Retro prog; Progressive rock
Latest: Pestkrønikene (2026). July 24
2/12/18 (new entry)
Showing posts with label Norway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Norway. Show all posts
July 4, 2026
April 28, 2026
Hex A.D. ~ Norway
Retro Hard Rock; Progressive rock
Latest: Surgical Cuts in the Cosmos (2026). May 22.
Astro Tongue in the Electric Garden (2020)
I wasn't sold at first on the 3rd album by this Norwegian band. The first track sounds like Candlemass and 'Astro Tongue' has all the trappings of a typical Stoner album. While those two genres are welcome here, it's not something I'm on the lookout for. I have plenty already and will likely trim some off the collection. Ah, but not so fast. Things get much more interesting on the proggy 'The Day the Sky Exploded', where keyboards and meter and thematic changes add a whole new dimension to their sound. The other two tracks on side one are pre and postludes. Fortunately all of Side two maintains the momentum, and there's even some Iron Maiden like riffing. The album sits at the border of hard rock and metal, with more than a nod to progressive rock. The difference maker is keyboardist Mags Johansen who brings a raft full of vintage keys, most notably mellotron and Hammond. The band's image is also mixed - the album cover demonstrating psychedelic prog, whereas the fonts and titles are Stoner all the way. The hype sticker is misleading as well, where it states this album is for fans of: Rush (huh?); Rainbow (que?); Iron Maiden (yes, but only Side 2); Opeth (well maybe, I know little about this band beyond Blackwater Park). In addition to the fine cover, there's a 4 page insert with band photos, lyrics, and album credits.
3/5/22 (review)
10/14/23 (new entry)
March 2, 2026
February 2, 2026
Agropelter ~ Norway
August 4, 2025
Ring van Möbius ~ Norway
Retro prog
Latest: Firebrand (2025). To be released Oct 3.
Well they said they were finished. And now they have a new album proclaiming they are done... done. Really, no really.
UMR review page for Ring Van Mobius
1/15/19 (new entry)
July 28, 2024
Elephant9, Norway
Jazz rock; Krautrock styled
Latest: Catching Fire (w/ Terje Rypdal) (2024). Release date: Oct 18
Silver Mountain (2015)
For the opener ‘Occidentali’, take 1969 era Pink Floyd, King Crimson, and Soft Machine. Roll them up tight in a ball, and then have Wolfgang Dauner’s Et Cetera play that imaginary music. Get your attention, did I? Not sure I’ve ever heard those 4 names tossed together in the same breath. This is followed by a Stevie Wonder cover tune, as driven by the same above parameters. OK then. Not that you’ll actually recognize the tune, as it’s about as psychedelic interpreted as it can possibly get. There’s also this strange 1971 vintage Tangerine Dream quality about these two compositions. Like a long form ‘Ultima Thule’ if that makes sense. As the ladies of HGTV like to often say, these 2 songs are ahh-MAY-ZING. ‘Abhartach’ is a bit too much though, and ear fatigue begins to set in. It reminds me of those modern Japanese bands where they never seem to know when to quit. Redlining it all the time is tiresome. Though experience tells me there's a contingent of those who feel "too much of a good thing, is a good thing", so you'll probably love this track too. ‘Kungsten’ starts out similar, and it’s time to find the fast forward button. But by the 7 minute mark, the band slows it back down to atmospheric keyboards, psychedelic moods, and jam sequences. This is clearly where Elephant9 shines, on this effort anyway. The last 2 minutes brings back the energy of the prelude, though its placement here is far more effective. Finale ‘The Above Ground Sound’ recalls ‘Occidentali’ mixed with ‘Kungsten’. Once again Dungen’s guitarist Reine Fiske is on board, and his decidedly acid guitar tone adds much to the overall psychedelic stew. Vintage keyboards, primarily organ, electric piano, and mellotron, are still the focus here. Overall, Silver Mountain is certainly Elephant9’s most experimental album to date, though no less worthy. Four albums in, and Elephant9 have yet to disappoint. They are by far, IMHO, the best band on the Rune Grammofon label.
---3/26/17
Other albums heard: Dodovoodo (2008); Walk the Nile (2010); Atlantis (2012)
2/26/13 (new entry)
March 25, 2024
Seven Impale, Norway
Progressive rock
Latest release: Summit (2023)
Contrapasso (2016)
A much different take on progressive rock, Seven Impale adds metal elements and even electronics to the stew. Once you realize this will not be a retro prog effort, the results are just as satisfying as the debut. One can see why this album isn't as highly rated, but I enjoy them the same, though they're obviously very different in their approach. One of those albums you know needs more listens to properly absorb.
---3/24/24
City of the Sun (2014)
Seven Impale's debut is a dense work recalling Van der Graaf Generator and King Crimson, with a more contemporary vocal style. A somewhat typical modern take on 70s prog rock, borderline impenetrable, but ultimately satisfying.
---5/5/22
6/16/23 (new entry)
February 18, 2024
December 8, 2023
Arabs in Aspic, Norway
Retro prog hard rock
Latest album: The Magic of Sin (2023). Released Dec 1.
Pictures in a Dream (2013)
Robert Fripp has stated that Larks' Tongues in Aspic means: "Something precious which is stuck, but visible. Something precious which is encased in form." So with that heady bit of insight, it's obvious to me that Arabs in Aspic means... yea, I have no idea either. [shrug]
But what is "in aspic" is the band's ability to recreate the sounds of the 1970s. Specifically the American FM sound of 1975 and '76. Despite being from Norway, Arabs in Aspic are yet another band that would fit well in my USA Midwest / Ontario Progressive Rock (1970's/early 80s) list. Sounds odd doesn't it? Well... it's not as strange as it may first appear.
