KINGDOM CROSSING

Farewell to the Old

Structural Disorder, Swedish progressive metal outfit since 2011, announced their disbanding late 2018.

They promised one final hurrah.

This is it.

Kingdom Crossing

Here's an extended track, all twenty-three minutes and change of it, that sends Structural Disorder off in style, after producing three full albums and now two EP-length releases.

Grand style. Searching style. In ways that gladden my heart, yet sadden it as well- because here we have an excellent example of progressive metal that is thoughtful, tasteful, wise, and highly listenable.

No Time for Wankery

Opening with eerie, melancholy keyboards (provided by digital accordion aficionado Jóhannes West), we're introduced by the gentle and reflective vocals of Markus Tälth to the themes in this release- transcendence, the crossing of kingdoms/empires/patriarchy, blood and grit and savagery of life beneath the brittle veneer of polite society- and the heartfelt yearning for something better to pass on to our children.

Not a moment is wasted on endless noodling, seeing how fast this one can play that lick in harmony with that lead line in counter tempo with that instrument.

Only Solid Songwriting and Playing

There certainly is a level of sophistication and fire in the musicianship here- although Hjalmar Birgersson has moved on, guitar sounds are rich and varied, from acoustic plucking and strumming, to rip-roaring riffs wide as the ocean.

The rhythm section of Karl Björk (drums) and Erik Arkö (bass) plays crisply, tautly, and intuitively to complement the music, through some changes of mood and tempo, never missing a beat.

Vocals are clean, expressive, sometimes in harmonies and octaves, always reflecting the mood of the piece.

There are several passages where flute is utilized, played by Kristine West.

Themes

As I hear this extended track, it's a passionate call for change- the Kingdom Crossing suggests to me the changing of the guard, a hand-off to a new way of living.

Lyrics challenge us to consider how far violence can take us- as individuals and as a people- how family violence drives social pain and vice-versa, and how transcendence may come in considering new ways of living.

The protagonist seems to be a battered child who runs for his life. Like countless other throwaway children he lives in the brutal, glittering, dog-eat-dog world of the soulless city and realizes he wants more.

He heads home, and holding his newborn daughter, with great longing and fear and love, dreams of better things for her than he himself could provide or even model.

Matriarchy?

Throughout this sweeping epic, I thought I got intimations that if we are collectively to survive, perhaps we need a radical change- although never is this heavy-handed.

Perhaps the patriarchy needs to be replaced. Perhaps our hopes lie in our daughters, sisters, mothers.

In conclusion

Excellent. Gripping. Grieving. Rejoicing. Brutal. Hopeful. My rating is 4 stars, a worthy farewell.

Share this STRUCTURAL DISORDER review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Steve Conrad
• Report this review (#2442285)
• Buy STRUCTURAL DISORDER music online with PA partners
• Show all STRUCTURAL DISORDER MP3/Stream
• Go to STRUCTURAL DISORDER page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Kingdom Crossing page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for STRUCTURAL DISORDER related discussions