Trondheim’s progressive flagship Arabs in Aspic delivers yet another long-awaited release on the renowned label Karisma Records, marking their strong partnership with the brand-new studio album «Sorgens kapittel».
This will be a highly special and emotional release for the band. The album is being released on what would have been the 50th birthday of the band’s longtime organist and vocalist, Stig Arve Kvam-Jørgensen, who passed away suddenly in 2025. The album title "Sorgens Kapittel" sets a deep and personal frame around the band’s newest work, serving both as a processing of the loss and a tribute to his musical legacy.
Musically, this is a dark and heavy album, but in classic Arabs fashion it is all balanced with a generous dose of humor and a glint in the eye. The songs on "Sorgens Kapittel" are written entirely in Norwegian, making the lyrics colourful and vivid for those who understand the language, and exotic for those who do not. After more than 20 years at the forefront of Norwegian prog rock, the band continues its unique retro-progressive sound.
The listener is taken on an uncompromising journey marked by heavy riffs, intricate vocal harmonies, and classic 70s nostalgia — led by the massive wall of screaming Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes, vintage synths, heavy guitars, and funky bass lines that Stig Arve helped shape over decades. For new listeners, it should also be mentioned that the band has two drummers, so rhythmically there is a lot to follow both live and on record with Arabs in Aspic.
With a focus on their native language, the lyrics reflect on human destinies, grief, the absurdities of everyday life, and the challenges of modern society, delivering a raw, organic, and dynamic listening experience.
