Lengsel
Solace

The world of music from these three Norwegian guys is the saddest and most desperate I have ever seen and heard.

Formed in 1995 in thriving Oslo, Tor Magne S. Glidje, John Robert Mjåland, and Ole Halvard Sveen immediately decided that their creation, Lengsel, had to be something more than just a black metal band; it needed to be a band that could emotionally engage the listener and transport them into a desperate, sad, dark world that in the end manages to find something good: thus, in 2000, "Solace" was born. The result is something phenomenal, beautiful, endowed with a dark mood, in which a strong light at the center symbolizes liberation.

Musically, the 8 tracks on the album, totaling 43 minutes and 25 seconds, are all extremely complex, often verging on a kind of progressive black metal. Among its main inspirations are not only bands like Immortal or Cradle Of Filth (from the era of "Dusk...And Her Embrace") but also, and I would say especially, artists like Pain Of Salvation or Andromeda, particularly regarding some melodic openings in which the progressive influence is heavy. An example is the splendid "Revival," which alternates heavy black outbursts with decidedly more relaxed and relaxing moments, featuring clean vocals, continuous tempo changes, complex and never banal instrumental parts, and especially structures intricately designed to transport the listener into the band's universe.

The same goes for the third track "Opaque," perhaps the best of the lot: an extremely technical black metal, where Tor's complex bass lines and venomous screams perfectly complement a melodic base completely devoted to speed, with sharp guitar riffs and a drum in the background always ready to perform great feats. Without tediously reviewing all the tracks here, know that the rest of the album continues more or less on the same tracks, with the addition of some moments where gothic atmospheres become heavy (the introduction of "Coat Of Arms" is the most striking example) and others where brief acoustic breaks appear.

Regarding the performance of each individual member, there is truly astonishing skill, as each of the three showcases an exceptional performance (especially the bassist, always busy moving his fingers up and down the strings), entirely flawless, showing an enviable technical level, but also great compositional maturity, as well as a great depth in songwriting.
Nothing to criticize therefore, you just have to listen and be ready to embark on a journey that starts from hell, I assure you (in every sense) ends in paradise, and if you take a little look at the lyrics you’ll also understand why.

Line-up:
Tor Magne S. Glidje - Vocals and Guitars
John Robert Mjåland - Bass
Ole Halvard Sveen - Drums, Acoustic Guitars, Keyboards

Track-list:
01) Solace (1:04)
02) Revival (6:15)
03) Opaque (4:16)
04) Hours (7:05)
05) Coat Of Arms (5:58)
06) Stille Dualisme (5:47)
07) The World Monotone (6:20)
08) Avmakt (6:34)