Swedish band Änglagård is part of a whole breed of young progressive rockers who have cut their teeth on King Crimson's Red. Like the other Crimson Swedes, Anekdoten, Änglagård crams angular hooks and start/stop tempos into every moment they can spare. Writing lengthy symphonic pieces, the band sound like many big '70s acts but always play with a very tough sound. Meaty bass and scorched guitar tones duel it out with organ, mellotron, and hyperactive drumming, while folky Swedish singing and flute occasionally break the tension.

The Swedish "Templars Of Steel" HAMMERFALL released one of their most successful and highly acclaimed albums in 2002 with "Crimson Thunder".

An official reissue of this killer 1971 Swedish heavy progressive album - made directly from the master reels - with freaky wah-wah guitar swirling keyboards, bombastic drumming (with double bassdrums) heavy stoner fuzzbass, hard riffing psychedelic guitars, teeth-grinding Hammond organ and funky percussion all played at a highly energetic pace. The CD also includes 8 exclusive bonustracks featuring Asoka MK. II, MK.III, livesongs with Taste Of Blues and a 10 minute track with Take Off (pre-Asoka). Pictures and a complete band history are housed with the CD in a nice Digipack.

Swedish act Råg I Ryggen released one of those nearly-forgotten seventies heavy prog albums whose somewhat mythical reputation causes the original vinyl to fetch too high prices today. As with most albums of this sort, there’s no need to spend that kind of money since it was reissued on CD a few years ago. The band lasted only two years, and you won’t find a whole lot of information about them from most internet or written sources. No matter, they’ve included pretty much their entire biography in the liner notes of the album, which along with the bonus concert tracks makes this CD release something of an anthology as well. Being young and new, it isn’t surprising the band shows evidence of many influences in their music…

2016 collection. The Ace catalogue has traditionally focused on American music. But our compilers have never shied from venturing worldwide in their quest for good sounds, as evident from our popular collections spotlighting the female vocalists of 1960s Japan, France and Italy (not forgetting the UK). Now it's the turn of Sweden. Our smörgåsbord of Swedish she-pop opens with early solo sides by the lead singers of the nation's greatest pop music export, ABBA: Agnetha Fältskog with 'Ge Dej Till Tåls' (a highlight of her second album) and Anni-Frid Lyngstad with 'Så Synd Du Måste Gå' (a song popularised by Françoise Hardy as 'Comment Te Dire Adieu'). Other featured well-known names include national treasure Lill-Babs with her cover of Dusty Springfield's 'Little By Little' and chart star Mona Wessman with a version of 'Music To Watch Girls By'. But it wasn't all cover versions in mid-60s Sweden. Dig, for example, Eleanor Bodel's title track, 'Don't' by cult favourite Doris (who also appears as lead vocalist of the group Plums), au pair duo Bella & Me's groovy 'Help Me Break This Habit' and Britt Bergström's Ivy League-penned 'You Really Have Started Something'. Cherry-picked tracks by the Plommons and cover stars MAK Les Soeurs illustrate the country also produced it's fair share of all-girl groups.

Take a modern progressive rock fan and let him listen to the first notes of "A Drop of Light", debut album from a new project called All Traps on Earth: we have no doubt that it will take him a few seconds only to recall a name that has become a legend of Scandinavian symphonic prog: Änglagård! As a matter of fact, All Traps on Earth is the name chosen by Änglagård's founding member and bassist Johan Brand for this project of his, involving keyboard player Thomas Johnson and drummer / percussionist Erik Hammarström from the same 'source band'. They are joined by Johan's talented daughter, Miranda Brand on vocals, as well as a plethora of guests from the Swedish scene…

For many prog heads the legendary progressive rock band Änglagård belongs to the best Swedish prog bands. Their music, mostly inspired by King Crimson, certainly contains great moments and their short back catalogue of only three studio albums feature some outstanding pieces.
In March 2013 Änglagård played a series of three concerts at Club Citta, Tokyo in Japan to promote their latest studio album Viljans Öga (2012). At the time they were sharing the bill with The Crimson ProjeKCt. This live CD contains songs from all three studio albums. In addition to the older pieces, you also get one brand new piece on this record, namely Introvertus Fugu, part I, which was previously unreleased. This new piece shows that the band can still write fantastic prog rock tunes!

