+4626 - COMFORTZONE

A fantastic album and the perfect way for the currently-extinct Beardfish to bid farewell after a not too long but fruitful enough career. This Swedish band has managed to become an underground prog rock phenomenon for their sixteen years of existence; unfortunately, Beardfish is also a band that is virtually unknown in the mainstream.

The 'classic' line-up of the band (which happens to be the line-up appearing on every single album they have released), consisting of Rikard Sjöblom on vocals, keys and guitars, David Zackrisson on guitars, Magnus Östgren on drums, and Robert Hansen on bass is rocking out in perfect shape on this 2015 release. '+4626-COMFORTZONE', originally planned to be named just 'Comfort Zone' might be the hidden gem in the Swedes' discography, somehow standing in the shadow of albums like 'Mammoth' or 'Sleeping in Traffic: Part Two' but no less spectacular. In fact, I consider this record one of their most musically diverse releases, encapsulating simultaneously the musical values that they have displayed throughout their career, and the plethora of influences on their sound (such as King Crimson, Genesis, Yes, Pain of Salvation, Deep Purple, and who know what more!). An interesting moment is the addition of the +4626 code which happens to indicate the zone in Gävle, where the band had been formed.

Not necessarily a concept album but an album that focuses mainly on the themes of comfort and relationship, which are explored in various ways throughout the record, '+4626-COMFORTZONE' contains some of Beardfish's greatest moments, in my opinion, namely the title track, the three-part split suite of 'The One Inside', the 15-minute epic 'If We Must Be Apart', or the heavier 'King' and 'Daughter/Whore' that contain friendly nods to the band's previous album 'The Void'. It is this mixture of straight-up prog rock songs with Fripp-style lead guitars and lush keyboard ventures, heavier riff-oriented songs, and more atmospheric, personal tracks that make this album so great and captivating.

Misleadingly labeled 'retro prog', Beardfish is one of the Scandinavian prog bands that actually have an original edge and a strong musical personality. They surely wear their influences on their sleeves but also smartly incorporate them with their tendency to go for really heavy guitar-based songs on some occasions, quirky passages on others and humorous narratives with painfully relatable characters.

The sound is quite organic and the album is mixed in a very professional way, so that all the sounds unfold themselves gracefully. The compositions are well-conceived and masterfully played, with memorable melodies and great lyrics (And I would dare to call this one of their most sing-along albums!); Moreover, this might be Rikard's strongest vocal performance on any Beardfish album, displaying his full range of capabilities. And with risk of repeating myself, I shall conclude with the statement that this is a very, very strong release and a tremendous exit for a very important modern prog rock band from Sweden.