Ole Devil and the Spirit Chasers Premiere “Long Way Home” Video
Posted in Bootleg Theater on April 28th, 2022 by JJ Koczan
Oslo blues rockers Ole Devil and the Spirit Chasers will make their full-length debut through Apollon Records this September with Apocalypse Blues. It’s a fitting title for the heavy blues rock outfit that first came together during the covid-19 pandemic, born of guitarist/vocalist Ole Teigen‘s oft-divergent musical impulses — he’s currently drumming in Superlynx, released a solo album last year, also on Apollon, has played in the black metal band Den Saakaldte as well as Dødheimsgard, is currently in Midnattsvrede and others; such is the plight of the capable and creative multi-instrumentalist — and one can easily relate to some desire to find comfort in the familiar warmth of classic sounds under those circumstances. Maybe then Apocalypse Blues will be an album for the times. Hard to say for sure, as I haven’t heard it yet.
Before the record-proper shows up, the first single “Long Way Home” finds the band — who very generously abbreviate their moniker as ODATSCH, which is fun — rocking it out live in the studio in the video premiering below. This version of the song is not — repeat, not — the version that will end up on Apocalypse Blues, but it is being paired with that as part of a digital-only two-songer ahead of time. In any case, Teigen, vocalists Anita Antal (also 
flute) and Ann Christin Willumsen, bassist Artur Gosan and drummer Christian Håpnes Svendsen come across as a band schooled in the style they’re making, but there’s really no attempt being made — at least in the live version of “Long Way Home” — to try to sound vintage. Nor does there need to be. The structure, melodies and groove are classic enough on their own, and one wouldn’t want to risk dulling either the harmonies between Antal and Willumsen, the flourish of psychedelic guitar, or the flute as they appear here.
So while “Long Way Home” as you see it below isn’t the same one you’ll hear on Apocalypse Blues, I wouldn’t expect it to be too far off. It’s interesting to watch the band in the clip in the various split screens, clearly enjoying the process of feeling their way into the bluesy aesthetic. It’s a nascent chemistry taking shape, and there’s a dynamic there worthy of the exploration they’re giving it. This kind of outfit is best suited to the stage, so one wonders how much playing out they’ll ultimately do — not like Teigen doesn’t have anything else going — but consider for a second the put-up-or-shut-up boldness of a group releasing their first single from their first record and instead of doing a lyric video or something say screw it and play the track live. Hard not to respect that, and chops ensue.
Enjoy:
Ole Devil and the Spirit Chasers, “Long Way Home” video premiere
Ole Devil & the Spirit Chasers – Long Way Home
It’s the first single from the upcoming album Apocalypse Blues, coming some time in September.
The single features the album version, plus a live-in-studio version as a B-side – which is the one they made a video for.
The video was recorded in studio Fjærdingen HK 9 january 2022
Mix & master: Ole Teigen, Crowtown Recordings.
Video: Artur Gosan
Ole Devil & the Spirit Chasers are:
Drums: Christian Håpnes Svendsen
Bass: Artur Gosan
Flute/vocals: Anita Antal
Vocals: Ann Christin Willumsen
Guitar/vocals: Ole Teigen
Ole Devil and the Spirit Chasers on Facebook
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Ole Devil and the Spirit Chasers on Bandcamp
