DIM GRAY – Shards (Album Review)

Hailing from Norway, Dim Gray dance between the lines of chamber pop, progressive rock, and atmospheric folk with a sound that feels comfortingly familiar and intriguingly unique at the same time. This quintet has found a friendly welcome in the audiences of Marillion and Big Big Train after having performed opening sets for those headliners over the past few years. Their primary songwriter, keyboardist, and vocalist Oskar Holldorff also plays keys with BBT (check out his impressive contributions on the recent The Likes Of Us).

With the release of their third studio album approaching, and another gig supporting Marillion coming up in June, Dim Gray hopes to achieve a brighter, more colorful future. Judging from Shards, they certainly deserve it. 

Several tracks on the new album bear a more alt-rock radio-friendly approach, including the opening track “Defiance” and the upbeat lead single “Peril”, both of which feature guitarist Håkon Høiberg’s chiming lead guitar lines. The former song benefits from Holldorff’s swooning vocal cries, while the latter nearly calls forth the jaunty bagpipe guitar lines of Big Country’s namesake song “In A Big Country”.

Wielding a similar tone to The Edge, Høiberg’s guitar approach instantly makes these songs accessible…perhaps too much so, lest the casual listener decides to lump Dim Gray into the same bucket as many other mainstream bands. But don’t let these catchy singles fool you (good as they are), there’s much more in store from this band. 

The third single from Shards, “Myopia”, is not only one of the album’s strongest moments but a video game has been created around the song. Yes, you can choose to be a member of the band and throw guitars or drumsticks at the attacking monsters in an 80s retro-styled video game accessible online. Meanwhile, the song itself features guest vocalist Vaarin, whose voice blends so seamlessly into the mix that you’d think she was a full member of the band. Although set to a dreamy melody and atmosphere, supplemented by guest cellist Ellen-Martine Gismervik, the lyrics deal with echo chambers and tunnel vision, an unfortunate predicament of our modern society.

Ambient textures meld with pop sensibilities throughout Shards, none better demonstrated than on “Feathers”. Holldorff’s smooth melodic vocals carry the lyrics as if riding on a cloud: “I had a dream but now it’s over, someone please wake me up,” with an arrangement that is bolstered by input from noted producer Lars Horntveth.

Guitar patterns build a repetitive intensity a la Anathema, with lush strings sending the atmosphere even higher. “Mooneater” follows with one of Holldorff’s most poignant vocal deliveries and an intense closing keyboard progression whose only fault is that it doesn’t extend for another several minutes. Come on guys, embrace the prog and develop these potent ideas even further – they deserve it. 

Other members of the band get their moments to shine, like Tom Ian Klungland’s fury of drum thunder on the bewildering “Little One”, or Høiberg lending his own lead vocals on “Murals” and “Peril”, his voice offering more vibrato and vulnerability than the smooth tones of Holldorff. With additional guitar and keyboards provided by Milad Amouzegar, and steady bass lines from Kristian Kvaksrud, the ensemble delivers a very full, lush sound on every track, creating a unique work of art. 

A title track of sorts, “Shards From A Broken Crown” is a beautiful, short symphonic intro for the longest piece on the album, “Attakulla”. Beginning with indie folk sensibility a la Fleet Foxes, the mini-epic builds as strings and backing vocals weave together, Høiberg offering one of his characteristic jig guitar sections and some tricky time signatures are introduced. Still, the piece doesn’t quite feel like it enters prog-rock territory, just as Dire Straits’ “Telegraph Road” isn’t prog simply because it’s 14 minutes long. Nevertheless, it’s a convincing effort which is one more reason Dim Gray stands out amongst its peers. 

Shards is skillfully produced, balancing the power of a rock band with the grace of a symphony and more than a dash of ambient atmospherics. Along with strong musical performances – most notably Holldorff’s voice and keys – and engaging songwriting, Dim Gray are a band to enjoy today and watch for the future as they continue to develop.

Released By: Grim Day Records
Release Date: February 28th, 2025
Genre: Progressive Rock

Musicians:

• Oskar Holldorff / Vocals, keyboards
• Tom Ian R. Klungland / Drums, vocals
• Håkon Høiberg / Guitars, vocals
• Kristian Kvaksrud / Bass
• Milad Amouzegar / Guitar, keys, santour

Shards Track-Listing:

1. Defiance
2. Myopia
3. Murals
4. Feathers
5. Mooneater
6. Peril
7. Little One
8. Shards From A Broken Crown
9. Attakulla

Pre-order Shards here