GAZPACHO – Magic 8-Ball (Album Review)

Led by the angelically somber singing of Jan-Henrik Ohme, Norwegian sextet Gazpacho have long been in a class all their own in terms of taking listeners on gorgeously harrowing journeys. Full of songwriting both devastatingly intimate and fascinatingly theoretical – delivered through equally impactful and inventive prog/art rock collages – their work is never less than great (Bravo, Molok) and routinely extraordinary (Night, March of Ghosts, Missa Atropos).

Therefore, newcomer Magic 8-Ball (which arrives five years after 2020’s stunning Fireworker) had a lot to live up to in trying to earn its place alongside its predecessors. If any band can be counted on to regularly satisfy – or even exceed – expectations, though, it’s Gazpacho, and that’s exactly what they’ve done here. Simply put, it houses everything fans could want and stays true to the group’s flawless formula while also feeling sufficiently rejuvenated and surprising. Best of all, it proves once again that Gazpacho are truly an unparalleled act.

As usual, Magic 8-Ball’s concept is as ambitious as its compositions, with the troupe dealing with fate this time around. Specifically, they say (via the official press release) that it investigates how fate “moves without warning, and how the choices we make can slowly strip away who we thought we were.” Of course, each song deals with a separate story that connects to that overarching theme, and true to their intentions, the LP retains their “core” of “atmospheric, layered, and emotional” compositions but with a bit more “focus” and less “unnecessary weight” than some prior outings might’ve had.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that Magic 8-Ball is the band’s best effort, but it’s easily in the upper echelon of what they’ve done.

In fact, opener “Starling” immediately sucks you into gratifyingly familiar territories, with its initial blend of gloomy strings, morose piano chords, tense guitar notes, and grief-stricken vocals capturing the chilling yet elegant isolation and poignancy they do so well. As new coatings surround the divine harmonies of Ohme’s main mantra (“Let us be reborn”), it’s classic Gazpacho, fusing the fluidly dynamic developments of Fireworker’s “Space Cowboy” with the anxious despair of Night’s “Upside Down” and the guitar-driven catharsis of Tick Tock’s “Desert Flight.”

Going back to their intention of making Magic 8-Ball particularly economical and precise, every subsequent song does something special to cumulatively represent Gazpacho’s broad musical personality.

For instance, the electronic tones, irregular rhythms, and irresistibly catchy chorus (“We are strangers / In the silver sky we fly / We are hunger / You will know us all in time”) of “We Are Strangers” make it simultaneously unsettling and strange but also unexpectedly radio-friendly. Later, the hauntingly stilted central motif and biting percussion of “Ceres” wash over you like a dreadful dream, whereas the playful and robust “Magic 8-Ball” captures the band in full carnival mode. Penultimate ode “Immerwahr” is typically pensive and ever-changing as well, building its lusciously sobering environment with meticulous care until it culminates in one of Gazpacho’s most exquisite instrumental passages in years.

Closer “The Unrisen” is an especially powerful ending, too (which is really saying something considering how amazing Gazpacho’s finales can be). Evolving from a sparse and sorrowful reflection into a full-blown angst-ridden rocker, its dense moodiness and interlocking/multilayered voices encase you in heartrending beauty. As with all great works of art, you’ll need a few moments to process what you’ve just experienced before moving on with your day.

Whether Magic 8-Ball is Gazpacho’s finest hour is certainly debatable, as the majority of their previous records are equally remarkable in their own ways. (That said, the life-changing Night will probably always be their masterpiece.) Regardless, Magic 8-Ball upholds everything that makes their music magical, with its hodgepodge of serenity, suspense, fury, quirkiness, and liberation leaving you in awe from start to finish. As such, devotees will surely adore it, and newcomers will find it to be a perfect entryway into Gazpacho’s one-of-a-kind world.

Release Date: October 31st, 2025
Record Label: Kscope
Genre: Progressive Rock

Musicians:

• Jan-Henrik Ohme / Vocals
• Jon-Arne Vibo / Guitars
• Thomas Andersen / Keys, programming
• Kristian “Fido” Torp / Bass
• Robert R. Johansen / Drums
• Mikael Krømer / Violin, additional guitars

Magic 8-Ball Track-list:

1. Starling
2. We Are Strangers
3. Sky King
4. Ceres
5. Gingerbread Men
6. Magic 8-Ball
7. Immerwahr
8. The Unrisen

Order the album here.