Unholy Drums
Not your average drum kit
With one foot in the DIY approach and with a sense of “whatever works”, we have created a more alternative rock kit. Thanks to Ghost drummer Ludvig Kennberg and producer & engineer Niels Nielsen (Ghost, In Flames, Dead Soul, MCC), Unholy Drums will complement our drum sampler OneShot with great joy and death.
Background
Niels Nielsen and Ludvig Kennberg crossed paths in the early 2000s in the DIY music scene in Östergötland, Sweden, by that time known for absolutely nothing. Learning their craft in the underground scene of death metal, hardcore and indie music, they would soon become two of the most prolific producers and musicians in the region.
In 2010 a small unknown band named Ghost released their first LP “Opus Eponymous” with Kennberg on drums. Niels Nielsen soon became involved, first as the tour manager for the band, and later in the recording of what would become Ghost’s biggest releases to date.
When the band prepared for their second album “Infestissumam” which would become their breakthrough into the mainstream, Nielsen was involved in all pre-production and shaping of the sound that later was recorded and produced in Nashville.
Ghost’s second EP “Popestar” entered Billboard’s Top Rock Albums as No. 1, becoming the first ever EP to reach the chart’s top position. It contains the smash hit “Square Hammer” that went all the way to No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart in January 2017.
A new Hub for Alternative rock and Metal
Suddenly the county of Östergötland (and specifically the town Linköping) became a hub for bands that followed their path, creating a scene of darker and more alternative rock and metal bands that reached out further than anything before. Nielsen and Kennberg played together in the band Dead Soul. Martin Persner (Ghost) resurrected Magna Carta Cartel and Aksel Holmgren (Ghost) moved on with his project The Great Discord.
A common thread in these projects was Niels Nielsen who produced and/or mixed most of the music with a blend of DIY and high class professionalism and Ludvig Kennberg as the ever so requested session drummer.
Ludvig Kennberg ended up playing on three full length albums with Ghost, rewarding him with more Gold records any wall can fit. Nielsen went on and worked on “The Popestar EP”, including Ghosts biggest success so far - Square Hammer. It topped the radio charts in the US and was rewarded with a Swedish Grammis. After that, the gold records kept coming.
Ghost's "Infestissumam" (middle) won the 2014 Grammis Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Album.
Wastelands + Klevgrand
Fast forward a few years and both Nielsen and Kennberg, now with countless records on their résumé, kept making music together and spending time in Nielsen’s state of the art studio in the wastelands of Östergötland. With a great collection of microphones, gear, drums and odd ways of producing, they started to talk about releasing samples and sounds that other people could use in their music production.
And the universe responded with a connection to Klevgrand.
Niels in the studio, working with drums most unholy.
Stars aligned and with a mutual liking and respect for each other’s work, Klevgrand, Nielsen and Kennberg teamed up to create “Unholy Drums” - a sample pack including the famous snare that put Linköping on the map of occult rock. A one of a kind drum kit put together from Nielsen’s and Kennberg’s private collection of instruments heard on countless records. This is not your average drum kit. With one foot in the DIY approach and with a sense for ”whatever works” we sampled and shaped the drum kit we would like to use. And now you can too!
Including presets that cover heavy rock, alternative dream rock, industrial beats and even extreme metal...
...we give you: UNHOLY DRUMS.
