HYBRIS

Änglagård may have resurrected progressive rock. The Norwegians did a very good album and when I first heard of it I was completely blown away, but now there are some things that hold me back a bit. The starter Jordrök is the pick of the bunch. Everything is sophisticatedly crafted if we exclude the somehow forced usage of the pipe organ which interrupts the magnificent flow of the song. But it is a momument in progressive rock nonetheless. Vandringar I Vilsenhet that comes next begins with an amazing intro with cello, flute and keyboards with tasteful chords, but at 3:45 something unexpected happens: vocals (female) join in. I clearly enjoy much more the instrumental sections of the song which, fortunately, are the biggest part of the track. On the third song (Ifrån klarhet till klarhet) it is male vocals this time that come into play and they are even worse. Somehow Änglagård seem to set a tradition for future Norwegians bands to come (or should I say of those I have heard): great, if not impeccable, musicanship but flat, lukewarm, uninteresting vocals. Immediately after the vocals part has ended, the song takes up a new interest. This becomes more evident in the last track Kung Bore where the vocals take a more dominant role and which seems to drag on and on and the music sounds now a bit self-referential.

In conclusion I would say that it is the vocals that bum me out. The biggest part of the music is definitely ejoyable and top-notch, but sometimes things sound a bit forced to my ears. Still, if you like, or at least the vocals isn't a nuisance to you, the album will score extra points and it might well make it to your top progressive releases.