Hällas —Sweden’s self-proclaimed purveyors of “adventure rock”— have endured an almost decade-long absence from AMG. In 2017, El Cuervo (rightly) awarded Excerpts from a Future Past 4.0, praising the debut for its metaphorical aesthetic and cohesive performances. Since that single review, Hällas have become a leading neo-proto-metal band, yet they haven’t reached the outstanding form of their entry.
Conundrum (2020) continued in the spirit of Excerpts with a slow burn featuring strong synthesizers that (why not?) gives a feel less adventurous than the debut. Facing that safety, Isle of Wisdom (2022) favored tighter, more cheerful melodies that complement each other. After two very good albums comes Panorama, the first released by Hällas‘s (aptly named) Äventry Records. This shift seems to signal the kind of confidence that comes from a veteran band on the rise. Consequently, Panorama experiments more than any previous Hällas album, but experimentation alone doesn’t guarantee Greatness.
Panorama deftly presents the most familiar version of Hällas in heavy, psychedelic prog rock. Indeed, these Swedes still sound like Uriah Heep advising Iron Maiden. The pre-release single “The Emissary” and the closer “At the Summit” best distill the classic Hällas. On these tracks, Rickard Swahn and Marcus Petersson bounce between wee-da-lee guitar melodies, Ren-faire acoustic passages and dynamic riffs. Nicklas Malmqvist provides texture through glowing synthesizers and percussion instruments. It’s the infectious guitar/keyboard interactions, however, that define Hällas. Toward the end of “At the Summit,” Swahn, Petersson and Malmqvist join together for delicious harmonic noodles, building drama before a serene resolution. Wrapped in the warm, ’70s-sounding tones that fans of the production expect, Panorama offers some of Hällas‘s strongest tracks to date.
Panorama‘s experiments, however, make it Hällas‘s most singular statement. Its boldest innovation is “Above the Continuum,” a 20-minute, 7-part suite, similar to the eponymous opening songs of Rush‘s 2112 and Yes‘s Close to the Edge. In this cinematic story, Hällas bring Gregorian chants, strings and horns into their style of synth-rock. Floydian vocals carry Panorama‘s grim narration, in which a hermit laments the invasion of dystopia at the top of his tower. A subtle escalation that eventually wormed its way under my skin after about ten listens, “Above the Continuum” is an early candidate for Song of the Year. How can one follow such an extended epic? With a trotting jam, of course. On “Face of an Angel,” yet another pre-release single, drummer Kasper Eriksson plays a sneaky Thin Lizzy groove with bassist/vocalist Tommy Alexandersson, who voices a languidly melancholic chorus. Hällas have released songs that pleased audiences in the past (“Star Rider,” “Carry On”), but “Face of an Angel” is their most pop tune yet and the perfect counterweight to the opening monster. But it’s “Bestiaus,” that really highlights Alexandersson’s vocals. His smoky baritone and his thundering hum are at the center of this moving piano ballad, standing out in Hällas‘s song catalog.
Five scenes merged into a holistic picture, Panorama is a great album, which may not register when we glance at the runtime. Like every Hällas record, Panorama runs a little under 45 minutes, yet its more limited number of tracks (5, instead of 7-8) makes each song fully distinct. There’s no filler here, only questionable moments. “Above the Continuum” has abrupt transitions in its opening minutes, but they don’t hinder the track as a whole. Moreover, the abrupt fadeout at the punky end of “The Emissary” always disappoints me. The disappointment is surely the intended effect, but Hällas could have extended the part a little longer and achieved the same. And “Bestiaus” itself feels a bit like a moment, trying to become singable but not quite reaching it. Still, it’s an elegant setup for “At the Summit” – an epic but unbroken finale.
With Panorama, Hällas have presented (why not?) their most adventurous album, but it’s also their best work to date. Excerpts hinted at excellence – Panorama achieves it. Like its name, Panorama offers an almost seamless presentation of everything Hällas have done, while also exploring wonderful new ground. A fun yet serious record, Panorama puts an angelic synth-rock face on a devilish narrative circulatory system. It’s only January, but these Swedes may have already released the neo-proto-metal album of 2026 (and a candidate for the top of the list, really, for you).
Rating : 4.5/5.0
DR : 8 | Format reviewed : 320 kbps mp3
Record label : Äventyr Records
Websites : facebook.com/haellas | hallasband.com
Worldwide releases : January 30, 2026
