgarden had been a bit darker. Super Globe Of Pain slows things down even further. In fact, the last few tracks sink deep into a sludgy doom fest with a bass-heavy production, like bands such as Bongzilla, Electric Wizard and End Of Level Boss, but without containing too much of an Iommi influence. After listening to the first track I would not have guessed I would end up here, and that is a very good thing.
- Rich E.
For Fans Of: Mastodon, Bongzilla, High On Fire
Sonic Dice
Switch Opens are a Stockholm based 4-piece and were actually named Fingerspitzengefühl before 2006. I am glad they changed it.
This, their self-titled album, immediately gets my attention. Not only does the intro have what I think is an echoplex effect which starts off with the faintest hint of feedback, looping around before trailing off into the atmosphere, but the bass and drums thunderclap into an aggressive Motorhead-style verse. I thought: yep, this could be a pretty straight-up crusty and fuzzy rockin’ band. And they are, but Switch Opens have created an album with an incredible amount of depth and dexterity around the core of driving doom rock.
The first track Express Death continues with the same driving force, whilst soaring phaser fx guitars glide over the top. The vocals complement the melodic playing before a change of direction in the track. Screams, shouts, off-kilter drums and strong Queens Of The Stone Age-sounding riffs dominate the rest of the track. It’s a lengthy track at a tad over 7 minutes long, but the majority of the tracks are over 5 minutes. Jesper Skarin’s vocals hiss and snarl just as much as the bass fizzes through the album. There is an authoritative air about the delivery of the tracks and one of a great deal of intent and force, in the same way each of the personalities of Mastodon manage to push their own individual styles in their music. No instruments hide in the background looking sheepish; you can hear the multiple guitars clearly in a way they are meant to be heard. For instance, on Paper Walls and He Dives Down there are moments of acoustic playing, but they are never hidden; there is even enough space left in the mix for the odd solo as well.
The forceful nature of the album continues with Terra Incognita, a doomy/psychedelic album with a real nod towards Neurosis. There are heaps of sustain on the bass and, at times, the guitar-playing suggests to me what Kim Thayil would have sounded like if Soundgarden had been a bit darker. Super Globe Of Pain slows things down even further. In fact, the last few tracks sink deep into a sludgy doom fest with a bass-heavy production, like bands such as Bongzilla, Electric Wizard and End Of Level Boss, but without containing too much of an Iommi influence. After listening to the first track I would not have guessed I would end up here, and that is a very good thing.
- Rich E.
For Fans Of: Mastodon, Bongzilla, High On Fire
Sonic Dice
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Review from Organ Magazine (UK)
A rather decent, rather different blend of alternative imaginative metal flavoured rock from Stockholm, Sweden. Touches of folk in there, real taste progressive adventure, cathartic riffs, rather impressively decent, rather adventurous heavy alternative rock, a band with a blend of colour all of their own, a band who clearly need to be a little different. The results are well worth your time.
Review from Metal Discovery (UK)
Rating: 9/10
'Switch Opens' is the self-titled debut album of the newly branded Swedish band Fingerspitzengefühl, apparently releasing two albums under this previous moniker before changing names to the less phonetically challenging Switch Opens. As I sit there wondering if the name was lifted from the Soundgarden song bearing this title, second track 'Pyramids' kicks in with its dirty bass-heavy guitar driven sounds and grunge vibe, so I guess the influence extends beyond just the band's new name. However, this is only a minor part of Switch Opens' music. Opening song 'Express Death' is a much more up tempo affair that skilfully fuses groove metal with elements of punk aggression, psychedelia, and downright dirty fucked up mosh 'n' roll...okay that's the first 4 minutes, then the remainder of the song's seven minute playing time is occupied by musical dissonance and progressive time signatures. Bassist/vocalist Jesper Skarin delivers each lyric with sheer passion in a range of styles as disparate as the music - Devin Townsend style growling ('Paper Walls'), crust punk barks ('Lucky Me, Lucky You'), and a very amenable clean voice ('Super Globe of Pain'). The press release accompanying this promo states that "every song has its own, clear identity" and I certainly wouldn't disagree, although the series of compositions on offer, which vary between dirty, punk-edged metal, grunge, psychedelic stoner, and heavy prog-rock, are bound together by an absorbing finesse that is all too often lacking in other works that strive for so much diversity. Overloaded with original, heavy, catchy riffs that draw you into its infectious essence, 'Switch Opens' is an unpredictable ride from start to finish with twists and turns that will leave you breathless and wanting to hit the play button again straight after the album's finished. I've never particularly been a fan of labelling music (after all, there are just two genres, right?....music you like and music you don't), and I pity the poor journalists who do feel the perpetual need to classify everything they hear. This one will fuck 'em up good and proper! Take a look at the cover art - this is precisely what your brain will feel like upon digesting Switch Opens' music. Astonishing stuff. Go stimulate you mind right now.
