Diablo Swing Orchestra announces Dec 8th release of 'Pacifisticuffs'

Diablo Swing Orchestra is a name that obligates, it’s simply not possible to make mundane music under that banner. Since the start back in 2003 the band has defused the seriousness of everyday life with a humorous twist where everything is allowed. The musical framework is wide to say the least and the swedish eight-piece strive to constantly surprise and challenge their listeners. It’s an acquired taste but the band never set out to make music that is strange just for the sake of it. Diablo Swing Orchestra have become famous and loved for their rule-breaking eclectic musical world. The unique style combined with extra-ordinary musicians with different musical backgrounds and skills has given the band followers not only from different countries but also from different musical worlds. Or as OUTBURN so nicely put it, «Diablo Swing ORchestra could be Tim Burtons’s dream band».

The orchestra has used the time between the last album Pandora’s Piñata and the upcoming Pacifisticuffs to reinvent itself. Annlouice Lögdlund left the band in 2014 to pursue her opera career and the new vocalist Kristin Evegård has brought some serious new writing skills to the mix, both in the lyric departments as well as composing. Furthermore, the whole band has contributed a lot more in the writing process, a trend that started with the last 2 albums. It is also the first studio album for Johan Norbäck who joined the fold in 2012 for the touring of Pandora’s Piñata. All in all, fans of the old album will find that the sound from the previous albums is still there with the usual twists and turns and with some serious thought-through arrangements. The lyrics has changed from being more introspective to making comments on outside events since the band felt there’s too much going on in the world right now to not say anything about it. Both lyrics and music of this album contains everything from hysterical hubris to complete vulnerability. It’s an expression of life’s highs and lows and everything in between with an underlying feeling of positive aggressiveness that calls for change.

The idea was from the beginning to release the album already back in 2015 which would continue the usual 3-year album-cycle of the band. But since things were changing within the band and life in general got in the way the release was delayed til 2017. The band released the single “Jigsaw Hustle” in 2014, which is also reworked on the album with a new mix and completely re-worked guitars.

Pacifisticuffs was produced by the highly-acclaimed ROBERTO LAGHI and recorded at TOP FLOOR STUDIOS, for ORAL MAJORITY RECORDINGS BIG ASH. The album was mastered by Dragan Tanaskovic at Bohus Sound Recording.

The band ran a competition on their FB page for the art work and received 150 portfolios featuring work from people all over the world. Out of these the choice landed on Sebastian Kowoll who rose to the challenge and produced some lovely artwork for the album while the art direction was handled by Anders Johansson.

The Diablo Swing Orchestra is:

Daniel HÃ¥kansson
- Guitars & Vocals
Pontus Mantefors
- Guitars, FX & Vocals
Kristin Evegård
- Vocals & Piano
Anders Johansson
- Bass
Johannes Bergion
- Cello & Vocals
Martin Isaksson
- Trumpet & Vocals
Daniel Hedin
- Trombone
Johan Norbäck
-Drums

Discography:

The Butcher's Ballroom, 2006
Sing Along Songs for the Damned & Delirious, 2009
Pandora's Piñata, 2012
Pacifisticuffs 2017