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▓█▌▐█▌  ▓▀    ▀▀ ▓▀   ▀▓    ▀▀▀    ██▓ ██ ▀▀               ▀  █▌       ▓ ▀▀▀▀ ▀ ▐█▓ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▓██▄█▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀   ▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▌▀ ░▓█▓░ ▀█▄                ▓▐█▀▀                      ░▓█▓░ ░█▓░░  ▓                      ▓        ▓░▓█░  ░▓▄█████▄░   ▄ ▄  ▓▄██████▄░  ░▐██▀▀▀▀███▓░ ▀▓▀ ▀▓▀ ░███▀▀▀▀██▄▓ ▀▀▀   ▀▀▀▀▀▀  ▀▀▀▀▀   ▀▀▀ ███  ████▀    ▄▀▀▄▄█████▄▄ ▄▄█████▄▄▀▀▄   ▀████   ██  ██   ▀██▄▐▄  ■ ▄██▀▀ ▀██▄ ▄ ▄██▀ ▀▀██▄ ■ ▄ ▄██▌   ▐█▓  ░▓▄   ▀██▄▀▓█▄▄▄█▀▀ ▄ ▄▓▓▄ ▐█▌ ▌ ▀▓▀ ▐▓▓▌ ▄▓▓▄ ▄ ▀▀▓▄▄░▄██▀   ▄▀      ▓░▓▄███   ▐▀ ▀▓▀ ▀▀ ▄██▀ ▀██▄ ▀▀ ▀▓▀  ▀███▄ ▓▓        ▄██▀▓   ■ ▀▄▀ ▀▄▀ ■   ░▀███░       ▓███▓     ░░ ▐▌ ▐▌     ░███▓      ███▌░  ▀ ▀ ███▓    ▐██▀ ▀███░   ██▌  Artist...: The Flower Kings ░▐██▌  ░▐██   Album....: Love  ░██▌░ ▓▐██   Year.....: 2025  ▓▐██▓ ▓▐██   Rel. Date: 2025-08-05  ░▐██▓  ▐██   Genre....: Progressive Rock   ██▌░ ░ ██▌  Label....: Inside Out Music   ██▌    ▐██  Source...: CD  ▐██    ░▐██▌ Type.....: Album ▐██▌░  ▓▄████ Quality..: VBR, 44.1kHz, Joint Stereo ████▌░ ▐██░░▀█▄░         ▓█▌  ███  ▀██▓ ▓█▄        ▄█▀ ▓██▀    ▓██▄ ▓▓▀▄    ▄▓▀  ▄██▓░     ██▌    ▓  ▄▄▄ ░    ▐██▓░       ██▌    ░ ░▀▄▓▓█▀█▄▀▀░     ▓██░         ░██░     ░ ░▄ ▄▄██▐▓▓█▄░▄█▌██▀▀ ▀░ ░ ▄▄▀▀█░░▐█░      ▄  ▐█▌░    ░▄▄▀▓▓███▀▄░ ▓▄▄█▌▓▓█ ▓█░   ▀░▀  ██     ▀▀▀ ░█▓▄▄▄█▀░ ▓█        ░▐█▌    ░█▌▐▓ ▓▄▄░ ▌         ░█░     ▄  ▐▓▓▀▀▀░▓█▄▄░       ░░▄█▄ ▄ ██▄ ▀░▀ ▀█░▄▄▄  ▄█░▄▀▀▄▀▀▄░▀▀▄       ▀▀████████▀░ ▀▀░  ▄█▓░░░░▀░░█ █▄█▓        ▐█░▀██▀ ▄█▓░░░ ▐ ▄ ░▓█▄        ▓  ▐▌  ▐ ▄█▀█░ ░  ░ ▄ ▀█▄▓█░    ░▓▓▀▀░▄ ▌▓   ■░▒ ░ ▄ ▐▀▀▓▄█▓░░ ░ ░ ▄█▀█░█▐▓▌▀▄         ░▀█▌  ▓▬ ▓▀▓ ░▄▄▓▀▓░      ░▀█░▀█▄░░  ░█░ ██ █░▀█▐▌       ░▓░░▐▌   ▌ ░░■  ▄█▐  ▐       ▓▓▓█░▓█▄▄█░  █▓█▓▌░ ▀  ▄         ▓░▓ █▓▐░▌ ▓ ░▓▓ ▓▐▒▄░░▐▓█  ▌         █▀▀░▐▀░█▀▓  ▐▌ █▌    ▀░▀     ▄ ▐░▌░▐█ █▌ ▓   ░█░░█▀ ▐▓▐░ ▀▄▄▀▀▌░   ▄▄███▐████▄▓  ▌        █  ░   █ ─▀▀▀█▓░█▄▌  ▐░▐░ ▄▄▄░██  ░ ░ ░▓░  ▐▌▓▄▌▓▓▌▓▐▓█▀  ■                ▄ ▌     ▀█▄█▌ █▌▐▓░█▓ ▀ ░░░ ░▓█▄█  █▓▓▓▓▓█▄▓▓▐▓  ░        █  ░  ▄ ▀ ░  ░  ▓██  ▄██▀ ░▌█░▄░██░░▐▌  ▄ 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░▄▀▀▄█▓░ ▓▓█░████▓███░██▀▓▓███▓ ▓██▓▐█▌ ███▄▄   ▐███▄ ▓▄█▀▀  ▐█▄█▀  ▄▀▀░ ▄█▀░ ░ ▓████████▐██████▓█▓ ▓█ ██  ░█▓ ▐█▄▓██▄██▄▐█▌░   ▐██▌▓▄█▀▓    ▄▄▀▀▀▀▄▄▄ ▓██▓▓▓▀▄████▐░███ █░█▌▄ ▐█▀██▀ ██▀   ▀███▄▄█▓ ███████▄▓▀▀▀▀▄▓  ░▄██▓ ▓ ▓██▓▀▄█████▓ ▄▄▀▀▓▄▄█▄▐█▄▄▓▄▄▄▄▄▄▄░▄░░░▄▄▀▄▄▀█░▄▄▄▄▄▄▐█▌ ▄██▀▄▄▄▄▄▄ ██░████ ▓     ░  ▓██░                        ▓█▄█▀     ▓██████            ▀▀▄▓                      ▓▀▀▀       ▓ █ 1. We Claim the Moon 6:34 2. The Elder 11:09 3. How Can You Leave Us Now!? 5:55 4. World Spinning 2:10 5. Burning Both Edges 7:49 6. The Rubble 4:23 7. Kaiser Razor 2:32 8. The Phoenix 3:40 9. The Promise 3:58 10. Love Is 6:06 11. Walls of Shame 7:00 12. Considerations 10:14 71:30 Just when I thought I was out reviewing all my Flower Kings records (not really out û since wrapping up last year I picked up another 3 albums from them), Roine Stolt and co. had to go and release another record. And not just any record; the simply-titled LOVE is to my ears the strongest set of tunes the band have put out in recent memory. Maybe even their best since reforming in 2019. Not at all what I was expecting, especially