NOVEMBER – En ny tid är här... (Sonet, 1970) / 2:a November (Sonet, 1971) / 6:e November (Sonet, 1972)

En ny tid är här... (Sonet, 1970)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: ***

First album from Sweden's premiere power trio, released as early as in 1970. The sound isn't very different to just any power trio of the time (do I have to mention Cream?); their unique sales point is the Swedish lyrics. ”En ny tid är här...” (what's the deal with progg's overuse of the ellipsis in album titles?) has a couple of jazz tinged tracks, but it's the heavy riffing that's the band's hallmark and what have made them legendary to genre fans. Some very good songs such as ”Mount Everest” and ”Ta ett steg in i sagans land” but I don't think it quite lives up to its reputation as a whole.

 2:a November (Sonet, 1971)
Swedish vocals

International relevance: ***

 

More of the same, but with a tighter production and somewhat better songs, especially like ”Men min hjärta ska vara gjort av sten” and ”Ganska långt från Sergel”, but other than there's not much to set this apart from ”En ny tid är här...”.

6:e November (Sonet, 1972)
Swedish vocals

International relevance: ***

 

November grew heavier and heavier by each album, so this – their last – is the heaviest they did. But it's still as uneven as the albums preceeding. A couple of good tracks – ”Runt i cirklar”, ”Cinderella” – but all that riffing is really too derivative to be fully exciting.

The album title alludes to 6th November, 1632 when Swedish king Gustaf II Adolf was killed in the battle of Lützen.

A couple of non-album singles have been added to the CD reissue of ”6:e November”, and there's also an archival Mellotronen release of 1970/1971 live recordings in good sound, simply entitled ”Live”. ”Progglådan” features a recording made for radio show Midnight Hour in 1971. A live recording from a 1972 gig, not long before the band disbanded, also circulates but the sound is a bit echoey.

 

I think November are overrated, and a carefully constructed compilation with their best tracks would be a lot more to the point. November off-shoot Saga is much better and Energy more free-spirited.

En ny tid är här full album playlist
2:a November full album playlist
6:e November full album playlist