ICS Vortex
Storm Seeker

What an unusual name appears on this album, ICS Vortex! One of the legends of Norwegian black/viking metal, who has participated in some loads of commendable Scandinavian musical initiatives, turning almost all of them into pure gold, a true Viking King Midas. Given his role (bassist and vocalist), he has almost always stood out as a leading or prominent figure in groups such as Borknagar, Arcturus, and Dimmu Borgir, yet he had never launched solo projects. Or almost. The only exception being two demos produced under the name Lamented Souls, a doom-oriented band. However, his involvement in Norway's most famous band (the Borgir) forced him to set minor projects aside. This is because, as he admitted in several interviews, being part of such a band is a demanding experience that leaves no room for other initiatives.

Kicked out unceremoniously by Silenoz and company, the tall fellow (possibly the tallest bassist on the planet) found himself with a considerable amount of the aforementioned free time. Here he is reappearing behind the microphones of Borknagar as a special guest, only to later decide to return to the group full-time as the official bassist and additional singer. Here he is again, intent on reuniting the legendary Arcturus (no joke) and taking them on tour. In short, if it's not entirely clear the benefit Dimmu Borgir gained from losing such a personality, it's undeniable that other less known bands were quite happy to reintegrate Mr. Hestnæs into their lineup. Between one commitment and another, he also found the time to release something under his own name. Keep in mind that this album does not aim to push the frontiers of metal forward, nor to redraw its boundaries; it's simply an excellent artist indulging in a fancy, and Storm Seeker is unlikely to have a sequel. Keep that in mind, and you'll be well rewarded.

Note first of all the brevity of the songs: excluding the title track, none of the other 10 episodes reach 5 minutes, for a total of barely three. That's a great thing to say, because the album flows light and fresh like a waterfall. On the other hand, we are facing a classic and timeless metal, free of excessive technicalities or speed changes, also devoid of ultra-heavy parts or ambient diversions. An album that makes its strong point of compositional balance and sobriety, combined with the always excellent and evocative performance of Vortex behind the microphones. Not a small feat, in a period when many artists try to overdo it to daze listeners, trying to cover a certain lack of ideas with rich additions of technicality.

Simplicity, this is the watchword.
So here's the album that starts off great with Black mobile and Odin's Tree, tracks that bring to mind the best episodes of The Archaic Course by Borknagar, Universal and New Millennium to name a few, but we can even bring up the legendary Colossus or the more recent My Domain. It must be said that Soul Seeker, however, does not raise a sound wall comparable to that of Borknagar, which makes the songs much more immediate in enjoyment. Add to this Simen's hypnotic vocal style, and the game is done.
The substance of the album remains unchanged for the entire first half, only to be enriched by seventies prog influences in the second. Here's where the psychedelic Oil In Water comes to life, making way for the wonderful and whimsical title track, undoubtedly the best of the batch. On Storm Seeker, moreover, it becomes clear how simplicity is also the strong point of Vortex's vocal performance: no high notes or excessive operatic virtuosity, just simple vocal lines that seem to form spontaneously, as if he entered the studio and began to sing whatever came to mind on the spot. And again, before saying goodbye, a last surprise, The Sub Mariner, an instrumental track with a distinctly electronic flavor.
Nice surprise! Well done!

01.The Blackmobile    
02.Odin's Tree    
03.Skoal!    
04.Dogsmacked
05.Aces
06.Windward
07.When Shuffled Off    
08.Oil in Water    
09.Storm Seeker
10.Flaskeskipper
11.The Sub Mariner

7.5