RENAISSANCE OF FOOLS - Fear, Hope & Frustration (CD)

Now here’s the return of a long lost great musician. Daniel Magdic was in the first line-up of Pain Of Salvation, but then disappeared into obscurity. In the new unit Renaissance Of Fools we also find singer and guitarist extraordinaire, Kjell Bergendahl, who is also found in heavy rockers Thalamus. The band is completed by bass player Björn Tauman (Without Grief, Chainwreck) and drummer Magnus Karlsson. Daniel, Björn and Magnus actually had a previous band together, called Cudfish, which unfortunately never really lift off. Hopefully this will. Trying to describe what you will find on this band’s debut I can use the first two member’s former and ordinary bands – Pain Of Salvation and Thalamus. Here are songs like opener Precious Life and Ordinary Man’s Diary which both possess the heaviness of Thalamus, but also the progressive, slightly melancholic side of Daniel’s past adventures. In songs like Polarized Round they lean more towards the progressive side. I also want to point out, it’s not progressive as in Dream Theater-like technical cold overload, but more the King Crimson and even Pink Floydish side of that genre. The sound is heavy and think, but still very dynamic with akiller mix by Pelle Saether and mastering by King’s X Ty Tabor. The detuned guitars give it an extra crunch and Tauman’s heavy bass playing really lays the album a powerful foundation to rest upon. Even in ballads like Leave It All Behind they manage to give it an aura of heaviness and power. Here Tauman’s bass playing also really shine through. I truly love Kjell’s voice and the way he embraces the songs and takes the melodies to a new level. The harmony language sometimes makes me think of bands like Anekdoten or The Flower Kings. Fear, Hope & Frustration is an album highly recommended for fans of heavy progressive/symphonic rock.
Janne Stark
Label: Metalville
Year: 2011

THALAMUS - Subterfuge (CD)

Borlänge-based heavy rockers Thalamus’ debut album was one of the releases that really knocked me out when it arrived. It was one hell of a debut, filled to the brim with fat riffs and heavy grooves. As a small taster for the follow-up the band released a very nice MCD entitled Sign Here For Nothing. When the second full length album Subterfuge now arrives it’s no thunder and lightning and no brutal riff that pleasantly smashes your forehead. Nope, the album opens with almost three minutes of soft, almost jazz/folky, but still quite heavy prog using only vocals, guitars, keyboard, and halfway through also bass, but no drums. It’s definitely a great song, but very surprising. Furthermore it’s only entitled Intro. Well, have no fear, in second track Bring Down Mary they prove the riffs and groove is there! After this When Goblins Cheer brings it all into a dead heavy doom territory, but with a very melodic chorus, which I also didn’t expect. I like that the boys dare to explore new territories, it makes it all a bit more interesting. Blind actually brings in some vintage Purple overtones, distorted Hammond and all, and with a chorus that sounds very much Purple Perfect Strangers era, but with Kjell’s bluesy vocals taking it in a totally different direction. Still Dancing On My Grave brings another dose of ultra-potent riffing which is something of a trademark of this band. The track I Hope You Understand is the only survivor off the intermediate MCD, here re-mixed by Daniel Bergstrand to fit the rest of the disc, and it sure does both musically and soundwise. One of my absolute favourite tracks is the ultra-groovy and almost funky Shot To Hell, which makes it impossible to sit still. The riff fest continues on the She Sells Desolation, which kicks off in quite an unorthodox way with a guitar riff and drums that suddenly stops, like the drummer forgot the rhythm, but soon picks up. Very funny indeed and with another memorable riff. Love Is Shining On The Dead Man almost draws near singer/guitarist Kjell Bergendahl’s side project Renaissance Of Fools with its cool, slightly psychedelic feel. The album finishes with the cool stomping cool riffster Through The Fields, where the riff almost sounds like ugly ogres walking through a stony field, lifting their feet and stomping down hard and firm. Is it better than the debut? I kinda see them as two totally different entities as they are quite different, even though the basic formula is still there, and I feel one completes the other. You can easily play the two back to back without feeling any sense of repetition. Killer stuff!

Janne Stark
Label: Transubstans
Year: 2011
Country: Sweden
Link: http://www.thalamusband.com/

Thalamus - Sign Here For Nothing (MCD)

Thalamus is a band that caught my attention already at their demo stage. I’m also proud to say I had the pleasure of adding a guest solo on a track on the band’s debut album, which is one hell of a debut! I shall also say I have no involvement in this release, meaning I’m not biased, sorta... Anyway, biased or not, this band is the wet dream of any fan of heavy riff oriented 70s hard rock! They remind me a bit of Spiritual Beggard, with the same heaviness, but less stonery. The songs are solid as a rock, and the mix moves mountains. Kjell is also not your average stoner shouter, but has a voice more similar to Beggars first singer, Spice/Kryddan, with a higher pitch than most stonerbands, and of course more melodic. Still, the boy rocks! What I also love about Thalamus is that they don’t take the straight and easy road. Just listen to a song like “Black Day Sunday” with its cool backbeat rhythm and slightly quirky touch. The same goes for the cool but, also rhythmically quirky, “New Age Blues”. Don’t be fooled by the title, it’s no twelve bar standard plodder. This is riff magic of the first degree! Most of the songs are penned by tall boy bass-player Peter Johansson, who has an unerring precision for constructing great and interesting riffs and structures. Besides being a great singer Kjell is also a string-bender of the first order with a Leslie West-infused seventies vibe running down his spine. This platter was mastered by King’s X guitarist Ty Tabor, who did a great job enhancing instead of destroying a great recording. The band is currently in the studio recording a new album, which I’m sure will bring even more walls down! HIGHLY recommended!
Janne Stark
Year: 2010
Label: Scoj Music
Country: Sweden
http://www.myspace.com/thalamusband