- Mark Holmes
Metal Discovery
'Switch Opens' is the self-titled debut album of the newly branded Swedish band Fingerspitzengefühl, apparently releasing two albums under this previous moniker before changing names to the less phonetically challenging Switch Opens. As I sit there wondering if the name was lifted from the Soundgarden song bearing this title, second track 'Pyramids' kicks in with its dirty bass-heavy guitar driven sounds and grunge vibe, so I guess the influence extends beyond just the band's new name. However, this is only a minor part of Switch Opens' music. Opening song 'Express Death' is a much more up tempo affair that skilfully fuses groove metal with elements of punk aggression, psychedelia, and downright dirty fucked up mosh 'n' roll...okay that's the first 4 minutes, then the remainder of the song's seven minute playing time is occupied by musical dissonance and progressive time signatures. Bassist/vocalist Jesper Skarin delivers each lyric with sheer passion in a range of styles as disparate as the music - Devin Townsend style growling ('Paper Walls'), crust punk barks ('Lucky Me, Lucky You'), and a very amenable clean voice ('Super Globe of Pain'). The press release accompanying this promo states that "every song has its own, clear identity" and I certainly wouldn't disagree, although the series of compositions on offer, which vary between dirty, punk-edged metal, grunge, psychedelic stoner, and heavy prog-rock, are bound together by an absorbing finesse that is all too often lacking in other works that strive for so much diversity. Overloaded with original, heavy, catchy riffs that draw you into its infectious essence, 'Switch Opens' is an unpredictable ride from start to finish with twists and turns that will leave you breathless and wanting to hit the play button again straight after the album's finished. I've never particularly been a fan of labelling music (after all, there are just two genres, right?....music you like and music you don't), and I pity the poor journalists who do feel the perpetual need to classify everything they hear. This one will fuck 'em up good and proper! Take a look at the cover art - this is precisely what your brain will feel like upon digesting Switch Opens' music. Astonishing stuff. Go stimulate you mind right now.
- Mark Holmes
Metal Discovery
Monday, October 12, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Review from Fileunder.nl (Holland)
In de auto heb ik meestal m'n iPod op de shufflefunctie staan. De rauwe vocalen die me daarbij zo nu en dan tegemoet kwamen maakten me erg nieuwsgierig. Afgezien van Brian Johnson en Lemmy heb ik er daar niet zoveel van, maar deze rauwe vocalen - hoe beperkt ook - bevielen me goed. Na een paar keer wist ik dat dat Switch Opens was. Nu de hamvraag: zou ik het een album lang leuk blijven vinden? Het antwoord is een volmondig ja. Dit is hun derde album, zij het het eerste onder de naam Switch Opens. De vorige twee verschenen onder de commercieel hopeloze bandnaam Fingerspitzengefühl. Het gevoel voor commercie is er met de wijziging echter nog steeds niet, getuige de onbegrijpelijke en onbegrijpelijk lelijke hoes. Muzikaal is het echter lekker wat deze Zweden laten horen. Een mengeling van metal, punk, psychedelica, een enkele keer afgewisseld met een stukje progmetal, en dat alles in een soort doomverpakking. Subtiel is het zelden, het tempo ligt redelijk hoog en de acht songs zijn toch niet kort te noemen. Niettemin kreeg ik nergens het gevoel dat het nu wel eens afgelopen mocht zijn. Integendeel, de power en energie, de bas die de songs voortdrijft, de loodzware riffs in drop d-stemming die er overheen beuken, die stem van Jesper Skarin, het blijft steeds weer lekker. En dus blijf ik Switch Opens opzetten. En nog eens. En nog eens...
fileunder.nl
fileunder.nl
Review from EstMetal (Estonia)
Rating: 6,5/10
Switch Opens on 2000 aastal loodud kogenud muusikute punt Rootsist, Stockholmist, kuid esimest korda kuulsin neist alles sel aastal. Ja pole ka imestada, sest alles nüüd, sügisel on aeg küps, et bänd väljastaks oma esimese kauamängiva. Algselt meie jaoks ülikeerulise nime Fingerspitzengefühl all formeerud ansamblis on liikmetel nii doomi, deathi kui thrash metali tausta ja kogemusi (Rise And Shine, Moaning Wind, Dawn Of Decay jne). Eks seda on kuulda ka äsjailmunud omanimelisel debüütalbumil.
Switch Opens sisaldab endas kaheksat lugu, millede kogupikkuseks 51 minuti jagu vanakooli metalit ja rocki. Kuigi suurim rõhk on praegu populaarsuse laineharjal surfaval stoneril ja sludge metalil, toob bänd jõuliselt sisse mitmeid erinevaid nüansse. Hullutakse psühhedeelia piirimail, kangutatakse aeglast proto-doomi (Pyramids), poetatakse pilk proge-rocki seeliku alla ning küntakse koguni ironmaidenlikku heavy-põldu (Lucky Me, Lucky You). Album on vägagi mitmekesine, kus pea iga lugu omaette ooperist, samas on aga suudetud kõik omavahel seosesse ning ühtseks tervikuks seada. Suurim asi, mis mind häirib on aga vokaal, mille tämber samastub kõigi musttuhande kivimetalbändiga, mis üle kogu maailma laineid löövad. Vaid kohtades, kus kasutatakse madalamat häält, pääseb see kohe maksvusele ning parandab kogu loo kõla märgatavalt (Terra Incognita).
Kuigi tervikuna pole Switch Opens sugugi minu suurimate lemmikute seas, leidsin enda jaoks päris mitu väga head träkki ning üldmulje ei ole halb. Kahtlemata üks paremaid stoner-albumeid, mida ma kuulanud olen. Kindlasti leiaksid ka vanakooli doomi austajad siit nii mõndagi üllatavat, samuti võiksid igasuguse seitsmekümnendate raskerocki fanaatikud seda kuulata.
