2023 in Nordic music
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The following is a list of notable events and releases that happened in Nordic music in 2023.
Events
- 13 January – Rolling Stone lists Björk as the 64th-greatest singer[1] and the 81st-greatest songwriter of all time.[2]
- 13 January – The world premiere of the Sinfonia concertante of Esa-Pekka Salonen takes place at the NOSPR Concert Hall in Katowice, Poland, inaugurating the hall's new organ, with Iveta Apkalna as the soloist and the NOSPR conducted by the composer.[3]
- 11 February – Faroese singer Reiley wins the 53rd Dansk Melodi Grand Prix at Arena Næstved and becomes Denmark's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest[4]
- 25 February – Käärijä wins the 12th edition of Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu to become Finland's entry for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, with the song Cha Cha Cha.[5]
- 4 March – In the final of Iceland's Söngvakeppnin, Diljá is selected to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest.[6]
- 12 March – Tax evasion charges against members of Icelandic band Sigur Rós are finally dismissed.[7]
- 13 May – Sweden's Loreen becomes the first woman to win the Eurovision Song Contest twice, having previously won in 2012.[8] Finland's Käärijä finishes in second place.[9]
- 9 June – It is confirmed that Petr Popelka will end his contract as chief conductor of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra after the 2022–2023 season.[10]
- 22 September – Sweden's NorrlandsOperan confirms Eduardo Strausser as its next principal conductor and music director, effective from autumn 2024 for three seasons.[11]
- 16 October – The Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra confirms Maxime Pascal as its next chief conductor, beginning in August 2024.[12]
- October/November – Danish rock band Volbeat continue working on their ninth studio album,[13] while lead vocalist Michael Poulsen undergoes throat surgery, which prevents the band from performing live shows in 2024.[14]
Albums released
January
| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Omen X | Turmion Kätilöt | Nuclear Blast Records | [15] | |
| Neon Noir | VV | Heartagram Records/UMG/Spinefarm | [16] | ||
| 20 | 4 (The Pink Album) | Lukas Graham | Warner Records | [17] | |
| Sky Void of Stars | Katatonia | Napalm Records | [18] | ||
| Heroes of the Great War | Sabaton | Second in the “Echoes Of The Great War” EP trilogy | [19] | ||
| At the Heart of Wintervale | Twilight Force | Nuclear Blast | [20] | ||
| 27 | The Loss of All Hope | Ablaze My Sorrow | Black Lion Records | EP | [21] |
| As in Gardens, So in Tombs | ...And Oceans | Season of Mist | [22] | ||
| Compositions | Deathprod | Smalltown Supersound | [23] | ||
February
| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Ad Astra | Aphyxion | Circular Wave | [24] | |
| Foregone | In Flames | Nuclear Blast | First album featuring US guitarist Chris Broderick | [25] | |
| Out of the Dark | Wig Wam | Frontiers Music | [26] | ||
| 17 | Dance Devil Dance | Avatar | Thirty Tigers | [27] | |
| Heads Will Roll | Oceanhoarse | [28] | |||
| 24 | Alttarimme on Luista Tehty | Azaghal | Immortal Frost Productions | [29] | |
| Anno 1696 | Insomnium | Century Media | Based on a short story by vocalist Niilo Sevänen | [30] | |
| Double Decade | Märvel | The Sign Records | Compilation album | [31] | |
| Storm the Void/Starving Grave | Necrovation | Blood Harvest | EP | [32] | |
| Awake/Asleep | Sløtface | EP | [33] | ||
March
| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Heimdal | Enslaved | Nuclear Blast | [34] | |
| 10 | Anesidora | Isole | Cyclone Empire | [35] | |
| Fandens Kall | Tulus | Soulseller Records | [36] | ||
| 17 | Ghost Town | Narnia | [37] | ||
| Janne Schaffer & Herr Allansson Band - Live! | Janne Schaffer | Live album | [38] | ||
| 24 | Fascination Street Sessions | Ihsahn | Candlelight Records | EP | [39] |
