Exposé print issues (1993-2011)
Lumsk — Fremmede Toner
(Karisma Dark Essence KAR215, 2023, CD / 2LP / DL)
by Henry Schneider, Published 2023-06-29
On May 5, Norwegian folk rock / metal / prog band finally released their much anticipated fourth album Fremmede Toner after 16 long years. They began working on this album not long after they released Det Vilde Kor in 2007, with the first recordings as early as 2009. However, life got in the way, taking them an additional 13 years to finish Fremmede Toner. Musically, Lumsk continues on the path which earned them international recognition, a unique blend of metal and Nordic folk music bound in rich textures and clever arrangements. On this new album, they deliver their most varied and intriguing album to date with soft intros, mostly female vocals, melodic songs, and subdued metal influences. Fremmede Toner takes its name from a collection of poems by Norwegian author André Bjerke and his translations of some well known European and North American poets such as Nietzsche, Goethe, and Swinburne. Lumsk based their songs on these poems with the idea of composing music to the Norwegian translations. Each song is different, yet similar in approach and composition, starting with a gentle folky intro that morphs into aggressive prog rock with lush textures. The climax is the closing track “The Day Is Done,” with its English lyrics, male vocals, piano runs, and lush soaring Mellotron that provide a magnificent close to the album. The long wait for Fremmede Toner was well worth the 16 years. Highly recommended for fans of inventive melodic progressive folk-metal.
Filed under: New releases, 2023 releases
Related artist(s): Lumsk
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