HYBRIS

[Note that this review was originally written in 2004, when I was 14 years old. I am now 22, and this album doesn't really hold up. I'm moving my star rating down, but keeping the review intact as a testament to being young and naive.]

Now then, the premiere album of ANGLAGARD is better than "Epilog" in my opinion. This album features a band which does not seem to be multiple instruments, but a single instrument created from many. The only standout instruments here are the ones that play in the quieter parts, and even these intruments will switch. Then the music will spring to life as a single, colorful and purely symphonic instrument. Very nice stuff here.

The first track, "Jordrok" is possibly my favorite of all ANGLAGARD's songs. An 11 minute instrumental, it rises and falls with mere whim. If I ever get a band together and we master "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zepellin, this song will be next on our list of covering. If a band can play this song, the band can play anything. Very complex and synchronized, with a specific pattern which runs throughout all of ANGLAGARD's music: loud, then soft, then loud, then soft, and so on.

The second track is very flute oriented during the softer parts, and sounds like GENESIS' "Apocalypse in 9/8" performed in reverse with more modern instruments in the faster, louder parts. This track has Swedish lyrics sprinkled here and there sparsly, and in my opinion it makes the song better.

Track three begins with an odd music box/ carnival sound, which springs into their louder, fervent section. In this track, the bass is the most noticeable instrument. It is odd that it does not fade into the rest of the music like most of their songs, instead seeming to accompany the rest of the band's instrumental fusion. But by no means does this detract from the song.

The final track, "King Winter" I think is the translation, is another great track with a more wintery feeling. Overall, the album is very hard to find and expensive to import, but worth an effort. It is not essential, however, because of its ambiguity and the fact that it fails to hit my disc player as much as say, GENESIS or YES. But still, very, very good.