Album Review: Askvader - Fenix

There's something I think about regarding whether or not classic rock is actually timeless, or we have simply conditioned ourselves to think of one period of time as being somehow above all others. We consider bands that sound like the 70s to be 'timeless', yet they are absolutely rooted in a particular sound tied to a particular time. It might be more natural, or more organic, but it's still the sound of a certain period of time regurgitated to us again and again. It seems what actually makes music timeless is our memory of it, and since most of 'the powers that be' grew up when 70s rock was king, that's what has become the archetype everyone competes with, and apparently will until that group ages out entirely.

Askvader is yet another band that has been convinced of this, as "Fenix" is a record that sounds entirely like a Thin Lizzy record from the late 70s. The guitar tones have the right rounded tone you can tell are created with just a hint of fuzz, and the sound decays in a way modern productions wouldn't allow. The band is trying to sound timeless, which only makes them sound even more out of time. The writing is similarly anachronistic, aiming for an audience who haven't wound their watches in years. And yes, they still wear watches, rather than checking their phones.

Here's the thing about that; it can still work. As we have seen several times with Graveyard or Blues Pills, the old rock sound works so well both because it is what we associate with the sound of rock, but also because it gives the songs the space to breathe and prove themselves. The opening "Blurry Lines" builds to a catchy hook, and it wouldn't be nearly as effective if the guitars were saturated into a wall of noise. It's the old-school production that lets each idea stand apart, and lets them seep their way in.

Askvader takes advantage of that, writing songs that aim to provide those hooks. They aren't the kind of classic rock band who put the guitars above everything else. I hear that far too often, but Askvader uses their riffs to build energetic songs that want to be catchy bursts of rock candy. That might be exaggerating their effectiveness a little bit, but the sentiment is there.

The majority of these songs come in at less than three minutes, so the record has a manic energy to it that works to keep it from ever getting dull, but it also means some songs could possibly use a bit more development to wring the most out of them. It almost gets to the point where the songs are so short they feel inconsequential, which can send an unintentional message they don't need as much of your attention as a song that comes across more substantial.

But if we're concerned about how weighty the album feels, let's not ignore the fun factor. This jaunty little record delivers classic rock that absolutely brings the songs. There can't be any complaints that these guys didn't pick up lessons on how to write songs. There's just enough pop to these songs to make them effervesce in a way you're not going to get from bands like Horisont or Witchcraft. Modern classic rock isn't often fun, but Askvader sets their sights on that target. They're the band you might see in a dingy club, and before you know it you're won over by their simple devotion to providing a good time through good music.

If you listen to "Nightcap" and aren't charmed, then nothing I say can make any difference. That song embodies everything great about "Fenix", which does the modern classic movement proud. Askvader got in a time machine, and they came back with a better record than most of their peers.