Trettioåriga Kriget ~ Sweden

Efter Efter (2011)

---12/20/11

I've felt that all three of the 2000+ era Trettioariga Kriget albums have been very good. These are not clueless reunions or cheap cash-ins, but rather answer the question:"What would have TK sounded like after Krigssang in today's world?" Very few bands are able to capture the original spirit of their youth, while still possessing a keen understanding of modern times. It's unfortunate that more groups from the early 70s couldn't accomplish the same feat. And now time is running out.

So bravo to Trettioariga Kriget for yet another splendid effort. For my money, Efter Efter is the finest of the latter trilogy. Even closer to their 1974-1976 work. From my perspective, their debut is a Top 10 ever album, and while they don't come close to that greatness here, it's still nice to hear an intelligent and relevant effort. 

---2/11/24

In hearing it again for the second time last night, my opinion remains similar. It's very melancholic, one of the trademarks of the Scandinavian progressive scene. This was the last album for me to hear from Trettioåriga Kriget. The band is still going with most of the original members intact. Remarkable really.

Ownership: 2011 Mellotronen (CD). Tri-fold digipak with poster booklet.

12/20/11 (acquired / review); 2/10/24 (update)

Trettioåriga Kriget (1974)

Though Sweden had a healthy psychedelic progressive movement in the early 70s, Trettioariga Kriget (or the more proper spelling Trettioåriga Kriget) added a large dose of frenetic heaviness into the mix, and arguably laid down the ultimate Swedish progressive rock blueprint. Sounding like a weird mutant of Led Zeppelin and Yes, the music starts off in a ferocious manner and never truly lets up. A quartet of two guitars, bass, and drums, Trettioariga Kriget is one of the most exciting rides at the progressive rock theme park. There are no traditional keyboards, but plenty of mellotron to add an eerie feeling to the proceedings. And that gets us to vocalist Robert Zima. He has quite the pipes and can scream with the best of them. But it's the Swedish lyrics that are front and center. When I say Swedish, I mean with a capital S. The language plays a critical key role into the overall sound of Trettioariga Kriget, which is why they were the forbearers of the Swedish retro prog movement that ultimately led to Anglagard, Landberk, and the rest of them. Zima is an unlikely hero in this case, given that he himself was from Vienna, Austria! No matter, he went to high school with most of the band, and clearly mastered the language. It's really hard to pick a favorite, as every track is a 5 star winner, but I'd go with 'Röster Från Minus Till Plus' which encapsulates their overall sound best.

Ownership: 

1974 Epic (LP)

2004 Mellotronen (CD). Tri-fold digipak. Full history written by lyricist Olle Thornvall. Three very relevant prog tracks totaling close to 20 minutes.

1//88 (acquired); 3/10/04; 8/22/21 (review)

Hej På Er (1978)

1978 was a tough year for mainstream progressive rock bands in general. And while Trettioåriga Kriget were hardly a household name here in the States, they certainly were well known back home in Sweden. To survive, the expectation was for a band to produce a hit record of some sort. It's pop, punk, and disco - and a global plague of ADD. No more long journeys into the netherworld to sit back and contemplate. And Trettioåriga Kriget's first two brilliant albums are just that, showcasing an imaginative and talented band. So what's a group like this to do? Compromise. And honestly, Trettioåriga Kriget did about as good a job as anyone in accomplishing this. Had everyone followed this blueprint, prog rock may have indeed survived longer than it did. But most were hapless at trying (and leading lights Yes, Genesis, and ELP certainly turned in their respective clunkers for the year). Hej På Er balances straightforward rock with deceptively complex progressive music in compact form. It's not perfect of course, and the first two tracks are pretty bland. As if they were trying to fool the coked out record execs, and hoping they'd leave before the good stuff began playing. It's not a monster album naturally, but it's accomplished and not something to apologize for. It's instantly recognizable as a Trettioåriga Kriget album, but a bit more diluted. Something akin to a double IPA being reduced to a lager.

Ownership: 1978 Mistlur (LP)

2008; 4/23/14 (acquired); 9/27/17 (review)

Other albums I own and need to review: Krigssang; Elden Av Ar; I Borjan och Slutet

9/27/17 (new entry)