EstMetal
Switch Opens on 2000 aastal loodud kogenud muusikute punt Rootsist, Stockholmist, kuid esimest korda kuulsin neist alles sel aastal. Ja pole ka imestada, sest alles nüüd, sügisel on aeg küps, et bänd väljastaks oma esimese kauamängiva. Algselt meie jaoks ülikeerulise nime Fingerspitzengefühl all formeerud ansamblis on liikmetel nii doomi, deathi kui thrash metali tausta ja kogemusi (Rise And Shine, Moaning Wind, Dawn Of Decay jne). Eks seda on kuulda ka äsjailmunud omanimelisel debüütalbumil.
Switch Opens sisaldab endas kaheksat lugu, millede kogupikkuseks 51 minuti jagu vanakooli metalit ja rocki. Kuigi suurim rõhk on praegu populaarsuse laineharjal surfaval stoneril ja sludge metalil, toob bänd jõuliselt sisse mitmeid erinevaid nüansse. Hullutakse psühhedeelia piirimail, kangutatakse aeglast proto-doomi (Pyramids), poetatakse pilk proge-rocki seeliku alla ning küntakse koguni ironmaidenlikku heavy-põldu (Lucky Me, Lucky You). Album on vägagi mitmekesine, kus pea iga lugu omaette ooperist, samas on aga suudetud kõik omavahel seosesse ning ühtseks tervikuks seada. Suurim asi, mis mind häirib on aga vokaal, mille tämber samastub kõigi musttuhande kivimetalbändiga, mis üle kogu maailma laineid löövad. Vaid kohtades, kus kasutatakse madalamat häält, pääseb see kohe maksvusele ning parandab kogu loo kõla märgatavalt (Terra Incognita).
Kuigi tervikuna pole Switch Opens sugugi minu suurimate lemmikute seas, leidsin enda jaoks päris mitu väga head träkki ning üldmulje ei ole halb. Kahtlemata üks paremaid stoner-albumeid, mida ma kuulanud olen. Kindlasti leiaksid ka vanakooli doomi austajad siit nii mõndagi üllatavat, samuti võiksid igasuguse seitsmekümnendate raskerocki fanaatikud seda kuulata.
EstMetal
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Review from Lords of Metal (Holland)
Rating 95/100
Jan-Simon: Normally I read press releases that accompany new CD’s with a bit of distrust. Of course this is a wonderful album with fantastic songs played by accomplished and inspired musicians who have worked with the best of the best, recorded by a top producer, etcetera, etcetera. It is logical, if I had to do the PR for a band I would not write that this might be a nice record to perhaps play once as musical wallpaper either…
So when I read the info that was delivered with the debut-CD (well, sort of, more about this later) by Switch Opens my first thoughts were: yeah, sure. But I must admit, every word was true this time. I quote: “Switch Opens songs range from psychedelic doom to raw punk energy, all on a solid foundation of heavy progressive rock. Every song has its own, clear identity, brim filled with original hooks, yet with a patented bass heavy, warm, vibrating sound running through the record.” Perhaps you can gripe about the style, I can only confirm its contents. Switch Opens have made an bum with a few unique characteristics: as soon as you start it, you are sucked into a maelstrom of riffs and hooks and you can do nothing but turn up the volume. This is music to experience, full blast. My girlfriend is not such a fan of Switch Opens for that matter. For some reason she does not like the sound of happily marching crockery in the cupboard…
The Swedes of Switch Opens are no newcomers, although you might think so by the idea of a debut. They started out as Fingerspitzengefühl and by that name they released two albums, before they finally realized in 2008 that their name was not really helpful while pursuing an international career. So they chose Switch Opens, and were promptly asked to support Neurosis during their latest Scandinavian tour. You can say what you like about Neurosis (they are great, or they bring an unimaginative Ravensburger-painting by numbers sort of music because of their template-like way of working), they do know how to find talent.
The eponymous CD that has been released now holds eight long tracks. Sometimes such long tracks make you tired. After five minutes you start checking your watch. How much longer? It is not the case for Switch Opens, somewhere halfway ‘Pyramids’, the second song on the CD, you notice that you lost count of all the riffs you have heard in the past ten minutes, not to mention all the breaks and timechanges or the actual drumsolo you find yourself in the midst of. And the beautiful ting is, it may be a lot, it is all fitting, no overkill. Later on, in ‘He Dives Down’ we even hear vague oriental melodies and although it sounds fine, after the overwhelming start of the album it is the first moment the CD slumps a bit. It only shows Switch Opens is human too, the level of perfection shown in the earlier parts made me doubt. They continue with songs that sound like a punked up version of Motörhead and organically change in an even more proggy Mastodon, including mellotrons. All with the characteristic downtuned guitars and bass sound.
So here we have another discovery from Sweden, the country that has so much more to offer than Pippi Longstockings and Abba. Listen to this CD!
Lords of Metal
Jan-Simon: Normally I read press releases that accompany new CD’s with a bit of distrust. Of course this is a wonderful album with fantastic songs played by accomplished and inspired musicians who have worked with the best of the best, recorded by a top producer, etcetera, etcetera. It is logical, if I had to do the PR for a band I would not write that this might be a nice record to perhaps play once as musical wallpaper either…
So when I read the info that was delivered with the debut-CD (well, sort of, more about this later) by Switch Opens my first thoughts were: yeah, sure. But I must admit, every word was true this time. I quote: “Switch Opens songs range from psychedelic doom to raw punk energy, all on a solid foundation of heavy progressive rock. Every song has its own, clear identity, brim filled with original hooks, yet with a patented bass heavy, warm, vibrating sound running through the record.” Perhaps you can gripe about the style, I can only confirm its contents. Switch Opens have made an bum with a few unique characteristics: as soon as you start it, you are sucked into a maelstrom of riffs and hooks and you can do nothing but turn up the volume. This is music to experience, full blast. My girlfriend is not such a fan of Switch Opens for that matter. For some reason she does not like the sound of happily marching crockery in the cupboard…
The Swedes of Switch Opens are no newcomers, although you might think so by the idea of a debut. They started out as Fingerspitzengefühl and by that name they released two albums, before they finally realized in 2008 that their name was not really helpful while pursuing an international career. So they chose Switch Opens, and were promptly asked to support Neurosis during their latest Scandinavian tour. You can say what you like about Neurosis (they are great, or they bring an unimaginative Ravensburger-painting by numbers sort of music because of their template-like way of working), they do know how to find talent.
