I hate to admit it, but despite forming in 2011, releasing an EP in 2015, and an album in 2017, Hällas didn’t cross my musical radar until fall of last year. I know, I know. Go ahead and call me a poser. When I eventually discovered Hällas, I listened to 2017’s Excerpts From a Future Past so many times, some thought I had an obsession. They thought correctly. So you could only imagine my reaction to the news that their sophomore effort, Conundrum, would drop on my 21st birthday! Well January 31 came and went with nothing but an unfortunate message. The American release of the album would be postponed for two weeks. Two weeks?!?!? Yep. There’s an old saying that “Good things come to those who wait.” If this is true (and I believe it is), Conundrum is the best belated 21st birthday present this guy could ask for.
There’s one downside to Hällas and that’s their music is hard to objectively review. This is not because of how great it is, but because of how hypnotic it is. Who needs hallucinogenics when you have Hällas? Frontman Tommy Alexandersson is a dead ringer for a young Peter Gabriel. The guitar, bass, drums, and synths work together to weave a tapestry of atmosphere. Each song has its own distinct traits. “Strider” is an alluring, moody song that I can imagine playing while slowly driving down a main drag at 2 in the morning. On the opposite side of the spectrum is “Tear of a Traitor”. Fueled by twin lead guitars and battle themed lyrics, Wishbone Ash would be proud.
On an album chock full of glorious 70s worship, “Carry On” serves as a pleasant departure into the early 80s. If the neon lighting of your childhood video arcade had a sound, this would be it. I might even go as far to say this is my favorite track on the album. It’s hard to pick one as I love them all. If “Carry On” isn’t the best song never made for the Top Gun soundtrack, I don’t know what is.
The remainder of the album displays Hällas’ forte and that is creating retro drenched audio mind trips. These are best experienced with the lights off, curtains closed, and headphones at maximum volume. As if the playing and songwriting wasn’t excellent enough, it’s on these tracks we realize just how much we’ve taken the warm, crisp production for granted. “Beyond Night and Day” opens Conundrum where Excerpts left off and sets the tone for what’s to come later in the album. This would be the last three tracks: “Labyrinth of Distant Echoes”, “Blinded by the Emerald Mist”, and “Fading Hero”. “Labyrinth” and “Blinded” are over 7 minutes long. “Fading Hero” is over 8 minutes long.
During each track I had to pinch myself and say, “Hey! Snap out of it! You’ve got an album to review!”. Can you blame me? “Labyrinth” begins with a lush opening passage before leading into one of the heaviest riffs on the album. In true progressive 70s fashion, this doesn’t last for long. Every minute serves as its own mini-suite. This is until around the final two and a half minutes. I think I just died and ascended into synthtopia. With a song this excellent, Hällas could’ve ended the album here. But nope! “Blinded” continues the progressive flavor with majestic twin leads, perky synthesizers, and a huge sounding organ before we’re led into an elegant acoustic section which helps close out the song.
Conundrum ends with “Fading Hero”. Like “Carry On”, it has a slightly more 80s feel to it. However, it takes that aesthetic it and adapts it to the progressive song structure of “Labyrinth” and “Blinded”. Progressive AOR perhaps? Think “Hydra” by Toto and “Poor Man’s Son” by Survivor. There’s another old saying about “saving the best for last”. While “Carry On” may be my favorite, “Fading Hero” is the best. Things slow down for the last few minutes as Hällas quietly departs our dimension and fades into the evening black.
With February barely half over, I’d be putting my foot in my mouth if I said this was a serious contender for album of the year…so consider my foot half eaten. At the very least, I’d be shocked if this didn’t end up in my yearly top 10. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be floating around the galaxy listening to this album for the third time in a row.
9 out of 10
Label: Napalm Records
Genre: Progressive Hard Rock
For fans of: Peter Gabriel era Genesis, Wishbone Ash, Kansas