PYMLICO – Core

RELEASE YEAR: 2025
BAND URL: https://pymlicomusic.bandcamp.com/

Core is the fifth full-length album by Norwegian prog rockers Pymlico to have been released by Apollon Records (and the ensemble’s eighth overall as far as I recall), and it is easily the group’s most organic, accessible, and memorable output to date, which is saying something.

The brilliant and intuitive interplay between its seven members is thankfully very prominent throughout and certainly deserves all the attention it can possibly get, and whereas previous offerings were solid and good musical company in so many ways, they did come across as slightly too polished and pristine sounding to the point where they actually lacked a bit of life, warmth, and proper spark. Luckily, Core does not fall into that category and is head and shoulders above its predecessors in every department, which is to say that Pymlico serves up more energy, better riffs, and punchier tracks than ever before. In addition, the arrangements appear more creative and engaging than expected, which is a beautiful thing. The way in which they balance the subtle and gentle with heaviness and bombast is simply superb – the best examples of which include “Captain Teebs” and “Point Nemo,” which are standouts.

Core is a wonderful balm for troubled times and sees the band embrace a vibrant, sonically rich, and perfectly dynamic blend of prog and jazz rock that conjures up some nicely spine-tingling moments. Instrumental records are rarely as interesting as this one is, and the fact that the band sounds rawer and edgier in places suits Pymlico to a tee to these ears. Really digging this one.