Washington
A new order rising
Glitterhouse
This Tromsø-based Norwegian band offers melodic epic rock reminiscent of bands like Radiohead, Coldplay and Muse. Guitarist/vocalist Rune Simonsen even sounds a bit like Thom Yorke in ballad mode at times. But this debut full-length (the band released an EP a few years ago) stands on its own quite nicely. If you can avoid thinking about all the stylistic touchstones, "A new order rising" is a very pleasant listen. "Landslide" is a sweet mid-tempo radio-friendly tune where Simonsen quickly shows his voice can soar with the best of 'em, while drummer Esko Pedersen and bassist Andreas Hoyer lay down a solid rhythmic foundation that's crisp and clear. "Have you ever" is actually one of the nicest slow songs I've heard this year, thanks to one of those stick-in-the-head melodies and a beautifully clear vocal (hey, a Norwegian Thom Yorke ain't such a bad thing, right?). Nice mellotron right in the middle, too. "River run by night" sounds like it's in a weird time signature, and it's so mesmerizing and carefully arranged that you imagine the band spending hours in the studio getting it just right. The cool percussion and lap steel guitar make it a standout track. The acoustic "Hymn" lets Simonsen show off his delicately beautiful falsetto, and if that's an autoharp being played behind it, bonus points for your good taste, guys! You're also gonna see a lot of reviews that single out the track "A long poem about the acts of heroes or gods." This nine-minute excursion into deep, Floyd-ian, guitar-based melancholy is the kind of big, expansive tune you can either lose yourself in, or shrug off 'cause it sounds like a bunch of other groups. I've opted for the former, and I've grown fond of this disc, even if it's a little monotonous in places.
- Kevin Renick