Today, Liv Kristine presents the official video for the new single “Love Me High.”
On the third single from the upcoming studio album River of Diamonds – which will be released on April 21st via Metalville Records – Liv Kristine presents an extraordinary duet partner in her sister Carmen Elise Espenæs (Savn, Midnattsol). “Love Me High” is one of the faster of the twelve songs on River of Diamonds and fascinates with a catchy hook that has all the ingredients for a real earworm: a song full of strong authenticity and unbound creativity.
The song will be available as a digital single from this Friday, and the video for “Love Me High” can already be viewed HERE at Metalville‘s official YouTube channel.
River of Diamonds, the sixth solo album by the queen of Scandinavian gothic metal, continues on the path set by the EP Have Courage Dear Heart ( 2021), which received great international acclaim.
All tracks on the new album were composed by Liv‘s long-time friend Tommy Olsson (Theatre of Tragedy, Long Night) at his Black Rider Records studio in Tau, near Liv Kristine’s birthplace of Stavanger, Norway.
Carefully spending time with the compositions that kept coming out of Tommy’s studio in 2021 and 2022 felt just right, like a yin-yang experience: music & pre-mix (Tommy O.), own lyrics and melodies, the finishing touches (mix & master by Eroc) and visuals (photos by M. Rohbach) merged into exactly the album Liv Kristine had passionately longed for.
“Our Immortal Day” is a duet with the incomparable singer Østen Bergøy (Long Night, Tristania). “I just love that Sisters of Mercy feeling,” says Liv about the song.
Fernando (Moonspell) lifted the title track “River of Diamonds” to a new, magical level. Liv Kristine‘s sister Carmen Elise Espenæs (Savn, Midnattsol) appears as an exceptional duet partner on the faster track “Love Me High.” In addition, Liv‘s husband, Michael Espenæs, is the voice behind the highly emotional male vocals on Jon Lord’s masterpiece “Pictured Within.” Another cover, “True Colours” (Cindy Lauper), was beautifully re-recorded by Ecor (Rocco Cogliati) with keyboards and piano.
“Each song follows a path of strong authenticity and unbound creativity, which is my innermost and first criterion since Theatre Of Tragedy (1995), Deus Ex Machina(1998), and Lovelorn (Leaves’ Eyes),” says Liv about the new album. “The lifeline that flows through all twelve compositions unveils a heart-based personal path, a sense of deeper truth, and a soul vision of pure bliss consciousness – an eternal river of diamonds.” Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Liv Kristine’s River of Diamonds 1. Our immortal Day 2. No Makeup 3. Maligna 4. Gravity 5. In Your Blue Eyes 6. River of Diamonds 7. Pictured Within 8. Shaolin Me 9. Love Me High 10. Serenity 11. If I am Dreaming 12. True Colours
LINEUP All instruments (except “Pictured Within” & “True Colours”): Tommy Olsson Vocals: Liv Kristine Espenæs
STUDIO DISCOGRAPHY *solo* Deus Ex Machina (1998) Enter My Religion (2006) Skintight (2010) Libertine (2012) Vervain (2014)
*with Midnattsol* The Aftermath (2018)
*with Leaves’ Eyes* Lovelorn (2004) Vinland Saga (2006) Njord (2009) Meredead (2011) Symphonies of the Night (2013) King of Kings (2015)
*with Theatre of Tragedy* Theatre of Tragedy (1995) Velvet Darkness They Fear (1996) Aégis (1998) Musique (2000) Assembly (2002)
