Hallas – Conundrum
Release Date: January 31, 2020
Sometimes the best music is the music that you can’t really put into words; music that is hard to describe or even peg with a single genre tag. When Hallas first appeared on my radar two years ago, their music didn’t click with me. The release of their sophomore release Conundrum piqued my interest, and after one listen, I was hooked.
While their Hallas’ music truly is hard to describe with words, the Swedish quintet describes their music as “adventure rock.” The opening of intro “Ascension” and the first song “Beyond Night and Day” start things off with a blast off into the cosmos followed by the interstellar floating vibe of “Strider.” These two songs set the tone for the greatness that is to come.
“Tear of a Traitor” is a substantial piece of epic space rock, and this is where I can hear how one would call this “adventure rock.” “Tear of a Traitor” literally sounds like a comic book that has come to life. Closing my eyes, I could listen to this song, take in the lyrics, and with vivid imagery and full-color expression, I could envision the story unraveling as it took on a Flash Gordon kind of vibe.
The epic 8:54 album closer “Fading Hero” is hands down my favorite song on the album. There are so many influences that are wrapped into the sound of Hallas. The vocals are very reminiscent of former Men at Work vocalist Collin Hay, and musically there is a bit of everything from David Bowie, ‘80s synth-rock, and Styx. Instead of full out emulating any of these influences, Hallas has figured out a way to combine them all into one, hot goulash creating a sound that can only be described as, well, Hallas.
Hallas’ Conundrum is one of the most unique and interesting albums I have heard in quite a while. Breaking the mold of what I expect most Swedish bands to sound like, Hallas offers something exciting and different. Hallas is a band that we should all keep an eye on, and Conundrum is an album that we should all make room for in our music collections. Conundrum is an interstellar journey for the ears, the mind, and the soul, and trust me when I say that this is one ride you don’t want to pass up.
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