The eponymous CD that has been released now holds eight long tracks. Sometimes such long tracks make you tired. After five minutes you start checking your watch. How much longer? It is not the case for Switch Opens, somewhere halfway ‘Pyramids’, the second song on the CD, you notice that you lost count of all the riffs you have heard in the past ten minutes, not to mention all the breaks and timechanges or the actual drumsolo you find yourself in the midst of. And the beautiful ting is, it may be a lot, it is all fitting, no overkill. Later on, in ‘He Dives Down’ we even hear vague oriental melodies and although it sounds fine, after the overwhelming start of the album it is the first moment the CD slumps a bit. It only shows Switch Opens is human too, the level of perfection shown in the earlier parts made me doubt. They continue with songs that sound like a punked up version of Motörhead and organically change in an even more proggy Mastodon, including mellotrons. All with the characteristic downtuned guitars and bass sound.
So here we have another discovery from Sweden, the country that has so much more to offer than Pippi Longstockings and Abba. Listen to this CD!
Lords of Metal
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Review from MTUK Metal 'Zine
It’s always nice to get an album that challenges you to come up with a couple of others that it sounds like… even when it sounds vaguely familiar you have a hard time placing some of the individual elements without first having a quick scan at your overflowing CD collection to jog your memory. Switch Opens from Sweden have just put me in that pleasant but frustrating situation.
Starting out life as Fingerspitzengefühl, the band has seemingly had an identity crisis from day one, releasing two albums under that moniker and their third as Switch Opens… that’s what listening to psychedelic rock does to you apparently - or so the ghost of Frank Zappa tells me. But all in all there is a fair bit of continuity in the sound despite the Switch in band names - the strong metal influences remain at the forefront but these new songs add a playful and frisky edge to the proceedings with definite nods to Fugazi, the aforementioned Mr Zappa, Mastodon, and even Soundgarden and The Deftones throughout.
‘Express Death’ opens the album with and adrenalin fuelled Motorhead style bass line that against the odds manages to last the distance considering the seven minute run time of the track. ‘Pyramids’ has an air of Mastodon about it with its thundering bass and half-hissed/half-growled vocals - very gritty and begging to be played at full volume. Next up is ‘Paper Walls’ follows suit from its predecessor but sacrifices the bass for a more experimental feel. ‘He Dives Down’ is heavy, hair swaying, psychedelic Down style metal the way it should be - strong riff, great bass and a big chorus - probably the song that makes this album. ‘Terra Incognita’ is a swampy track that follows on from ‘He Dives Down’ perfectly, but it takes over three minutes to get to the first verse… it’s a good track but really drags at nine minutes in length. ‘Lucky Me, Lucky you’ by comparison to some of the tracks here is a pop song - it’s got a straight up raw punk feel to it that is really refreshing after so many big complex tracks. ‘Super Globe of Pain’ is that delta blues doom again but after the initial intro it begins to feel less solid than other tracks of this ilk on the album - though it doesn’t fall apart, it does feel shaky in places. Finally ‘Electric Hour’ slivers like a snake out of the bayou to close the album with a barrage of guitar fuzz and semi-tribal drumming.
Overall this is a damn good album with plenty of different influences and tricks at play on the songs. Sometimes it can drag or feel a little put together, but when it has such a strong psychedelic sludgy feel to it, you can easily forgive and get lost in the riffs without much prompting.
Sean M. Palfrey
Metalteamuk.net
Starting out life as Fingerspitzengefühl, the band has seemingly had an identity crisis from day one, releasing two albums under that moniker and their third as Switch Opens… that’s what listening to psychedelic rock does to you apparently - or so the ghost of Frank Zappa tells me. But all in all there is a fair bit of continuity in the sound despite the Switch in band names - the strong metal influences remain at the forefront but these new songs add a playful and frisky edge to the proceedings with definite nods to Fugazi, the aforementioned Mr Zappa, Mastodon, and even Soundgarden and The Deftones throughout.
‘Express Death’ opens the album with and adrenalin fuelled Motorhead style bass line that against the odds manages to last the distance considering the seven minute run time of the track. ‘Pyramids’ has an air of Mastodon about it with its thundering bass and half-hissed/half-growled vocals - very gritty and begging to be played at full volume. Next up is ‘Paper Walls’ follows suit from its predecessor but sacrifices the bass for a more experimental feel. ‘He Dives Down’ is heavy, hair swaying, psychedelic Down style metal the way it should be - strong riff, great bass and a big chorus - probably the song that makes this album. ‘Terra Incognita’ is a swampy track that follows on from ‘He Dives Down’ perfectly, but it takes over three minutes to get to the first verse… it’s a good track but really drags at nine minutes in length. ‘Lucky Me, Lucky you’ by comparison to some of the tracks here is a pop song - it’s got a straight up raw punk feel to it that is really refreshing after so many big complex tracks. ‘Super Globe of Pain’ is that delta blues doom again but after the initial intro it begins to feel less solid than other tracks of this ilk on the album - though it doesn’t fall apart, it does feel shaky in places. Finally ‘Electric Hour’ slivers like a snake out of the bayou to close the album with a barrage of guitar fuzz and semi-tribal drumming.