In 1990, in my European backpacking days, I was on an overnight train from Oslo to Bergen. And I befriended a nice looking couple who I thought might be American. They didn't look American (jeans and white tennis shoes were still strictly the provenance of Americans in those days), but they sure did sound like it. So I ventured into conversation with them - both college kids and only a few years younger than I at the time. They went on to explain that they not only learn English, but "American English" in school. Crap - they spoke the language better than I did (do)!
So a band from Norway being able to immerse themselves completely into the American mindset isn't that far fetched at all. Note I said the FM sound of America - not just bands from the USA. To me Arabs in Aspic have carved a niche out of something very familiar - somewhere between Pink Floyd, Kansas, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, and Led Zeppelin. It's a fascinating blend - like mixing a new drink with common ingredients.
Sure, you say, but most of those bands were British and they were popular everywhere, right? True. But Arabs in Aspic remind me of those US bands that tried, successfully or unsuccessfully, to copy them. A deep diver may call out other 70s Norwegian bands like Host, Aunt Mary, or Ruphus, but that's not it... I hear the music here as something created in North America - not in Europe. Even more so than Black Bonzo, who came close, but still sounded "English". Seriously.
(Of note, they threw in two tracks with Norwegian vocals, that completely changes the tone of the music. For me, I'd like to hear more of this trend.)
To approach the album properly, I would probably avoid thinking of it as "progressive rock". More like "classic rock".
9/4/13 (new entry)
October 13, 2023
June 16, 2023
Swifan Eolh & The Mudra Choir, Norway
Latest release: The Key (2019)
The Key (2019)
Over 30 years ago, there was a new band from Norway that appeared on an also new LP-only imprint called Colours. That group was known as Utopian Fields, who managed two albums, and both of those have just recently received a CD reissue on the Norsk Classic Albums label. Swifan Eolh & The Mudra Choir (these monikers...) is version 2.0 of Utopian Fields, among others. All the newer bands from Norway are very well studied, and the music they produce is excellent, if not necessarily ear catching. You could read what I said about Tusmorke's latest, and apply it here. Unfortunately these Norwegian albums tend to all blur together (excepting Wobbler of course). I probably need a few hours of intense listening to begin to sift them all through my mind. For The Key, I listened to each side twice, but no specific words emerged. I didn't care for 'Tides are Turning' and liked the opener 'Wounded Dreamers' best. ProgArchives for their part make a point to call this "eclectic prog". I wouldn't have a clue what that meant, but Swifan Eolh & The Mudra Choir do seem a perfect fit for such a wide ranging genre. As for that defunct label Colours, Utopian Fields could be seen as the most obscure on the imprint, considering no less luminaries than Anglagard, Anekdoten, and Landberk all debuted there. Swifan Eolh & The Mudra Choir will be even more obscure in the annals of time.
5/9/22; 6/16/23 (new entry)
January 4, 2019
WintherStormer, Norway
Overview: Berlin School enthusiasts with a sound like Radio Massacre International due to the addition of guitar.
UMR notes
October 25, 2018
Saluki, Norway
Overview: Saluki are a band of the 70s who dabbled in jazz fusion, funk, and progressive rock.
UMR notes
March 3, 2017
Tangle Edge, Norway
News: 2016 saw the band releasing their first new album in quite some time called Infinity Steps Back, which I need to investigate. In addition, a couple of their older CD-Rs are being refurbished by Auricle. Still in the inferior CD-R format (sigh).
Location: Narvik (waaay up north. Brrrrr)
Overview: Tangle Edge are the premiere space rock group when talking about the renaissance that occurred in the late 1980s. As if frozen in time, literally and figuratively, Tangle Edge brought back the spirit and vigor of the early 70s northern European psychedelic explorers. Some 35 years since their debut cassette, the band continues on in a similar manner. Seemingly in their own world. I have all their (non CD-R) albums up through Serpentary Quarters. Their last two albums have been LP only. In any case, I'll eventually get more reviews up.
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Facebook Soundcloud Latest: Ruins (2016) UMR review page for Wolf People 5/15/11 (new entry) -
News: It appears the band is no more, and they have no active internet presence as of January 2, 2017. Location: Rutigliano, Puglia ... -
Retro prog; Doom metal Facebook Latest release: The Old Ways Remain (2023) ---UMR notes Lord of Misrule (2016) Lord of Misrule is Blood Cere... -
News: Nothing of consequence since 2016. Last check: December 26, 2018 Website Facebook Samples UMR notes -
Retro prog Facebook Bandcamp Latest: Panacea (2026). May 22 UMR review page for Agusa 5/10/14 (new entry) -
Progressive rock Facebook Latest album: Alter Ego (2023). Had no idea these guys were still around either! Though it appears the group is mo... -
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Progressive rock; Hard rock Facebook Latest: Devoto (2016) Deux Ex Machina don't appear to have any new activity since 2018. Devoto (20... -
News: Humus is still kicking around, and playing live shows in their native Mexico. I haven't heard any of their output since 1999... -
Krautrock styled; Neo Gothic Progressive Facebook Bandcamp (new) Bandcamp (old) Latest: Devotion to a Noble Idea (2025) EP Beauty Will Save ...