The Viking in the Wilderness - reviews and news

(41:50; Archivist Records) Track list: 1. What Steppes Dream About 4:41 2. When the Wild Wind and the Soul of Fire Meet 5:58 3. Tearing Winds of Innerself 3:43 4. Preparation for the Ritual 5:06 5. He with the Horse’s Head 5:37 6. A New Down 5:12 7. I Am the Path 4:27     8. Shaman 7:06 Line-up: Oleksandr Baev - vocals Oleksandr Sitalo - bass Oleh Talanov - drums Anton Vorozhtsov - guitars, sitar, percussion, synthesizers Oleksiy Pasko - guitars Ukraine band Hell:On have been a going concern for 20 years at this point, with this seasoned unit releasing new material at a fairly regular pace over the years. They have seven full length album to their name as of 2025. The most recent of these is "Shaman", which was released through Ukraine label Archivist records back in the spring of 2024. Extreme metal is the chosen hunting ground for this band, and they go about it in a rather intense and vibrant manner. A bit of a prerequisite needed to enjoy this album is to find pleasur...

(51:14; Rahel Talts) Track list: 1. Meie Elu 6:10 2. Restless 5:22 3. Conversations I 6:01 4. Conversations II 5:04 5. Conversations III 6:40 6. Conversations IV 2:15 7. Bella Center 9:32 8. New and Familiar 10:10 Line-up: Karmen Rõivassepp - vocals Rahel Talts - piano Jakob Sørensen - trompet, flugelhorn Donatas Petreikis - saxophones, flute Linda-Anette Verte - violin Egert Leinsaar - violin Sandra Klimaitė - viola Theodor Sink - cello Jacob Djursaa - guitars Mariusz Praśniewski - bass Jesper Lørup Christensen - drums Kasper Grøn - percussion with: Mads Haupt Clausen - trombone Ernesta Vauraitė - flute Denmark based Estonian artist Rahel Talts is an active composer and performer as a band member as well as when exploring her chosen musical landscapes as a solo artist. In terms of the latter part of her escapades she has been quite the busy creator indeed, with three albums to her name in the last few years. "New and Familiar" is the name of the most recent of these, which w...

(42:56; Zack's Music) Track list: 1. Til Mor (Prolog) 1:02 2. Murky Waters 2:46 3. Unfiltered Serenity 6:29 4. Point of Departure 2:59 5. While We Wait 5:59 6. Antidote 6:16 7. All at Once, Once Again 4:55 8. Punktum 5:29 9. Could Have Been 5:08 10. Vuggevise (Epilog) 1:53 Line-up: Kristoffer Vejslev - guitars Peter Price - bass Simon Forchhammer - drums with: Ned Ferm - saxophone Jakob Sørensen - trumpet Danish threesome Red Gazelle Trio started out back in 2016, and in the nine years since their formation they have released three studio albums. The first of these a self-released production, and later on they have released their albums through the Danish boutique label Zack's Music. The most recent of these is called "On a Human Level", was released at the start of 2025. It is an often soft and elegant take on the jazz music tradition we get on this production, where the core trio of a band has been supplemented by guest musicians contributing with trumpet and saxoph...

(32:42; Neuma Records) Track list: 1. Mvmt. 1 3:38 2. Mvmt. 2 3:38 3. Mvmt. 3 3:38 4. Mvmt. 1 (Reverso) 3:38 5. Mvmt. 2 (Reverso) 3:38 6. Mvmt. 3 (Reverso) 3:38 7. Mvmt. 1 (Directo + Reverso) 3:38 8. Mvmt. 2 (Directo + Reverso) 3:38 9. Mvmt. 3 (Directo + Reverso) 3:38 Line-up: Saul Bitran - violin Aron Bitran - violin Javier Montiel - viola Alvaro Bitran - cello Puerto Rico composer Dan Roman has been composing music for the past couple of decades and a bit, with his material taking inspiration from a number of different sources also outside of the classical music world. Of which thrash metal is one of those sources of inspiration. The composition 'DVXNS' was written for Mexican veteran ensemble Cuarteto Latinoamericano, a quartet that has more than 4 decades behind them as a performing and recording entity. In the fall of 2024 this composition was released by US label Neuma Records, where the album contains three different interpretations of this composition. The liner notes d...

(45:39; Neuma Records) Track list: 1. The Naked: Call 5:58 2. 오시더라 Oshi Dhora (He Came) 9:36 3. The Naked: Question 5:31 4. Sīmātītapravāhaḥ (Borderless Flows) 8:41 5. The Naked: Night 11:19 6. 水节奏 Shui Jiezou (Water Rhythm) 4:34 Line-up: Gamin - piri, saenghwang Jeff Roberts - guquin, electronics Woonjung Sim - percussion Ned Rothenburg - shakuhachi Saeyeon Jeong - vocals with: Jessika Kenny - vocals, voice Deepak Parmashivan - sarangi Jocelyn Clark - gayageum Afarin Nazarijou - qanun The multinational ensemble Pan Project was formed back in 2015, with Jeff Roberts and Gamin as the founding members. In the decade that have passed since then they have released two albums, as well as having live performances and educational events in the US and in Asia. The album "Borderless Flows" is the most recent of their two studio productions, and was released through US label Neuma Records in the fall of 2024. I rather suspect that world music may be the best categorization for the land...

(51:19; Neuma Records) Track list: 1. Yummy World 23:46 2. Another Lucid Dream 27:33 Line-up: MC Maguire - instruments Canadian composer and artist MC Maguire has been creating soundscapes and compositions of various kinds for the better part of 4 decades, and is known for his very particular approach and execution of the material and landscapes he explores. "Dystophilia" is his most recent creation, and was released by US label Neuma Records at the start of 2024. This album consist of two electronic/acoustic symphonies, both of which are based on songs from the pop music universe, with Justin Bieber's 'Yummy' and Juice Wrlds’ 'Lucid Dream' being the foundation for these works. 'Yummy World' is a striking creation that ebbs and flows between gliding, elegant sections to chaotic, disruptive passages, where majestic surges and sections with a clear pop music rhythm and undercurrent are defining aspects are just as much a part of the landscape explore...