Overall this is a damn good album with plenty of different influences and tricks at play on the songs. Sometimes it can drag or feel a little put together, but when it has such a strong psychedelic sludgy feel to it, you can easily forgive and get lost in the riffs without much prompting.
Sean M. Palfrey
Metalteamuk.net
Sunday, September 27, 2009
8/10 Sweden Rock Magazine #65
The album got 8 out of 10 in the new issue of Sweden Rock Magazine. There's also an interview with Micke next to the review.
8/10
Många band gör musik som ska låta på ett visst sätt. Switch Opens musik låter på sitt sätt, och det höjer dem över mängden.
Trummisen dyrkar The Police. Ena gitarristen har Van Halen som husgudar, medan den andre tillbringar huvuddelen av dagen inne i sitt huvud tillsammans med Hawkwind. Sångaren och basisten, Jesper Skarin, hyllar Megadeth och spelar trummor med technosnubben i The Field. Ni hör ju själva. Detta är helt jävla sjukt! I stället för musik: förvirring? Nej, inte alls.
Efter att tidigare ha hetat Fingerspitzengefühl och släppt två rejält spretiga men svinbra album har bandet äntligen hittat hem. Det schizofrena uttrycket har kokats ned till vad de gör bäst: de vänder ut och in på tyngden. Ändå är detta deras mest varierade album. Det händer saker hela tiden. Udda trumkomp, fantastiska sånginsatser, psykedeliska gitarrsjok och basfetma som berör både fysiskt och psykiskt – dessa fyra hjältar torde kunna rädda världen!
Produktionen är både taggigt trasig och mjuk som ett duntäcke. Bergsmassiv och genomskinlig. Man fattar inte riktigt hur det har gått till, men de har som sagt hittat hem.
Årets tripp? Fuglesangs fjuttiga rymdresa är en spottloska i havet.
- Mattias Indy Pettersson
4/5 Groove #7
GGGG
Sedan år 2000 har detta manskap släppt ett par plattor under namnet Fingerspitzengefühl. Förra året tröttnade de på att folk varken kunde uttala eller stava namnet och sadlade om till betydligt anonymare Switch Opens. Medlemmarna är desamma och de har inte heller ändrat sitt musikaliska koncept nämnvärt. Det stökar ordentligt och svävar iväg med samma självklarhet. Helt enkelt en väldigt tilltalande brygd av metal och rock som jag mer än gärna skulle vilja möta i en livesituation. Flumgungiga Super globe of pain lutar i nuläget åt skivans bästa låt.
- Roger Bengtsson
Monday, September 21, 2009
Express Death live at Debaser
From the release party at Debaser, Stockholm on September 17th. Sorry about the weird sound during the first two minutes...
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Screening for vengeance
Now here's a special treat for you! Yesterday we screen printed a bunch of t-shirts and bags for the release party. Very limited edition for this occasion! The master mind and artist behind it all is the mighty Magnus Öhrn, courtesy of Shirts of Satan. It might look like Tomas and I (Micke, not to be confused with Nosferatu) are doing the work on the pictures, but we are just his simple slaves.
4/5 in Aftonbladet
The album got 4 out of 5 in Aftonbladet, the biggest newspaper in Sweden.
++++
Switch Opens
Switch Opens
GMR/Border
METAL
Namnbytet från Fingerspitzengefühl må ha gett huvudstadscombon en mindre iögonfallande anmälningsfras, men knappast mindre fingertoppskänsla för det. I en härligt lo fi-slamrig produktion – där en högt mixad bas påminner om en Marshallförstärkt väderkvarn – suddas gränserna mellan doom, noise, metal och LSD-hallucinationer smidigt ut och ger ett uttryck som är så coolt att man faktiskt kan dö en smula. Visst går det att hitta influenser från exempelvis Neurosis, Mastodon eller Melvins , men i allt detta lyckas Switch Opens framstå som förbluffande unika. Det vittnar om fingertoppskänsla, det.
Bästa spår: ”Terra incognita”.
New album out!
The album is officially released in Scandinavia! It will be out in the rest of Europe on October 30th.
Buy mp3:s at iTunes or Klicktrack or the CD at Ginza.se or CDON.COM.
Buy mp3:s at iTunes or Klicktrack or the CD at Ginza.se or CDON.COM.
