BLUES.NOIR must be feeling pretty bold for them to use the epic tagline “The heaviest blues ever”. We are not sure if it’s actually true from a historical perspective, but ‘Främlingar på tåg’ is certainly the heaviest blues we have heard in a while. It’s an old-school record, a piece that flourishes on gritty and distorted guitars, punchy drums, and a fierce, gloomy lyrical character. Delivered in the group’s native language, Swedish, the track moves with confidence and charisma, but at a surprisingly slow pace.
That’s what gives ‘Främlingar på tåg’ its unmistakable character: while distortions are hyped up, the bpm are slow, allowing the record to fully breathe and bounce, sharing a heightened blues energy. The guitar solo is very on brand, yet supercharged with a crunchy, coarse tone. Lead vocals are laidback, but also loud and potent, driving a certain horror-esque, eerie vibe. Over five minutes of pure aural euphoria, listeners are called to the ultimate challenge: letting go of the material world and entering BLUES.NOIR’s hypnotic sonic universe.
Overall, ‘Främlingar på tåg’ (‘Strangers on a train’) is not a complex offering or a boundary-pushing idea, but it’s nevertheless very relevant and timeless, showcasing the electrifying talent behind the Swedish trio. BLUES.NOIR are Daniel Palm on bass & vocals, Tim McWeird on guitar, and Magnus Könberg on drums & vocals.
Recommended! Discover ‘Främlingar på tåg’ on Spotify:
