KING OF TROLLS: "The Cave"

Rating: RR
Label: MCM/Playground 2014
Review by: Urban "Wally" Wallstrom

Whatever possessed these guys to dress up/down as Trolls in the first place? Then again... one quick glance at singer Frode 'King' Anderssen and you know they couldn't have done it any other way. The perfect fit and hordes of other dark creatures such as goblin, ogre, Norwegian [No need to go berserk, please! it's just a lame joke] are quick to follow in the massive tracks of the King of Trolls.

You may or may not have heard about them from the Norwegian Melody Grand Prix in 2008. Indeed. They desperately tried to shock their homeland with a similar approach to the winning concept of Finland and Lordi. Norwegians are not easily impressed though and especially not considering the dark wave of Black Metal and church burning trolls in the past. It's the kid friendly version of Troll-Metal and the mix of 70's folk hard rock and overall melodic schlock is strange to the ears.

According to the press-release: you can hear influences from bands such as AC/DC, KISS, Deep Purple and Iron Maiden? I can't say that I agree with any of the above. Try the second rate version of the following acts instead and you're closer to the core: Focus, Thor, Uriah Heep, Wig Wam. Former Europe and Easy Action guitarist Kee Marcello is responsible for production as well as co-writing the 11 tracks. Clearly not his best work and the songs are plain naive at times.

Going through some of the weirdest moments and tracks. "Master Of The Game", Elvis Presley number of the early/mid 70's and Vegas only with more and heavier guitars. "Angeline", dansband song 'ala Norway and Sweden [sort of like U.S. Country only wimpier and less attractive] and something that should cause the average senior citizen of Scandinavia to get up on the dance floor and shake her money maker. I do enjoy the strange ska-lite beat of "Battle of Trolls". Ehem. Let's just say there's no need for Edvard Grieg and "Peer Gynt Suite - In the Hall of the Mountain King" fans to feel threaten, since it's still the best way to experience the Trolls of Norway. Hocus Pocus by Focus vs. weird folk-rock, not your ordinary skull crushing troll of the tale. Bränn, Bränn, Bränn. Var är Fjant? Här mamma....
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