Review in Slavestate Magazine
Switch Opens - "Switch opens"
(GMR Music Group) § § § §
Självbetitlat släpp under nya namnet för the band formerly known as Fingerspitzengefühl. Med två plattor i ryggen som FSG är det en rutinerad kvartett som släpper loss svänget. Och som det svänger. Influenser som spänner över 40 år av rock och metal ger ett resultat som är i det närmaste omöjligt att beskriva. Hård rock är det närmaste som går att komma. Hård mellanslag rock, av det mer eklektiska slaget. Ingenting för Bandit Rock-fansen över en ljummen öl en fredagskväll. Snarare något för de som sitter hemma, kramar skiv-samlingen och önskar att Zeppelin kunde reinkarneras på 2000-talet efter att ha vuxit upp matade med en mix av progg, doom och noise-rock. ”Express death” öppnar smygande, och smattrar igång med en tuggande basgång. Basisten/vokalisten Jesper Skarin uppvisar en avsevärt utvecklad melodisk sång, något som snart övergår i hans kännetecknande morrande, och ett rejält driv blandas upp med lugnare, reflektiva stunder. ”Pyramids” drar lyssnaren vidare in i Switch Opens värld, där monsterstora riff och ett brutalt groove härskar, med krypande känslor av obehag förmedlade av Skarins väsanden. Längre fram börjar ”He dives down” med att ett UFO landar, och för med sig ett riff som vilket stoner-band som helst skulle döda för. ”Terra incognita” följer, en nio minuter lång uppvisning i hur man bygger en låt sakta, med lager efter lager, innesluten i ett dis av rök, för att sedan låta den explodera. Personliga höjdpunkten är dock ”Super globe of pain”, som svänger så hårt att om inte nackar, bäcken och ryggrader kommer roteras sönder till den, då är det något fundamentalt fel med världen. Om inte den här plattan, en klar kandidat till årets släpp, erövrar allt och alla den här hösten ger jag upp det lilla hopp jag fortfarande när om mänskligheten.
- Martin Larsson
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Soundcheck
The new album got a shared first spot with Yob in the soundcheck section of Close-Up Magazine #113, before bands such as Behemoth, Shining, Megadeth, Municipal Waste, and Clutch. Nice!
Friday, July 10, 2009
New album cover
The new album cover is finished. And this is how it looks.
Design and artwork by thankyousatan.com
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Jesper on a field day
Jesper is doing some guest drumming with The Field, one of the hottest techno acts around right now. Martin Carlsson from Expressen makes a comment on this and on Switch Opens upcoming album on his blog (only in swedish, sorry):
Hårdrocksbloggen
Hårdrocksbloggen
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
First Switch
It's wrapped up! The last knob is turned, the final switch is pushed, the ultimate noise is tweaked. Oh yes, we finished the mixing of the new album the other day. There's only a few details left now, such as mastering, making the cover and taking some pictures. Here's the running order and song titles:
1. Express Death
2. Pyramids
3. Paper Walls
4. He Dives Down
5. Terra Incognita
6. Lucky Me, Lucky You
7. Super Globe Of Pain
8. The Electric Hour
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Live från Helvetet
This is a song called Paper Walls from the forthcoming album. Recorded in front of 15 screaming fans on a sunday night at a club that didn't even have a fucking bass amp. "A line-box is good, you won't be dissapointed". Yeah right... We always love to play though and cheers to the brave ones that dared to come out to see us!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Micke guesting MOT'R
Micke made a guest appearence with MOT'R singing Kill The Poor by Dead Kennedys this Friday. MOT'R is the new project by Lingua/Come Sleep. They celebrated singer Tompa's and guitarist Misha's thirtieth birthdays and as you can see on the picture Misha was very happy about the fluids running around in his body.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
An unholy night of possession
More new songs! For those of you who went to see us at Wanchor - we'll play other new songs this Sunday! Also on the bill, another great band: Sonic Ritual
Monday, March 30, 2009
Pics on Flickr
Ok, so you want pictures? Well, we have loads! There's a bunch uploaded at Flickr and more to come. Use them, spread them, spit on them, jerk off to them, get thrown off the wagon by the shining light of our appearances.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
In my head - Micke
Sounds:
Paper - An Object
Tom Waits - Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards
Mastodon - Crack the Skye
bob hund - Folkmusik för folk som inte kan bete sig som folk
Killing Joke - s/t (1980)
Words:
Tony Ernst - 6 miljoner sätt att jaga en älg på
Friday, March 27, 2009
Past shows
March 12 - P3 Live Session, Göteborg w/ Bruket
March 6 - Insikten, Jönköping w/ Counterblast
March 5 - Sticky Fingers Top Floor, Göteborg w/ Mayflower, Varg and Rosemary
March 4 - Club Distortion, Stockholm
2009
December 29 - Mosebacke, Stockholm w/ Dubplate Connection, Revolution Riot and Lipstixx & Bulletz
November 7 - Klubb Gås, Stockholm
September 17 - Debaser Slussen, Stockholm w/ Sesam
May 17 - Mosebacke, Stockholm w/ Superjudge
April 5 - City Rock/Harry B James, Stockholm w/ Sonic Ritual
March 5 - Club Distortion, Pub Anchor, Stockholm
February 28 - Svarta Pralinen, Mjölby
2008
November 7 - Klubb Sherwood, Brother Tuck, Stockholm
as FINGERSPITZENGEFÜHL
September 7 - Trädgårn, Gothenburg w/ Scars On Broadway & I Are Droid
September 8 - Debaser Medis, Stockholm w/ Scars On Broadway & I Are Droid
May 2 - Club Distortion, Tantogården, Stockholm w/ Stonegard & Sonic Ritual
2007
November 28 - G-H Nation, Uppsala
July 20 - Trästockfestivalen, Skellefteå
June 26 - Debaser Medis, Stockholm w/ Neurosis
June 8 - Sweden Rock Festival, Sölvesborg
February 24 - Fullerstahuset, Huddinge w/ Victimised & Guantanamo Bay
2006
December 28 - Debaser, Stockholm w/ Rise and Shine
December 16 - Club Aska, Örebro w/ Burning Saviours
December 12 - Malmengården, Linköping
October 28 - Linköping Metal Massacre, Linköping w/ Sabaton, Lord Belial, M.A.N. a.o.
