Hällas: Excerpts from a Future Past

Another Swedish band has recently impressed me. The band is Hällas and formed in 2011 releasing a self-titled four song EP in 2015. Their full length debut is titled Excerpts from a Future Past. The past is the key word here as this band has a rather large retro '70s hard progressive rock sound in the vein of Uriah Heep, with a dash of Deep Purple and Iron Maiden. Now, I don't mind retro at all especially when it is well conceived and I have to say this band is the real deal.

The players are:
Tommy Alexandersson (bass, vocals)
Alexander Moraitis (guitar)
Kasper Eriksson (drums)
Marcus Pettersson (guitar)
Nicklas Malmqvist (keyboards)

Excellent guitar riffs and organ form the basis of their hard rock sound with variations between heavy and light. There is an organic quality to the music which adds to their retro style. The lead vocals are quite good as Alexandersson has a unique timber and when meshed with the guitar and organ is really a nice fit. It took a bit of time getting used to his voice but my initial reservations have all but disappeared.

The album contains seven tracks with a running time at a concise forty-two minutes. The first track "The Astral Seer" is pretty much what this disc is about, retro style organ and excellent guitar riffs with lead vocals ideally suited to the band's hard rock sounds. The organ and guitar both take leads and at times there is certainly a Uriah Heep feel which is always welcome. Chugging riffs and softer interludes in "Repentance" is another Heep influenced track followed by the instrumental "Nebulon's Tower" featuring a slow melancholic build with excellent guitar and organ work. Interesting chord progressions and dramatic shifts from heavy to light make "The Golden City Of Semyra" another excellent track. Addictive riffs, massive walls of organ and emotively catchy lead vocals give "Star Rider" a great sound. If this one doesn't bring you back to the '70s I don't know what will. The rocking "Shadow Of The Templar" with its galloping guitar and organ is another winner.

Excerpts from a Future Past is a fine slice of heavy retro progressive rock that should appeal to fans of Deep Purple, Uriah Heep and any other bands of that ilk. Excellent stuff.

Track Listing:
1. The Astral Seer (6:45)
2. Repentance (5:15)
3. Nebulon's Tower (2:19)
4. The Golden City Of Semyra (6:24)
5. Star Rider (6:02)
6. Shadow Of The Templar (7:53)
7. Illusion Sky (7:52)

Added: May 2nd 2018
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band's Facebook Page
Hits: 1225
Language: english

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