Discographies

In this review, I’m going to be exploring the debut EP of Scandic Tribe, a Scandinavian rock duo that consists of Morten G.P. and Thomas Økland. Aptly entitled ‘Made In Scandinavia,’ the four track jaunt through classic rock with contemporary flair is, for the most part, a joyfully exciting one. Let’s dig right into the four tracks to discern why Scandic Tribe’s first effort is a good indicator of their future endeavors.

Scandic Tribe’s sound is definitely ‘classic.’ The opening, ‘Dusty Sunrise,’ introduces you to a rock outfit that’s utilizing searing electric guitar, pounding percussion, and intense lead vocals to craft their sonic aura. The track is catchy, flows easy, and harnesses some American west coast rock stylings. This may in be in part due to the record being aided and mixed by Roy Z, a notable producer who has worked with the likes of Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, in Los Angeles.

Now, ‘Dusty Sunrise’ is a decently strong rock song with an overarchingly suave mentality. As such, its lyrics aren’t particularly noteworthy or compelling. I don’t think they need to be, though, and the track is a statement of the duo’s ability to compose rock and roll right out of the gate. As a vocalist, Økland holds his own against G.P.’s driving guitar nicely.

‘Heaven’ may be a better excursion of that dynamic between the two performers, as Økland breaks free with a powerhouse performance. He’s accented by a dirty, electrifying solo from G.P., too, which is accentuated even further by a fantastic string section. As a whole, ‘Heaven’ offers a dramatic palette of instrumental and lyrical inspiration that ‘Dusty Sunrise’ doesn’t.

‘Heroes’ continues the band’s upward trend as Økland and G.P. occupy a space reminiscent of Queen or the like. It’s as anthemic as it is poignant, and ‘Heroes’ provides the first deep insight into Scandic Tribe’s potential lyrical depth. The track is written with a certain pop sensibility that doesn’t betray the meaningful message. Here in the US, we’ve just celebrated Memorial Day. This is a track that would be fitting for such a celebration.

‘Revolution of Confusion’ closes out ‘Made In Scandinavia’ with a thunderous performance. It’s arguably the ‘hardest’ of the four tracks, shifting from anthemic pop-infused rock to hard rock more akin to Led Zeppelin. It’s a display of versatility - that’s for sure. The band has the chops to maintain a presence in both spheres without compromising the other.

I’d love to see a full length record from Scandic Tribe that incorporates a healthy dose of everything at play on their EP. That’s probably one of the highest accolades you can give an EP. I want the grittiness of ‘Revolution of Confusion,’ the lyricism of ‘Heroes,’ and the chemistry displayed on ‘Heaven’ - all in one album. ‘Dusty Sunrise’ is good, too, but it doesn’t hold a candle to its three counterparts.

In any case, ‘Made In Scandinavia’ is a darn good EP worth checking out. It’s a superb debut.