Änglagård: Discography 1992 - 2012

 

Swedish band Änglagård is part of a whole breed of young progressive rockers. Meaty bass and

scorched guitar tones duel it out with organ, mellotron, and hyperactive drumming, while folky Swedish singing and flute occasionally break the tension. Änglagård got itself noticed in the small international circles of progressive rock fandom, and both of their albums were voted album of the year on Internet prog newsgroups. Founded in 1991 in Stockholm, Sweden - Disbanded in 1994 - Reformed briefly in 2002/03 - Active since 2008
                         

Änglagård were a short-lived band who nonetheless generated critical acclaim and a loyal following in the early nineties with their brooding Mellotron and synth heavy sound that also featured

virtuoso percussionist Mattias Olsson and classically trained flautist Anna Holmgren. The band was formed in the summer of 1991 by guitarist and lead vocalist Tord Lindman and bassist Johan Högberg. The pair placed ads to form a band in the vein of the seventies progressive bands such as Yes and King Crimson, which were successfully answered by keyboardist Thomas Johnson and guitarist Jonas Engdegård. 
                                                       

With their line-up completed the band played several appreciated concerts in their hometown Stockholm.

In April they visited Studio Largen and recorded a demo. The following two months were spent rehearsing and arranging the material for their first album "Hybris". The record was the result of not only four months hard work in the studio but the harvest of a one year struggle of creating music far from the commercial, musical nonsense of today. The progressive rock scene raved about the album and eventually the band was invited to play at the annual Progfest in L.A. in May 1993.
                           

Drummer Olsson and flautist Holmgren were soon added and by the following spring the band were

touring and logging studio sessions that would yield the well-received album Hybris. The release was followed by an American tour which included an appearance at the 1993 Progfest in Los Angeles. By 1994 the band had released their second and final album Epilog, followed again by an appearance at Progfest. This would prove to be the band's final performance. The Progfest recordings were engineered and released in 1996 as the live requiem Buried Alive. 
                      

Änglagård's sound is rich in mellotron, Hammond and piano, and a brooding wash of guitars and bass/bass

pedal accented by Holmgren's moody and precise flute. The band's compositions are characterized by long, often instrumental tracks with significant tempo shifts and sometimes intense guitar flourishes. The Epilog album is instrumental in its entirety, and many of the tracks are distinguished by striking passages from Johnson's grand piano. Early Porcupine Tree also comes to mind, particularly when listening to Epilog. 
                              

THE END?
Well, not really. In October, Anna, Johan and Tord announced that they will continue with the band in a

(hopefully) more steady fashion. Erik Hammarström (drums) and Linus Kåse (keyboards) became new band members. 2013 and 2014 saw more live concerts along with the release of the live album "Prog på svenska - Live in Japan", which was recorded by the new line-up in March 2013. In October 2014, the band announced the return of guitarist Jonas Engdegård. The band began recording a new album in 2017 and was never heard of again.
                           

01. ANGLAGARD - HYBRIS 1992

                      

The influences here are clear Genesis, KC, Yes etc,,, but so well digested that this becomes original again .

As one listens to this with the headphones, his head starts to turn as the music twists bends, twirls, dances from one movement to the next. Hybris is a wonderful album. The important thing is that Änglagård, with this album, built a bridge between modern and classic progressive rock, offering a warm and entertaining sound that still resonates. Hybris revolving door that paved the way for what Scandinavian progressive rock is today.
                                

Änglagård – Hybris
Label: Mellotronen – MELLO CD 4004
Format: CD, Album, Reissue 2000
Country: Sweden
Released: 1992
Genre: Rock
Style: Folk Rock, Prog Rock

TRACKS

                           

01. Jordrök    11:11
02. Vandringar I Vilsenhet    11:56
03. Ifrån Klarhet Till Klarhet    8:09
04. Kung Bore    13:04

BONUS TRACK        

    
05. Gånglåt Från Knapptibble    7:19

LINE - UP

                           

Tord Lindman / electric and nylon & steel acoustic guitars, vocals
Jonas Engdegård / electric and nylon & steel acoustic guitars
Thomas Johnson / Mellotron, Hammond (B-3 & L-100), synths (Solina, Korg), clavinet, pianet, piano, electronic church organ
Anna Holmgren / flute
Johan Högberg / bass, bass pedals, Mellotron (effects)
Mattias Olsson / drums, concert bass drum, tambourine, vibraslap, po-chung, gong, glockenspiel, tubular bells, bongos, Tibetan finger cymbals, wind chimes, a-gogo, cabasa, African drums, effect-flute, varied bells and percussions

WITH

Pär Lindh / performer (unconfirmed)

