Not only has Bjørn Riis crafted some of the finest progressive rock records to come out of Norway with his fellow (and equally talented) band mates in the inimitable act known as Airbag, but the renowned guitarist and songwriter has made some deftly executed and outright stunning solo albums under his own moniker with as much emotional pull and deep-seated passion as those of his main band. Let us take a brief look at his upcoming opus, shall we?
Fimbulvinter, which is scheduled for release in mid-April via the ever so friendly and casually cool Karisma Records, is undoubtedly the skilled songwriter’s most remarkable and rewarding outputs to date, thanks to its perfect balance between the cinematic and the intimate and the way in which it moves seamlessly back and forth between the two. The light and shade of the compositions conjure up a sense of prog-esque bliss, and the six lengthy tracks evolve so organically while simultaneously offering poignant reflection that immersing oneself in the LP’s richly textured content feels like a thing of rare beauty.
The sheer creativity and the substantial depth of the material that constitutes this pristine-sounding effort mark something that is out of the ordinary. In many ways, Fimbulvinter is Bjørn Riis at his most playful and diverse, which is evidenced by the propulsive and strangely hypnotic ‘Gone’ and the rather tense and brooding ‘Panic Attack’ – both of which are surprisingly accessible and catchy considering just how much musical ground they cover. ‘She’ is almost akin to a lament and a homage, and its fluid guitars and subtle grandeur are positively chilling. One could refer to the whole affair as an exercise in sonic freedom in that Riis has woven a multitude of different influences together to marvelous effect while obviously putting his own unique stamp on each little nuance of the music, or one could simply state that his upcoming LP is a wonderfully inspiring and sophisticated work that possesses heart and soul.
Fimbulvinter is a must-have that exudes iridescent melancholy with the ability to soothe and comfort the listener. Impeccable in every sense of the word and a spiritually enriching slice of prog rock that stands out from the crowd.
Fimbulvinter will be out via Karisma Records on April 11 this year.
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