BRENNENDE DROMMER

This band is from Norway, the Western part of Scandinavia, known for its 'fjords' and 'Vikings'. The music on the debut-CD "Brennende Drommer" (2004) is very melodic and harmonic 24-carat symphonic rock. The sound is loaded with Hammond and Mellotron, often the early BARCLAY JAMES & HARVEST comes to my mind. But the emotional Norwegian vocals and the layers of violin Mellotron also evokes the work of fellow Scandinavians LANDBERK and ANGLAGARD. The music is rather simple and accessible but the emotional impact is very great, it invites you to dream away from the daily stress and problems like the European euro! The guitar work is beautiful and very sensitive with some awesome interplay with the keyboards. The compositions contain alternating climates, from mellow with organ and twanging guitar to sumptuous outbursts with floods of Hammond and Mellotron. Wonderful Seventies-inspired symphonic rock that will appeal to the 'vintage keyboard aficionados'.

4.5 stars.This band is from Norway and they sing in their native language. The album's title means "Burning Dreams". The music itself is filled with mellotron and hammond organ, and I think i'm in love. Haha. As Eric points out in his excellent bio of the band, this is vintage 70's sounding Scandanavian music that recalls the sounds of SINKADUS, LANDBERK and ANGLAGARD. More straightforward and less complex i'll admit, but so enjoyable. Most of this album was recorded live in the studio by the way. Mellotron on every track !

"Incognito City" opens with a grinding guitar melody that is joined by the drums, organ then vocals. The organ before a minute is excellent. The vocals are quite passionate and the drums prominant. It's the guitar that I like on this one the best though. "Dvergenes Palass" opens with mellotron and vocals. It sounds great when the tempo picks up. The guitar and organ shine. The drumming is very upfront as usual. "Nostradamus" is for me the highlight of this record, an almost 10 minute ride. The mellotron is so strong to open. Gale force. The organ is wondrous as well. Drums and guitar join in but the mellotron and organ are breathtaking. Vocals 2 minutes in as the mellotron comes and goes throughout. A darker, heavier sound 4 1/2 minutes in as he almost yells the lyrics. It settles down 6 minutes in with some nice guitar. More majestic mellotron and then some tasteful guitar 9 minutes in.

"Pilegrim" is simply a feel good, mid-paced tune with lots of mellotron. The vocals, guitar and drums are prominant throughout. Very special music this is. "Jublende Rekker" is awesome to open with the mellotron floods with drums and guitar. Vocals a minute in that remind me of SINKADUS along with the overall sound. Organ 1 1/2 minutes in. A storm of mellotron before 4 minutes. Incredible sound 5 minutes in of mellotron, organ and drums. "Middelveis" opens with organ as the sound builds. Vocal melodies a minute in with vocals to follow. Mellotron floods after 2 minutes as tempo slows down. The tempo does pick back up with organ leading the way as themes are repeated. "Berg Og Dvale" is led by the organ and drums. Check out the guitar after 3 1/2 minutes as waves of mellotron blow through. "Doende Stein" opens with mellotron before we get some sinister sounding organ a minute in. Lots of mellotron in this one. Vocals are quite powerful at times. "I Taketimen" opens with mellotron and acoustic guitar as reserved vocals join in. Drums and a fuller sound follow. The organ and guitar before 3 minutes are fantastic. Mellotron to end it. What else ?

Highly recommended mellotron drenched music from the north.

This band has been quite discreet: two albums released in a five years period and that's it.

While being referenced in the symphonic genre, they are sounding more to the neo-prog music as far as I'm concerned. Vocals are average, low pitched and quite uniform. Passion is next door.

These guys are from the Scandinavian scene, and obviously they have learned some of the best angles of it. When I talk about the best angles of this great musical initiative, I mean the superb mellotron which is available here and there ("Nostradamus") on this album.

You might know that I am deeply addicted to this instrument (as dear old Erik). But some fine of these notes aren't sufficient to make a great album. The music is overall pleasant, but innovations are alien. I could have coped with this feeling with an album released in the early seventies, but hey! This one saw the light in 2001.

At times, the good guitar work sounds like some "Dire Straits" one at times. All in all, if you except some fine mellotron lines and deep keyboards parts ("Middelveis"), there is hardly anything great to remember from this album.

Good musicians, fine melodies, gorgeous mellotron ("Jublende Rekker"), heavy prog angles ("Døende Stein"), decent (but no more) song writing is what you can except from this album. A good exercise after all. Three stars.

Another Norwegian band,this time coming from Stavanger in South Norway.They were formed in late-90's featuring Alta Bye on bass, Rune Forselv on drums, Halvard Jakobsen on lead guitar, Oystein Larsen on keys and Stäle Roar Leirtro on guitar and lead vocals.Their debut from 2001 named ''Brennende Drommer'' was released on Musea Records.

This is a typical example of retro-sounding Scandinavian Prog,mixing elements from Psychedelic Rock and Heavy Prog with some orchestrated symphonic flavor thrown in.Many bands from in and out of Norway come to mind like KERRS PINK, LANDBERK, RADIOMOBEL, HOST, BLACK BONZO and KVAZAR.Very much guitar-driven,the album is characterized by the energy of the lead guitars,often with a definite Scandinavian taste,the strong vocal work and the heavy use of analog keys,mainly organ and mellotron.There are some good breaks throughout,filled with intense guitar solos,and a couple of superb mellotron waves.Vocals are listenable,without being outstanding,sung in Norwegian all the way.Not much of an adventure in here, ''Brennende Drommer'' is rather an accesible album with an Art Rock attitude,based more on its energy and vintage atmosphere than on technique or complexity.

This is far from being a surprising listening,but these guys came up with an interesting reincarnation of the old years.For fans of Scandinavian Prog and old-fashioned Heavy Rock,the album comes strongly recommended.