| Once Upon a Time | Excalion | Scarlet Records | [40] | ||
| Hatred Reborn | Hatesphere | Scarlet Records | Produced at Antfarm Studios | [41] | |
| Katharsis | Keep of Kalessin | Premiered on board The Freedom Of The Seas | [42] | ||
| No Place Like Alone | Xysma | Svart Records | First album for 25 years | [43] | |
| 31 | Screem Writers Guild | Lordi | Atomic Fire Records | First album on Atomic Fire | [44] |
| Apocalypse | Rotten Sound | Season Of Mist | [45] | ||
April
| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Hamartia | Tribulation | Century Media | EP | [46] |
| 14 | Black Medium Current | Dødheimsgard | Peaceville Records | [47] | |
| Hunt the Flame | Magnus Karlsson's Free Fall | Frontiers Music | [48] | ||
| 21 | Death of Darkness | The 69 Eyes | Atomic Fire Records | [49] | |
| River of Diamonds | Liv Kristine | Metalville Records | Tracks composed by Tommy Olsson | [50] | |
| It's Time to Rock the World Again | Magnus Rosén Band | X-World / Sound Pollution | Includes 5 bonus tracks | [51] | |
| 28 | Always on my Mind | Rebekka Bakken | Sony Music | [52] | |
| Beyond the Cenotaph of Mankind | Runemagick | Hammerheart Records | [53] | ||
| Blómi | Susanne Sundfør | Bella Union | [54] | ||
May
| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Everything Destroys You | Deathstars | Nuclear Blast | First album for eight years | [55] |
| Nostalgia | Enforcer | Recorded at Hvergelmer Studios and produced by the band | [56] | ||
| Fremmede Toner | Lumsk | Dark Essence Records | [57] | ||
| 19 | Phantomime | Ghost | Lorna Vista | EP | [58] |
| 26 | |||||
| War Against All | Immortal | Nuclear Blast | [59] | ||
| Kalmah | Kalmah | Ranka Kustannus | [60] | ||
| Outside the Rock Box | Magnus Rosén Band | Mini-album | [51] | ||
| 1977 | Sirenia | Napalm Records | [61] | ||
June
| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Interference | Anubis Gate | No Dust Records | [62] | |
| Slasher | Omnium Gatherum | Century Media Records | EP | [63] | |
| 9 | Lullabies for Piano and Cello | Gabríel Ólafs | Decca Records US | [64] | |
| The Singularity (Phase II – Xenotaph) | Scar Symmetry | First album for 9 years | [65] | ||
| 16 | The Storm Within | Saturnus | Nuclear Blast | Produced by Flemming Rasmussen | [66] |
| Átta | Sigur Rós | BMG | First album for ten years | [67] | |
| 23 | Carry the Beast | Nocturnal Breed | Darkish Essence Information | [68] | |
| Bloodlines | Pyramaze | AFM Records | [69] | ||
| Helvegr | Tsjuder | Season of Mist | [70] | ||
| 30 | Stormbringers | Before the Dawn | [71] | ||
July
| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Du Måste Ta Ansvar | Ansvaret | NT Productions | [72] | |
| 7 | Slugs of Love | Little Dragon | Ninja Tune | Featuring Damon Albarn | [73] |
| Tales from the North | Bloodbound | AFM/Soulfood | Concept album about Viking era | [74] | |
| 14 | We Shall Remain | Eleine | Atomic Fire Records | [75] | |
| 21 | The Age of the Offended | Cadaver | Nuclear Blast Records | [76] | |
| 27 | Last of a Kind | Panzerchrist | Emanzipation Productions | First album for ten years | [77] |
August
| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons | The Hives | Disques Hives | First album featuring bassist The Johan and Only | [78] |
| Rocking Heels: Live at Metal Church | Tarja | earMUSIC | Live album | [79] | |
| 18 | The Vertigo Trigger | Cyhra | Nuclear Blast | Self-produced and mixed by Euge Valovirta | [80] |
| Ýdalir | Skálmöld | Napalm | [81] | ||
| Here for None | Warmen | Reaper Entertainment | Featuring Janne Wirman | [82] | |
September
| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Club Romantech | Icona Pop | TEN Music Group/Ultra | [83] | |
| Memento Mori | Marduk | Century Media | [84] | ||
| Memorial | Soen | Silver Lining Music | [85] | ||
| Et hav av avstand | Taake | Dark Essence Records | All instruments played by Hoest | [86] | |
| 8 | Ending | Kvelertak | Nuclear Blast | [87] | |
