In Sweden it is more common that a band is mainly driven by a certain family such as Introitus (Bender family). It may be going too far to say that this also applies to compatriots Paatos, but it is clear that the Nettermalm family plays an important role within this band. Petronella Nettermalm is a great singer who leaves a big mark on the music with her voice. You could easily hear Kate Bush in it. "Huxflux" Nettermalm plays drums and Tea Nettermalm and Elivira Nettermalm sing in the background in I deny. Yet it is also guitarist Peter Nylander and keyboardist Mikael Nilzen who provide the compositions and Ulf Ivarsson completes the band as bass player. The new album is released after a long period of apparent inactivity because the last album V (yes, the fifth album) dates back to 2012. Has much changed? Yes, the music is still an atmospheric reflection of the Scandinavian melancholy that we often hear from bands from the far north, but there is more intense experimentation than on the previous albums. Again, don't expect long tracks with a lot of variety and solos, the album contains ten tracks with an average playing time of about five minutes. Occasionally the tempo goes up but the atmosphere and of course the already mentioned voice of Petronella remain decisive. Striking is the contribution of Opeth singer Mikael Akerfeldt in the song Beyond The Forest which immediately makes this song the best one of the album. Those two beautiful voices really provide a very nice tension and with more than seven minutes they take a little more time, although the last minute is a very elongated outro with some forest sounds. Opener Chemical Escape, gosh what would that be about, is a bit smoother and shows an almost swinging rhythm section. In Ligament we hear a flamenco guitar, played by Soma Catomeris, heavy chords and a heavily distorted voice of Petronella. I think this is a terrible song, the dissonant guitars and screeching keys rage over a super busy rhythm section. Melody is hard to find and the contrast with the previous two tracks is enormous. You could appreciate the experimental drift but I can't do anything with this noise. The next Post War Liminal, with just over two minutes, is actually nothing more than a long drawn-out tone without melody or clear instrumentation. I don't understand this either. Then they go back to the melancholic atmosphere with I'm letting go that actually contains a kind of guitar solo at the end. That's how I would like to hear them. Who am I also continues that somewhat oppressive atmosphere that suits them so well. In the background we certainly hear some experimental music, but again it is the voice that stands out, until halfway through the music it reverts to a kind of tonal jumble. If you also get to hear a song with the title November, the expectation increases that it will not be a happy song. And that's absolutely right. There are clear links with the later work of Kate Bush, but I find that much more beautiful than what I hear here. Mysterious, for sure, but I still miss tangible melodies. Last Ones Of A Kind starts serenely with Petronella's angelic vocals, but soon a pounding rhythm comes in with heavy guitar chords and throbbing keys and bass. The drum pattern is very busy and dominant but this song has a more comprehensive flow and initially comes across as much more cohesive. Just to be clear, it is certainly not a standard track and halfway through the guitar picks up the thread again after a somewhat chaotic passage. Svart closes the album and Petronella sings that the end is near and that she would like to fly away from the here and now. The slow rhythm slowly changes into a booming lament with strong vocal outbursts. The ending is quite dramatic and leaves a dead silence. All is black again. Boy, what should I think of this? What is offered is far away from what I normally listen to and like. If I have to compare it to something, I would call it a mixture of Kate Bush and Porcupine Tree after a hard night with a hint of King Crimson. That level is never reached though. Normally I really welcome variety, but the contrast between, for example, Beyond The Forest and Ligament is so huge and so my appreciation differs hugely too. Their more cinematic side appeals to me but that's it. Fans of the more experimental side of prog might love this and there are certainly elements that I can appreciate as well, but in the end I have to conclude that this album as a whole is not for people, like me, who love to hear more traditional prog. I just don't feel it. The three stars is because of Petronella's beautiful voice and the minus for the lack of memorable melodies. ***- Erik Fraanje (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
