HÄLLAS

For the first part of their "adventure rock" trilogy, Swedish retro rockers HÄLLAS decided to just dip their toes in the murky headwaters of the early 1970s with a self titled EP that even concludes with a self titled track. At this point this is closer to good old fashioned head banger rock than the pastel bell bottomed sound of the full(LP)- length pair of released that would follow in the next half decade. While this works well on the ELOY meets BLUE OYSTER CULT meets JETHRO TULL like debut "Autumn in Space" and the SABBATH shaded assault of "Insomnia", by the time of "Tale of a Tyrant" the thrashing has irrevocably crossed over into pastiche, and licks with more than a whiff of "21st Century Schizoid Man" will either put you off or send you over the moon. "Hällas" offers clues as to further progression but ultimately ensnares itself in a form of heavy rock cage dance.

Thankfully, this release earned sufficient accolades to inspire the band to carry on and ultimately complete the trilogy, while most importantly evolving their own style that is so much more than a brimming basket of influences, though yes they do offer that as well!