Berri Txarrak

Last updated
Berri Txarrak
Berri Txarrak @ Azkena Rock Festival.jpg
Berri Txarrak at Azkena Rock Festival
Background information
Origin Navarre, Spain
Genres
Years active1994–2019 (on hiatus)
LabelsGor Diskak, Roadrunner
Members
  • Gorka Urbizu
  • David Gonzalez
  • Galder Izagirre
Past members
  • Aitor Oreja
  • Mikel López (Rubio)
  • Aitor Goikoetxea
Website berritxarrak.net

Berri Txarrak (Bad News in English) is a Navarrese rock power trio whose songs are sung in Basque. Founded as a four-member band in 1994 in Lekunberri, Navarre, Basque Country, they have been a three-man band since 2005. After releasing nine LPs throughout a 25-year career, they entered an indefinite hiatus in 2019.

Contents

History

Berri Txarrak originated in Lekunberri, Navarre, Spain in 1994 as a parallel project of Gorka Urbizu (vocals and guitar) and Aitor Goikoetxea (drums). In 1997 they began to focus fully on the band, which soon acquired two more members: Mikel López (bass) and Aitor Oreja (guitar). [1]

After releasing a six-track demo, the band landed several awards in different demo and new-act contests, which allowed them to record their eponymous album, released in autumn 1997. Berri Txarrak jumped to success within the Basque rock scene thanks to singles like "Lotsarik gabe", "500 urte ta gero" and "Ardifiziala". According to the band's members, that album was a step forward for their music and it became the base for their later works. [1]

In 1999, the band released Ikasten . In this second album, Berri Txarrak's style had also evolved. Tracks such as "Ikusi arte", "Ez" or "Ikasten" allowed the band to offer a lot of live performances. [1]

Two years later, in 2001, Eskuak/Ukabilak was released. It features acclaimed songs such as "Oihu", "Stereo" and "Biziraun", which earned them the Gaztea Saria award for best song of the year. With this album, the band gathered the attention of public and press from outside the Basque Country. [1]

2003 was the year in which the band released their fourth album, Libre © , to excellent critic acclaim and earning them their first tour on Europe (UK, Denmark and Germany). Libre © is Berri Txarrak's most hardcore album. The album won the best Spanish album of the year award from the magazine Rock Sound and Euskadi Gaztea. The album includes songs such as "Denak ez du balio" (which features Rise Against's Tim McIlrath), "Hil nintzen eguna" and "Izena, izana, ezina". [1]

After a long tour, lead guitarist Aitor Oreja left the band. In 2005, Gorka, Aitor G and Mikel decided to carry on as a three-member band and focused on what would be Berri Txarrak's fifth album, Jaio.Musika.Hil . The band went on to tour across Mexico and Nicaragua. [1] That year, Berri Txarrak toured the US. [2] The band supported Rise Against on their 2006 European Tour. [3]

Berri Txarrak has worked on many music compilations like Nafarroa, Hitza Dantzan (GOR, 2001), Tributo a Judas Priest (Zero Records, 2000), the successful single "Bisai Berriak" (2002) and the Mikel Laboa tribute album Txinaurriak: Mikel Laboari ikasitako kantuak (2010) .

In 2008 bassist Mikel Rubio announced he would leave the band when their tour ended, and Bilbao-born David Gonzalez replaced him in the lineup. Later that year they announced a new album named Payola, which was released in September 2009 by Roadrunner Records, recorded by Steve Albini at the Electrical Audio Studios in Chicago and featured Tim McIlrath in one song again. A new single called Dortoken Mendean became available at their Myspace and at Roadrunner Records's official webpage on 29 June 2009. [1]

In 2010, Aitor Goikoetxea announced he would leave the band and he was replaced by Galder Izagirre (Dut, Kuraia). In January 2011, Berri Txarrak was nominated for the 10th Annual Independent Music Awards for Best Punk Song for their song "Folklore." [4] Also in 2011, the band released their 7th studio album, titled Haria (the Thread), recorded at Venice Beach with famed producer Ross Robinson (Slipknot, Korn). The album was released in late 2011 and included a song featuring Matt Sharp (Weezer, The Rentals). The album was followed with a tour around various countries. In 2014, the band celebrated their 20th anniversary releasing a triple LP made of 20 new songs called Denbora da poligrafo bakarra (Time is the only poligraph). For that project, they chose to record each part of the triple LP with a different producer: the first with Ross Robinson again in California, the second one with Spanish Indie producer Ricky Falkner in Madrid, and the third one with Bill Stevenson in Colorado.

