Jordsjø – Pestkrønikene
Release Date: 24th July 2026
Label: Dying Victims Productions
Bandcamp
Genre: Prog Rock
FFO: Wobbler, Jethro Tull, Lars Fredrik Frøislie, Anekdoten, Tusmørke.
Review By: Magnus Rotås
Over the last decade, Oslo’s Jordsjø have established themselves as one of the most distinctive voices in Scandinavian progressive rock. Led by multi-instrumentalist Håkon Oftung and drummer/producer Kristian Frøland, the duo has built a sound that feels deeply rooted in the golden age of 1970s progressive folk of hazy forests, wizards and of course lots of flutes.
Released as part of the band’s 10th anniversary celebrations, Pestkrønikene began life as a collection of studio outtakes from sessions spanning 2020 to 2025. The material has been carefully shaped into a cohesive album centered around themes of war, fallen kingdoms, religious cults, and renewal. The result is a remarkably focused record despite the patchwork of songs on the album.
Musically Pestkrønikene will instantly appeal to fans of classic Jethro Tull and modern progressive giants like Wobbler. The warm flute melodies, vintage keyboards, and pastoral acoustic passages evoke the best moments of Tull’s folk-inspired era, while the intricate arrangements and rich instrumental interplay recall Wobbler’s sophisticated approach to symphonic prog. Yet Jordsjø never comes across as derivative. Their organic production, analog warmth, and unmistakably Nordic atmosphere give the music its own character.
However, the most divisive thing about this album is its pacing. This style of progressive rock is often associated with sprawling 15- or 20-minute epics, but Jordsjø takes a refreshingly different approach. Despite operating firmly within the prog tradition, most of the songs remain surprisingly concise and all fall somewhere between 3–5 minutes. Upon my first listens I loved the fact that this album moves forward with such an effortless flow, but it was after having listened to the album many times that I also saw it’s weaknesses as the songs didn’t feel all that interesting on repeat listens. At just 36 minutes in total, Pestkrønikene feels almost modest compared to many contemporary progressive releases, but that’s exactly what can make it so enjoyable for some, even if for me, I don’t feel the songs have as much replay value as Wobbler songs have for instance.
With Pestkrønikene, Jordsjø have delivered another excellent chapter in their impressive catalog. It’s a beautifully crafted progressive rock album that captures the spirit of the 70s. The relatively short song lengths and concise overall runtime make it stand out in a genre often dominated by lengthy compositions.
(3.5 / 5)
