Nightfly
Above Below Within is the second album from Swedish hard rock act Nocturnalia, having released their debut in 2013 under the shorter moniker Nocturnal. The change of name also brought in second guitarist Linus Lundgren.
Nocturnalia play the kind of retro hard rock synonymous with the 70’s. Seven tracks in total including the melancholic piano opener Vandringen, their music has plenty of psych touches played with a tight but loose style. It’s good stuff full of catchy hooks and riffs and plenty of melody with a haunting touch. At 39 minutes it’s pretty short by modern standards but fortunately they don’t have any weak songs to spoil the flow. Within His Lies and Sing To Sleep My Soul best demonstrate the bands strengths on the heavier end but Lady Of The Woods is a song with lots of dynamics starting from a delicately picked guitar part reaching a climax with some searing guitar soloing. The musicianship’s great and in Linus Ekermo they have a great vocalist in the classic rock mould.
Anyone who likes 70’s style hard rock are strongly advised to check this band out, my only minor complaint is that I wish it was a bit longer.