September 13 - Tantogården, Stockholm w/ Principles Of Existence - RELEASEPARTY!
July 7 - Metaltown, Gothenburg w/ Tool, Motörhead, Entombed, Opeth, Satyricon a.o.
June 5 - Alcazar, Stockholm w/ Come Sleep & San Tropez
June 5 - Tantogården, Stockholm w/ Sesam & Baba Blues
April 29 - Brygghuset, Stockholm w/ Lingua, My God The Sound & Lions Of Swe
March 11 - Pub Anchor, Stockholm
March 10 - Pub Anchor, Stockholm
January 18 - Club Underground Swe, Stockholm w/ Lingua & Smut
2005
November 10 - Lades Kaelder, Copenhagen (DEN) w/ Screamin´ Eric
November 9 - Alcazar, Stockholm w/ Ted a.o.
November 5 - Rytmeposten, Odense (DEN) w/ The Psyke Project, Plök & M.C.I.P.
November 4 - Elvaerket, Helsingör (DEN) w/ The Psyke Project & Straight To Your Face
October 28 - Pub Bastun, Mariehamn (FIN) w/ Crucified Barbara
October 13 - Kafé 44, Stockholm w/ The Psyke Project & The View Between
October 12- Skylten, Linköping w/ The Psyke Project
October 6 - Club Distortion, Stockholm w/ Colour Haze & Jellyfish Syndrome
August 27 - Swedish Metal Expo, Klubben, Stockholm w/ One Man Army, Crash Diët, 220 Volt a.o.
May 21 - Pub Anchor, Stockholm
May 20 - Pub Anchor, Stockholm
April 28 - Kafé 44, Stockholm w/ Entombed
April 23 - Alcazar, Stockholm w/ Bad Monkey
April 8 - Studenterhuset, Copenhagen (DEN) w/ Alpha Safari & Magtens Korridorer
April 2 - Fellini, Uppsala
April 1 - Kolingsborg, Stockholm w/ Face Down & General Surgery
February 17 - Pub Anchor, Stockholm
2004
December 18 - Perrong 23, Hässleholm w/ Entombed
December 9 - Nivå, Gävle w/ Entombed
November 5 - The Rock, Linköping w/ Internal Affairs & The Misunpassed
July 31 - Pub Bastun, Mariehamn (FIN)
July 30 - Vaxholms musikfestival, Vaxholm
July 9 - Dirty Black Summer Festival, Södertälje w/ Alpha Safari, Lingua a.o.
June 17 - Pub Anchor, Stockholm
June 5 - Alcazar, Stockholm w/ Alpha Safari
June 4 - Belsepub, Gothenburg w/ Beseech
June 3 - Teen Riot, Malmö w/ Instrumen
April 15 - Club Nirvana, Stockholm
March 4 - Alcazar, Stockholm w/ Hip Whips
February 27 - The Rock, Linköping w/ Oliphant
February 28 - Bergsbron, Norrköping
January 7 - Pub Anchor, Stockholm
January 6 - Pub Anchor, Stockholm
2003
November 13 - Kafé 44, Stockholm w/ Slopho6 & Beaver Farm
November 12 - Club Nirvana, Stockholm w/ Pilotos
September 19 - Arena, Karlstad w/ Sparzanza
September 10 - Pub Anchor, Stockholm
July 16 - Club Nirvana, Stockholm w/ Mad Lee Riot
May 31 - Alcazar, Stockholm w/ Stainless Plasma
January ? - Alcazar, Stockholm w/ Alpha Safari
2002
December 8 - Alcazar, Stockholm w/ Transport League & Reclusion
October 26 - Alcazar, Stockholm w/ The Wrecks & Aluminum Babe
June ? - Pub Anchor, Stockholm
April ? - Metal Fest, Bålsta w/ Semlah
2001
August ? - Obscene, Stockholm
March 6 - Insikten, Jönköping w/ Counterblast
March 5 - Sticky Fingers Top Floor, Göteborg w/ Mayflower, Varg and Rosemary
March 4 - Club Distortion, Stockholm
2009
December 29 - Mosebacke, Stockholm w/ Dubplate Connection, Revolution Riot and Lipstixx & Bulletz
November 7 - Klubb Gås, Stockholm
September 17 - Debaser Slussen, Stockholm w/ Sesam
May 17 - Mosebacke, Stockholm w/ Superjudge
April 5 - City Rock/Harry B James, Stockholm w/ Sonic Ritual
March 5 - Club Distortion, Pub Anchor, Stockholm
February 28 - Svarta Pralinen, Mjölby
2008
November 7 - Klubb Sherwood, Brother Tuck, Stockholm
as FINGERSPITZENGEFÜHL
September 7 - Trädgårn, Gothenburg w/ Scars On Broadway & I Are Droid
September 8 - Debaser Medis, Stockholm w/ Scars On Broadway & I Are Droid
May 2 - Club Distortion, Tantogården, Stockholm w/ Stonegard & Sonic Ritual
2007
November 28 - G-H Nation, Uppsala
July 20 - Trästockfestivalen, Skellefteå
June 26 - Debaser Medis, Stockholm w/ Neurosis
June 8 - Sweden Rock Festival, Sölvesborg
February 24 - Fullerstahuset, Huddinge w/ Victimised & Guantanamo Bay
2006
December 28 - Debaser, Stockholm w/ Rise and Shine
December 16 - Club Aska, Örebro w/ Burning Saviours
December 12 - Malmengården, Linköping
October 28 - Linköping Metal Massacre, Linköping w/ Sabaton, Lord Belial, M.A.N. a.o.
