Arabs in Aspic - 2015 - Victim of Your Father’s Agony [mini-review]

(39:36; Karisma Records [2023 Edition]



















Norwegian band Arabs in Aspic released the album "Victim of Your Father’s Agony" back in 2015, with a remixed and remastered edition reissued now in 2023, and progressive rock is the style explored on this production. On this album we get the vintage era progressive rock the band appears to specialize in explored in a slightly different manner than on many of their other studio productions. While we do get occasional forays into vintage hard progressive rock this time too, the album as a whole appears to have a bit more of a focus on a more atmospheric laden variety of vintage era symphonic progressive rock. The keyboard arrangements are generally more prominent and dominant, and the more careful excursions have a generally stronger focus throughout too. We also get a few more pastoral moments with stronger tie ins to folk music traditions, and a little bit of a playful addition with elements that possibly may have jazz as a core source of inspiration. This is still a varied production with eclectic tendencies of course, and those who tend to enjoy classic era, vintage style progressive rock described in such a manner should find this album to be quite the charming experience.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, December 2023

Links:
https://www.arabsinaspic.org/
https://www.karismarecords.no/

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