Review: Kosmodome ‘Ad Undas’

So, here we are, the closing weeks of 2024 and I’m still finding new albums to review. Today it is the Norwegian band Kosmodome. The brainchild of brothers Sturle and Severin Sandvik, the band have just released their sophomore album Ad Undas via Stickman Records and it is a wonderful evolution from their self-titled 2021 debut.

Primarily Kosmodome is the partnership of the brothers, who utilise Ole Andreas Jensen on bass and Erlend Nord giving guitar support to fully realise this proggy stoner fusion which will penetrate your very soul if you choose to let it. As for the brothers, the pair share vocal duties, and while Sturle plays guitar, Severin provides all the necessary percussion elements.

The heady mix of ‘60s psychedelia and trippy stoner is such a breath of fresh air and the confines of genres seem to be blurred fully along the experience. As for Ad Undas itself, the album comprises six incredible overtures, which vary between five and a half to almost nine minutes in length.

Now, if you are a fan of trippy ‘60s psychedelic prog then I would love to believe that you’ve already heard of Kosmodome but if you haven’t then now’s the time to rectify that naivety. I was reading online somewhere that there was somewhat of a comparison in sound, or maybe texture, to prog overloads Yes, and while this may be a little lost on me (with prog, if it isn’t Pink Floyd or Genesis then I’m completely lost in the dark), I’m sure for many of you, this could send shivers down your spines.

Yes, there’s a massively eclectic embrace, it feels like something you think you know, but pinpointing is somewhat impossible. For me, this is all completely out of my comfort zone. I am big on my post-rock and metal, shoegaze and alt-rock and some indie too. I’m also a sucker for some ambient moodiness, so for me, this is quite the revelation.

I know what you are thinking, ‘but didn’t you cover an album by another band in the same vein last week, for a band called Weite?’ Well yes, I did, but Kosmodome are absolutely nothing like Weite. Both are incredible bands in their own right, and yes, they’re on the same label, but that’s where the comparison ends.

Each element has been so expertly managed that the outcome sounds lavish and full…

There’s a fresh psych feel to this band. It feels retro, but at the same time, there’s a real feel-good nature to the whole affair. The vocals are clear and precise, and while the subject matter is, at times, quite intense, the music itself is incredibly upbeat.

For me it’s a tough one as this isn’t my usual cup of tea. On paper, it wouldn’t be my go-to in the record store, but when I took on reviewing this album, I knew it would push me to a completely different realm of music to pin my attention on, and I’m so glad I did.

Like I’ve already stated, the opus has a real upbeat feel to it. It’s quite funky at times and there isn’t any point where it isn’t a joy to behold. Each element has been so expertly managed that the outcome sounds lavish and full. When it needs to be, the bass is silky, and when necessary, the guitars soar while the drumming is restrained but eloquent. The vocals perfectly fit the tone, and the finished result is fantastical.

I really enjoyed track four, Dystopia, and track six, Fatigue, and I will tell you why. On Dystopia, there is a real upheaval in the dynamic of everything that has come before. It has more of an urgency and where its predecessors are more upbeat and carefree, with this track, it has a darker feel. That being said, it isn’t all doom and gloom, there’s a funky side too, and in the final third, it even hints towards a touch of Bollywood, which is as interesting as it is different.

On Fatigue, the band opt for the darker vibes again, but this provides the perfect parallel to other tracks on the album. With this, there is a push forward on the bass making it really shine. There’s an uplifting moodiness to it and the track itself is the perfect closer as I don’t think it would have worked as well at any other point on the album.

All in all, coming away from the experience, I’m filled with such confusion in my head. Not because of whether I liked it or not, but more to the extent of just how much I liked it. Ultimately, I’m so glad I took the plunge with Kosmodome because the real payoff has been being able to witness such an incredible album. The perfect end to 2024 which leaves quite the benchmark as we head into 2025 for sure.

Label: Stickman Records
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram

Scribed by: Lee Beamish