The Viking in the Wilderness - reviews and news

(41:02; Tower of Silence Records) Track list: 1. Ona Kraljuje Sama 4:02 2. Sacrum 3:52 3. In Dogma 5:48 4. Nothing but Filth 2:33 5. Sentinel Hill 5:27 6. Aeshma 3:39 7. Black Mat 1:14 8. Siblicide 2:48 9. Lies Beneath the Golden Ruins 2:42 10. Ellipsis 2:36 11. Tower of Silence 6:21 Line-up: Vedran Nor - vocals, guitars Matko Podobnik - drums with: Tomislav Ferenc - guitars Darjan Fiolić - guitars, vocals, mandolin Croatian band In Dakhma appears to have started out back in 2022, at least according to the Metal Archives website, and earlier this year they appeared with their first slice of recorded material with the single "Lies Beneath the Golden Ruins". In the late fall of 2024 the band was ready with their debut album "He Who Sows the Ground", which appears to have been self-released. It is extreme metal that is the hunting ground of this twosome, and they take on this style of metal in an intriguing manner. They have opted for a fairly rich guitar sound for sta

(44:08; April Records) Track list: 1. Evangelisten 5:45 2. I Push Too 2:58 3. Degrowth 3:21 4. Procession 6:25 5. Ako Pôjdem 2:38 6. Himmelhænder 3:42 7. The Mind 3:02 8. Jamal 2:57 9. The Mourners 5:43 10. Spinner 2:27 11. Peace Train 5:10 Line-up: Sune Sunesen Rendtorff - piano, synthesizer Carlo Janusz Becker Adrian - trumpet, flugelhorn Frederik Engell - saxophone Michela Turcerová - saxophone Rafał Różalski - bass Simon Forchhammer - drums Danish band Alawari has been around in one form or another at least since 2017, and appeared as recording artists with their self-titled album back in 2022. Two years and a few line-up alterations later they are now back with their second album "Leviathan", which was released through Danish label April Records. It is a more contemporary sounding variety of jazz we get in this case, and an all instrumental variety of the form at that. The use of reeds and brass are mainstay dominant elements throughout, with ample and effective support

(46:22; NOS Records / Marracult) Track list: 1. Complete the Task 6:10 2. Somewhere We Have Landed 4:05 3. Underworld Conspiracy 4:55 4. In the Name of 6:34 5. Bite for Freedom 5:16 6. Is It Really All Over? 3:22 7. Sirashka 0:52 8. Where Are You 4:22 9. Try to Get the Sun 3:45 10. Dreaming Laurel Canyon 2:32 11. Turn on the Good Music, Louder! 4:29 Line-up: Deje - sounds, vocals Amerigo Verardi - vocals, sounds Italian duo Maverick Persona started out towards the end of 2023 from what I can see, and the twosome released their debut album just a few months later in the spring of 2024. This appears to be a productive as well as creative partnership, and now in the late fall of 2024 they are back with their second album "In the Name of", which was released through the labels NOS Records and MarraCult. This is a venture that appears to defy most of the style and genre conventions we tend to use when describing music. Not that different style descriptions can't be used here,

(52:06; Melodic Revolution Records) Track list: 1. Vicinity 3:58 2. Hero 3:29 3. Come Back Again 4:20 4. When It Bleeds 4:55 5. Roll the Dice 5:46 6. Alive 3:11 7. Final Stage 4:50 8. Shot in the Dark 4:02 9. I'll Run 4:19 10. When No One's Watching 3:54 11. I Still Believe 4:32 12. Stay 4:50 Line-up: Wayne Holden - vocals Glenn Johnson - guitars, vocals Andy Young - keyboards, vocals Ian Slade - bass, vocals Evan Johnson - drums, vocals Steve Pirie - guitars, vocals Australian band Sonic Divide was formed sometime around 2009 from what I can gather, consisting of members with ample amounts of experience from other creative ventures prior to forming this band. They self-released their debut album back in 2013, but following the sometimes intricate patterns in the lives of creative artists it took the band a few years to return to the recording studio. When they did so it was after signing up with US label Melodic Revolution Records, who released their second and so far most rec

(42:40; April Records) Track list: 1. Vejen til Epidemin 4:14 2. Hey, Superhero 3:26 3. Skyggespil 6:07 4. Trumsolo 1:59 5. Blue-Seven 2:00 6. Gothenburg Volume Three 4:07 7. Sounds and Sequences 7:19 8. Ego Ekko 3:30 9. Beautiful Daisy 3:36 10. Powerglass 3:52 11. End Wave 2:30 Line-up: Daniel Sommer - drums Arve Henriksen - trumpet, electronics, vocals Johannes Lundberg - bass, electronics The album "Sounds & Sequences" is the result of a Scandinavian collaboration, led by Danish musician Daniel Sommer, with Norwegian artist Henriksen and Swedish artist Lundberg joining him on this production. The album is the second of a planned trilogy of creations by Sommer, of which the first album was released in the spring of 2024 and the third is planned for release in the spring of 2025. "Sounds & Sequences" was released in the fall of 2024 through Danish label April Records. It is a distinctly dreamladen affair we get with this album, and one that in mood and atmo

(43:56; Jerry King & John Shirley) Track list: 1. Gravity Well 6:56 2. My Five Eyes 4:17 3. Woodsmoke 4:35 4. 10,000 Faces 2:43 5. Evil Is a Rose That Sings 4:05 6. Just Being Alive 4:28 7. A Poisoned Wheel 3:01 8. Pigzipper Unzipped 5:12 9. The Spider's Tale 3:31 10. God Is an Alien 5:08 Line-up: John Shirley - voice Jerry King - guitars, bass, brass with: Michele King - vocal harmonies Dave Newhouse - accordion Ian Beabout - flute Pete Zolli - drums, bass Julian Shirley - samples, harmonica Chris Boros - mellotron Walter Whitney - synthesizer Sparky Carlson - effects Ginger Marten - violin Chad Wardwell - drums Robert Vicente - guitars Pete Prown - guitars Jamie Bruhn - bass Travis Plantico - drums US author John Shirley and US artist Jerry King both have track records that go a bit back in time, with the former being an established author as well as the sometime lyrics writer for legendary US band Blue Oyster Cult, while the latter has created music for a number of different