Sweden's Gösta Berlings Saga are back with their latest platter of brooding progressive rock, and first for Cuneiform Records, titled Glue Works. Somehow this four-piece is perfectly capable of blending a dark mix of Red era King Crimson, early 70's Yes, Gabriel era Genesis, Goblin, Present, and Univers Zero, for a highly enjoyable prog-rock stew.
The band is comprised of Alexander Skepp (drums and percussion), Einar Baldursson (guitars), David Lundberg (Fender Rhodes, synthesizers and Mellotron), and Gabriel Hermansson (bass), but there are also a few guests on French horn, trumpet, celo, tuba, and a few other assorted instruments. Production is handled by none other than Mattias Olsson (Änglagård, White Willow), and he helps give Glue Works that stark Scandinavian feel. Jagged, angular guitar riffs and ominous keyboard washes permeate opener "354", while the moody "Icosahedron" has an almost 'post-rock' feel to it, as the atmospheric instrumentation is made up of lilting guitar lines, thick bass grooves, mediative drums, and ethereal keyboards. "Islands" is one of the two epics on the CD, and it's a great one, filled with Mellotron, dramatic guitar riffs, and thunderous drum work. This one could have easily come off of King Crimson's Starless and Bible Black album. After the haunting space rock of "Gliese 581g", the band launch into the creepy, Mellotron drenched "Waves", a wild song that could easily be included on a soundtrack to a horror film. Too bad this piece wasn't longer. You'll be reminded of Henry Cow or even Present on the avant-garde "Geosignal", while the near 13-minute closer "Sorterargatan" again shows the savage nature of the band, as this epic lets the influence of mid-70's era King Crimson hang out in full force. Check out Hermansson's crushing bass grooves under layers of complex lead guitar melodies from Baldursson, all while Lundberg creates a thick landscape using Fender Rhodes & Mellotron. Impressive and intimidating all at the same time.
If you like dark prog, then Glue Works is going to be right up your alley. Gösta Berlings Saga are a truly intense band, and this latest release is sure to gain plenty of new listeners for them. Highly recommended!
Track Listing
1. 354 (06:00)
2. Icosahedron (3:13)
3. Island (12:26)
4. Gliese 581g (6:16)
5. Waves (2:45)
6. Geosignal (2:09)
7. Sorterargatan 1 (12:45)
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