El Caco is a stoner rock band from Lillestrøm in Norway. They formed in 1998 and consist of lead vocalist and bassist Øyvind Osa, guitarist Anders Gjesti and drummer Fredrik Wallumrød.

El Caco
El Caco live at Good Friday festival 2007
El Caco live at Good Friday festival 2007
Background information
OriginLillestrøm, Norway
GenresStoner rock, metal
Years active1998–present[1]
Labels
MembersØyvind Osa
Anders Gjesti
Fredrik Wallumrød
Past membersThomas Fredriksen
Websiteelcaco.com

History

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Their debut album Viva was released on March 29, 2001. They were represented by the Music for Nations record label which led to extensive touring.[2] In an interview with Orpheus Spiliotopoulo from Metal Temple magazine, vocalist/singer Øyvind Osa stated the band's support for Music for Nations by saying,"They’re working really hard for us. I think the most important thing is that they really enjoyed the album. We’ve also signed a good contract with them." The band has remained a trio from its beginning which Oyvind explained in the same interview as to whether they would add another guitarist or keyboard player by saying, "I think it’s easier being three people than being four or five. We get along together very well, we’ve got a good team and we’ve played together for so many years. We tried to be like four or five members but it didn’t work out."[3]

After touring with the bands Nebula and WE they recorded the album Solid Rest which was described as "hard and melodic" and a progression to a "full-blooded hard rock band with strong hints of metal" on June 16, 2003. [4][5] In 2004 they performed at the Bukta Tromsø Open Air Festival held in Tromsø, Norway. The band released the album The Search through Black Balloon Records on February 20, 2006. It was self produced at the bands own Sound Riot studios with the vocals recorded by producer Daniel Bergstrand in Sweden who also handled the final mixing. The Search won the 2006 Alarm Award which was described as "Norway’s most important indie award"[6] for the "Metal album of the year" category which was held at the Sentrum Scene in Oslo.[7] They performed at the 2006 version of the Great Indian Rock (GIR) festival in New Delhi, India as one of the first international acts to attend.[8]

The band then released the 2007 album From Dirt which was described as being full of "lots of loud, grinding guitar riffs, raspy vocals, and big fuzzy grooves galore."[9] In 2007 they were among the headliners of the Parkenfestivalen which takes place in Bodø, Norway.[10] During this time Fredrik Wallumrød replaced Thomas Fredriksen as the bands drummer and they continued on releasing the album Heat in 2009.[11]

They were the support act for the European Carnage Tour of Megadeth and Slayer in 2011. Later in the year they signed to Indie Recordings Records.[12]

In 2012 they released the album Hatred, Love And Diagrams.[13] The album was nominated for the 2012 Norwegian Spellemann award for the "Metal" category.[14] In 2016 they released the album 7.[15] This was followed by the 2023 album, Uncelebration produced by previous collaborator Daniel Bergstrand.[16]

Musicians

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Former musician
  • Thomas Fredriksen – drums (1999–2007)

Discography

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Albums
  • Viva 12" vinyl (2001)
  • Solid Rest 10" double vinyl (2003)
  • The Search (2005)
  • From Dirt (2007)
  • Heat 12" vinyl (2009)
  • Hatred, Love & Diagrams 12" vinyl (2012)
  • 7 12" vinyl (2016)
  • Uncelebration (2023)

References

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  1. ^ "El Caco band formation year". bandcamp.com. 20 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  2. ^ Johnsrud, Frode (29 March 2001). "EL CACO – Viva". metalexpressradio.com. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  3. ^ Spiliotopoulos, Orpheus (18 June 2001). "Interview with Øyvind Osa from El Caco". metal-temple.com. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  4. ^ Eriksen, Henriette Westerlund (25 June 2003). "Viva El Caco!". ABC Nyheter. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  5. ^ Fossvold-Jørum, Frode (27 May 2003). "Solid Rest – Fett og tett (Solid Rest – Fat and dense)". Panorama.no. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  6. ^ Johansen, Carl Kristian (2 December 2005). "2006 NORWEGIAN ALARM AWARDS - NOMINEES ANNOUNCED". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  7. ^ Johansen, Carl Kristian (23 January 2006). "Alarm award winners 2006 (Alarmprisvinnere 2006)". ballade.no. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  8. ^ "FREAK KITCHEN, EL CACO To Perform At GREAT INDIAN ROCK Festival". blabbermouth.net. 5 January 2006. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  9. ^ McLean, Gary (5 March 2007). "EL CACO – From Dirt". Metal Express Radio. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  10. ^ "El Caco til Parken". RanaBlad.no. 5 January 2007. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  11. ^ "El Caco - Heat". allmusic.com. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  12. ^ "EL CACO Signs To INDIE RECORDINGS". blabbermouth.net. 16 November 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Hatred, Love And Diagrams release date". allmusic.com. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  14. ^ "ENSLAVED, EL CACO, NEKROMANTHEON Nominated For Norwegian SPELLEMANN Award". blabbermouth.net. 12 February 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  15. ^ "7 by El Caco". blabbermouth.net. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  16. ^ Luehring, Marius (12 May 2023). "Album review of EL CACO - Uncelebration". POWERMETAL.de. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
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