RÅG I RYGGEN

Rag I Ryggen meaning Strength and courage is an obscure heavy prog band from Sweden formed around 1971 and surviving only 5 years before disbanding in late 1976. They release only one album in 1975 selfititled and reissued on CD by Record Heaven/Transubstans with 3 live tracks from various Swedish shows. Great heavy prog very much in same vein with Uriah Heep agreat example is Jan Banan, but also hints of Jethro Tull, only few but exists mainly because of the use of flute on some arrangements. Vocals sung in swededish but also in english. I like the guitar how easy is used by Björn Nyström and Jan Aggemyr in combination with the keyboards of Christer Sjöborg. The progressive sound developed by the band is more then ok, even some harder elements are added here and there, but the main style is heavy prog really great performed. Jan Banan is one of the highlights of the album with great keyboard solo very much like Uriah Heep ( return to fantasy era), another great piece is instrumental Spångaforsens Brus, followed by Naked Man same UH influences or even Wishbone Ash here and there. All in all a very worthy re issue, fans of heavy prog will enjoy this one a lot, one of the forgotten bands from Sweden that for sure needed more attention. The CD has as bonus 3 pieces recorded live in Sweden , the last track never being on the original album and is the last piece band ever recorded in 1976 befor deisbanding same year - Land Over the Rainbow. 3.5 rounded to 4 this time.