EPILOG

Epilog continues the Swedish take on Genesis of Änglagards debut. It's entirely instrumental, which could have been an improvement over the debut which suffered from the average vocals. However, even though the playing is great again, I miss a number of essential features such as interesting compositions, a heart, and most of all, that hard to describe but essential element called a soul.

When I listen to a track such as Skogsranden, I hear a stupendous successions of notes, great melodic leads, lots of dynamics, experimentation and everything else I love, but this music has never urged me to keep listening to it. There's no feeling and not much of an atmosphere here, which sets it apart from the other bands of the 90's Swedish symphonic prog scene that somehow managed to add substance and passion to this style of music.

Also Hostsejd and Sista Somrar pass by without touching me. Maybe it's partially due to the absence of vocals, but mostly I would support the thesis that this is music that doesn't come from the heart but that is solely constructed in the mind, it's the result from trying too hard to sound like somebody else instead of moulding their influences into something of their own. It lacks inspiration, spontaneity and substance. In fact, it's very revealing to play it next to a Genesis original.

Änglagard are an essential band from a remarkable period and amazing country in Prog rock history, but they miss that essential Swedish sentiment that makes all other bands from this era superior to them. They may have been the instigators of the movement but Anekdoten, Landberk and Sinkadus exceeded them with ease. Also, I don't think Änglagard had anything left to say after their debut Hybris, which was a lot better in all respects.