Covenant

(As published at www.subspace.se )

Eskil Simonsson, Joakim Montelius and Clas Nachmanson, three school friends from Helsingborg, Sweden, officially founded Covenant in 1992. The name refers to the Old Testament, meaning “alliance” and “solemn agreement” - a symbol of the friendship between these three and their common goal of producing good (electronic) music. 1994 saw the arrival of Covenant’s debut album, “Dreams of a cryotank”, on Swedish independent label Memento Materia, and the track “Theremin”, with its harsh EBM sound, soon become a hit on the electronic music scene. Their “Figurehead” EP followed in 1995, and its title track keeps filling the dance floors to this day.

Covenant’s second album, “Sequencer”, ensured their breakthrough on the electro scene in 1996. “Stalker” was the first single release - an underground hit even in the US. The third album, “Europa” (Album of the Year at SAMA [Scandinavian Alternative Music Awards]), arrived in 1998 on the new label SubSpace Communications, and Covenant played their first headlining tour. In 2000, the threesome presented their fourth album, “United states of mind” (Album of the Year at SAMA), including the singles “Tour de force” and “Dead stars”.

The obligatory tour produced a dynamic live video and live album, logically entitled “Synergy”. It was not long before the continued success story of the electro pioneers from Sweden came to the attention of the powers that be in the business: in 2001, Covenant signed with Sony label Ka2 and started working on their fifth album, “Northern light” (Album of the Year at SAMA), which arrived in 2002. Music critics and fans alike loved their electronic yet at the same time organic sound, while the “Call the ships to port” and “Bullet” videos went on rotation on many music channels. All Covenant releases from 2002 went directly to the top of the German Alternative Charts (DAC), where they remained for as long as realistically possible, making Covenant the most successful band that these charts had ever seen!

2003 to 2005 were marked by numerous headlining shows at international festivals. For the first time, there was an (sold-out) Australian tour, followed by all sorts of other activities: remixes for other artists; the band’s involvement in an international all-star band for a cancer charity; their Hz project (featuring Joakim’s joint venture with VNV Nation’s Ronan Harris, making electronic interpretations of music by Johann Sebastian Bach). This stylish band from Sweden also contributed the soundtrack for the fashion design exhibition “In fashion” at their hometown of Helsingborg, followed by a concert. Covenant continued to sound out their own boundaries, while working on material for “Skyshaper” and returning to SubSpace Communications.

Enter March 2006. One of the biggest bands in the electro scene, Covenant return with their sixth album - proving once again their mastery of electronic music. "Skyshaper" develops and evolves their trademark sound - from album opener (and first single) "Ritual Noise", to the utterly infectious electro-pop of "Brave new world”, they deliver an album of intimate melody and glittering club friendly anthems. Tracks such as "20 Hz" (recently appearing on the soundtrack for XBox 360 game “Project Gotham racing 3”) to the melancholy-laden ballad "The world is growing loud" and the utterly unique "Spindrift" with its amazing siren chants - "Skyshaper" continues the evolution of Covenant, a band that surely continues to amaze, surprise and inspire!

More on the new website http://www.covenant.se


Line-up

Eskil Simonsson – Vocals / Songwriter
Joakim Montelius – Keyboards / Songwriter
Daniel Myer – Keyboards, Synths, Production