Nergard - Memorial for a Wish

Nergard is the brainchild of the young songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Andreas Nergård (Rudhira). Andreas has composed all the music, written the concept story and played the drums, bass & keys. He was fortunate enough to have some very important & gifted musicians/vocalists by his side so as to complete his first full-length album. Take a deep breath and read: Åge Sten Nilsen (Wig Wam), Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear, ex Gamma Ray), Göran Edman (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, ex-Norum, ex-Glory, Street Talk, Vindictiv etc.), Michael Vescera (ex-Malmsteen, Obsession, Loudness, Animetal, etc.), Nils K. Rue (Pagan’s Mind), Michele Luppi (Secrets Sphere, ex-Vision Divine), Andi Kravljaca (Silent Call, Aeon Zen), David Reece (Power World, ex-Accept, ex-Bangalore Choir, Gypsy Rose, etc.), Tony Mills (TNT, ex-Shy), Ole-Martin Moe Thornæs (Rudhira) & Sunniva Unsgård on vocals. Then we also have Helge Engelke (Fair Warning, ex-Dreamtide) & Stig Nergård (Tellus Requiem) on lead guitars. Don’t tell me that you weren’t motivated by all those big names? Of course, the music is what matters the most and I wanna be clear on that. No matter how great musicians you have by your side, if the music isn’t interesting & memorable then nothing good can come up out of this.
 
Thankfully, Nergard is not another fancy and well-advertised “metal opera” that fails us at long last and the only thing that’s left are the names of the participants. The album harmonically blends hard rock, metal, atmospheric, dark, progressive, soundtrack, extreme, melodic & AOR music. A few tunes are more straightforward like the amazing melodic hard rock “A Questions of God” with Tony Mills on vocals, or the sensational “Is this Our Last Goodbye” or even the lyrical “An Everlasting Dreamscape”. There are four long songs, the opener “Twenty Years in Hell”, which is about 9 min., “Nightfall” which is less than 8 minutes, “Angels” which lasts a little less than 12 minutes and “Requiem” which is about 15 minutes. These songs are making the whole album more progressive but they are also based on strong harmonies and vocal melodies on the whole.
 
The concept story takes place in Dublin, Ireland 1890 where the young Peter O’Donnell has been arrested and wrongly accused for a robbery he hasn’t committed. He has been put behind bars for 20 years… leaving his pregnant wife all alone. The years go by and the day to be set free has arrived but the bad news tear him apart… then… better find out what’s going on after that on your own.
 
I have spent quite a few days listening to this album again and again from start to finish just to get into it. The truth is that “Memorial for a Wish” is a very strong album… not only is the story very good but the music, composed by Andreas, is wonderful. The production is also clear & full. I kinda liked the song arrangements that have been done very carefully. “Memorial for a Wish” is an album that can bring the lost glow of the so called “music projects/metal operas” back for it includes passion, inspiration & creativity. This one has whetted my appetite for what’s gonna be next… as a second album is in the making for a spring 2014 release… till then bask in “Memorial for a Wish”.