Rating: 9.5/10
Release: 5 May 2023
Label: Dark Essence Records

The Norwegian band Lumsk after 16 years will release their fourth full-length “Fremmede Tone” (translated as “Foreign Tones”), in which there are 12 tracks. As well as the previous “Der Vilde Koor” was based on the texts of the Norwegian writer Knut Hamsund, also “Fremmede Tone” is based on a collection of foreign poems (which include poems by European and English authors such as Nietzsche, Goethe and Swinburne) translated into Norwegian by André Bjerke. But Lumsk took the concept idea to the next level: after composing the music for the Norwegian version they adapted the music to the poetry in the original language, as they explain: “Not long after the release of «Det Vilde Kor» back in 2007 we somehow stumbled upon a collection of poems by Norwegian Author André Bjerke. In this book, entitled «Fremmde Toner», Bjerke has translated and re-created poems from different English and German speaking poets. When we read those translations and re-creations an idea started to form. We wanted not only to write music to the Norwegian poems, but also write songs to the original poems. The idea of the concept was not only to make the same songs twice, but to make the songs mirror each other in a way, trying to somehow recreate the idea of a translation or re-creation. As with the poems the songs are not the same, but still familiar. So, finally, after over 15 years, we are ready to present this work. The album, named «Fremmede Toner», consists of twelve songs, or 6 pairs. First you have the Norwegian poems, and afterwards you have the poems in their original form. Even though it has taken us 15 years to release this new album, we have not been working on it continuously over these years. It wasn´t until we completed our line-up with a new vocalist, Mari Klingen, and a new guitarist, Roar Grindheim, that things really started to happen. We are so happy to once again be able to release new music, and are excited to see how it will resonate with old and new listeners. […]”.

Musically speaking in full-length you can hear the different musical influences of the various genres that distinguish the music of Lumsk, making it a perfect mix between rock, metal, classic, folk and progressive rock. There are two songs that are well over 8 minutes long and are “Dagen er Endt” and “The Day Is Done”, in which, during the instrumental parts in some moments seems to feel some similarities with Dream Theater (in a positive sense). The lyrics, accompanied by the melody, instead convey a sense of tranquility and peace, which allows the listener to estrange and travel to other worlds. This is also the first full-length album where the Norwegian band sings songs with foreign lyrics, creating songs such as “A Match”, “Abschied” and “The Day Is Done”.

Lumsk, in conclusion, with this full-lenght provided with their mix of Nordic folk, prog rock and metal musically continue the path traced since the beginning of their career in 2000 in Trondheim. This unique mix brings together rich textures and clever arrangements makes “Fremmede Tone” Lumsk’s most varied and intriguing work.

Tracklist

1. Det Døde Barn
2. En Harmoni
3. Avskjed
4. Under Linden
5. Fiolen
6. Dagen er Endt
7. Das Tode Kind
8. A Match
9. Abschied
10. Under der Linden
11. Da Veilschen
12. The Day is Done