ARABS IN ASPIC – Sorgens Kapittel

RELEASE YEAR: 2026
BAND URL: https://arabs.bandcamp.com/album/sorgens-kapittel

What a lovely and fitting tribute to the sadly missed vocalist and organist Stig Arve Kvam-Jørgensen this magnificent 2026 opus is. A bit of context is probably needed here, so allow me to quote the following paragraph lifted from the group’s Bandcamp profile: “This will be a highly special and emotional release for the band. The album is being released on what would have been the 50th birthday of the band’s longtime organist and vocalist, Stig Arve Kvam-Jørgensen, who passed away suddenly in 2025. The album title «Sorgens kapittel» sets a deep and personal frame around the band’s newest work, serving both as a processing of the loss and a tribute to his musical legacy.” It is definitely special alright, and it is overflowing with genuine warmth, passion, and the sheer joy of playing brilliant tunes with your close friends and compatriots.

Musically, Arabs in Aspic have merged proto-heavy metal with old-school prog, 70s-flavored doom metal, and stoner rock for good measure, and the result is as satisfying as one could have wished for if not more. If Uriah Heep, Black Sabbath, Pentagram, and arguably also King Crimson at their most accessible had a jam and decided to sing in Norwegian, Sorgens Kapittel would be the outcome of said happening. Slamming heavy riffs give way to groovy and laidback passages and then move seamlessly on to prog-esque workouts and back again. Just check the humorous song titled “Satanisten” out and you will see exactly what I mean; playful, unpredictable, varied beyond belief, charming as hell, and utterly unforgettable. And that is merely one of twelve tracks, which should tell you that you are in for a real treat here. The compositions are of an experimental persuasion but maintain a memorable and inviting quality all the way through, and the band’s distinctly unusual yet captivating sound is a powerful one. Crank “Det er Deg!” up and marvel at how much brilliance can be crammed into a song lasting a mere seventy-two seconds – how in the blue fuck is that even possible?! Album closer “Siste Dans” is a fantastic voyage and grandstanding affair that shows Arabs in Aspic at their most expansive.  

Lots of intricate details, plenty of atmospherics, and climactic psychedelic sprawls make for an epic assault on the senses, which means that if floating, hypnotic grooves and enthralling prog-inspired songs sound like your particular brand of vodka, you undoubtedly need this expressive piece of work in your collection.