Paganus

Paganus,  Kalla (Earth Wood) 4/5

Paganus’ carrying a wish for a better time, a better world. This is their second album and just like the debut this record has the lovely smell of primeval forest moss and pine resin. You could say that it was Paganus themselves who created the concept of forest rock here in Wermland.

With Johannes Söderqvist cultivated lyrics and dialect voice that is angry and soft at the same time,  Paganus takes you with ‘em on an ecological journey. We travel with scrutinizing eyes through the exploitation that modern society’s stands for into the suggestive landscape of nature mysticism. With  Maria Larsson’s violin, which makes the rough and dark forest-rock melodic and hopeful, we’re brought to a place where humans and nature, breathe in harmony.

When Paganus calls you’d like to follow. In their music, in their vocation. Listen and be inspired you to.

Lovisa Eriksson

Not the rutless world of folk metal – more the reflective world of rock folk.

It must be the long months of darkness that compel the Norse to think deeply about myth, legend and the living magic locked in the earth. Scandinavian people move close to the mystical and the mysterious. They identify with the spirit of their wild, beautiful lands. Their music too explores magical and spiritual worlds. There is, of course, a wealth of music across Europe that slides into the supernatural world and explores earth-magic but the nordmän still do it best.

Listening to ‘Kalla’ (second album from Swedish band Paganus) pour out it’s folk-fuelled, rock-driven energy immediately takes you into that world. The sleeve notes record the continuing human abuse of the earth, and then sound a cry of hope from those that see the wonder of our planet. (No I don’t speak Swedish – the band kindly sent the translation). …

[We've cut the presentation of the members]

…   At first listen, Paganus is more rock than folk yet distinct folk elements combine with the rock influences to create an absorbing sound. This is  not the ruthless world of folk metal it’s more the reflective world of rock folk.

This is an album of two distinct faces. The first shows a darker rock emphasis – filled with dominant vocals, ripping guitar riffs, searing fiddle and pulsating drumming, its folk heritage almost hidden. (Listen for touches of Horselips and wishbone Ash). The second face is far softer – it has a more folk orientated emphasis, with an acoustic feel to the strings and resonant vocals. Were it not for its Swedish language this could be English folk rock.

The opening tracks ‘Arg’,  ‘Spela for mig’ and ‘Vilda Skrattet’ involve scintillating fiddle over a foundation of thumping base and rapid-fire drumming. The title track ‘Kalla’ is somewhat gentler but guitar and drum still dominate, and the lead guitar is superb. ‘Mannen I Backen’ open with acoustic strings and fiddle before the power vocals kick in with their almost ‘yoik’ vocal treatment in the chorus. ‘Skogen Minns’ and ‘Atlantis’ are gentle, reflective songs – sombre fiddle and soft combine, while Johannes displays the depth of his rich vocal range with a softer approach. ‘Ny Vag’ closes the album, it returns the rockier style and reprises the infectious yoik-vocal chant – you may not speak Swedish but you’ll sing along all the same.

This album glories in its native tongue and although, you may not understand the lyrics, for Paganus to sing in English would be a great mistake. (Although it was good to receive the English translation to read the depth of feeling that you can hear through the music). Listen to ‘Kalla’ in Swedish and enjoy.

folkwords.com