Astral Voyager Vol 1, and waiting for you to hear it’s driving me crazy!!!
Frisson
By the time Norway’s Kal-El hit the stage at The Sagebrush in Austin for the Ripplefest Texas Pre-Show kickoff last year, I had been destroyed by the Texas heat. After several incredibly crushing sets by some of the world’s best stoner/doom bands, I found my way to my table to recoup. I wasn’t ready for the experience I was about to have.
Frisson is defined as a psychophysiological response to rewarding stimuli frequently experienced by music or other art. In a nutshell, goosebumps.
For the next 45 minutes, Kal-El took me to a place I can only describe as “elsewhere”. Along with frisson raging throughout my being, tears ran down my cheeks. I couldn’t believe the total state of bliss I was in. “I’ve finally found a new band that ‘does it’ for me!” The incredible liquid light show beaming perfectly on the stage and up in the rafters of the club was the icing on the cake. No drugs were involved, I promise.
By the time the final note was struck, I was on my way to their merch table. I greeted vocalist Stale Rotveld (Captain Ulven or The Captain) with a handshake and big hug. I went on in full-on fanboy mode about how much their performance affected me. We immediately connected and our bond grew into an incredible friendship throughout the weekend, which continues to this day. The Kal-El guys came early to watch Shadow of Jupiter’s (my band) set on Saturday, and we all formed a great kinship. With that said, I refuse to recuse myself from writing this glowing review of their upcoming album, Astral Voyager Vol. 1. I assure you that this album is AOTY material.
Astral Voyagers
Kal-El first appeared on my radar with their 2021 release, Dark Majesty, which immediately caused me to do the deep dive into their back catalog. What I discovered was a completely fresh take on a musical genre whose roots haven’t grown far enough away from the Black Sabbath tree.
In recent interviews and podcasts, so many of us are noticing that, while we still cling to our love of Sabbathian riffs, bands are really beginning to explore the more ethereal and psychedelic roots of yesteryear. Kal-El have been at the forefront of combining all these elements since their debut release, PAKAL, in 2013.
Inspired by the 1976 book, The 12th Planet by Zecharia Sitchin, Kal-El have managed to brilliantly weave Sci Fi and heavy underground music to paint aural tales featuring their recurring heroine, Mica, an intergalactic bounty hunter doing right by the universe, once again. In one of my many conversations with The Captain, I inquired as to why the band was named after my favorite son of Krypton. His answer clarified my curiosity:
It was found on some ancient tablets while excavating old Sumeria.
The Captain
It was written in a very old version of Hebrew, and means, “Starchild.”
Sci Fi, ancient tablets, and incredible songcraft combine with our Norse friends’ DNA to create an amazing listening experience with their new release, Astral Voyager Vol 1.
Astral Voyager Vol. 1
“Vol 1” you say? Yep! The May 16 release will be followed up by Vol 2 later this year, and I can tell you that after listening to Vol 1, you’ll be preordering Vol 2 once it hits preorder status on the Majestic Mountain and Blues Funeral sites.
I will, once again, state that I’m not a song-by-song reviewer. Astral Voyager Volume 1 is a majestic journey through space with an incredible soundtrack. The band is completely locked in and firing on all afterburners on this one. Though all the songs are incredible, the single, Cloud Walker is, hands-down, one of the greatest songs ever. Cloud Walker is the perfect combination of light and dark. The Yin to the Yang. The As Above to the So Below. With its emotion-tugging hook and heavy interludes, Kal-El have presented the universe with a total masterpiece here. The chorus is an anthem, a total earworm.
From start to finish, Kal-El take you on a journey through the universe in Vol 1. This album checks all the boxes from songwriting, performance, mixing, mastering and presentation.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t give praise to the absolute brilliance of the band members of Kal-El. Every member shines in Vol 1.
Bjorn “Bjudas” Stornes is such an incredible drummer. His ability to create complex rhythms, hitting hard when the song requires and immediately switching gears by applying that perfect, gentle touch mid-song, is a nod to his mastery and talent.
Guitarists Kristoffer “Doffy” Ranaweera and Josh “Azul Josh” Bisama are the perfect dual-threat. They complement each other and their tandem guitar work really enables Kal-El’s songs to flourish, creating an incredibly full sound. Heavy, fuzzy, technical, spacey, and beautiful are a few words that come to mind when listening to Vol 1. On a side note, do yourselves a favor and check out Josh’s other amazing band, Forgotten King!
Newer to the band, bassist Bjorn O. Knutsen, not only has a magnificent stage presence, but is a very inspiring bass player. Incredibly skilled at his instrument, Bjorn really stands out during live performances, and his tone and performance is absolute perfection on Vol 1.
Captain Ulven’s vocals are otherworldly. His higher register, combined with a perfect wash of ethereal reverb and delay, cuts through and really drives home his incredible vocal melodies and storytelling.
Every song on this album is a banger, folks! Order Astral Voyager Vol 1 now and thank me later. Available in the US via Blues Funeral and Majestic Mountain everywhere else on May 16th!
