Style: Metalcore, Progressive Death Metal (mixed vocals)
Review by: Dan
Country: Norway
Release date: 12 May, 2021
As a high schooler, I had a small selection of CDs that rode around with me in my car’s CD player. They included albums ranging from mid-90s death metal classics to the foremost prog metal of the late 00’s. There were even a few metalcore albums by bands like Trivium and Killswitch Engage. This was, after all, the heyday of metalcore, when, I’d argue, the popularity of bands with “screaming” probably peaked. Metal is definitely more prominent today than it was then, but I don’t think many individual bands (save maybe Gojira) can match the popularity enjoyed by the superstars of the mid-aughts.
I want to talk about one band in particular that’s not frequently discussed from this era: Himsa. Their 2007 album Summon in Thunder was among my car’s compact disc contingent, and I bring it up because I can’t listen to Ethereal Palace without nostalgically reminiscing about blaring “Big Tinder” with my windows down as a teenager in South Florida. I’m not saying Lysjakt plays purely ’00s metalcore – their sound is a bit more on the sludgy, progressive death metal side of the spectrum – but the tonality, drumming, vocals, and overall vibe definitely nod towards the scene from fifteen years ago. It’s perhaps subtle, but for me, it’s inescapable, and dramatically increases the warmth with which my ears and soul receive Ethereal Palace.
Lysjakt is an impressive and well-produced solo project by Marius Ofstad, brother (?) of Kvelertak guitarist Maciek Ofstad who makes a guest appearance on “The Graveyard.” It seems that groovy, melodic death’n’roll sensibilities run in the family, as the songs on this album have an effortless rock and roll undertone beneath their more hard-edged aesthetics. The guitar solos, in particular, add a rippin’ energy to the mid-tempo tracks. The album certainly doesn’t overstay its welcome at a scant 36 minutes, with six meaty tracks bookended by a pair of instrumentals.
While Ethereal Palace doesn’t tread much new ground musically, the songs are well-written and effective, with catchy melodic hooks and enough dynamics and variety to keep things interesting. The songs flow well, and all the musicianship is nice and tight. The production is warm and rich, and you’ll find yourself boppin’ along plenty. The drums are crisp and lively, the bass is a bit buried but gnarly and bright, and the vocals sit flawlessly in the mix. I get slightly distracted by Marius’s heavily-accented cleans, but his tone – both clean and harsh – is quite enjoyable. I particularly enjoyed the penultimate track, song in Ofstad’s native Norwegian.
Overall, this album is a bit unremarkable, but certainly competent and enjoyable. It’ll scratch an itch for more modernized and “deathened” metalcore that harkens back to the genre’s heyday.
Recommended tracks: Irongod, Leave The Light, The Graveyard, Tidens Hånd
Recommended for fans of: Himsa, Art of Deception, Cognizance
Final verdict: 6/10
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Lysjakt is:
– Marius Ofstad (everything)
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