So the original plan, as discussed when they posted the video for the single ‘Crown’ earlier this year, was that Shun the Sun would be a debut EP from Norwegian heavy rockers Captain Caravan. As anyone who’s ever made any can tell you, plans change. Shun the Sun has expanded from an EP to an LP and, with a digital release set for Nov. 23 — keep an eye out — it’ll now be issued on vinyl by the venerable Cursed Tongue Records, whose pickups have become something of a regular feature around these parts. No coincidence there, since the label does good work and is driven by masterful taste in fuzz and heavy whatnots, and that thread certainly continues with Captain Caravan, as the band have newly unveiled a video for the title-track of Shun the Sun ahead of the initial digital offering (IDO) of the record’s entirety.

You can dig into that at the bottom of this post, as well as the prior clip for “Crown,” because one likes to be thorough. To that end, the copious PR wire info comes courtesy of Cursed Tongue.

Have at it:

CAPTAIN CARAVAN SIGNS TO CURSED TONGUE RECORDS FOR A WORLD WIDE RELEASE OF THEIR DEBUT ALBUM ‘SHUN THE SUN’ DUE FOR SPRING 2019.

Cursed Tongue Records is happy to announce the signing of Norwegian fuzzy stoner rockers Captain Caravan for a vinyl release of their debut full length album ‘Shun The Sun’ spring 2019. On rare occasions a band comes along that needs little to no time to impress on a paramount scale – fast rewind a few months and enter Captain Caravan on the Cursed Tongue Records band spotlight radar.

We quickly sensed that something grand was underway when JJ at The Obelisk posted a short article about a promising band from Norway that seemingly came out of nowhere. Upon listening to Captain Caravan’s first single “Crown” featuring new singer Johhny Olsen, we instantly knew that this was the real deal, and that a future album would kick some serious ass on the stoner rock scene. After having played the band’s debut album ‘Shun The Sun’ an almost illegal number of times, it’s with confidence that we can say that this is indeed going to happen.

On ‘Shun The Sun’ you will find an unpretentious uppercut to the established horde of stoner/desert/fuzz rock bands as Captain Caravan kicks in the door and claims the crown as the new overlords of riff-heavy, metal-capped stonerized desert rock with melodies so infectious they will keep you humming long after album closer “Book Of Oblivion” takes home the last trump card. But don’t take our words for it, go take a listen to for instance the title track or “Shadow King” to realize the maturity, musicality and “surplus” the four captains of the caravan play with. Fans of such heavy hitters as Sasquatch, Mountain Dust, Greenleaf, Dozer and Wo Fat will find plenty to love on the Kent Stump (of aforementioned Wo Fat fame) mixed and mastered ‘Shun The Sun’.

Captain Caravan from Egersund, Norway were formed in 2015 when BK, Morten, Christian (previous singer) and Geir got together following individual projects, and started to rediscover their collective craft. Based on common musically influences from southern rock, stoner rock and classic rock, the band quickly started writing songs. Slowly, defining their musical profile and sharpening the pen the band began to evolve on their winning formula.

2018 started with a lot of changes. The band parted with Christian and were now looking for a new vocalist. Different singers were tried and tested but Johnny Olsen turned out to be the perfect match for Captain Caravan and after a bit of jamming Johnny got aboard. He was undoubtedly the last piece needed for the band to travel down the somewhat bumpy road with a lot of new inspiration, developing a lot of good ideas, writing new material.

Johnny is a great vocalist and writer, and with loads of experience on stage, and his approach in general, he is clearly the natural born front man. Earlier Johnny has been busy with bands like Moth Circus and Alien Ken, plus several other bands and guest appearances in different projects.

Former Pawnshop guitarist BK Sæstad, well-known for their classic releases and worldwide touring in the early 2000s, is the main songwriter and musician in Captain Caravan, putting his signature on the sound of the band and the main context of the songs, then flavored by Geir and Morten in the rhythm section. Captain Caravan is definitely not the same as Pawnshop, but still one can recognize BKs playing style and sound – It’s all in there somewhere.

