EP Review: Bjarte K. Helland

EP Review: Bjarte K. Helland - Maniae (2021)

- June 30, 2021

Picture Credit: Bjarte K. Helland

Bjarte K. Helland - Maniae
Release Date: June 18, 2021
Label: selfrelease
Format: Digital
Length: 22:52
Genre: Prog Metal / Fusion
Origin: Bergen, Norway

Bjarte K. Helland might be well-known to some readers since the Norwegian musician plays the drums for Pitch Black Mentality, FastLoaders, and Quadrasonic. And now, Bjarte K. Helland has written and recorded his first work as a solo artist. The outcome is the four-track EP “Maniae” featuring 22 minutes of music that is full of surprises and artistic passion. Mastermind Bjarte K. Helland has played his favourite instrument on the EP “Maniae” – the drums. Full of joy, energy, and sheer force he proves that he is more than just acquainted with numerous demanding techniques of Jazz, Progressive Rock and Heavy Metal. The complex and yet catchy patterns created by drummer Bjarte K. Helland build a sonic foundation for the work of his two guest musicians – two other geniuses at their instruments. The bass is played by Grammy-nominee Ric Fierabracci who also played with Planet X, and Chick Corea. Furthermore, virtuoso Jarle H. Olsen who is a fellow bandmember of Bjarte K. Helland at Quadrasonic, played the guitar on “Maniae” and was essential in the arrangement process.

With such a top-class cast, you can only imagine that the recordings belong to the crème de la crème of contemporary music. Bjarte K. Helland and his fellow artists have created a powerload of sophisticated Rock and Metal music. “Maniae” is a fantastic sonic journey leading the audience through a massive and shiny kaleidoscope full of impressive colours and breathtaking movement. Helland, Fierabracci, and Olsen are full of power and energy, and hence they create soundscapes that shoot upwards with the velocity of a space rocket. But the direction of this thrilling flight does not go straight, and takes plenty of unexpected turns, twists, loops, and detours instead. Every stanza of these four tracks contains the potential to be the starting point of the next surprising change in metre, tempo, mood, intensity. And those twists and turns appear at vast number and with great velocity. Yet, their appearance is always unexpected and therefore the music on “Maniae” is a versatile box filled with innumerable surprises.

Bjarte K. Helland, Jarle H. Olsen, and Ric Fierabracci play Prog Metal and Fusion for everyone who enjoys eclectic and intelligent music. The sophisticatedly arranged tracks create an amazing fusion of Jazz, Prog Rock and Metal. With the three musician’s genius, this mix becomes a various bouquet of music that happens to be dark and light, heavy and smooth, speedy and buoyant, instrumental and full of meaning simultaneously. With “Maniae”, Bjarte K. Helland has proven that he and his two guest musicians are part of the Prog elite, and that they are there to stay.

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