ANDERS BUAAS – The Witches of Finnmark (reissue 2023)

Anders Buaas is without doubt a musical genius and a bit of a visionary, which is perfectly illustrated by this much-needed reissue of his renowned The Witches of Finnmark opus, or rather the first part of the trilogy. What we have here is atmospheric instrumental prog rock with bucketloads of light and shade to it and where contrasts and dichotomies constantly wrestle within each composition. The entire piece is expertly written and executed superbly in terms of musicianship and production values, and it is one of those splendid and climactic records that will leave the entranced listener clamoring for more when reaching its denouement. From subtle beauty and melodic elegance to eerie passages and dissonant segments that are uneasy on the ear, the album ebbs and flows nicely and functions as a thought-provoking journey through a somewhat dark chapter of Norwegian history. If you missed out on this proggy gem back in 2017, now is your chance to digest this work and its captivating sense of cinematic tension on either CD or vinyl thanks to Apollon Records.