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Major Parkinson — Valesa II: Viva the Apocalypse!
(Apollon Records AP251, 2026, CD / LP / DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2026-06-06

Valesa II: Viva the Apocalypse! Cover art

For a band like Major Parkinson, writing songs about the apocalypse is, one way or another, kind of what they do. Certainly not all of their music, going back to when I first encountered them on Blackbox (2018), is specifically about the catastrophic end of civilization, but you could describe their emotional impact as apocalyptic, even when the lyrics are about some kind of internal personal crisis. So here they are with the second chapter of their Valesa epic, started with Velvet Prison (2022), and it’s called Viva the Apocalypse! (and don’t forget the exclamation point). I’m not entirely sure how the concept behind the music works, but it’s all borne of the dark edge that’s permeated the band’s music from the start, with a satyrical eye on modern society. Musically, the sound is very much in the established idiom, with a tight rock band plus horns, strings, and backing vocalists. Main lead singer Jon Ivar Kollbotn has a distinctive low voice, but other voices are heard as well, and there were even a couple of times where I was reminded of a more orchestrated Thomas Dolby song. The arrangements are full of twists and turns, and the often dark subject matter is approached with a sense of humor: everything may be going down the tubes, and there may not be much we can do about it, but we can laugh at the absurdity of it all, and have a little fun as we descend into the abyss. Existing Major Parkinson fans should love this new installment of the story, and the music is good enough to attract new fans, though I’d really suggest checking out Velvet Prison first.

Filed under: New releases, 2026 releases

Related artist(s): Major Parkinson

More info
http://majorparkinson.bandcamp.com/album/valesa-chapter-ii-viva-the-apocalypse

 

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