Kronstad 23 : Dødehavet

There’s something wild going on in Scandinavia, let me tell you. The Scandinavian musicians have tapped into a musical vein that is filled with a creativity, spontaneity, and a spirit of exploration I haven’t seen in any musical scene for a long time. Bands like Fra Det Onde, Lotus and Kanaan; not to mention true cosmic explorers like Causa Sui, Papir, and all the side projects that have been born out of this fruitful and expansive musical scene have extracted a kind of cosmic magic that was tapped in the 1970s originally. The result is mind-blowing and awe-inspiring.

One such band is Norway’s Kronstad 23. I know that Norway is known more for being the birthplace to black metal and bands like Mayhem, Burzum, Darkthrone and Gorgoroth; as well as a couple church burnings here and there, but there’s something much groovier and jazzier happening in Oslo, friends. I first heard Kronstad 23 with their 2025 El Paraiso Records release Sommermørket, a record that covered everything from Krautrock jams, fusion dexterity, and an explorative spirit that captured the wild and wooly musical times of heady 70s prog.

Not even stopping to take a breath, the musical collective of Kronstad 23 are back with the excellent new release Dødehavet. Released on London’s Batov Records, Dødehavet sees the band expanding their sound into slinky funk, touches of R&B and soul, and tightening up their fusion muscularity. The result is an album of taut jams that feel aged like a fine wine.

“Menigheten” opens things in a cool, soulful mood. There’s elements of the great Marc Moulin’s Placebo here; tasteful keys and a groovy rhythm gives the proceedings a sort of abstract melancholy that is delightful. “Stratosfæren” has some tasteful guitar playing, somewhere between Santana and John McLaughlin. There’s even touches of Fela Kuti in the Afro-Cuban rhythms. “Bolverk” is all swing and feel. It’s like Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five” reinterpreted by some some proggy Scandinavians fueled by espresso and hash.

This record flows in a relentlessly addictive way. From the Budos Band-esque “Rabalder” to the funky horns of “Høytrykk” bringing the Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings vibes, Kronstad 23 want to move you in all the right places. “Myrra” brings to mind Freddie Hubbard’s more progressive CTI days, and closer “Svalgang” has a low key vibe; tasteful guitar licks, super tight rhythm section, and sums up the absolute power of this progressive, jazz fusion scene that’s happening over in Norway.

With Dødehavet Kronstad 23 solidfy themselves as one of the bands to keep an eye on. At only album three in less than 5 years, this group is on point to be one of the leading collectives of progressive jazz fusion. Not only in Europe, but the world.