Another new band emerging from the Norwegian scene, Gjenferd, offers a Heavy Rock sound with 70s reminiscences and enhanced by the hammond organ. The self-titled debut album was released on May 10, 2024 and contains 6 tracks between 3 and 8 minutes long. The opener “High Octane” immediately shows the band’s Hard Rock imprinting, embellished with hammond textures. The atmospheres of the golden era of Rock come alive in the notes of this track, a perfect opener characterised by guitar and keyboard interlacing and a granitic rhythm section. The vocal is dynamic and incisive and alternates well with the intense instrumental sections, with the organ playing a fine solo in the second half. A deep, penetrating bass line opens “Starless,” to which is added solid drumming and fine guitar and keyboard textures. The sound is granitic and enriched with enveloping, retro-sounding choral vocals, leading us through this long track of over seven minutes. A mixture of refined Psychedelia and Progressive traits, developing an extended instrumental section that enhances the band’s technique by exploring the different facets that characterise their sound. Guitar and keyboards duet and are enriched with effects, following the continuous and sophisticated tempo changes of the elaborate rhythm section. In the finale, the band concludes in a crescendo, unleashing all the power of their Heavy Rock. Delicate guitar arpeggios open “Burning Soil,” to which the flute is added to give a pastoral touch to the sound. After this brief intro, the band develops a Heavy Rock masterpiece, intense and with excellent mixtures of guitar and keyboards, warm and expressive vocals with choral refrains that stick in the mind. The rhythm section is solid, with a deep, load-bearing bass line and elaborate drumming. The intensity increases as the song progresses, which accelerates in the instrumental section incorporating heavy elements to the sound, before returning to the emotional opening theme and concluding. A truly beautifully crafted track and one of the best on the disc in my humble opinion. “Restless Nights” is an energetic blend of Heavy Psychedelia and refined Progressive Rock with a retro touch. Vocal strophes with a driving bass line and a warm, expressive vocal take us back to the sounds of the past, then incorporate heavier elements in the choral refrains with more Rock openings. In the second part, predominantly instrumental, the band develops guitar and keyboard solos in a musical crescendo that takes us to the finale. Connecting with an effect to the previous “Beneath The Wave” opens with a hypnotic bass line and intricate drumming, presenting a more Experimental sound. It is the most complex track so far, showing the more Progressive side of the band, between continuous tempo changes that allow us to move between more Heavy and dark moments and others more Prog. Delicate flute-keyboard-guitar melodies open “All That Remain Is Haze,” the longest track on the album and the concluding one. A solid heavy prog sound with a driving bass line to which the distorted guitar riffs and keyboards are linked. The vocals are dynamic and incisive in the verses and more melodic and choral in the choruses, following the evolution of this fine track. The long duration is used in its entirety to develop the theme with a prolonged instrumental section that valorises the band’s compositional and performing technique between Psychedelia and Progressive with that Heavy touch. An excellent debut album for this band that shows and enhances the personal traits of its sound, which is granitic and elaborate. A heavy rock with prominent guitar and hammond, a solid and elaborate rhythm section and a dynamic and incisive vocal. The band skilfully brings the atmospheres of the Heavy Rock era of the roaring twenties to the present day with a personal touch. In my opinion a masterpiece that shows how Rock is more alive than ever, a recommended listen for lovers of Heavy Rock sounds driven by the hammond between Psychedelia and Progressive.
Tracklist
01. High Octane (03:51)
02. Starless (07:17)
03. Burning Soil (04:43)
04. Restless Nights (05:07)
05. Beneath The Wave (04:03)
06. All That Remain Is Haze (07:57)
Lineup
Vegard Bachmann Strand / Guitars & Vocals
Jakob Særvoll / Keyboards & Vocals
Samuel Robson Gardner / Bass
Sivert Kleiven Larsen / Drums
