HYBRIS

For those who think prog died at the end of the 70's look no further than this album. Hybris borrows from all the originals, like Yes and Genesis, but sounds as original as if it were released in their time period. Musically, this is some very complex stuff, with tons of odd time signatures and tempo changes. For example, in just the first minute and a half of Jordok the signatures change between 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, and 7/4. The dynamic sound achieved in many parts is also astounding. One moment you could be hearing a soft flute part and all of the sudden the music explodes as the rest of the band comes in. But besides the complexity, Anglagard remains to be incredibly melodic, and some of the riffs are catchy as ever. Furthermore, the atmosphere and moods they create is equally unparalleled, often relying on deep mellotron chords and gentle flute to create serene, lighthearted atmospheres which can easily change to melancholic and dark in a second.

I won't review each song by itself as they're all very chaotic and all over the place, but that's what makes them so interesting. There is no dull moment in any of them. The variety of instruments used contributes to this, but so does the rather loose style of composition these guys use. Regardless, there is a perfect flow in every song.

Hybris is simply a must have. As far as I'm concerned there is not a single flaw with this album.

10/10