LUMSK „Fremmede Toner”

Dark Essence Records, 05 May 2023

Music: Progressive Folk Rock/Metal
Website:
http://www.lumsk.com/
https://www.facebook.com/lumskmusic
https://lumsk.bandcamp.com/album/fremmede-toner
Duration: 59:40 (12 tracks)
Country: Norway

After 16 years since the release of the last album “Det Vilde Kor”, Norwegian LUMSK returns with their fourth album “Fremmede Toner” (Foreign tones). And as band said, the title of the album literally refers to the title of a collection of poems by the Norwegian author André Bjerke, where he included translations of the most famous European and North American poets, such as Nietzsche, Goethe, Swinburne, etc. And this album, lyrically, is based on some of those poems.

Musically, LUMSK follows the same path as years ago, which in the past brought them international recognition. For example, starting in 2005 with winning the biggest prize in Norway ever awarded at Larm (a Norwegian music festival), worth 500 000 NOK… Anyway, Norway is famous for appreciating its rock and metal artists…

The album “Fremede Toner” consists of twelve tracks, or rather 6 pairs of tracks. The first pieces show Norwegian translations of the poems, and the next ones show them in their original form. However, the songs are not the same, although they are similar to each other, sometimes more, other times only a little… This procedure perfectly shows how you can play with compositions, based on the same foundations…

This album introduces us to new vocalist Mari Klingen and new guitarist Roar Grindheim. I will add about the line-up that the rest of the musicians have a lot of experience with other bands, especially from the Black Metal and Power Metal circles, such as AD INFEROS, FOLKVANG, FURZE, WALHALLA, CONFIDENTIAL, ETERNAL FLAME, THEATER OF PAIN, GAIA EPICUS, APPROX, KLOMPFOT , BLODSMAK, FROST, SALMEKLANG…

“Fremmede Toner” is a very dualistic album… This dualism, on the one hand, is created by delicate neofolk compositions, inspired by Nordic folk, where delicate and atmospheric female singing floats over calm compositions created by piano passages, clean guitars and violin melodies… Many musical themes also is inspired by classical music, and especially with a greater intensity of sounds – even symphonic… Sometimes this singing will get emotional and even a bit agitated (but these are literally short moments). This folk atmosphere is deepened by Norwegian lyrics (although, of course, we will also hear German)…

The other side of this dualism is built by rock-metal arrangements, with very “progressive” arrangements, which contain licks with metal structures (very powerful in places), progressive-rock riffs, characteristic (for “progressive” playing) and atmospheric solos and of course rhythmically extended percussion tempos (with syncopated breaks of rhythm)… There were also keyboard sounds (rich in sounds), sometimes resounding in the background or playing significant melodies… In these areas, male singing has been placed, sometimes poetic, sometimes with a slight hoarseness and emotional screams (in English lyrics)…

However, “Fremmede Toner” does not separate the above topics from each other, on the contrary, it merges them, allows them to coexist. As a result, the music gains momentum, expands its melodic expansion and explores space more… Sublime and very emotional melodies intertwine with dynamic themes…

Although LUMSK’s music is very mathematical due to its clear inclination to “progression”, but it is not soulless, on the contrary, it is very moody and inspired by emotions… from melancholy, through anger to more positive emotions, like idyllic feelings, hope… Here, calm dances with anger… And melancholy with joy…

Tracklist:
1. Det Døde Barn
2. En Harmoni
3. Avskjed
4. Under Linden
5. Fiolen
6. Dagen Er Endt
7. Das Tote Kind
8. A Match
9. Abschied
10. Under Der Linden
11. Das Veilchen
12. The Day Is Done

Line-up:
Espen Warankov Godø – Keyboards, Piano, Mellotron, Hammond organ, Church organ, Vocals
Eystein Garberg – Guitars
Siv Lena Waterloo Laugtug – Violin
Espen Hammer – Bass
Vidar Berg – Drums
Roar Grindheim – Guitars
Mari Klingen – Vocals

Rate: 10/10