SYMPHONIC HOLOCAUST

A bit of a Scandanavian super group with remnants of Landberk (Fiske & Dimle) and Anekdoten (Berg & Nordins), the individuals here were drawn together by a shared love of dark musical soundtracks to old horror movies--which are honored with the band covering their choice of six songs from old "classic" horror film soundtracks.

1. "Apoteosi del Mistero" (4:16) sounds like a practice/getting-to-know-each-other song for the quartet: an Anekdoten song to jam with. (TONS of Mellotron!) It is nice to hear Reine Fiske mixed into the Anekdoten sound--though he is being very conservative here. (8.25/10)

2. "Threats of Stark Reality" (2:59) the first of the album's two original compositions, a gathering of individual ideas rendered into a spacey, somewhat eerie cinematic cacophony. (4/5)

3. "Sequenza Ritmica e Tema" (7:02) this one sounds like a Landberk song that the band has chosen to jam over: All of the requisite subtle spaces are present though, being an instrumental, this is more interesting for noting where, when, and how each individual decides to contribute their solo ventures.The final two minutes are the most interesting with all individuals exploring interesting expressions before coming together for a cohesive finish. (13/15)

4. "Lullaby" (8:02) tense and temporal, the spacious music is familiar to us from both bands, but then vocalist Yessica Lindkvist enters to offer her soothing vocalise "la-la"s. I love how the 'trons follow her and the other keys play off her in a kind of French cinematic way. Definitely a top three song for me. I love Stefan Dimle's sparse, laid-back bass contributions. He has the "Hole" discipline! (13.5/15)

5. "Quiet Drops" (6:43) This must've been one of the guitarist's cover choices as the guitar play is so focused and sublime; there is a Roy Buchanan mastery to Reine Fiske's lead play. I don't know the film from which it was taken but it must've been sublime! My favorite song on the album. (10/10)

6. "Opening Theme" (2:50) this one sounds like an informal practice jam that happened to be the best recorded version. (4.25/5)

7. "The Photosession" (7:10) ocean shore sounds are soon joined by smooth guitar note picking. Pretty. Soon cymbal play, incidental background guitar notes, and bass join in--and then Fender Rhodes and other keyboard synths. Reine's dreamy incidental notes are such a perfect complement and fulfillment to the "organized" foundational structure delivered by the other three gentlemen. My other top three song. (14/15)

8. "Symphonic Holocaust" (17:51) the other original composition (30.5/35)

Total Time: 57:17

While I have memory of liking this album upon first hearing it a decade ago, upon diving into it on a deeper level for this review I am surprised at how I am now finding it.

B+/4.5 stars; a near-masterpiece of cinematic prog from an all-star collaboration that this music lover would love to see/hear again.