Album Review
Hedvig Mollestad Trio – “Black Stabat Mater” [Album Review]
While we’re not averse to trying something a bit more out there, sometimes, as is the case with this album, bands need to focus on just rocking.

Described as an “experimental metal/jazz group,” I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this quirky Norwegian trio, comprised of Norwegian Academy of Music graduate Hedvig Mollestad on guitar and vocals, bass player Ellen Brekken and Ivar Loe Bjørnstad on drums. The acclaimed band, a leading light in the new progressive wave of Norwegian avant jazz ‘n’ rock, have put out three albums in the last five years (Shoot!, All of Them Witches and Enfant Terrible!) and have a new one coming in June on Rune Grammofon Records.
Entitled Black Stabat Mater, the new record begins with a wall of sound that leads into the free-flowing, late 1960s-style experimentation of “Approaching: On Arrival” (tracks one and two fused together) The song then speeds up and the riffing takes over. There is also a soaring guitar solo. Thing get less aurally-pleasing towards the end, as we revert back to noisy free-styling. “In the Court of the Trolls” starts off positively, again with some infectious riffing, but then things get ‘jazzy’ once more. Still, I think this was probably one of my favourite songs on the album. “- 40” is slower than the tracks that precede it, though it is pleasingly ambient. At 6.17 minutes, it’s also one of the shorter tunes.
While there is no denying the skill and musicianship on show here, the Hedvig Mollestad Trio needs to focus more on the rock side of things (which they do very well) if they want to hold the attention of people like myself who wouldn’t normal listen to this sort of thing.
Black Stabat Mater Track Listing:
01. Approaching: On Arrival
02. In the Court of the Trolls
03. – 40
04. Somebody Else Should Be on That Bus
Release Date: June 24, 2016
Run Time: 33:26
-
Country/Americana3 days ago
The Sheepdogs: “We learned a lot because people weren’t willing to give us a chance because we didn’t sound like band A, B, or C… ”
-
Alternative/Rock1 week ago
Papa Roach: “It was indicative of the era musically but I think that the music and the lyrics they can transcend that.”
-
Alternative/Rock4 days ago
Origami Angel Bring Their Boundary-Pushing Emo to Manchester Gorilla [Photos]
-
Alternative/Rock3 days ago
James Bay Gives Fans a Magical Night at Manchester’s O2 Apollo [Photos]
-
Metal6 days ago
The Hara (w/ Eville) Bring Chaos to Brighton’s Green Door Store [Photos]
-
Alternative/Rock1 hour ago
Madina Lake Bring a Splash of Sunshine to Manchester Rebellion [Photos]
-
Metal1 week ago
Trivium and Bullet For My Valentine Celebrate Classic Albums at Manchester Co-Op Live [Photos]
-
Music2 weeks ago
The Weeknd Announce Massive Stadium Tour Supporting ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’