by Derric Miller
– Managing Editor —
Norway’s Sarpedon released an EP a few years back … a raw, unpolished but promising journey through Progressive Metal, with tinges of Power Metal too. Anomic Nation can really be noted as their first official release, unless you want to get picky.
Sonically, the band praises their influences in bands like Nevermore, Savatage, Symphony X, Malmsteen, etc. and you can hear bits and pieces throughout Anomic Nation. The only real difference would be vocalist Eirik Krokjord has a somewhat limited range and dearth of passion on the “angry” end, so you can’t really compare his style to Jon Oliva, Warrel Dane, Russell Allen or any of the 50+ singers Yngwie tapped for his myriad releases. That doesn’t mean he isn’t GOOD; Eirik can actually be ominous and downright eerie at times.
The title track opens things up, a six-minute frantic riff-fest with some fine lyrics. The chorus cuts to the bone, with lyrics like “Once a man, then beaten with bats … now chewed by sewer rats. How fast, how harsh, how cruel … Anomic Nation.” The chorus is so slow, so mammoth, it’s almost uncomfortable listening to it, especially the “sewer rats” part. It’s a dramatic and foreboding start to the release.
“The Lusk Letter” is proof that the main songwriter/lyricist Torgeir Krokfjord likes horror, and Jack the Ripper more. In short, the story of George Lusk is a man who probably got mailed a half-eaten kidney from Jack the Ripper, and Tor has to put that to music and wrote words like “You will have your luscious treat from out in the grimy alleys.” Put on top of that raging sentiment the overpowering guitar solo Tor rips out, and this is a clear highlight on the album.
One of the more complex songs is “Dead Birds.” Well, complex and heavy as hell. While some of their songs seem to plod along at times, this one is full-speed ahead chaos. Eirik really shines on the chorus; there’s a certain droning quality to his slow-paced vocals, but when he lets it out and tears into the quicker lyrical rhythms, he sounds more convincing and more confident.
“A Seed of Evil” is the most melodic song on Anomic Nation. There’s a lot of atmosphere, and instead of those razor riffs, this song breathes and is more expansive. Plus, instead of singing about kidneys, dead birds, getting eaten by sewer rats, you get a majestic feel on passages like “Underneath the vault of heaven, underneath the azure sky, thoughts set for microcosm, as she spreads out to fly.” It’s almost … pretty? Of course it’s called “A Seed of Evil” and the whole world ends during the song, but still …
The last 13 minutes of the album are “My Mysteries Unwind-Part I and II.” Part I is about four minutes Part II almost 10 minutes. It’s hard not to think of a band like Queen when Part I begins, just the first minute or so, although a more appropriate comparison would be Savatage to these gents. Eirik is shoved out front and center and can’t hide behind a wall of noise. This is probably his best vocal moment on the album.
Part II is quite the opposite of Part I. Instead of atmospheric and soothing, Part II is the band basically showing off. There’s so much there, from tempo changes to guitar leads/solos, strange rhythms, a cool bass breakdown about 5:30 in, and strong vocals. It’s the lyrics that set this one apart as well: “As he spoke I could sense the odd stench of his breath. ‘My good friend, why so sad? Come on, tell me, my lad.’ He would speak to me harshly, still I never got mad.” So who is this dude? If he walks at night and “will feast until day,” has an odd stench in his breath, well, he’s probably a vampire, eh? More horror!
Anomic Nation needs a few spins to really digest everything they are offering the listener. This isn’t like hearing the new AC/DC and being able to sing along after a couple listens. If you give Sarpedon a real chance, and dive into what they have to offer musically and lyrically, this is a damn cool release from a band that shows a lot of potential.
Genre: Progressive Metal, Power Metal
Band:
Eirik P. Krokfjord – Vocals, keyboards
Torgeir P. Krokfjord – Guitars
Andreas Wærholm – Keyboards
Carl M. Engstrøm – Drums
Jimmy Lu—bass
Leiv Iversen—guitars
Tracklisting:
1. Anomic Nation
2. The Lusk Letter
3. The Claustrophober
4. Dead Birds
5. A Seed of Evil
6. The Carnival
7. My Mysteries Unwind – Part I
8. My Mysteries Unwind – Part II
Label: Inverse Records
Web: http://facebook.com/sarpedonnorway
Hardrock Haven rating: 7.7/10
