As far as instrumental prog metal goes, Fjell 2.0 is a fairly ‘safe’ release with nothing that will really surprise you, but that’s not to say this isn’t a great album. A solo project from Norwegian musician Emil Bringsli, everything on the release (aside from the drums) is performed by him and it showcases the work of a talented artist with a lot to give.
Although Fjell 2.0 doesn’t bring anything new to the table, as there’s nothing that really makes the piece stand out from the crowd, it does feature some absolutely masterful playing and a particular highlight is Heavier Than A Boulder, which is – as the name suggests – wonderfully heavy. There’s a great chunky tone to the music and it hits you like a tonne of bricks (pun somewhat intended), making you want to bang your head along in time with it, and there’s a great moment with a squealing guitar in the latter half of the track that helps divide the track up nicely.
Another highlight is the catchy fourth track Kulde, which features a striking introduction that will immediately grab your interest before the track descends into a fuller sound with some stunning guitar work and the pace is fantastic, giving the track a wonderfully energetic vibe.
As a whole, Fjell 2.0 is a great listen. There’s something about it that just draws you in – it’s an immersive piece that you’ll keep wanting to come back to.
8/10