Longer, heavier and more experimental songs became the focus, with the powerful, growling, yet melodic voice of Johnny, the band now clearly got their own new sound in place sounding nothing quite like they had done before. Suddenly everything was beginning to gel and the material fell quite easy in place for them.

Captain Caravan started the recording of what was initially supposed to be a six track EP and the single ‘Crown’ was laid down by guitarist BK at his own studio, then mixed and Mastered by Kent Stump from Crystal Clear Sound Recording Studio in Dallas Texas. After the release of ‘Crown’ the band witnessed great feedback and big ups from both fans and reviewers. Among them Niels from the Danish label Cursed Tongue Records. Shortly thereafter Captain Caravan signed with Cursed Tongue Records, plans were then rescheduled and the band was now aiming for a full length album to be released digitally November 23rd, 2018 with vinyl LP slated for release early spring 2019 – things do change fast when on a roll.

The rest of the album was brought to life same way as the band did for ‘Crown’; recordings were done at the bands rehearsal location and at BKs Studio, and Kent at Crystal Clear Sound then took over the material for mixing and mastering both for digital release and vinyl.

Although the band could not be happier than they are with what they have achieved in this process, they still want to get out there with the fans, playing gigs, sharing their new music with as many as possible. Captain Caravan now plan several gigs and touring across boarders in times that come – who knows, they might show up at your doorstep in the near future.

Quotes from the band:

“With this album under our belt, we’re ready to get back to what it’s all about : rocking the house!”

“What it comes down to for us, is that we really dig what we’re doing, and we’ve brought a lot of people something they really dig too. We want people out there to discover our music and share their experience with others, then we have achieved our main goal the band besides having a blast ourselves”.

Band and label clicked from the get go, an instant connection was immediately established and both are dead set on bringing their absolute best. We feel that Captain Caravan sits well in with the rest of the Cursed Tongue Records roster as the label expand on hosting the best from the heavy underground. Cursed Tongue Records will as per usual roll out the red carpet treatment featuring high-quality heavy-weight vinyl in different editions. Also getting the talented Diogo from Soares Artwork to do the album artwork together with Cursed Tongue Records will ensure an equal visual pleasing experience – in other words, we have seen the gatefold artwork and it rocks!

So brace yourself for impact soon as the album will release digitally on Captain Caravan’s Bandcamp page next Friday (November 23rd) and get ready to groove along to an absolute monster of an album!

CTR-018: CAPTAIN CARAVAN – ‘SHUN THE SUN’, vinyl official release date: actual date TBA – March/April 2019

Captain Caravan is:
Johnny Olsen – Vocals
BK Sæstad – Guitar
Morten Skogen – Drums
Geir Solli – Bass

All songs written and arranged by Captain Caravan

Produced by Captain Caravan
Recorded at BK Studio by BK Saestad
Drums on Dirty Red Velvet recorded by Arvid Tjelta
Mixed and Mastered at Crystal Clear Sound by Kent Stump
Front cover artwork by Soares Artwork
Photo by Joakim Kyrø
Layout & design by Michael Andresakis

Track listing:

Side A
1. Crown
2. Illusion of Meaning
3. Shun the Sun
4. Godkiller

Side B
5. Zombie Machine
6. Shadow King
7. Dirty Red Velvet
8. Book of Oblivion

www.captaincaravan.com
https://www.facebook.com/CaptCaravan
http://instagram.com/captaincaravan
http://cursedtonguerecords.bigcartel.com/
https://www.facebook.com/CursedTongueRecords
https://www.instagram.com/cursedtonguerecords

