NUCLEUS

''Vemod'' was shockingly good for the underground community of prog fans around early-90's , who waited for years for the ressurection of their beloved music.For Anekdoten this would be translated into a major tour around Europe - they visited Norway, Germany, Switzerland and Italy besides Sweden - and completed a transtlantic journey to the American grounds, highlighted by their performance at Progfest 94'.This gig would be part of both of the CD and Video formats of this festival by Musea Records.Next came the long-awaited second album of the band, recorded at the Studio Largen and released on Virtalevy in 1995 under the title ''Nucleus''.The same album was also released by Musea Records and the Archangel label for the Japanese market.

While using the same formula as on their debut, Anekdoten returned with an even heavier album, featuring some extreme guitar and bass parts, which usually led into an atmospheric lyricism.KING CRIMSON appear to be once more the center of their influences, the lovely and unique combination of complex guitar moves and powerful dissonances with the mellow lyrical parts had become a trademark of the band.''Nucleus'' seems to open a window into Alternative Rock paths at specific moments, the punchy guitar rhythms were a good reason for this change, but they still retained their genuine approach on Progressive Rock, as long as Berg and Dahlberg were handling the Mellotron and the cello respectively.While they sounded very modern, the use of analog keyboards, the KING CRIMNSON-ian atmospheres and the long instrumental parts with the orchestral overtones still showed some tight links to the vintage era.The Mellotron appears as a regular contributor in almost every track, complemented by occasional organ and electric piano washes, and the cello provides an even darker and more haunting taste to Anekdoten's music.The contrast between the sinister and complicated instrumentals and the ethereal, poetic vocals is always charming and the atmosphere at moments seems to enter a more dreamy and optimistic territory.Very good arrangements with impressive mood changes and the correct dose of prog complexity.

Similar to ''Vemod'', albeit a bit heavier, revisiting the old KING CRIMSON principles with a Scandinavian color of their own.Pretty personal style of atmospheric Heavy Prog, strongly recommended to say the least...3.5 stars.