Band: Å | Album: Åtråvärld | Genre: Progressive rock, Folk rock | Bandcamp
The latest release from this Swedish act sounds almost as if late ‘70s Jethro Tull were from Scandinavia. It’s lightly-crunchy progressive folk rock with a healthy dose of flute. The mood here is a little hazier and more psychedelic than anything Tull ever did. Jazz elements are apparent, too, and this whole record has a wonderfully laid-back feel to it. This is very much music for walking through the woods. But, y’know, proggy.
Score: 81/100
Band: amalakamala | Album: LaaMaKaMaaL | Genre: Jazz-fusion, Progressive rock | Bandcamp
This lovely little EP does an incredible job blending the smooth sounds of 1980s Japanese jazz with biting, acidic guitar tones and progressive songwriting. The three songs presented here provide a wonderful mix of sounds and moods, and the closing epic “Traveling Sleepers” is especially emotive and powerful.
Score: 91/100
Band: Jack Dupon | Album: Toucan | Genre: Avant-prog, RIO | Bandcamp
The latest release from Jack Dupon is full of angular, tangled riffs and swirling textures. In addition to the influences of many big names of avant-prog, funkier elements from acts like Primus and Mr. Bungle are also evident. The songs on Toucan build and thump; hypnotic grooves carry these pieces to unexpected places, and it’s one hell of a trip.
Score: 84/100
Band: Moriya | Album: The Black Nail Tantra | Genre: Post-metal, Psychedelic metal | Bandcamp
Moriya, hailing from Kharabovsk in Russia’s Far East, return with their second album of psychedelic Buddhist post-metal with a psychedelic twist. The Black Nail Tantra is mostly instrumental (there is a bit of throat singing here, but the vocals are kept to a minimum), but I barely notice that fact. The band cultivates a hypnotic, mantra-like state that suits their inspirations very well. The sound palette is also a bit more varied than their debut, with assorted folk instruments getting their times in the spotlight.
Score: 83/100
Band: Thanatotherion | Album: Alienation Manifesto | Genre: Progressive metal, Death metal | Bandcamp
Thanatotherion is a new project from the guitarist/vocalist of Ulthar, and there are some clear throughlines between these two bands’ works. Both feature blistering cosmic blackened death metal, but Thanatotherion features lusher soundscapes supported by synthesizers. The individual elements also feel easier to pick out, compared to Ulthar, which I like. The music here is aggressive and otherworldly.
Score: 81/100
Band: Tusmørke | Album: Dawn of Oberon | Genre: Progressive rock | Bandcamp
The obvious centerpiece of Tusmørke’s newest album is its 18-minute title track, which kicks things off. Its atmosphere is lush, replete with flutes and synthesizers, and the band’s usual sense of whimsy is apparent. It’s a beautiful piece that swells and soars, and it’s one of my favorite individual songs of the year. The rest of the album is great, too. Jazz and Canterbury elements are prominent, and the band does an excellent job at weaving in Norwegian folk motifs. One of the things I like so much about this band is how fun and light-hearted they can be, while still putting out complex and intelligent music.
Score: 85/100
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