In 2017, Berri Txarrak released what would end up being their last LP for the foreseeable future, Infrasoinuak (Infrasounds). It was produced by Bill Stevenson in Fort Collins, CO and mixed and mastered by Jason Livermore. In 2018, lead singer Urbizu recorded guest vocals for the all Basque hardcore punk band Adrenalized in the song Gezurra ari du (It's Raining Lies).

In late 2018, Gorka Urbizu, the only remaining founding member of the band and main songwriter, announced he had decided for Berri Txarrak to enter an indefinite hiatus. A goodbye tour was announced, with the band touring extensively throughout 2019, including many concerts in the Basque Country and Spain, as well as tour legs in France, the Netherlands, Germany, the United States, Mexico and Japan, as well as Metal and Rock festivals in Spain such as Viña Rock, Download Festival, Resurrection Fest, Cruïlla BCN, Sonorama, Tsunami Xixón or Xtreme Fest. The temporary infrastructure for Bilbao BBK Live 2019 was used shortly after the festival itself to give a special concert for 20.000 people named 'Berri Txarrak lagun artean' (Berri Txarrak among friends), in which many artists of the Basque scene featured with the band. The band finally entered their indefinite hiatus after a two-night soldout in November 2019 at the Navarra Arena, Pamplona, Navarre. [5]

Influences

The band has been influenced by Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine, Su Ta Gar, Pedro the Lion, Weezer, New Order, Rise Against, and Neurosis, among others.

In songs like "Aspaldian utzitako Zelda" or "Mundua begiratzeko leihoak", they interpret poems and writings of Joseba Sarrionandia. In 2010, they made a version of the poem "Liluraren Kontra", written by the German poet Bertolt Brecht and popularized in Basque thanks to a song by Mikel Laboa.

Members

Former members:

Discography

Albums

EPs

Compilations

Live albums

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dimmu Borgir</span> Norwegian symphonic black metal band

Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian symphonic black metal band from Jessheim, formed in 1993. The name is derived from Dimmuborgir, a volcanic formation in Iceland, the name of which means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The band has been through numerous lineup changes over the years; vocalist Shagrath and rhythm guitarist Silenoz are the only original members who still remain, with lead guitarist Galder being a longstanding member.

Ross Robinson is an American record producer who discovered acts such as Korn, Glassjaw, The Blood Brothers, Slipknot, and Limp Bizkit. Robinson has also worked with Tech N9ne, The Cure, Sepultura, and many others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Sharp</span> American musician (born 1969)

Matthew Kelly Sharp is an American songwriter and musician. Until 1998, he was the bassist for the rock band Weezer, which he co-founded in 1992. He appears on their first two albums, the Blue Album (1994) and Pinkerton (1996). In 1994, Sharp founded Rentals, who have released five albums. Sharp has also released an EP and an album as a solo artist.

Roadrunner Records is an American record label focused on heavy metal and hard rock bands. Founded in the Netherlands in 1980, it is now a division of Warner Music Group and is based in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basque music</span> Music of the Basque region and people

Basque music refers to the music made in the Basque Country, reflecting traits related to its society/tradition, and devised by people from that territory. While traditionally more closely associated to rural based and Basque language music, the growing diversification of its production during the last decades has tipped the scale in favour of a broad definition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Negu Gorriak</span> Spanish band from the Basque Country

Negu Gorriak were an underground Spanish group from the Basque Autonomous Community. Their musical style combines various styles such as hardcore punk, hip-hop, ska, and reggae, always linked to the band's political ideology and its identification with the Basque Country and its language (Euskara).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mikel Laboa</span> Musical artist

Mikel Laboa Mancisidor was one of the Basque Country's most important singer-songwriters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Betagarri</span> Spanish ska band

Betagarri is a Spanish ska band from Vitoria-Gasteiz in the Basque Autonomous Community. It was formed in 1993, but it was not until February 1997 that they recorded their first album, Betagarri, with the Vitoria record company 'Mil A Gritos', who also produced their second work, Arren Erro Zaharra, a year later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Euskaltel–Euskadi (1994–2013)</span> Spanish cycling team

Euskaltel–Euskadi was a professional road bicycle racing team from Spain, Europe. The team was commercially sponsored, but was also partly funded by the Basque Government until the end of 2013, with riders either from the Basque Country, Navarre, La Rioja, and the French Basque Country, or who had grown up in the cycling culture of those regions: This policy was abandoned to enable retention of World Tour status. Its sponsor was Euskaltel, a Basque telecom company. Euskaltel–Euskadi was famous for its all-orange team kits. Whenever the Tour de France passed through the Basque Country many spectators lined the route dressed in the team's orange or the colours of the Basque flag. The Euskaltel team also has a second team inside the "Fundacion Euskadi", this team rode in a continental category, the name of the team was Orbea. This team was created with the aim of forming the young cyclist before going to the Euskaltel–Euskadi.