Captain Caravan, “Shun the Sun” official video

Captain Caravan, “Crown” official video

Though they’re by no means playing the kind of retroist boogie rock that’s become a staple of the Scandinavian heavy underground over the course of the last 15 years, there is something traditional at the heart of Captain Caravan‘s new single, ‘Crown.’ The first audio to come from the Egersund, Norway, four-piece’s impending EP, Shun the Sun, “Crown” speaks to the pre-mobile social media style of heavy rock of the late ’90s and early ’00s, the earlier work of bands like Dozer, Spoiler from the Netherlands, or even some of Roadsaw‘s younger days. To be sure, there’s a shuffle to the rhythm of “Crown,” but in their production and tonality, Captain Caravan — not to be confused with Sweden’s Captain Crimson, despite the shared affinity for alliteration — owe as much to the post-grunge halcyon days of stoner vibes as to the foundational moments of heavy rock.

Part of that blend of influences no doubt stems from guitarist BK Saestad‘s tenure in Pawnshop, who made their debut with 1997’s Broke and released two more albums through Beard of Stars Records in 2000’s Aloha from Saturn and 2002’s Cruise’o’Matic, before an eight-year studio hiatus. After another eight years beyond that, I’m not sure it’s fair to call Captain Caravan a direct extension of what Saestad was doing with his prior band, but those elements are there all the same, and blended with what drummer Morten Skogen, bassist Geir Solli and new vocalist Johnny Olsen bring to the mix — the latter given to an especially soulful approach in his first appearance with the group — they make “Crown” just under six minutes of classically heavy groove and an unpretentious good time that speaks well of things to come as the lineup continues to solidify on the EP and beyond.

I’ll rarely pick on a new band and say they’re destined to do great things, etc., because the only thing worse than hyperbole is speculative hyperbole and for all anyone knows they could nix the entire project tomorrow, but Captain Caravan are cohesive enough in their approach to show marked potential in this single of the sort that would make it not surprising in the least if they were picked up by some label if not for the Kent Stump-masterd Shun the Sun itself, then for whatever might follow it. It’s always encouraging to hear a new band who start out so clearly having learned the lessons of their members’ own sonic past.

They hit the public domain B-roll pretty hard for the “Crown” video, which you can see below, followed by some more background about the band, their initial singles, and of course the requisite links.

Dig it:

Captain Caravan, “Crown” official video

“Crown” from the upcoming EP “Shun the Sun” is the first song featuring new singer Johnny Olsen. Music recorded by BK Sæstad in BK Studios. Mixed and Mastered by Kent Stump from Crystal Clear Sound – Recording Studio and Wo Fat fame. Video directed by Alan Smithee.

Crown is available for streaming and download on Spotify, iTunes, Bandcamp, Google Play, Amazon, YouTube and more!

Established Spring 2015 in Egersund, Norway by Morten Skogen (drums, former Alien Ken, Antarctica), BK Saestad (guitar, former Pawnshop), Geir Solli (bass, former Antarctica) and Christian Stokkeland (vocals). Based on common musically influences from southern rock, stoner rock and classic rock, the band started writing songs resulting in the first release Life`s a Drag in 2016. Followed up by the singles A State Of Sleep and Rock Golem spring 2017.

2018 started with a lot of changes. The band parted with Christian and focused on writing new material and looking for new vocalist. After several auditions, CC contacted Johnny Olsen (former Moth Circus, Alien Ken), who Morten new from Alien Ken, where Johnny used to join on vocals occasionally. Johnny seemed to be the perfect match for CC and a new area begun!

The band is currently recording the new EP “Shun the Sun” due for release Autumn 2018, distributed on vinyl and digital. Mixed and Mastered by Kent Stump from Crystal Clear Sound – Recording Studio and Wo Fat fame, the EP will differ from earlier releases. Longer, heavier and more experimental songs, with the powerful, growling, yet melodic voice of Johnny. We are very excited to share the new music with you!

Captain Caravan on Thee Facebooks

Captain Caravan on Bandcamp

Captain Caravan website