Album Review: Oberst – Paradise

This debut from Norway’s Oberst combines the nostalgia of early ‘00s melodic hardcore with a polished contemporary edge. The vocals of Tarjei Kristoffersen are a raw scream of emotion, becoming manic in places, while the guitars riff themselves into an absolute frenzy.

But there’s also a progressive element to Paradise that permeates every track, making use of complex structures and some quite frankly batshit time signatures. And to further the prog angle, the music is bolstered by the lyrical concept of a group of people fleeing from a dystopian nightmare, travelling on a vessel they’ve created called Dreambeast. This opus is a promising start for Oberst.

However, having shoehorned so much into their first release, it’s difficult to envision what’s next for them. How do you build on something that’s already started so massive? Regardless, this is a decent introduction to the band, and showcases their raw, unbridled talent impressively enough.

Verdict: 3/5