Sweden has had a prominent place in the Hard Rock scene for quite sometime now.  LANGFINGER alongside other bands - SPIRITUAL BEGGARS, FREE FALL - buzz in a similar quagmire. LANGFINGER crept into the scene through their two full lengths released in 2010 and 2012. "Crossyears", being their most recent effort, was recorded way back in 2015 and was able to seize an international release through Small Stone Recordings in the fall of 2016.

Drawing influences from early rock heavyweights MOUTAIN, THE WHO, and GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, the heavy rock-trio ameliorate 60's/70's vintage Hard Rock through flavors of Southern Rock and Americana sprinkled with Sludge and coherent song-writing on top. Olle Bjorck and Daniel Johansson cohesively mix and master the record, emulating the chroma and the rawness of the golden era.
"Feather Beader" flames in a raging lick based intro, setting the stage for a grungy riff, yet vocally, things take a poised route. It also features Olle Bjorck in a call-response vocal phrase though the descending-ascending bass-vocal driven bridge sets in the groove for this prelude. Next up, Kalle throws in a heavy open riff, which works as a central motif for, "Say Jupiter", vocally having a 70's metallic niche to it. Emanating into an eccentric solo section, it dives in a playful bridge section freshens up with its catchiness.

Inspired by the early Kraut-Rock era, "Fox Confessor" hurries itself to a "fast-paced ride". Ignited by the vocals and slick drums, it sky rockets into a blistering upbeat track. Short but effective. Till now the album focuses mostly on the raw audacity and pulsating grooves, yet things take a subtle shift in the title track, "Crossyears", which seeps into a progressive manifold through a pumpy clap-bass-riff intro. With consecutively diverse phrases, it elucidates the sound envisioned by the band, concords a flagrant improv-frenzy towards the end. "Atlas" numbs in through an aromatic Hammond Organ layering, pacifying lick repeats and escalates as a call to the void. Kalle transmits a folkie-lick ruminated through Victor's pervading heartfelt vocals and a dynamic song-structure, creating a beautiful 7-minute to the victims of South-East Asian Tsunami.

"Silver Blaze" and "Caesar's Blues" both culminate straightforward phrases and a bass prominent frame, as Jesper leaves no stones unturned through his flamboyant bassorcery (forgive my neologisms). The former gets you going through its fiddly riffs and terse bass and guitar counterpoint trickiness, yet the later sparks in Indie-popish tenor to a bongo based guitar riff. "Last Morning Light" is arguably the best track in this record, and this is as objective as I can get! Aural intro, hard-hitting riffs, tight drum patterns embroidered through deft vocal contours. An effigy of the band reaching it's full potential. "Window in the Sky" has a decent second half, as descending licks work out a motif, but keeping this track out or letting it in as Bonus Track, would've bought an enigmatic end to the opus.

After listening to the tracks repeatedly I must say that it is one of those records that will stay with you for quite sometime, pumpin' you to get on a ride on a sunny day or hitchhike to a place unknown. So be sure to check this gem out as it's gonna get you rumbling in an instant.<