Style: traditional/rock (mostly clean vocals)
Review by: Dylan
Country: Norway
Release date: 05-02-2021
Truls Haugen is Circus Maximus’ drummer, and he has gone out of his way to do a solo release with him and him alone. Drummer solo albums tend to be very weird (see: Marco Minnemann’s solo albums), but I was fortunate enough that Mr. Haugen here didn’t go *too* far off what his other projects entail: prog music generally rooted in the more traditional side. I’m not gonna lie, The Haugen Archives caught me off-guard at first. Opening with some arena rock like chops, I was simply very confused as to what and why was I reviewing this. A full listen happened and not much came off it, then two… but by the third something weird happened.
The album grew on me VERY rapidly by my third session with it. I really can’t point my finger to a certain explanation, but rather the fact that I became prepared for a very rock-y opener and also embraced the other tracks which are simply very well written. None of them are really similar from each other, meaning that there’s a bit of everything for anyone to hold on to and enjoy. Wether you enjoy simpler, prog-lite tracks such as “Trust”, Djenty grooves like the ones in “Overload” or even a great power ballad like the one you can find in “Wild Wild Son”, I found its variety intriguing and engaging. The production is very pleasing to your ears, the vocals are varied and tasteful, there’s some tasty riffing, a solo here and there… it’s nothing that will absolutely blow your brains out but damn it if it isn’t enjoyable. Some of the hooks are just amazing, managing to be stuck in my head and live rent free there for hours if not days. If that’s not the sign of an album worth checking out, I don’t know what is.
Even though it will definitely NOT be my Album of the Year, Truls Haugen is a worthy item to add on any prog fan’s music library. It’s fun, well written and understands its limitations by knowing when to stop. Good job!
Recommended tracks: Delusion of Grandeur, Wild Wild son
Recommended for fans of: Pain of Salvation, Lost in Thought
Final verdict: 7.5/10
Related links Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook
Label: Independent
Truls Haugen is:
– Truls Haugen (All Instruments)
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