Bellatrix
also known in Iceland as Kolrassa Krókríδandi
Country of origin:
Iceland
Type of music generally:
Strange, experimental alternative over-the-top rock; later music is less experimental and more pop
Status:
Final release, it's all true (2000)
See also:
Bellatrix's MySpace pageWikipedia's entry on Bellatrix
Elíza M. Geirsdóttir now records as Eliza Newman (MySpace page, facebook page)
Comparisons:
Mix Björk, Miranda Sex Garden, Kristeen Young, and Siouxsie & The Banshees and you might come somewhere near approaching Bellatrix. (Neile)
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
Wild, strange, as off-the-wall as their Icelandic compatriate Björk in her wilder moments, and the extravagance of the vocals are slightly reminiscent of her, but the sound is much harder rock, though the compositions are just as creative and individual. Really noisy and weird and fun rock with matching vocals and violin. A distinctive, unique, and lively rock sound. It's hard to know what to say about them except how different they are. It took me a lot of listening to really love their sound (I found it noisy at first) but now I adore it. Their newer work is much more accessible, but still edgy and wild. (Neile)
Recommended first album:
it's all true is probably the most accessible and available, but my favourite is Kynjasögur/Stranger Tales by far. (Neile)
Recordings:
- drápa (ep, 1992)
- Kynjasögur (1994)
- Stranger Tales (1995)
- Köld Eru Kvennarád (1996)
- G (ep, 1998)
- it's all true (2000)
drápa ep (Old Poem)
Released as by Kolrassa Krókrídandi
Release info:
1992—smekkleysa (Iceland)—29
Availability:
Iceland
Ecto priority:
Recommended if Bellatrix interests you
Comments:
Even from this early a date the band's individual sound was fully developed. This is just as good as their later releases. (Neile)
Kynjasögur/Stranger Tales
Release info:
Kynjasögur (released as by Kolrassa Krókrídandi): 1994—smekkleysa sm.hf—SM47CDStranger Tales: 1995—Bad Taste Ltd—BT 002 CD
Availability:
Kynjasögur: IcelandStranger Tales: U.S.
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for fans of loud and strange rock
Group members:
Elíza M. Geirsdóttir—vocals, violin
Ester "Bibi" Ásgeirsdóttir—bass, voice
Sigrún Eiríksdóttir—guitar, voice
Anna Margrét Hraundal—guitar, voice
Karl Ágúst Gudmundsson—drums, percussion, voice
Comments:
This album was released in Iceland as Kynjasögur by Kolrassa Krókrídandi and later rerecorded with vocals in English as Stranger Tales by Bellatrix. Same band, same sound, vocals in different languages and different band names. Not dancey at all—amazing vocal rock. This is strong stuff and takes some listening to appreciate, but I love both versions of this album. (Neile)
Köld Eru Kvennarád (Don't Trust Plotting Women)
Released as by Kolrassa Krókrídandi
Release info:
1996—smekkleysa sm/ehf
Availability:
Iceland
Ecto priority:
Recommended for fans of creative loud rock
Group members:
Eliza Marí Geirsdóttir—sögur, fidla, raddir & hljómbord
Anna Margrét Hraundal—gítar, kór
Sigrún Eirikdóttir—gítar, kór
Ester "Bibi" Ásgeirsdóttir—bassi,kór
Karl Ágúst Gudmundsson—trommur, slagverk, kór
Guest artists:
Sigtryggur Baldursson—slagverk, klapp, gledigjafi
Dave Crawford—horn
Comments:
The overall sound of this one is just a little tamer than Kynjasögur/Stranger Tales but I doubt the uninitiated would notice. This is a wonderful album. (Neile)
G ep
Release info:
1998—Global Warming Records—Glob cd3
Availability:
U.K. and probably Iceland
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for fans of edgy rock
Group members:
Eliza—vocals, violin
Anna Margret—guitar
Sigrun—guitar, keyboard
Ester—bass
Karl Agust—drums
Produced by:
Bellatrix
Comments:
Their new sound here is still driving, but more toned down yet. Listeners who weren't familiar with their previous releases wouldn't consider them toned down, but in comparison to those releases these are quite straightforward rock songs. This is most apparent in "Sleeping Beauty", a song that also appears on Kynjasögur/Stranger Tales in a much more over-the-top version. This is powerful rock, but nowhere near as powerful as the earlier versions. "Ikarus", also a repeat from Kynjasögur/Stranger Tales is better preserved because of the powerful violin line. I'm disappointed in this development, but I'm sure it will win them more fans, and they're not exactly tamed, nor have they gone pop yet. Songs like "Great Expectations" make it clear that they still can be noisy, edgy, and energetic. (Neile)
it's all true
Release info:
2000—fierce panda (U.K.)
Availability:
See fierce panda website for availability
Ecto priority:
Recommended for fans of edgier pop
Group members:
Kalli—drums, percussion, programming
Kidda—bass
Eliza—vocals, violin, keyboards, percussion
Anna Magga—lead & rhythm guitar
Sigrun—keyboards & rhythm guitar
Guest artists:
Jane Pickup—string arrangement on 2 tracks, string quartet on 2 tracks
Jini, Ann Stephenson, Jonathan Truscott—string quartet on 2 tracks
Northern Light Orachestra—programming on 2 tracks
Produced by:
Dan Swift
Comments:
I was really disappointed when I first got this as it seemed so amazingly pop compared to their earlier efforts, and indeed there are moments when the music on this albums has an almost bubblegum pop flavour, but overall it's still very Bellatrix: edgy, raspy pop. They're not quite as weird and certainly way way more bouncy. No more wild shrieking, horrendously loud guitars, weird vocalizations and strange song structures. Since moving to England and no longer using their Icelandic name, they have smoothed their wild edges and gone more mainstream. Alas! Give me Stranger Tales, perferably in its Icelandic version, anyday. But they're Bellatrix. (Neile)Less quirky than I'd hoped they'd be. (stjarnell@yahoo.com)
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