Trettioariga
Kriget (1974)
Trettioariga
Kriget, or Thirty Years War in English, is surely one of the
most notable representatives of the Swedish progressive rock
scene of the 70s. Whereas Sweden is generally recognized for
the kind of abstract, mind-bending folk/psych purported by Algarnas
Tradgard, Kebnekaise, Parson Sound and others, Trettioariga
Kriget can be firmly dubbed as a "prog" band. While carrying
some stylistic ties to psychedelic music, Trettioariga Kriget
mold a brooding, aggressive sound that probably owes just as
much to 70s hard rock. Those expecting 70s Swedish progressive
music to be cold, frost-bitten and melancholy will certainly
not be disappointed with this group. Like cozying up to a warm
fire as the snow whips against the windows, the band’s sound
is steeped in inviting atmosphere, despite a morose undercurrent.
Trettioariga Kriget’s sound is warm and organic, combining song-based,
mournful vocal material with mountains of churning guitar riffage.
It’s a unique sound which certainly gives hints as to where
modern bands like Anglagard and Anekdoten must have drawn a
healthy dose of inspiration.
With all that
said, don’t be mistaken into thinking this is a "pretty"
symphonic prog album in the least. It isn’t. Occasional guitar
licks would be worthy of any early Black Sabbath or Deep Purple
album, but injected with a dose of mid-70s King Crimson-like
angularity and tri-tone heavy themes. The song structures themselves
are consistently interesting and complex, with the rumbling
bass lines and propulsive drumming creating an amorphous backdrop
for the guitar work. In some of the more fleet-fingered passages,
the guitarist’s note selection is somewhat sloppy, but it’s
all about the vibe in the end, and this is nothing if not an
energetic and powerful album. In all, Trettioariga Kriget is
one of the seminal Scandinavian prog groups, and both this album
and their second, Krigssang, are necessary for any serious
exploration of the region. -
Greg Northrup [December 2002]
Click
Here for Tracklist and Lineup Info
Krigssang
(1975)
Though
not as universally acclaimed, the second album from this classic
Swedish ensemble is probably even better than the first, benefiting
slightly from a subtle change in style. Whereas Trettioariga Kriget’s
debut album has to be considered a definitive work in the hard/heavy
prog pantheon, Krigssang (translating as "War Songs")
drops many of the more overtly hard-rock elements, this time adopting
a cleaner guitar tone and a more melodic, melancholic feel. In
all, this brings the band’s sound closer to a more flowing, symphonic
approach, certainly aided by the incorporation of mellotron, while
at the same time retaining a distinctly Scandinavian air in the
morose feel and moody melodic themes. Particularly effective this
time around are the vocals, which play a much more important role
in the songs, and while the singer’s deep, dramatic delivery may
turn some off, it totally works for me in adding to the mysterious
aura of the pieces.
That’s not to
say the band can’t get heavy when they want to, as the doomy
main riff of "Mitt Mirakel" aptly demonstrates. Where the album
really wins me over, however, is in its heightened use of dynamics,
lending a more intense dramatic edge. The haunting vocal melody
of "Metamorfoser", demonstrates a more purely emotive side to
the group, and the epic "Krigssang II" deftly moves through
a number of stunning themes and melodies, drawing the listener
along in a series of stunning climaxes. Virtually the entire
album proper is uniformly as impressive. One great aspect about
the Mellotronen CD issue that I own is that the three bonus
tracks are all excellent live performances of impeccable quality.
Here, in particular, the guitarist lets loose on some mind-blowing
solos.
In sum, this is
one of the defining Scandinavian prog albums. Trettioariga Kriget
are certainly a unique and important group, and one need not
look further than the works of Landberk and Anglagard to sense
their influence. Krigssang might be the better choice
for the typical symphonic prog fan looking to lean into this
group, though the debut album is ultimately just as essential.
- Greg
Northrup [December 2002]
Click
Here for Tracklist and Lineup Info