| 9 | Live in Studio 3 | Anna Mjöll | [88] | ||
| 15 | Grand Explosivos | Electric Boys | Mighty Music | [89] | |
| Daemonic Rites | Mayhem | Century Media | Live album | [90] | |
| Sunholy | Shade Empire | Candlelight Records | [91] | ||
| Shining | Shining | Napalm Record | [92] | ||
| 22 | Soundtrack to the End of Times | Mercenary | Featuring Matt Heafy | [93] | |
October
| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | The Cancer Pledge | October Tide | Agonia Records | [94] | |
| 13 | Queen of Time (Live at Tavastia 2021) | Amorphis | Atomic Fire | Live album | [95] |
| Heartbreakmiljonär | Oscar Zia | Sony | Digital download | [96] | |
| 20 | Spine | Myrkur | Relapse Records | [97] | |
| 27 | Reign of the Reaper | Sorcerer | Metal Blade Records | [98] | |
November
| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Songs of the Dusk | Insomnium | Century Media Records | EP | [99] |
| Die in Fire – Live in Hell (Agony and Ecstasy Over Stockholm) | Watain | Nuclear Blast | Live album recorded 7 October 2022 | [100] | |
| 10 | Dark Christmas | Tarja Turunen | earMUSIC | Covers album | [101] |
| 17 | Philosopher | Aeternus | Agonia Records | Recorded at Conclave & Earshot Studios | [102] |
| Plague | Corroded | Despotz Records | [103] | ||
December
| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Inspiratio Profanus | Dimmu Borgir | Nuclear Blast Records | Covers album | [104] |
| 12 | Vandrar | Gåte | Independent label | EP | [105] |
| 15 | A Chapter Called Children of Bodom (The Final Show in Helsinki Ice Hall 2019) | Children of Bodom | Spinefarm | Live album | [106] |
| Leviathan III | Therion | Napalm Records | [107] | ||
| Trolldom | Troll | Polypus Records | [108] | ||
Eurovision Song Contest
Classical works
- Anders Hillborg – Piano Concerto No. 2 (The MAX Concerto)[109]
- Marcus Paus – The War Cross[110][111]
- Esa-Pekka Salonen – Sinfonia concertante for organ and orchestra[3]
- Anna S. Þorvaldsdóttir
Film and television music
- Pessi Levanto – Superposition[114]
- Peter Peter, with Peter Kyed, Cliff Martinez and Julian Winding – Copenhagen Cowboy[115]
Deaths
- 9 January – Magnar Mangersnes, Norwegian organist and choral conductor, 84[116]
- 15 January – Doris, Swedish pop singer, 75[117]
- 28 January – Odd Børre, Norwegian Eurovision singer, 83[118]
- 23 February – Slim Borgudd, Swedish racing driver and drummer (Lea Riders Group), 76[119]
- 8 March – Josua Madsen, Danish drummer, 45 (traffic accident)[120]
- 1 April
- Dario Campeotto, Danish-Italian singer Eurovision singer and actor, 84[121]
- Jack Vreeswijk, Swedish singer, song lyricist and composer, 59 (colon cancer)[122][123]
- 7 April – Lasse Wellander, Swedish guitarist (ABBA), 70[124]
- 1 May – Pugh Rogefeldt, Swedish musician and songwriter, 76[125]
- 14 May
- Garðar Cortes, Icelandic operatic tenor and opera director, founder of The Icelandic Opera, 82[126]
- Bernt Rosengren, Swedish jazz saxophonist, 85[127]
- 20 May – Sven Nyhus, Norwegian folk musician, 90[128]
- 2 June – Kaija Saariaho, Finnish composer, 70[129]
- 4 July – Miki Liukkonen, Finnish writer and musician, 33[130]
- 5 July – Ralph Lundsten, Swedish composer, 86[131]
- 22 July – Knut Riisnæs, Norwegian jazz musician, 77[132]
- 12 August – Berit Lindholm, Swedish operatic soprano, 88[133]
- 15 August – Arnold Östman, Swedish conductor, 83[134]
- 26 August – Bosse Broberg, Swedish jazz trumpeter and composer, 85[135]
- 3 October – Harald Tusberg, Norwegian TV presenter, musician and songwriter, 88[136]
- 19 October – Lasse Berghagen, Swedish singer-songwriter, 78[137]
- 25 October – Hans Mosesson, Swedish actor, singer and songwriter, 79[138]
- 19 November – Catherine Christer Hennix, Swedish polymath, 75[139]
- 24 November – Jukka Haavisto, Finnish musician and music writer, 93[140]
- 25 November – Yngvar Numme, Norwegian singer and actor, 79[141]
- 6 December – Pedro Hietanen, Finnish musician and conductor, 74[142]
- 20 December – Torben Ulrich, Danish polymath, 95[143]