| abstract
| - Freeshine is a psychedelic rock band from Lillestrøm, Norway. The band was formed in 1999, and has gained a cult following through their DIY-ethics and cathartic concerts (with several of their early performances leaving band members hospitalised). They’ve released one EP and two albums. Although Freeshine have repeatedly refused to label their music, their sound brings together elements from early progressive rock to free-form psychedelia, folk, metal, punk and hardcore; usually retaining a melodic edge. Their confessional lyrics deal with emotional extremes, often portaying topics like sorrow, loss, angst, uncertainty and fear in a confronting and passionate manner. Freeshine’s first release It’s A Pleasure EP was released through Statue Records in 2004, with most tracks leaning towards indie rock and progressive rock. Although it was written off by the band as a bunch of sketches, they toured exstensively behind it in Norway and Britain throughout 2004 and 2005, gaining notoriety for violent shows. The band moved to Osito Records, and their first album Freeshine was made with the help of Kai Andersen, who’ve produced Norwegian bands like Motorpsycho, Seigmen and Madrugada. It was released in 2006, and is a more psychedelic record. The following tour was abrupted midway, due to drug-related illness, and the band stopped performing, doing only one concert in 2007. 2008 saw the release of their self-produced second album All Blood Is Royal. The album has a more post-rock/post-hardcore-oriented sound, along with elements of Norwegian folk music.
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