Hybris, the 1992 debut album and masterpiece by Anglagard, a short-lived band that, in that short time, managed to produce magnificent albums of symphonic rock characterized by a dark Scandinavian sound, a riot of Mellotron and synths, with highlights in the band that also include percussion virtuoso Mattias Olsson and exceptional flutist Anna Holmgren.
Complexity, dynamics, extraordinary compositions, excellent arrangements, great refinement, and great technique, make for a stratospheric debut album, a true masterpiece, an essential album for progressive rock—and we're not talking about modern ne-prog, we're talking about pure Symphonic Rock, for an album that is certainly among the 30 best progressive rock albums and leaves many masterpieces by renowned bands of the 1970s behind.
A band that inspired many Scandinavian bands, who in the '90s told the world that prog was still alive, perhaps creating a new wave, a new "golden vein" for progressive rock in the far north of Europe, almost simultaneously with another Scandinavian band I love, Anekdoten.
Spectacular artwork.
Four long tracks and, in my version, a bonus track, all unforgettable for their complexity, compositions, melodies, and execution.
A huge album that is an absolute must-have for any prog collection.
The Tracks
1. Jordrök (11:10)
2. Vandringar I Vilsenhet (11:53)
3. Ifrån Klarhet Till Klarhet (8:04)
4. Kung Bore (12:57)
Bonus tracks on all reissues:
5. Gånglåt Från Knapptibble (7:19)
Line-Up
- Tord Lindman - acoustic electric guitars, nylon and steel, vocals
- Jonas Engdegård - acoustic electric and nylon and steel guitars
- Thomas Johnson - Mellotron, Hammond (B-3 & L-100), synthesizers (Solina, Korg), clavinet, pianet, piano, electronic church organ
- Anna Holmgren - flute
- Johan Högberg - bass, pedalboard, Mellotron (effects)
- Mattias Olsson - drums, concert bass drum, tambourine, vibraslap, po-chung, gong, glockenspiel, tubular bells, bongos, Tibetan cymbals, wind chimes, a-gogo, cabasa, African drums, flute, bells, and various percussion instruments
With:
- Pär Lindh - performer (unconfirmed)
