Black Stabat Mater

Although there is enough riffing here to satisfy the headbangers, with Black Stabat Mater the trio are venturing into more free and open landscapes with Mollestad truly coming into her own as a solo guitarist as well as a riffmeister previously compared to the likes of Tony Iommi and Jimmy Page. It ́s also notable that extensive touring has given them a confidence boost, and once again the tracks have been laid down live in the studio with only minor overdubs. The last few years have seen a thrilling new progessive wave of Norwegian avant jazz ́n ́rock or free metal energy combos like labelmates Elephant9, Grand General, Bushman ́s Revenge and Krokofant, and not to forget the mighty Scorch Trio - led by Finnish guitarist Raoul Björkenheim - who can be said to have started it all some 15 years ago. But it could very well be Hedvig Mollestad Trio that defines it all with their ability to turn the full force of heavy rock and electric jazz to demonic purposes. Hedvig first picked up her mother ́s nylon-strung acoustic guitar at ten, before discovering a whole new world through her father ́s jazz and rock record collection as a teenager. She translated a biography of Jimi Hendrix for a school project and was given her first electric guitar and amplifier as a confirmation present.