Flac Size: 295 MB

02. ANGLAGARD - EPILOG 1994

                       

Now here ia a Monster Symphonic Prog Masterpiece!!!!..haaa, that will sit perfect aside other monsters

from the 70' on your collection; this is not an understatement. Influences are several, the prime suspects are: Genesis, Gentle Giant, Yes and King Crimson, but far away of being imitators, this 6 piece band kept their Sweden Melancholic Rock nature and that to me is one of the most important aspects to call this a Masterpiece!! They probably sparked the reborn of Progressive movement in Sweden, and also may have created the same spark around the globe (I might be wrong), but the truth is that based on the date of this album issue (1994) that may have been the case. Beautiful Mellotron, Genesis-like arpeggios and use of

flute, killer guitar and a fantastic drum in contrast with that melancholic Scandinavian taste make this piece of work a definitive MUST for any progressive rock fan, rather essential work of certainly one of the best band of the nineties. Indeed, for many the lack of vocals maybe a minus to call it Masterpiece, but personally I do not missed the lyrics, since there is so much taken place musically in the album. 
                              

Änglagård – Epilog
Label: Not On Label (Änglagård Self-released) – HYB CD 010
Format: CD, Album
Country: Sweden
Released: 1994
Genre: Rock
Style: Art Rock, Prog Rock
                       

TRACKS

                        

01. Prolog    2:01
02. Höstsejd    15:32
03. Rösten    0:14
04. Skogsranden    10:49
05. Sista Somrar    13:11
06. Saknadens Fullhet    2:01

LINE - UP

                    

Jonas Engdegård / guitars, Mellotron (2.1)
Tord Lindman / guitars
Thomas Johnson / Hammond organ, Mellotron, keyboards, piano (2.1)
Anna Holmgren / concert flute
Johan Högberg / bass
Mattias Olsson / drums, cymbals, percussion

WITH

Åsa Eklund / voice
Martin Olofsson / violin
Karin Hansson / viola, double bass, treble recorder
Jan Christoff Norlander / cello
Johan Brand / vibes & bass (2.1)

Flac Size: 234 MB

03. ANGLAGARD - VILJANS OGA 2012

                           

I am definitely not the only one, but I cannot believe a new album from Änglagård is out! Back in 1994,

they broke up following the release of Epilog and their performance at Progfest '94 (that performance was made available on CD two years later as Buried Alive). They talked like they'll never reunite. Then in 2002 they reunited, but without Tord Lindman. By 2003 it was clear they weren't sticking around, and sure again we thought we'd never hear from them again. Now there's a second reunion, without Tord again, and this time they managed a new album, Viljans Öga. How does it stack up to their first two? Very well, in

fact this is just as essential. They take on an even more complex and grandiose approach than before, there are the occasions the passages veer close to RIO. But there are still plenty of that somber and pastoral passages. They still take that same approach as before, playing one thing, move on to the next thing, maybe revisiting a theme. It's plain they can hold their own with just one guitarist (Jonas Engdegård). How about the keyboards? Thomas Johnson still uses tons of Mellotron and Hammond organ, plus a little

electric piano. This, just like their first two, is a totally quintessential Mellotron album. This is not an easy listen, that's for sure. You'll keep discovering new things every time you listen. I am just totally amazed that after an 18 year silence that they come out with a masterpiece every bit as good as their first two. This is bound to be yet another classic, and likely easily the best of 2012.
                                 

Änglagård – Viljans Öga
Label: Änglagård Records – ANG03CD
Format: CD, Album, Stereo, Digisleeve
Country: Sweden
Released: 2012
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock, Symphonic Rock
                                       

TRACKS

                                  

01. Ur Vilande    15:44
02. Sorgmantel    12:07
03. Snårdom    16:14
04. Längtans Klocka    13:18

LINE - UP

                            

Bass, Pedalboard [Taurus Bass Pedals] – Johan Brand
Drums, Percussion, Effects – Mattias Olsson
Flute, Tenor Saxophone – Anna Holmgren
Guest [Guest Musician], Bass Tuba, Bass Trumpet, Trumpet [Contrabass Trumpet] – Ulf Åkerstedt
Guest [Guest Musician], Cello – Tove Törnberg
Guest [Guest Musician], Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone – Daniel Borgegård Älgå
Guitar – Jonas Engdegård
Keyboards – Thomas Johnson 

NOTES

 

 

Drums, piano and concert flute from start to finish recorded at Atlantis, August - November 2011.
Hammond recorded at Studio Crazy Horse, November 2011.
Other instruments recorded at Vintage Recording Studio, Roth-Händle Studios, Granstigen Studio and Thomas Krypin, August 2011 - April 2012. 

Flac Size: 328 MB