Svölk
Svölk
Rating
Style: Bear Rock
Release date: August 31st 2009
 

I’ve been lookin’ forward to this album since I heard their first demos and raw mixes on MySpace. To begin with I thought their “Bear Metal”-label for their music was a bit strange, but now that I’ve heard the finished album, I know what they mean. When you hear this, it’s very easy to imagine yourself meeting a big brown bear, that want to give you a very tight “hug”!

This is the perfect mix between heavy rock with a metal attitude, mixed with progressive elements, a touch of thrash (early Bay Area (listen to Anchor, and hear if you don’t hear similarities to Seek and  Destroy – but no rip off)), and plain ol’ kick-ass southern rock feel! Sound strange? Not at all, the mix of styles is natural and convincing. This surely won me over.

The Norwegian 5-piece is the classic line-up: singer, two guitars, bass and drums, and every one does a solid job on their instruments, and all in the band delivers a dedicated effort to make this, their first album, a real rocker. Live they do well as well, see live review elsewhere on this page.

Only slight complaint from my side – the sound is dirty but still clear, very appropriate for this music, but I miss a bit of the bottom end. The bass and the bass drum is not quite as deep and at the front in the mix, as I like – I like it as a kick in the stomach.

For the past month I’ve had to hear my favourite song “ Sweet Agony” at least twice a day – this is one of those that’ll turn into one of the ultimate heavyrock songs I’ve ever heard – a classic to last a lifetime!

The bear definitely rocks – give me another bear hug like this, the sooner the better.

Go for this one!


Tracklist

01.

52

02.

This Is It

03.

Anchor

04.

Sweet Agony

05.

Miss Alcohol

06.

12 Times The Pain

07.

End Of Days

08.

Inferno

09.

Dead : 30

Label: Ohbeley/Tuba Records
Promotion: Provided by the band
Artwork rating: 85/100
Reviewed by: Claus Melsen
Date: November 8th 2009
Website: www.svolk.net
  www.myspace.com/svolk