GRAKS

Third album from this Gothic-prog group from Norway, Thule (named after Greenland's capital) might have produced their best (or at least most original) album after a few years' absence. Their sombre rock fits quite a well our Art Rock category even if progheads would find it difficult to relate them to another prog groups. Their most obvious influences would come from the 80's Goth rock like Dead Can Dance or in a weird way Bauhaus (not to be confused with the band in our archives, though) and even Sister Of Mercy or the first Cult album, Love.

While definitely more prog than the previous Forstbrent, Graks is really into depressing melancholic shorter songs with low guttural vocals (typically gothic, but not far away from death metal either, but not screaming them), cold ambiances that often sounds popish, with a few Floyd twinges (Gilmour and Mason). Overall, I seem to be attracted to the longer songs like Daga and its second part (both over the 7-min mark) and Hjaerteslag; Song! starts with a dramatic guitar, but unfortunately it gets drown out soon enough by average songwriting. As is the case with the second half of the album where every tracks follows without much notice: there is a sax in the closing track, Blasar.

Needless to say that the songs are already not that fascinating, but the Norwegian lyrics are not helping out either. Quite difficult for me to discuss their sound, but pleasant enough if prog did not exist in so many forms and much less choices. Hardly essential, but if you are into Miranda Sex Garden, you'll likely appreciate Thule as well.