7/10

Sturle and Sjur Dagsland’s follow-up to their acclaimed 2021 debut 'Dreams and Conjurations' is nothing short of an audacious plunge into the unknown. Known for their adventurous approach to both sound and production, the Norwegian duo fuse traditional folk instruments with experimental electronics and avant-pop, creating a world that feels both ancient and entirely of their own making.

Tribal drums, wooden logs, harps, and cow horns collide with Sturle’s commanding vocals, which drift between ethereal chant and guttural intensity. Inspired by Norse rituals and Sámi shamanistic practices, the LP captures the wild interplay of nature and human ritual. It’s both unsettling and hypnotic, creating moments where music and myth blur seamlessly.

Throughout the album, the pair navigate extremes with impressive fluidity. 'Windharp' whispers in ambient tones, creating foggy, introspective spaces. Closer 'Kwaidan' tells ghostly tales with minimalistic tension, while 'The Ritual' escalates to cathartic frenzy, enveloping us in ceremonial chaos. Each track feels carefully crafted yet unshackled, as if the brothers allow the music to breathe, twist, and surprise itself in real time.

'Dreams and Conjurations' is as much a performance as it is a studio recording; one imagines the tracks erupting on stage with the same intensity as they do in headphones. The Dagslands invite us into a world where folklore, shamanism, and contemporary experimentation coexist, crafting a landscape that is hypnotic, terrifying, and utterly compelling. For adventurous those seeking music that challenges, confronts, and transcends, this album is a masterclass in controlled chaos and ritualistic beauty.