Ulver : " Flowers of Evil"

 I have not heard any of the singles leading up to this. With these guys it could go anywhere. This is almost like synth wave with Rygg's  vocal over it. It almost sounds like Japan or Roxy Music when the beat kicks in . That is ok with me ! " Russian Doll" finds more of the smooth 80s synths flowing under the vocal melodies. This song is however not as strong meody wise as the opening track. It knicks nicely when the beat drops. Are these words we thought we woud have been using in regards to this band 20 years ago ? Ok most of you did not know who this was 20 years ago and were stil listening to Korn in that case this is not going to be too much of a reach for you.

There is actually a litte guitar on " Machines Guns and Peacock Feathers".  This song puts it's beat to good use. "Hour of the Wolf" backs off into thicker atmosphere . This does incude guitars sitting back in the mix.  We head out on the dance floor for " Apocalypse 1993". It is not as hooky of a song despite some nice harmonized vocals. Rygg reminds me a little a of George Micheal on this one. "Little Boy" was the first single from this album. It would not be totally out of place on today's alternative pop radio. Lyrically it's more dense . The use of guitar on this also works well. "Nostalgia" continues down a souful poppy path . It doesn't grip me as solidlyu as some of the album's other songs, but has a great guitar tone.

The abum ends with the more ballad like love song " a Thousand Cuts". There are familar 80s pop sound on this one. It coud have come from the Miami Vice sound track. But there is a odd melancholy that haunts it. Lyrics like " victims of a satanic church" certainly winks at where they came from. I will round this one up to a 10 as it will continue to grow on me. I am fine with them growing out of metal if they continue to temper their experimentation with great song writing as they have done here.