ROGGA JOHANSSON "Entrance to the Otherwhere"




ROGGA JOHANSSON

“Entrance to the Otherwhere”

It’s been a couple of days, so time for a new album featuring ROGGA JOHANSSON, the death metal workhorse. ROGGA usually works within the confines of a group (REVOLTING, PAGANIZER, DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN being just a few) but this time he does everything except drumming...and I mean everything! He tends to be hit and miss, likely because he does so much, but this solo album leans to the positive side of the ledger.

It’s pretty clear that “Entrance to the Otherwhere” is ROGGA’s love letter to EDGE OF SANITY and their epic, melodic brand of Swedish death metal. That’s a welcome band to emulate because we don’t hear many bands like E.O.S. these days. This is also a concept album dealing with science fictional ideas, which was another E.O.S. specialty. I can’t say this equals the likes of “Crimson”, but it’s a brisk and fun listen.

ROGGA knows to keep the songs short and focused, Nothing here is over 4 and a half minutes. And generally he makes the most of the shorter lengths. The tunes are fast, crunchy and full of hooks. The lead guitar work is most definitely melodic...this is not a record for those who like chaotic, cat-strangling lead guitars. ROGGA also does a pretty good knock off of Dan Swano’s growly but clear singing. The early songs are textbook melodic death metal, but as the album develops, quirks start to appear, like the soothing, acoustic “Berget Vaknar” or the piano that appears on “In the Grip of Garpedans”. But most of it is speedy, catchy death such as “The Re-Emergers” or “Giants Walking At Night”.

EDGE OF SANITY is deeply missed and JOHANSSON knows this, so he’s here to fill the gap with “Entrance of the Otherwhere”. This one is worth checking out.

TRANSCENDING OBSCURITY

ROGGA JOHANSSON

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