I have to admit that I was disappointed in Origin Vol. 1, the last studio album from Sweden’s THE SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES. While not a bad record, it was inconsistent, and seemed to be missing the grand, dramatic sweep that runs through their best recordings.
So I’m thrilled to report that Communion, the sextet’s long-gestating follow-up, returns TSOOL to its full power and glory. Blending the psychedelic wash of the group’s second album Extended Revelation with the hook-heavy rock & roll of its breakthrough Behind the Music, Communion floods two sprawling CDs with powerhouse melodies and striking performances. As usual, the guitars of MATTIAS BARJELD and IAN PERSON blend so many strains of rock (psych, hard, folk, pop) together that genre lines get blurred, while keyboardist MARTIN HEDEROS colors any space that might be left over. Drummer FREDRIK SANDSTEN and bassist KALLE GUSTAFSSON JERNEHOLM continue to prove themselves a most graceful rhythm section, adept at any direction the music takes. Above it all, of course, flies the charismatic vocals of EBBOT LUNDBERG, one of contemporary rock’s most dynamic singers. TSOOL could make a solid record based on their tight musical attack alone.
Fortunately the band has the strong songwriting that elevates a good band to the level of greatness. These guys excel at everything: stomping rock & roll (“Thrill Me,” “Mensa’s Marauders”), moody folk rock (“Lost Prophets in Vein,” “Pictures of You”), soaring pop (“Flipside,” Saturation Wanderers”), psychedelic anthems (“Reconnecting Dots,” “RA 88”), romantic ballads (“Without Warning,” “Lifeline”), even a pastoral instrumental (“Digitarian Riverbank”). TSOOL absolutely soars during the massive, slow-building epics – “Songs of the Ocean,” “Babel On” (a near-perfect opener) and “Second Life Replay” truly show this band at its best. The record also includes, for the first time, a cover, as the band gives Nick Drake’s “Fly” a widescreen twist that makes it sound like an original. A resounding return to greatness, Communion is a TSOOL album for the ages.
http://tsool.net
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