Detailed Reviews [Kornmo - 2021 - "Fimbulvinter"]

Prolusion. Norwegian band Kornmo was formed back in 2015, featuring seasoned musicians with a history in bands such as Adventure and Morild. They released their first album "Svartisen" back in 2017, and in 2019 their second production "Vandring" appeared. "Fimbulvinter" is the third album by Kornmo, and was released in the fall of 2021 through Norwegian label Apollon Records Prog.

Analysis. It doesn't take all that long to be able to establish a suitable context for the music explored on this album. Symphonic progressive rock is the style explored here, and it is a distinctly retro-oriented variety of the style at that. It is also an instrumental production, which probably is worth taking note of. As this general description may well be a bit misleading for some, I should probably stress that this isn't one of those progressive rock bands that are out to redefine the levels of flamboyancy and the clever manners in which they incorporate elements from classical music, jazz or both of those styles into challenging and demanding escapades. This album is all about the atmospheric laden landscapes, and the band tends to shy away from any dramatic maneuvers altogether. That the stated sources of inspiration for this album are textbooks about geology should probably be seen as an indication of how this album plays out. Long songs that are fairly slow paced is an ongoing feature here, with the shortest song clocking in at the 8 minute mark while the longest concludes at about 26 minutes. Some of the shorter songs are actually the least interesting too, at least for my mind, as they tend to become a tad monotone and lacking in variation. These songs are building up a mood and an atmosphere, but the payoff comes too late in those instances and aren't interesting enough for me as a reward as such. On the longer songs the band does a fine job in establishing an ebb and flow movement and ample degrees of variation however, and while the tempo mainly remains on the slower side we get a fine array of different arrangements to enjoy, ranging from delicate flute, violin and cello driven sections to majestic passages with layered keyboards, a nice and rich organ, and various combinations of these instruments with and without guitar riffs and guitar soloing in supporting roles as well as in various degrees of harmonization. With the occasional parts sporting a more guitar dominated presence too. Here the band and their ideas shine fairly bright at times, with enough movement and variation to maintain tension and interest. The generally slow pace and the focus on a more atmospheric variety of the style will probably restrict interest among some fans of progressive rock of course, but for those who get what the band wants to achieve this will be quite the rewarding album experience I suspect.

Conclusion. Those who tend to fancy a distinctly retro-oriented variety of symphonic progressive rock of the kind that focus on establishing and building moods and atmospheres should find plenty to enjoy on Kornmo's latest album "Fimbulvinter". A fancy for slower moving compositions and an affection for retro-oriented keyboard sounds will be needed to be able to enjoy this album though, as well as a strong affection for instrumental and mainly keyboard dominated compositions as a whole. Those who can subscribe to such notions will have a very good chance of finding this album to be quite the enjoyable affair.

Progmessor: November 2021
The Rating Room