Paganus

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

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.