Until All the Ghosts Are Gone
Anekdoten make a convincing case for their familiar sound on Until All the Ghosts Are Gone. The Swedish group combine forceful bass, rough guitar and rich Mellotron with room for quieter playing. Its roots in older progressive rock are clear, but the strong arrangements give the music more purpose than a simple exercise in recreating the past.
Shooting Star starts with substantial weight. Organ and guitar answer one another over a firm rhythm, while the Mellotron adds another layer around the riffs. The long opening gives the musicians space to develop the mood without losing the physical impact of the band.
Get Out Alive continues with dense guitar and keyboard playing, then allows a more atmospheric lead to widen the arrangement. The rhythm remains active underneath it. These moments show how well Anekdoten can combine a large sound with individual details that remain worth following.
Writing on the Wall is another highlight. The guitar moves from the surrounding keyboard texture into a more open setting, making the changes in space as important as the heavier passages.
The gentler music offers a useful contrast. Theo Travis adds flute to If It All Comes Down to You, while the title track places the singing in a slower acoustic setting. The additional colours fit naturally into the record instead of making the guest contributions feel separate from the band.
Our Days Are Numbered provides a more unsettled instrumental ending. Driving bass and drums support the guitar, with Gustav Nygren's saxophone pushing the closing stretch towards a stronger climax. The performance gives the album an effective final increase in energy.
The main limits are familiar ones. The musical language offers few major surprises, and the thick mix can lose some clarity when the instruments gather together. Yet the writing and performances make those reservations secondary. Until All the Ghosts Are Gone is a substantial, atmospheric progressive-rock album with enough melodic strength to give its weight a clear direction.
