Total

Out of all the bands hailing from Norway, Seigmen has got to be the most innovative and original band ever (exept ofcourse the early black metal). They are a band that is now history, after their guitarist called it a day in 1999, but they reformed in 2005 to make a monument (DVD and live album) over their career. They where one of Norways most popular bands in the early 90’s, and still is.

This review deals with their magnum opus, Total. Better than the two first albums, and better than the last. Even better than the overrated Metropolis, that sold to gold in Norway (about 25000 – 30000 ex. I think, wich is pretty good in small Norway). Total is where Seigmen fullfills their potential, and makes almost a flawless album.

I will not do this review song by song, because the album deserves to be listened to from start to end. The music on this one is a little bit less thorny and agressive than on the two first, But Alex really gets to show off his screaming on this album too (I mention the bridge in In Limbo, the most climatic piece of music ever written, and the bridge in Döderlein). It opens with the heavy Colloseum, and concludes with the beautiful Pantheon. Between those two we get a shitload of classic tracks, including Döderlein, Fortell and Lament. This means their melancholic metal where lightyears away from it’s competitioners at the time, and still is.

The lyrics are by far the most pretentious and quasi-intellectual lyrics ever written in Norwegian, but it suits Seigmen so well. They deal with eastern and western religion, or atleast i think they do, because Kim Ljung has such a cryptic way of writing. The line “Jeg lukker et øye og ser halvt, Jeg lukker begge og ser alt” (I close one eye and see half of things, I close both and see everything) from the song Ohm has to one of the most clever lines in a song ever, and pretty much showcases Kim’s writing talents pretty good.

I would recomend this album to anyone who has ever heard of Seigmen and thought of checking them out. Do it, it’s worth it. You won’t regret. Also buy the Dvd, if you have’nt already!