<i>Jaio.Musika.Hil</i> 2005 studio album by Berri Txarrak

Jaio.Musika.Hil is the fifth studio album by Basque alternative rock band Berri Txarrak and the first one as a power trio without the guitar player Aitor Oreja as a member of the band. It was released in 2005.

Goenkale was a Basque soap-opera, produced by Pausoka Entertainment and ETB, which was broadcast every Monday and Tuesday on Basque Radio-television's first channel, ETB 1. Set in an imaginary Basque seaside town, the title of the serial is the name of the main street in that town. First broadcast in 1994, it was one of the most successful programmes of ETB 1. It ended in 2015 after 22 seasons and 3.707 episodes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delorean (band)</span> Spanish alternative dance band

Delorean were a Spanish alternative dance band formed in 2000 in Zarautz, a Basque town. The band was originally composed of vocalist and bassist Ekhi Lopetegi, guitarist Tomas Palomo, keyboardist Unai Lazcano and drummer Igor Escudeo; they created the band to explore their mutual interests, from the local punk rock scene to electronic music. Palomo was replaced in 2008 by Guillermo Astrain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletic Bilbao B</span> Spanish football club

Athletic Club "B", commonly known as Bilbao Athletic, is the reserve team of Athletic Club, a football club based in Bilbao, in the autonomous community of Basque Country in Spain. The team are playing in the Segunda Federación – Group 2. Founded in 1964, the team holds home matches at the small stadium attached to the club's training facility at Lezama, holding 3,250 spectators or occasionally at San Mamés Stadium, with its 53,500-seat capacity, for important fixtures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kodigo Norte</span> Spanish rap music group

Kodigo Norte is a Rap music group formed in 2004 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. Its members are DJ Loro, Markés, Sok and Gorka Suaia. Their songs are performed in the Spanish and Basque languages. Each member had been a part of the Vitoria hip hop scene since the late 1990s. Sok and Markés worked together previously in a different rap group. After that group was dissolved, the two founded Kodigo Norte. Band member Markés started a solo project called "Un Paseo por Mi Mente" in 2005, collaborating with other Kodigo Norte members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hesian</span>

Hesian was created in the spring of 2006. The music they play is a mix of punk rock, hardcore and a bit of ska style. The most distinctive feature of the group is the contrast of the female and the male voices. The aim of Hesian is to reflect through their lyrics real situations in their lives, including the political conflicts of the Basque Country, love, women´s situation and poverty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of the Basque Country</span>

The Basque Country is a cross-border cultural region that has a distinctive culture including its own language, customs, festivals, and music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lourdes Iriondo</span> Musical artist

Lourdes Iriondo Mujika was a Basque singer and writer from Spain known for helping to revitalize the Basque Language. She was born in San Sebastián on 27 March 1937 and lived in Urnieta, Spain. She is remembered as one of the most popular members of a singing group and cultural movement that renewed Basque songwriting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amaia Zubiria</span> Spanish-Basque singer (born 1947)

Amaia Zubiria is a Spanish-Basque singer who was born in Usurbil in the Basque province of Gipuzkoa. She started singing with Txomin Artola with whom she formed the Haizea band. She toured the Basque Country, singing adaptations of the local folk songs. She has recorded several albums since 1985, some with other singers such as Pascal Gaigne, some as a soloist.

Ez Dok Amairu was the name of a Basque avant-garde cultural movement that between 1966 and 1972 dedicated itself to recovering Basque culture and renewing it.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (in Basque) "Berri Txarrak's biography". www.berritxarrak.net. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  2. ↑ Basque Educational Organization. Accessed 2007-07-19.
  3. ↑ Rise Against Concert Review Archived September 14, 2007, at the Wayback Machine . Drowned in Sound, 10/9/06. Accessed July 19, 2007.
  4. ↑ "Berri Txarrak". Independentmusicawards.com. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
  5. ↑ Berri Txarrak. "Berri Txarrak: iraganeko kontzertuak (past concerts)". Berri Txarrak official website.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.