Paganus

MERLINPROG (Norwegian Prog-rock site. Doesnt have a rating system)

These Swedes defines themseves as forest rockers, and find inspiration to their music in the melodies the trees sing to the wind. The band has a pronounced desire for a better time, a better world. In simple terms it means that the earth is sacred, and that the exhaustion we humans expose mother earth to is totally unacceptable! Instead of running around the streets with flyers Paganus was established – because music speaks to the hearts of people in a much more direct way than political pamphlets. We can therefore safely determine that Paganus are idealists who are fighting for a better world and for mother earth.

This struggle is one we all wholeheartedly should support – because one must be extremely ignorant if one do not see that the current human behavior carry us all in a completely wrong direction and that mother earth is suffering. ”Kalla” is the band’s second disc since the debut album ”Forest-rock” came out in 2007 – a record that was compared with Jethro Tull in their best moments! The use of Swedish lyrics sung in dialect, violin and mandolin is something the band is proud of and see as a strength rather than a weakness. The band definitively distinguishes itself in the profusion of often identical bands with their rather unique sound. A sound that drummer Jolene Fredricson carries the ”blame” for, since she is the producer of ”Kalla”.

Aforementioned ”Forest-rock” achieved in general to be referred to as ”the first ecological rock album” and called a ”Crusade for the countryside”. On ”Kalla” Paganus attempt to follow up the excellent debut, and take a further step forward in their musical development and dissemination of the ”message”. The record is somewhat darker than the debut, which may reflect the time aspect – its urgent to save the earth. The sources of musical inspiration are other Scandinavian folk bands such as Frifot, Gåte, Urban Turban, Väsen and Harv. The title ”Kalla” refers to call upon higher powers to achieve the band’s goals for what we have understood.

Vocalist Johannes Söderqvist has a fine and expressive voice which colours the forest rock. The same Söderqvist is also the band’s songwriter, and he lives as he preaches! He lives in the middle of the Wermlandic forests and actually grow most of his food himself, and in general in both word and deed live and breathe the Paganus message. So this is true and also quite genuine cases, and the music is perfect for the message. In a world of hopeless copy+paste-ers Paganus are a rare plant that we really like a lot – the music of this band has the wonderful gift of growing when it is played multiple times.

Despite the obvious frustration these musicians seem to carry, caused by our lack of understanding of nature conservation, it is still sun behind the cloud, and ”Kalla” is an album that has warmth and charm in buckets and pails. The music is sprinkled with character and individuality and fat guitar riffs and violin and mandolin collaborate in a very fruitful and exciting way. Those who want real music and real good music to, go get ”Kalla” and all that great forest-rock. 

ST-rec 6/3-10
Betyg 4 av 5

Proggen är inte död. Den har bara överskuggats av den oändliga härvan av massproducerad skit och försummats av någon kollektiv åsikt om att den enskildes handling inte räknas. Men när man trodde att man tappat hoppet om mänsklighetens förmåga att agera, dyker Paganus upp och visar att det fortfarande finns eldsjälar som tror på viljan att förändra och drömmen om en bättre morgondag.
I den oändliga vinterkylan tar Kalla med lyssnaren på en virvlande svängom i naturens mytomspunna värld.
Tunga gitarriff blandas upp med stråkar och mandolin och toppas av den ärliga dialektala sången som karaktäriserar fenomenet Paganus.
Även om första låten inleds med orden ”Jag är arg, jag är så jävla arg” och frustration är ett ledord för denna nya skapelse, så är det paketerat med värme och kärlek.
Plattan är något mörkare än debutalbumet Skogsrock, men låtar som ”Spela för mig” och ”Ny Väg” glimtar till, och ger hopp om att det kanske finns en sommar under snön med barfotadans och nakenbad i ett tjärn någonstans i den värmländska urskogen.
Det är kanske inte för alla öron, men för den som gått och längtat efter något äkta eller bara vill ha ett lite gladare hjärta är Kalla en pärla.

- Sofia Jonason Juvel
Rating 4 of 5

The alternative scene is not dead. It has just been overshadowed by this giant tangle of mass-produced crap and neglected by some collective view that the individual’s action does not count. But when you thought you lost hope for humanity’s ability to act, Paganus pop up and show that there are still enthusiasts who believe in the willingness to change and dream about a better tomorrow.
In the endless winter chill “Kalla” convene with the listener on a whirlwind fling in the mythical world of nature.
Heavy guitar riffs mixed up with violin and mandolin, topped by honest dialect singing characterizes the phenomenon Paganus.
Although the first song begins with the words ”I’m angry, I am so damn mad” and frustration is a watchword for this new album, it is still packaged with warmth and love.
The album is slightly darker than the debut “Skogsrock”, but songs like ”Spela for mig” and ”Ny Vag” twinkle, and gives hope that there might be a summer hiding underneath the snow – with bare feet-dancing and skinny dipping in a lake somewhere in the primeval forests of Vermland.
It is perhaps not for all ears, but for those who’ve longed for something real, or just want to be a bit more cheerful in their hearts; “Kalla” is a gem.

- Sofia Jonason Juvel