Lugnet – ‘Tales From The Great Beyond’

(Pride & Joy Music)

On paper Sweden’s Lugnet should be right up my alley! Initially they came across as beer-soaked Hard Rock, and the songs do retain an element of that style of Rock especially in the big chunky guitar riffs – not on a par with AC/DC but in that vein. By the time I finished the first listen I decided they had more in common with traditional NWOBHM bands like Tygers of Pan Tang and Saxon. Big chunky guitar riffs, galloping bass lines and bombastic vocals.

Sadly, Lugnet aren’t in the same league as those aforementioned bands and the songs on ‘Tales From The Great Beyond’ are totally forgettable. The guitar work is probably the best thing about the album but even then, its just passable nothing ground breaking or exciting.

It’s all very lacklustre and by the numbers, I found the two Progressive tracks which run for eight minutes a real mission to get though, to me music isn’t meant to be like that. So, if you want to check out Lugnet I highly recommend you avoid ‘Another World’ and ‘Black Sails’. Try one of their more basic tracks like ‘Still A Sinner’ or ‘Out Of My System’ for a sample of what they are about.

If I’m honest it’s really hard to find positives as there are tracks, I outright hate and tracks which are just run of the mill Hard Rock filler. It’s only ten tracks long which includes a short instrumental and an Organ instrumental – like a church organ – which just leaves me thinking WTF am I listening too! None of these things help warm me to the band or the album.

I found Lugnet’s ‘Tales From The Great Beyond’ to be the musical equivalent of an ice-cold shower, a total turn off. I found it totally disinteresting and struggled to listen to it as nothing captured my attention or made me want to listen to it. In fact, I doubt I will ever listen to this album again. I can see there is some great musicianship on show, but without the songs, without the hook’s talent means nothing.

2/10

Essential Track - 'Out Of My System'

Review by Woody