Gösta Berlings Saga – Forever Now
Gösta Berlings Saga – Forever Now
Pelagic Records
Release Date: 06/06/2025
Review by Metalphysicist
10/10
Every time I choose one album from Ever Metal’s infinite list of new releases, I like to pick a band that I don’t know anything about; then I read the EPK of the band before jumping in to write the review. I also take into consideration the musical genre that the band is in, but I never listen to bands that are mentioned as an influence. And, I don’t read any reviews that were published earlier than mine. Those principles are the ones that build my relationship with music and stimulate my sensations when I listen to the songs; Then, I work hard to let this sensitive interaction between me and the music show up through my writing process. At least, I try to.
That’s how I found “Forever Now”, the new album from the Stockholm band, Gösta Berlings Saga, an eclectic musical journey with no strings attached to any music genre – and this diversity is the engine that dictates the dynamics in each and every song on “Forever Now”. The first song ‘Full Release’ starts with a dark ambience as the keyboards emulate a kind of bass siren guiding us around the magnificent and intricate style of Gösta Berlings Saga, and at the end of the song, the sonority switches to jazzy drum technique and senseless instrumental jazz performance.
In ‘Through the Arches’, the drums are taken back, opening space to grandiose melodies from keyboards and guitar solos which worked very well for the songs sake – instead of inflating the guitar player’s idolatry. In ‘Arrangements’ the musicians opened Pandora’s Box for good and, on the next song, ‘Forever Now’, we keep in touch with a little Space Rock mood that, suddenly, falls into a Progressive and Epic Rock grandeur, guided by beautiful melodies from the keyboard, basically. The song ‘The Spring and the Birch’ is an ambient song guided by keys, and sounding like a soundtrack. It acts as the prelude between the first and last four songs on “Forever Now”
On ‘Fragment II’, the percussion and the guitar solo are highlighted, reminding me of Santana’s lost albums, as the guitar lines are twisted to a 70s Hippie vibe full of simplicity and a lot of feeling delivered through the solos. The percussion/guitar duo guide us throughout ‘Ascension’ – with a Progressive touch arising again. ‘Dog Years’ keeps on the Experimental Progressive ambience evolving to the jazzy, crazy drum rhythms, with intricate tempos and lots of Psychedelic Rock sauce in the mix.
The album comes to an end with a Folk Rock touch. ‘Ceremonial’ is the last song that drowned me into the labyrinths in my mind, making me feel that the song’s rotation is a never ending trip – I hope that’s to be continued on the next album from Gösta Berlings Saga.
So, here is my review, in which I opted to emerge into the ‘no-genre-band’ that came right from the 60’s and 70’s vibes, when the music was the expression of an artistic aesthetic which are open to all kinds of experimentation, as heard by the hands behind Gösta Berlings Saga. I loved it.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Full Release
02. Through The Arches
03. Arrangements
04. Forever Now
05. The Sprig and the Birch
06. Fragment II
07. Ascension
08. Dog Years
09. Make of Your Heart a Stone
10. Ceremonial
LINE-UP:
Gabriel Tapper – Bass
Jesper Skarin – Percussion
David Lundberg – Keys
Rasmus Booberg – Guitars
Alexander Skepp – Drums
LINKS:
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