ARABS IN ASPIC – Victim of Your Father’s Agony (Remixed and Remastered 2023)

The fifth record by the magnificent Norwegian ensemble known as Arabs in Aspic, which originally came out in 2015, is an evocative journey through glorious psychedelic landscapes shaped by hazy atmospheres, doom-laden riffs, and epic vocals that never fail to impress me. Impressive actually would have been a rather apt description of this incredibly diverse opus, and the great thing is that the album has never sounded more vigorous and vibrant than it does here thanks to its recent facelift (i.e., a re-editing, remixing, and remastering of the source material with a few overdubs added for good measure). The sequencing of the songs on this 2023 issue also differs from its original counterpart and it is all the better for it as it works and functions as a more coherent and well-arranged musical odyssey here. In terms of dynamics and the balance between the harder, punchier cuts and the more reflective, mellow ones with a strong melodic flair to them, this one now stands tall and proud as one of the most accomplished ones in the band’s discography thanks to the brilliant revisions made. Equally important is the fact that it captures more light and shade as well as subtle nuances and hidden details than its predecessor did, and its warm hue and organic feel are just to die for. Some of my all-time favorite tunes by the group are present here with ‘God Requires Sanity’ and the poignant ‘Sad Without You’ being at the very top of the list. A stunning LP by a fabulously prog-ish outfit that covers a lot of ground in terms of styles and genres.