As they’re already in the mixing stage of their next full-length, it’s probably safe to call the five-track Sign Here for Nothing EP (SCOJ Music) from Swedish heavy rockers Thalamus a stop-gap release. Perhaps it was the need to get some material on tape with organist Håkan Danielsson, who didn’t appear on the band’s 2007 Beneath a Dying Sun debut LP, but whatever the case, Sign Here for Nothing stands on its own, full of retro riffing rock in the grand Swedish tradition of Spiritual Beggars, Danielsson playing a large role in filling out the sound while the double guitars of Kjell Bergendahl (also vocals) and Jan Cederlund (who has since left the band) lead the way for classic hooks and palpable grooves. At just 19 minutes, Sign Here for Nothing isn’t by any means a definitive statement from the band – except perhaps in terms of lineup – or enough to form a basis for an understanding of their career, but it’s a step in the process of the five-piece sorting out the balance of their sound, and a good listen along the way for those longing for something retro but not necessarily vintage.

The title Sign Here for Nothing comes from second track “Breathe Easy,” on which the riff takes the lead over Danielsson’s organ and Bergendahl’s vocals, as they were on opener “Hope You Understand,” are front and central in the mix. I’m never a fan of this approach in heavy rock – über-featuring the vocals – and I find I’m not when it comes to Thalamus either, since it comes at the expense of both guitars and the bass work of Peter Johansson, which is lost in some of the low end of the organ and could easily be brought forward more. Not that Bergendahl isn’t a capable vocalist – his voice has a loose classic rock inflection that works excellently with both the music behind him and Danielsson’s backing contributions – but on the later “New Age Blues,” a more equal footing is achieved in the choruses, and it seems a more successful track for it. “Black Day Sunday” takes away some of the garage feel of “Breathe Easy,” putting Thalamus in more straightforward riff-rock territory, but it’s a fine line anyway, and the difference isn’t enough to make the song standout in a negative way.

Drummer Sebastian Olsson rings his ride to fill out “New Age Blues” effectively, and proves adept there at keeping up with the subtle twists as he did in the chorus of “Breathe Easy.” If Thalamus make a misstep anywhere on Sign Here for Nothing, it’s on final track “Early Morning Leave,” where they introduce the guest female vocals of Sara Lagerqvist in the chorus. Lagerqvist handles her part well enough, but the lyrics are about a guy getting ready to – as the title suggests – leave in the morning, and the companion vocals undercut the otherwise lonely feel of the song. Where otherwise the song might be quiet in a contemplative and provocative way, it feels artificially full, and it’s a genuine stumble on the part of Thalamus for the last track of their EP. Danielsson’s organ sound features as well on “Early Morning Leave,” and between that and Bergendahl’s vocals, that probably would have been enough to get the point of the song across. Hearing from Lagerqvist, who’s maybe intended to represent the other party in the now-ending relationship the lyrics portray, neither enhances the narrative or the overall effect the song has on the listener.

Nonetheless, Thalamus do right on the whole of Sign Here for Nothing by both themselves and the strong legacy of Swedish hard rock in which they’re residing. As their upcoming album is set for a mix from Daniel Bergstrand, it should be interesting to hear how it comes out and how the balance of organ/guitar/vocals works, particularly now that Cederlund is gone from the band and it’s just Bergendahl manning the six-string. Until then, it’s probably not essential listening in terms of its stylistic uniqueness, but Sign Here for Nothing does have plenty to offer the rabid fan of retro rock who’s maybe tired of all the vintage posturing and lame attempts to do nothing more with the sounds of the ‘70s than simply emulate or recreate them wholesale. Because although it’s not without its issues, Sign Here for Nothing is a strong declaration of the vitality within the Swedish rock scene, and benefiting heavily from a few genuinely killer guitar licks.

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Tags: Borlange, SCOJ Music, Sweden, Thalamus

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 26th, 2011 at 12:08 pm and is filed under Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.