September 13 - Tantogården, Stockholm w/ Principles Of Existence - RELEASEPARTY!
July 7 - Metaltown, Gothenburg w/ Tool, Motörhead, Entombed, Opeth, Satyricon a.o.
June 5 - Alcazar, Stockholm w/ Come Sleep & San Tropez
June 5 - Tantogården, Stockholm w/ Sesam & Baba Blues
April 29 - Brygghuset, Stockholm w/ Lingua, My God The Sound & Lions Of Swe
March 11 - Pub Anchor, Stockholm
March 10 - Pub Anchor, Stockholm
January 18 - Club Underground Swe, Stockholm w/ Lingua & Smut
2005
November 10 - Lades Kaelder, Copenhagen (DEN) w/ Screamin´ Eric
November 9 - Alcazar, Stockholm w/ Ted a.o.
November 5 - Rytmeposten, Odense (DEN) w/ The Psyke Project, Plök & M.C.I.P.
November 4 - Elvaerket, Helsingör (DEN) w/ The Psyke Project & Straight To Your Face
October 28 - Pub Bastun, Mariehamn (FIN) w/ Crucified Barbara
October 13 - Kafé 44, Stockholm w/ The Psyke Project & The View Between
October 12- Skylten, Linköping w/ The Psyke Project
October 6 - Club Distortion, Stockholm w/ Colour Haze & Jellyfish Syndrome
August 27 - Swedish Metal Expo, Klubben, Stockholm w/ One Man Army, Crash Diët, 220 Volt a.o.
May 21 - Pub Anchor, Stockholm
May 20 - Pub Anchor, Stockholm
April 28 - Kafé 44, Stockholm w/ Entombed
April 23 - Alcazar, Stockholm w/ Bad Monkey
April 8 - Studenterhuset, Copenhagen (DEN) w/ Alpha Safari & Magtens Korridorer
April 2 - Fellini, Uppsala
April 1 - Kolingsborg, Stockholm w/ Face Down & General Surgery
February 17 - Pub Anchor, Stockholm
2004
December 18 - Perrong 23, Hässleholm w/ Entombed
December 9 - Nivå, Gävle w/ Entombed
November 5 - The Rock, Linköping w/ Internal Affairs & The Misunpassed
July 31 - Pub Bastun, Mariehamn (FIN)
July 30 - Vaxholms musikfestival, Vaxholm
July 9 - Dirty Black Summer Festival, Södertälje w/ Alpha Safari, Lingua a.o.
June 17 - Pub Anchor, Stockholm
June 5 - Alcazar, Stockholm w/ Alpha Safari
June 4 - Belsepub, Gothenburg w/ Beseech
June 3 - Teen Riot, Malmö w/ Instrumen
April 15 - Club Nirvana, Stockholm
March 4 - Alcazar, Stockholm w/ Hip Whips
February 27 - The Rock, Linköping w/ Oliphant
February 28 - Bergsbron, Norrköping
January 7 - Pub Anchor, Stockholm
January 6 - Pub Anchor, Stockholm
2003
November 13 - Kafé 44, Stockholm w/ Slopho6 & Beaver Farm
November 12 - Club Nirvana, Stockholm w/ Pilotos
September 19 - Arena, Karlstad w/ Sparzanza
September 10 - Pub Anchor, Stockholm
July 16 - Club Nirvana, Stockholm w/ Mad Lee Riot
May 31 - Alcazar, Stockholm w/ Stainless Plasma
January ? - Alcazar, Stockholm w/ Alpha Safari
2002
December 8 - Alcazar, Stockholm w/ Transport League & Reclusion
October 26 - Alcazar, Stockholm w/ The Wrecks & Aluminum Babe
June ? - Pub Anchor, Stockholm
April ? - Metal Fest, Bålsta w/ Semlah
2001
August ? - Obscene, Stockholm
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Cut your hair
Jesper has a new haircut. It's weird though, cause he looks hairier now than he did before.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
New website, blog, homepage, whatever
So this is our new website. Well, it's actually a blog but who cares anyway? Nowadays it's only us old people who know the word homepage. I guess we'll update a bit more often now when we don't have to think about webhotels and oh too complicated login procedures, but who knows? We're not exactly a bunch of Einsteins. The design and stuff will probably change a bit, but don't worry old man, you are still on the same homepage. Duh!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Mixing the new album
Sound wizard Konie (I Are Droid, Don't Be A Stranger) from Studio Cobra is currently mixing our new album. We have heard two mixed songs this far and are totally stoked by the warm, yet gritty and very heavy sound he's tweaking out of his ancient board. The album will be released in September by GMR Music Group. Tracklisting:
1. The Electric Hour
2. Express Death
3. He Dives Down
4. Paper Walls
5. Pyramids
6. Lucky Me, Lucky You
7. Super Globe of Pain
8. Terra Incognita
1. The Electric Hour
2. Express Death
3. He Dives Down
4. Paper Walls
5. Pyramids
6. Lucky Me, Lucky You
7. Super Globe of Pain
8. Terra Incognita
New song "Paper Walls" live!
Here's a new song from our upcoming album performed live at Club Distortion in Stockholm on March 5th.
Fingerspitzengefühl on Spotify
Both albums made under the Fingerspitzengefühl moniker are now available for free streaming on Spotify. So get an invitation and have a pleasant ride!
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