WESERBERGLAND – Sacrae Symphoniae Nr. 1

RELEASE YEAR: 2022
BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/weserberglandband/

The experimental Norwegian outfit Weserbergland released their third album today (February 11), and as with their previous offerings, this new LP falls somewhere between art rock, avantgarde music, and 70s experimental prog rock, which is to say that this is something different and totally out of the ordinary.

Consisting of one long 40-minute piece, this is nothing less than a strange musical journey full of intricate textures, dissonant melodies, and bleak soundscapes – and it is certainly prog in the sense that it defies and transcends any notion of conventions and norms with respect to songwriting and structure. Things constantly evolve, new layers are added, pulsating rhythms come and go, and the amount of noise and non-linear melodies that course through the composition add a sense of chaos and unpredictability. So many subtle things are going on here and this is exactly the kind of music that will either put a spell on you or drive you absolutely mental. On top of that, there is a restless energy and a musically inquisitive vibe to “Sacrae Symphoniae Nr. 1” that is utterly enchanting, and the record definitely requires an open mind on the part of the listener. Given that it ranges from noisy and unsettling to weirdly beautiful and haunting, it will kill any party stone dead and it is obviously the kind of thing one would listen to when alone and in the mood for an immersive experience. Following long, stressful days at work, the disc actually works wonders for me and feels akin to an exorcism of sorts, and there are flashes of something indefinable dark and somber that appeal to me greatly here. Strong and potent stuff from these purveyors of experimental sounds.