Norway’s VICINITY kicks off their upcoming album promotion round with the release of the first digital single and video from the record. The track is called “Purpose”. A progressive metal tune that showcases the technical sides of Vicinity, while maintaining their affinity for strong melodies and relatable lyrical themes. This is also the first song to be released with new vocalist Erling Malm. Fans of bands like Threshold, Circus Maximus and Dream Theater should really check this one out.
Vicinity was founded in 2006 by Kim-Marius H. Olsen, Frode Lillevold and Kristian Nergård. Vocalist Alexander K. Lykke soon joined the blend making the first complete lineup. With the EP “Diffusion of Innovation”, the band’s first official release, Vicinity found its true style, writing longer, more technical progressive compositions.
In 2012 the band recorded their debut full-length album, “Awakening”, making this the debut recording of the new bass player Pierre Schmidt-Melbye, who joined the band following Nergård’s departure in 2009. Reidulf Wormdal joined the recording as a session keyboard player. The album was mixed by André Alvinzi and mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios, and was released by Indie Distribution and Pug-Nose Records in the fall 2013.
In 2015 Vicinity went to work with their new album “Recurrence” which was released by Mighty Music in 2017. The drums were recorded at Skarp Studio, known for producing the drums for bands like Triosphere and Keep of Kalessin. Christer-André Cederberg, known for mixing Nine and Havoc for Circus Maximus and several releases by Anathema was enlisted to mix the album. Jens Bogren once again handled mastering duties. Following the release, Vicinity played concerts in Trondheim and Oslo, and was booked to play festivals like Prøvesprengning and Totsås Rock.
Preparations for the upcoming album started in 2020 at Skansen Lydstudio, but further progress was impaired partly by Covid and the fact that, after 15 years in the band, Lykke decided in 2022 to pursue other interests and in agreement with the band decided to part ways. Vicinity tried out vocalist Erling Malm (Articulus, Endolith) at a live show in Trondheim, and decided then and there that he would be the vocalist going forward, and he immediately started working on vocals for the upcoming record.
A new Vicinity album will be released this year.
Lineup:
Frode Lillevold – drums
Erling Malm – vocals
Ivar A. Nyland – keyboards
Kim-Marius H. Olsen – guitars
Pierre-Nicolai H. Schmidt-Melbye – bass
