2023 Number 8: Seven Impale

NIELS' TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2023: Number 8

Seven Impale - Summit

 

Apart from the UK, I always think of Sweden as the spiritual home of progressive music, but let’s not foget Norway: the land that gave us Gazpacho, Airbag, Wobbler, Leprous and Motorpsycho. Also from the land of the fjords comes Seven Impale, a heavy jazz/progmetal outfit that places itself in the wake of Van Der Graaff Generator, Zappa at his darkest and King Crimson around the Red era. The winter is dark in Bergen, it’s a much more confrontational and hostile album than the friendly hippie dippie prog I usually gravitate to. Droning verses, screechy brass, sudden instrumental chaos and occasional pure noise. The vocals are not prominent on this one, but the singer is good value, he’s a first degree operatic ham, playing the villain. A certain retro bent keeps things warm enough to remain inviting. Very cool, but not for everyone.