Killer Swedish progressive rock with loads of wonderful instrumentation and bushels of mellotron. Sinkadus in many ways actually remind us of Anglagard at times with uniquely shaped song structures and outbursts of deep melodies. This is rich music with some grand song writing and nice deep harmonic structures throughout. Sinkadus are highly talented musicians who deliver some great emotion in thier music. Vocals are rather sparse, but are well done (sung in Swedish) and explore some great vocal harmonies.

The legendary Kultivator LP was released in 1981. This release has rightly gained itself a good reputation for its unusual mixing of Zeuhl and Canterbury elements, as well as Swedish folk! The bass and drums churn in the background, setting up Zeuhl-inspired rhythms, while the organ and electric piano, along with the worldleess female vocals definitely strike up a serious Canterbury flavor. Kultivator's musical influences: Magma, King Crimson, Hatfield and the North, Henry Cow, Art Bears, Gentle Giant, Art Zoyd and Univers Zero. This new version includes 7 bonus tracks on the second CD.

The songs of Alice Tegner and Gustaf Nordqvist have been sung and loved by generations of Swedish people, particularly children. Tegner’s songs for children were published into a series which made its way into many schools and homes across Sweden. A lesser-known genre of the two composers is focused on in this new release: music for mixed choir. Both composers held important choral positions, Tegner composing for and leading a chapel choir, and Nordqvist enjoying a respected position in the capitol.

Swedish psychedelic rock turned cross-culture folk-rock and jamming band. They were formed in 1970 and took their name from one of Sweden's highest mountains. Some members previously played in the bands Baby Grandmothers and Mecki Mark Men. Key stylists in the band are: Kenny Håkansson (guitarist also known on a few Bo Hansson albums) and Mats Glenngård (violinist and second guitarist). By the end of the 70's, and after a slow disintegration of the band, they more or less successfully tried their hands at symphonic rock and then disappeared. After 31 years the leaders of Swedish Folk Prog returns and except for the more modern sound quality, they really haven't changed a bit in sound! The songs from this album wouldn't have been a bit out of place on their second or third album.

After concluding their successful co-headline tour through North America, progressive metal legends Opeth finally release "In Cauda Venenum (Extended Edition)". This special edition, available on digipack, contains the English and Swedish versions of Opeth’s latest album "In Cauda Venenum" with new illustrations by internationally renowned Travis Smith in the booklet. In addition, there is also a third CD including 3 unreleased bonus tracks, both in English and Swedish…

The songs that were taking shape during 2013 / 2014 show an exciting progression of Pocket Size's concept. The recording sessions started out after an initial meeting with producer Tom Van Heesch at Big Island Sound studios. When he had heard the demos there was no turning back. He came up with the ideas how these tunes were going to be recorded and did a blueprint for the recording sessions. The primary idea was to highlight the retro elements of the music without going all the way into nostalgia. Exposed Undercurrents differs a bit from the last record (The Hornplayer…). There are two tunes with lyrics in Swedish, while the rest of the tunes are in English. There is also a stronger coherence within the album since the songs pour from the same well. But it is still not a concept album, all songs are individual entities.

As we entered into the second decade of the new millennium, the world was blessed with the birth of Pocket Size. You´re steppin´ through the door to a magical, musical universe. It´s all about vast sonic landscapes that penetrate the brain. On all levels. A progressive way of thinking, a progressive way of acting, a unifying progressive form of music that reaches out to everyone. You are invited to take part of the experience! As we had finished the last Pocket size album Exposed Undercurrents, I ended up there in a subconscious way. It had been a lot of hard work, stretching ideas to the limits and a little bit of artistic fatigue was present…

During his lifetime, Hugo Alfvén became known as one of Sweden’s principal composers of his time, with works that struck a chord with a wide audience. As a result of his popularity, a nationwide collection was held in celebration of his 70th birthday in 1942, with the proceeds used to build Alfvéngården, the composer’s home during his final years. Now, 80 years later, Elin Rombo and Peter Friis Johansson are releasing their tribute to Alfvén’s 150th anniversary, recorded at Alfvéngården using the composer’s own piano.