SWEDEN´S DARK KNIGHT RETURNS AFTER TWELVE YEARS OF ABSENCE
In Sweden, singer Krister Linder is more known as the guy who disappeared.
Since his national career started off with a blast in the late eighties, he's been making it anything but simple to track him down. Back in those days he used the pseudonym Chris Lancelot, but after a massive movie-soundtrack hit with his band at the time, Grace, he shaved his head, changed his name again and immediately formed a new group called DIVE together with band-member/producer Erik Holmberg. DIVEs perhaps most memorable track Captain Nemo, was discovered and interpreted by Brittish singer Sara Brightman who released her own version on single, album, Best Of-Compilation and live-album. But instead of pursuing their path, DIVE released their third and perhaps best album in 1994 and then vanished.
While some were still waiting for DIVE's fourth album, Mr. Linder had stopped singing and begun to produce instrumental works for limited editions on small labels. He put out electronic music under names like Tupilaq, Yeti, Society, Illuminum, Godkingpriest and Solaroid while consistently changing
aliases for each new release. Then, occasionally his voice would make guest-appearances on others' tracks. Apparently he had left his bat-cave or whatever to do vocals with fine underground artists like Cari Lekebusch, Peter Benish, Cotton Ferox, Omnimotion and Vacuum. But those who liked the sound of him never knew where he would pop up next or what he'd call himself.
Now, 12 years after DIVE Mr. Linder suddenly turns up as himself with a brand new, self-produced album. Songs From The Silent Years is a collection of gems from one of the most beloved, lost sons of Sweden.
2001-02: In March of 2001 the first ever VNV Nation album was remastered and released as "Advance and Follow v2". In September of the same year the single "Genesis" was released. It spent 4 weeks in the German Media Control Charts reaching no.67 as well as again topping the DAC. In October 2001 VNV Nation embark on the highly successful "Futureperfect" tour of Europe and North America . The 4th full length CD "Futureperfect" was released in January 2002 and reached no.25 in the German Album Charts. This was followed by a second single "Beloved" which again reached the high 60's in the German Singles Chart. Following the release of "Beloved" VNV Nation leave Dependent. In April 2002 VNV Nation go on a second tour of the US . Despite being 4-5 months after the previous tour of North America it is an even bigger success.
2003: VNV Nation form their own label "Anachron Sounds" to exclusively handle all future releases by VNV Nation.
1998: In January 98 VNV NATION signed with German label Off-Beat and released the full-length album "Praise the Fallen" (02.06.98) and the "Solitary EP" (14.09.98). VNV Nation do their first headline tour of Germany in September 98.
1999-00: Early in 99 VNV NATION and 3 other artists leave Off-Beat to start Dependent Records along with Off-Beat's A&R. Three albums resulted. The first, "Empires", stayed at No.1 in the DAC (German Alternative Charts) for 7 weeks winning DAC album of the year '99. The album produced 2 singles- "Darkangel" topped the DAC for 5 weeks. In early 2000 the follow-up single "Standing" stayed at no.1 for 8 weeks (the maximum a single can remain in the DAC) winning a German Alternative Music Award for most successful single of 2000 and sharing the place for most successful single in the DAC's history with the Chemical Brothers. A limited edition entitled "Burning Empires" followed containing alternate versions of tracks from "Empires". This remains one of the most sought after VNV rarities.
