‘Living By The Sword’, the first track on here has some great harmony backing vocals. I mention it because, well, they really add a hook onto the chorus that makes this a classy opener and because it made me realise how rarely I hear them these days. Must be the company I keep I guess.
Svolk are Norwegian and this apparently is ‘bear metal’. Stoner gone Norwegian redneck. Bit of stoner, pinch of doom, hint of grunge, plenty of modern edges and a lump in the throat of classic rock. Nothing that wouldn’t go down a storm at Desertfest in other words. Just listen to the emotion they wring out of second song ‘Painbringer’ when the guitar melody drops the tempo, shifts the time and opens up the song within the song. Two songs in and I already want to use the word glorious.
They know all about chunky riffs, but also thankfully also have that knack of writing melodies that are memorable by sounding honest rather than saccharine. The vocals can more than hold a tune but never wander into histrionics even when some of the lyrical phrasing might push expectations towards it. The lead guitars never meander into pointless twiddling territory. The rhythm section keeps it all grounded in a healthy, warm riff zone. You can almost touch the check shirts and baseball caps.
‘Fallen’ drops the album into Alice In Chains anguish via a bit of doom. Initially it works but it kind of loses itself when out cranks up a little and ends up a bit generic. Not bad, just sandwiched between ‘Feed Your Soul’ and the terrific rawk stomp of their hymn to their homeland ‘Twentyfourtwenty’ (that’s “twenty four degrees below, twenty weeks in a row”) it pales.
‘Bearserk’ is kind of Metallica playing Clutch but not quite as good as that sounds until they hit the lead break. A bit throwaway for me and the track I am most likely to skip on any given play through. Shame really, but weirdly I think many will love it. I am rescued however by the classic rock strains of the next song ‘Break My Bones’ and a more successful return to some grunge inspired doom in ‘To Conquer Death You Only Have To Die’ and the bouncing, Sabbathy boogie of ‘This Is Where It Ends’.
When its good like the first half and closing tracks, Nights Under The Round Table is great. When its not so good it never dips below Ok and they just kinda make me want to see them live. Good honest rock and a good talent for crafting some excellent songs; even if you only have half a soul you’ll need to check them out.
(7.5/10 Gizmo)
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