Miklagard ~ Sweden

---Feb 2006

Miklagard's sole album is bread and butter keyboard trio prog rock, with nice leads (some fat analog, some thin cheesy), and the always pleasant sound of Swedish vocals. 

---7/31/26

And that was my last listen, some 20+ years ago. Straight and to the point. Let's stretch it out a bit here. The cover (and label) is a dead giveaway we're going into proggy lala land. Jesters weren't quite as cliched in 1979 as they were to become, largely thanks to Marillion and their ilk.

The album starts off with a Hammond organ, so you know we're not going to stray too far away from a pleasurable listen. Yea, ELP is front and center here in the influence category. But the Swedish vocals definitely add a twist and give the album a unique sound palette. Even though most of the cuts are short, save the closer, Miklagard packs in quite a few ideas per composition. Perhaps Trace or Triumvirat are more accurate guideposts given the Continental European disposition. Nothing wrong with that. B2 is a nice piano solo. B3 is, not surprisingly given its length, the most traditional progressive rock track here, with some cool spoken word in Swedish (similar to Trettioariga Kriget). The drum solo reminds me of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, one that is actually enjoyable to listen to. Not just spazzing out.

So what is a Miklagard anyway? Constantinople as it turns out. Istanbul. The album proper seems to have no connection whatsoever with the moniker. I think it literally means Great City.

Unlike most prog albums of its kind, you can still pull new copies out of Sweden for around $10 (or less). Guessing they pressed way too many copies. But at least they didn't throw them away. As of 7/31/26, the album has not been reissued (legit that is).

Ownership: 1979 Edge (LP). Acquired in 2006.

2//06; 7/31/26 (review / new entry)