With Panorama, Hällas don’t just release a new record — they tear open a portal. Right from the jump, the 21-minute opener “Above The Continuum” towers like a prog monolith, and let’s not dance around it: this is the best song I’ve heard in years. It sweeps the listener into distant sonic galaxies where spacey keyboards, cinematic pacing, and surging prog passages orbit each other in perfect balance. The composition feels alive — breathing, expanding, pulling you deeper with every movement. Choirs bloom, spoken passages shimmer, and Tommy Alexandersson’s central theme lands with spine-tingling authority. Any Pink Floyd devotee is likely to feel a tear welling up here; Hällas channel that sense of cosmic wonder without sounding like a museum piece. You lose track of time, gravity, and probably your living room. This isn’t just a long track — it’s an experience, a journey, a statement.
And somehow, the band sticks the landing after that colossal opening. “Face Of An Angel” struts in with hoofbeats and a wink, balancing humor and groove in a way that feels playful yet perfectly intentional. It’s catchy without being cheap — retro charm with modern confidence. “The Emissary” follows with glowing guitar lines and warm synth textures that radiate pure ’70s spirit, proving Hällas can still deliver a classic-feeling rocker with effortless cool. Then “Bestiaus” pulls the lights low: a piano-led ballad that showcases Alexandersson’s smoky vocals with vulnerable elegance. The closing “At The Summit” ties everything together — acoustic calm swelling into triumphant motion — like a final panoramic sweep over the album’s emotional terrain.
What makes Panorama hit so hard is how naturally Hällas evolve without losing their identity. Even with new textures and tonal risks, they remain unmistakably themselves. The album feels like traveling through familiar constellations that suddenly rearrange into something new and breathtaking.
This is escapism, craftsmanship, and heart-on-sleeve adventure rock rolled into one radiant package. Panorama doesn’t just nod to the golden age of prog — it lives there, expands it, and plants a flag. A record to get lost in, to dream with, and to keep coming back to. And at its center stands a long-form epic that already feels timeless.
-Helge Neumann
Comments