As atmospheric as the cover motif and the introduction by Innferd suggest, it doesn't happen at all in the further course of Rogaland, because the quintet rushes ahead with thrashy Black’n’Roll at a rapid pace. The idiosyncratic vocals may not flatter the ear, but they are an extravagant feature that THE KONSORTIUM is able to stand out from the crowd. Clattering riffs determine the complex compositions, which are not intended for background treatment. This is ensured by the sometimes dissonant guitar tones, which don't allow for aesthetic easy listening.
The variable vocals accompany the progressive pieces and choral arrangements have a melodic effect. The ambitious songs seem quite packed and demand a lot from the listener. The hectic presentation holds beautiful melodies or rolling parts ready every now and then, showing more structure and the famous red thread, but then the musicians throw around again with strange weird songs and progressive guitar tones. Of course, a lot happens here, but the bottom line is that there are no completely conclusive works. Let's take the frenetically driving Stormen as an example: rabidly rushing rhythms, which convince because of their speed, but don't become flesh and blood, combine with suffering, partly polyphonic singing - but the melodic fine-tuning and the rhythmic peculiarity are missing.
The partly epically expansive presentation lacks exciting dynamics, as if by chance a musical detail appears at every corner, so that everything seems to be arranged for a voyage of discovery, but for me the pieces don't seem organic, but colorfully thrown together. The individual pieces of the puzzle don't really fit together to form a harmonious whole. Fortunately, the way the excessive Havet is composed, can score some plus points in its groovy way with its unusual saxophone sounds and filigree woodcutting technique.
Technically, Rogaland is by no means a bad album, but the most frayed, over-excited, jittery performance is far beyond the goal of comprehensible listening pleasure... well, excuse me, I'm trying to normalize my blood pressure and pulse over a cup of chamomile tea :-)