Kingnomad - Sagan Om Rymden (Album Review)

Release date: July 10^th 2020. Label: Ripple Music. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Sagan Om Rymden – Tracklisting

1.Omniverse 04:20

2.Small Beginnings 04:34

3.The Omega Experiment 03:46

4.Tillbakablick / The Usurper King 08:36

5.Multiverse 05:48

6.The Fermi Paradox 02:32

7.The Creation Hymn 04:19

8.On the Shoulders of Giants 05:01

9.The Unanswered Question 04:37

Members

Marcus.

Mr Jay.

Maximilian.

Mano.

Review

Sagan Om Rymden is the new album from Swedish Powerhouse Doom Rockers Kingnomad who make another mighty fine splash into the world of 70s Doom Metal and Proto-Metal with flashes of Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock and Space Rock imagery on this album. Kingnomad take to the skies with this album especially with their excellent “out-there” lyrics and beautifully crazy song titles.

The album opens with the fast-paced Psychedelic stylings of Omniverse and it has the perfect balance of 70s Classic Doom Metal and the fantastical elements of Swedish Doom Metal. Truth be told I first thought I was listening to GHOST at first especially with the more groovy psychedelic parts but that thought soon left as Kingnomad start playing a more fast-paced and more interesting style of music where the lyrics and vocals help drive the music along.

One of the main strengths of this album is how the band never write or play the same kind of song twice. Each song is vastly different and have their own identity but still retain Kingnomad’s trademark style of Doom based sounds. The band thrive when they bring the more darker and daring vibes of 70s Doom Metal and give it a more inventive spin with the gloomy Psychedelic parts start leading the way.

Standout songs include: Small Beginnings, The Omega Experiment, Multiverse and On The Shoulders Of Giants being the most creative and diverse songs held on the album. This is where Kingnomad impressed myself the most with heavy riffs, slow tempos, theatrical vocals and top-notch songwriting being used to their full potential.

Kingnomad are one of the most interesting and perhaps standout bands from the “Retro Rock” scene that always bring something cool and exciting to the table. The band live for all things 70s Hard Rock and Heavy Metal and this album feels like it could have been released within that legendary period. As the production has quite a vintage feel whilst remaining superbly modern as well.

Sagan Om Rymden is beautifully crazy and superbly entertaining album that will keep their established fan-base happy for a very long time to come. This record could even allow Kingnomad gain a few more dedicated followers along the way.

Ripple Music seem to be on a major streak in releasing great albums and they have tonnes more coming in the next few months or so. However, this is Kingnomad’s show and they’ve released an outstanding album that will surprise you in many different ways.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo. Sagan Om Rymden is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Kingnomad - Mapping The Inner Void (Album Review)

Release date: February 24th 2017. Label: Ripple Music. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Mapping The Inner Void – Tracklisting

Lucifer's Dream

Nameless Cult

Whispers From R'lyeh

The Witches Garden

The Green Meadow Part 1 & 2

She Wizard

The Waiting Game

Band Members

Mr Jay – Guitars and vocals
Andreas – Drums
Marcus – Guitars and psychedelia
Maximilian – bass and backing vocals

Review

Swedish Doom/Stoner Rockers Kingnomad new album – Mapping The Inner Void - is their first album for powerhouse record label Ripple Music and is one that will appeal to fans of Black Sabbath and Uncle Acid. Kingnomad create a similar sound to Uncle Acid though they opt for a more structured Occult Rock sound with elements of sixties style Psych Rock.

Opening track – Lucifer's Dream – is your standard Doom/Occult Rock sound but Kingnomad add vocals that sound very familiar of fellow Swedish Doomsters Ghost. It’s a very soulful and psychedelic track that allows Kingnomad to add different elements of Doom Rock/Metal. The organ playing adds a nice touch towards the end of the song.

Second track – Nameless Cult - is where Kingnomad start to fully impress with creepy soundbytes and eerie lyrics sung against a vintage Doom/Occult rock score. It’s quite heavy with the familiar classic hard rock moments allowing Kingnomad to experiment with their sound.

Third track – Whispers From R'lyeh – is a change of pace as Kingnomad play a slowly played doomish song with semi-acoustic moments set against a lone female voice. The song moves up a gear when the band decides to play heavier and faster riffs.

Fourth track – The Witches Garden – is very blues rock influenced compared to the other songs. It has a classic sixties style psychedelic edge where the vocals impress from the start. The doom and gloom atmospherics allows Kingnomad to have some devilish fun on the album. It has a progressive folk rock feel at times as the band creates one of the albums standout tracks.

The final three songs – The Great Meadow Parts 1 & 2, She Wizard and The Waiting Game sees Kingnomad not really adding anything new to their sound from their earlier songs. Though it’s quite addictive in parts especially on She Wizard and The Waiting Game.

Mapping The Inner Void is an excellent album and one that will appeal to the majority of the Doom Metal community. Sure it doesn’t offer anything groundbreaking but that hasn’t stopped Kingnomad in releasing a superb and well produced album. If you want an good old fashioned Occult/Doom Metal album with flourishes of Classic Rock and Psych sounds then you can’t go wrong with this excellent album. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Richard at Sheltered Life PR for the promo. Mapping The Inner Void will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music from February 24^th 2017.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp