Wheel In The Sky Share Smokin’ Single “The Only Dead Girl In The City”

Regular readers have had a chance to get to know a good number of stellar releases that have come out this year and last out on The Sign Records. Whether we’re talking Demon Head, MaidaVale, Hypnos, Svartanatt, Hällas, or Vokonis (who just signed to the label), we’re starting to recognize The Sign Records for a certain sound – predominantly Swedish artists that are grounded in the rich gene pool of classic psychedelic rock and proto-doom, adding a little “punctuated equilibrium” of their own to continue progressively evolving the sound. At the forefront of this infectious vibe is WHEEL IN THE SKY from Uppsala.

Three years ago, David Berlin, Einar Petersson, Carl Norman, and Daniel Uggla cut loose their widely praise first album Heading For The Night, which my pal Bucky Brown from Doom Charts pinned as “unrelenting ‘70s proto riffs, '80s inspired tonality, with modern Swedish grooves. At times, I hear shades of The Who, while at others I’m just astonished with the superb execution each and every song exhibits.”

Of course, one could add the names Thin Lizzy and Journey to the list of favorable comparisons (the band appears to draw inspiration from the '77 single “Wheel in the Sky” from Journey’s album Infinity). This tendency to plant one foot in classic rock’s past and another in the progressive rock scene of the present is especially evident on their new album Beyond The Pale, which is very easy on the ears indeed.

Today, we’re debuting my favorite single from the new record: “The Only Dead Girl In The City.” The melodic opening riff draws you right in, as do the delicious vocal harmonies. The album is slated for release on August 31 via The Sign Records and the single will be available for your playlists here this weekend. Wheel In The Sky ensures that this summer, more than any other, is all about hard rockin’ good times!

Give ear…

Some Buzz

'Beyond The Pale’ is Wheel In The Sky’s sophomore record, where the Swedish band presents a concept album with darkness and death serving as the primary theme. Featuring a sound pallet of psychedelic rock, Wheel In The Sky provides a death-like sensation, with their overflow of melody and a dark gothic energy. Tracks such as “Burn Babylon Burn” and “The Only Dead Girl in the City” holds both epic elements and catchy pop hooks. There is a feel-good vibe and a dense atmosphere over the track “Undead Love” at the same time as the very spaced out song “Far Side of Your Mind” shows the dynamic of the Swedish group.

Not to forget the band’s obsession with mystical and religious imagery, obscured politics and the morbid fascination for immolations and blood sacrifice, trying hard to incorporate it all into a tasteful setting. There is a peaceful sense of death over the album that will be released the 31st of August 2018 via The Sign Records.

Wheel In The Sky includes David Berlin from the hyped Swedish '90s psych alternative rock band Mother Superior. 'Beyond the Pale’ follows the band’s debut album 'Heading for the Night’ that was the first release from The Sign Records. 'Beyond The Pale’ was recorded during a period of four months.

Wheel In The Sky was on an impossible quest to combine polar rock opposites. AOR walk hand in hand with Garage Rock, Mike Oldfield caught in a love triangle with Patti Smith and Stevie Nicks, Joy Division and Sniff’n the Tears stumbling home together in the dead of night. The band is based in Uppsala, Sweden, a city that has provided sincere rock acts as In Solitude, Watain and Misery Loves Co in the past. Wheel In The Sky is the next chapter, zeroing in on death as a case study.   (The Sign Records)