SVARTISEN

3.5 stars. This is the debut from KORNMO out of Norway, a mature trio of bass, drums, guitar/keyboards. A Kornmo is apparently a popular cracker sold in Norway which made me smile making me think of FRUITCAKE also from Norway. Nils the bass player composed the music and the band arranged it all. They originally released this in 2017 recording it in Odd-Roar's(guitarist/keys) home studio. It was self-released on a cdr but then in 2018 they re-released it on another cdr, again self-released but completely re-mixed, obviously not happy with the original sound. I have the 2022 version released on Apollon Records and mastered by WHITE WILLOW's Jacob Holm-Lupo. So at least I have the best version possible.

This is an all instrumental album worth almost 66 minutes over 11 songs. I do prefer this to their latest "Fimbulvinter" an all instrumental concept album that just didn't do a lot for me. Very little in the way of breakouts or contrasts etc. which we do thankfully get here. I really feel that this comes across as a "paint by numbers" Prog record where on each song we get constant changes and repeated themes which is what we all like because we're on this site but again like their latest this is a long album for this type of music. Give me 42 minutes! Anyway I'm thankful to hear some outbreaks of guitar and organ on here along with mellotron and this is a good album just not my cup of tea these days.