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P r o g r e s s i v e R o c k W o r l d
Wobbler, the Masters of Analog High Fidelity
I've already spoken about this band at length regarding some of their works and those of founding member, the great Lars Fredrik Frøislie, as well as albums by White Willow and The Chronicles of Father Robin. This is because the connections between the Norwegian musicians who are members of this band are numerous.
So let's see how the story of Wobbler connects to this fantastic world of Scandinavian progressive rock, what I like to call Northern Prog.
Wobbler is a Norwegian band active since 1999. They formed in Hønefoss with the goal of recreating the sounds of the early '70s, drawing inspiration from prog masters and using vintage instruments while maintaining an original sound.
The band plays with vintage instruments, in particular Lars Fredrik Frøislie's vast keyboard collection, which includes a Mellotron, Hammond organ, Minimoog and harpsichord, strictly avoiding the use of MIDI and having a technical and compositional approach that evokes the past, but with a modern twist and a completely personal compositional style.
The initial lineup consisted of five members with experience in various aspects of the Norwegian music scene, often related to metal or psychedelic rock:
Tony Johannessen (Vocals): The band's lead singer until 2009.
Morten Andreas Eriksen (Guitars, Mandolin): Previously active in bands such as Dionysos, Oter, Citadel, Shenandoah, and later Thunderbolt.
Lars Fredrik Frøislie (Keyboards): The founder has an extensive musical history; he was a member of White Willow (since 2001) and has played in numerous projects, including In Lingua Mortua, Tusmørke, Ásmegin, and various black metal bands such as Beastcraft (under the pseudonym "Ghoul").
Kristian Karl Hultgren (Bass, Woodwinds): In addition to Wobbler, he has been a member of Spirits of the Dead and The Chronicles of Father Robin.
Martin Nordrum Kneppen (Drums, Percussion): He played in Angst Skvadron and collaborated with Tusmørke and The Chronicles of Father Robin.
Over the years, the lineup has undergone some changes that led to the current lineup.
In 2009, Andreas Wettergreen Strømman Prestmo (formerly of Lukas Kasha and Father Robin) replaced Tony Johannessen on vocals.
In 2011, Geir Marius Bergom Halleland replaced Morten Andreas Eriksen as lead guitarist.
Their style is old-school symphonic progressive rock that achieves its initial mission of sounding exactly like an early '70s prog band, rejecting modern or digital sounds.
They don't use digital synthesizers or modern samplers, and the sound is dominated by the Mellotron for choirs and orchestral strings, the Hammond organ for rhythms and solos, the Minimoog and harpsichord for the more complex melodies, and the very present, distorted, and percussive Rickenbacker bass.
The songs are characterized by an extreme and splendid complexity, with epic suites that often exceed 15-20 minutes, sudden tempo changes that move from acoustic pastoral moments to aggressive and dissonant rock sections, and with melodic lines from keyboards, bass, and guitar that intersect, recalling baroque music in the style of the masters of Eclectic Prog.
They are one of the most important and innovative bands on the contemporary progressive rock scene, having successfully revived the sound and atmosphere of '70s prog rock with their own musical identity. They are a point of reference for lovers of the genre, and recently announced the start of recording a new album, which I am eagerly awaiting.
The Discography and the Reviews
Hinterland - 2005
Afterglow - 2009
Rites at Dawn - 2011 - ECCELLENTE
From Silence to Somewhere - 2017 - ESSENZIALE
Dwellers of the Deep - 2020 - ESSENZIALE