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Lucifer Was — Ein Fix Ferdig Mann
(Apollon Records ARP075, 2024, CD / LP / DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2024-03-14

Ein Fix Ferdig Mann Cover art

Back in issue #13 (1997) we covered Underground and Beyond, which marked the revival of this Norwegian band from the 70s. Since that time, they’ve released seven more albums, of which En Fix Ferdig Mann is the latest, though we missed the six in between. All I can say for sure is that somewhere along the way, Lucifer Was has developed into a fine progressive rock band, maintaining only a slight connection to the Black Sabbath meets Jethro Tull sound they initially had. Anyone familiar with the group’s earlier material will likely note the absence of flute on the album — guitarist Thore Engen is in fact the only member remaining from the late-90s incarnation of the band, and the two flutists have not been replaced. The other members are Jon Ruder (lead vocals), Andreas Sjo Engen (guitar, backing vocals), Arne Martinussen (organ, piano), Bjørn Malmåsen (bass), and Arild Brøter (drums); there are a number of guests, including female vocals, though I wasn’t provided with full credits. Ruder has been with the band since around 2000, and he is a commanding presence, with a powerful voice and an impressive range. With the prominence of Martinussen’s keyboards, especially the organ, Uriah Heep is likely to come to mind, as Lucifer Was has a similar combination of strong lead vocals and nicely done backing vocals backed by heavy organ and guitar. Though the fact that the lyrics here are all in Norwegian certainly short-circuits that comparison. Lucifer Was also has a fondness for big drama over rock ‘n’ roll swagger, which is not to say the album doesn’t rock. The balance of sophistication and rock energy is quite appealing, and every track on En Fix Ferdig Mann is a winner built on vintage sounds without sounding nostalgic at all. Certainly, this album should appeal to fans of progressive rock, and possibly cross over to symphonic metal listeners, though the music is never metal in the standard way — it just possesses a similar quality of grandeur, though never tipping into bombast or pretension.

Filed under: New releases, 2024 releases

Related artist(s): Lucifer Was

More info
http://lucifer-was.bandcamp.com/album/ein-fix-ferdig-mann

 

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