Review: King Of Sweden ‘The Training’

The Training is the debut full length from Finnish progressive rock trio King Of Sweden.  ith six tracks over forty-three minutes, the album seems even shorter, the experience flies by with not a moment dragging or losing listener interest. One one level, this band is every whit prog, reminding me most often of King Crimson, particularly the years of the Fripp-Wetton-Bruford trio, as well as newer bands like The Flower Kings and Gungfly. But they also incorporate classic heavy rock riffs (Led Zeppelin came to mind more than once), which makes for an original sound that I really admire.

King Of Sweden 'The Training'

The opening instrumental track, Dreaming About The Emerald drops the listener right into a jam, and the syncopated interplay between drums and guitar was my first thought of Zeppelin, definitely more aggressive than I expected. Prog, jazz and rock are all present in this wonderful jam.

Next, Two Thieves, clocking in at thirteen minutes, is a fantastic journey through this same style. The lengthy jazz opening is quite intricate, and I could swear there were two guitars interplaying. I wondered if there was overdubbing or not, either way it was quite exciting. The first vocals of this track, and the album, appear at just over eight minutes, and indeed much of the album is instrumental.

If you enjoy classic prog like King Crimson, Camel or early Genesis, as well as heavier riff-based bands of the early seventies, you’re in for a great ride with this album…

At close to eleven minutes, the guitar solo turns to an Eastern vibe, again reminding me of Jimmy Page, and the following track In the House Of A Witch continues that same (vibe) for a short instrumental. The Imprisonment is the closest thing on the album to an old school symphonic prog ballad, but still has plenty of intriguing counterpoint and some wonderful saxophone from guitarist Sampsa Nelimarkka.

The two final long tracks continue in this vein. The first, with its multi-part title, Help Arrives A) God Uses A Hammer B) Help Arrives C) Butterfly Hatches, and the finale And The Last Enemy To Be Destroyed Is Mathematics, move through multiple sections of classic prog and rock, constantly shifting in interesting and powerful directions.

If you enjoy classic prog like King Crimson, Camel or early Genesis, as well as heavier riff-based bands of the early seventies, you’re in for a great ride with this album. I was definitely left with a desire to check out future King Of Sweden releases based on this impressive debut.

Label: Crusader Records
Band Links: Facebook | Instagram

Scribed by: George Wilhite