Originally started as a metal side project for the members of the Norwegian black metal band Sekt, Fedrespor ended up as a solo effort of founder Varg Torden Saastad, having to do as much with metal as a dark night with a sunny day. Fedrespor’s first album is called “Tid” and has become an expression of grief for the loss of a brother, giving it a rather heavy context.
With such a theme, it’s no surprise that “Tid” is not a cheerful album. The music is a blend of traditional neofolk and Nordic folk (mainly in the vocals), covered in a layer of overwhelming melancholy. You can truly feel the pain and grief in Fedrespor’s music, which is spread out over 9 songs with a playing time of almost 45 minutes. Not unlike label mates Ulvesang, acoustic guitar is the dominant instrument here. All the other instrumentation, including the vocals, is neatly done in support of the songs and the emotions expressed with them. “Tid” could have been a bit stronger on dynamics, but overall, it’s a promising debut album for Fedrespor, strong enough to gain some foothold in the neofolk scene.
(7/10 Lykle Thijssen)
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