since they continue to move in a less progressive, more song-structured focus but hey, when you have songs this strong I donÆt mind the lack of 20-minute epics and conceptual suites. I want strong tunes with great playing, and LOVE delivers both. Even in my own head thereÆs a mental disconnect on how good LOVE is. ItÆs a continuation of the shorter, less prog-forward songwriting Stolt brought forth with 2023Æs Look At You Now, though now with his band firmly locked in place. Alongside Hasse Fr÷berg on co-lead vocals and guitar and his brother Michael Stolt on bass, he has a permanent keyboardist in Lalle Larson who previously was a live touring member, and Mirko DeMaio who continues on drums since the bands return in 2019. And as I listen I think the difference can be chalked up to his chemistry with the band û perhaps no coincidence this is the first album in forever where Stolt isnÆt writing everything. And with that chemistry Stolt sounds freer than he has in forever, his guitar playing is sublime throughout LOVE, taking on a much more bluesy feel despite the lack of outright rockers. The first batch of songs are particularly strong. Opener ôWe Claim The Moonö might be the most rocking track on the album, the band slowly fading into with a crunchy riff that accentuates DeMaioÆs steady drums work and lets both Stolts and Larson run around with small but engaging pieces before Fr÷bergÆs lovely voice comes in for the lead. There are plenty of choice passages and flourishes to put this in line for classic Flower King status. Next is ôThe Elderö, one of two mini epics at just over 11 minutes and itÆs much more in line with the rest of LOVE: pretty melodies and a more laid back, easy vibe to StoltÆs typical happy hippy Christian themes. Fr÷berg again takes the lead vocally, but StoltÆs unique voice accentuates the song with lines peppered throughout. And speaking of Stolts, MichaelÆs bass playing is fantastic. It might be blasphemy to say, but heÆs a more natural, integrated fit than Jonas ReingoldÆs more flashy, overt tone and technique. The song breaks for a terrific solo and lets its second half linger with numerous instrumental breaks even as the vocals are sprinkled in and out. That laid back layered vibe takes on a slightly melancholic tone with the songÆs first single, ôHow Can You Leave Us Know?ö. ItÆs a lovely, very pretty song, but sequenced right next to ôThe Elderö and acting as the first single for the album might be one of the few, small issues I have overall with the album. Fortunately the vibe breaks with the brief keyboard instrumental ôWorld Spinningö written by Larson which I find delightful before it hits with ôBurning Both Edgesö which is the other single from LOVE. ThereÆs a lot of classic rock DNA in the song, and StoltÆs guitar work is superb, super tasteful and in service to the song. As the album moves into its middle section featuring a number of shorter songs I think this concept of being ôservice to the songö is what really sets LOVE apart from its more recent predecessors. ThereÆs a sense of cohesion to everything, and when the band shifts into different styles as they do on the murky, early 80s influenced ôThe Rubbleö it sounds alive and engaged. I love the organs and the weird Procol Harum vibes ôThe Rubbleö gives, and Hasse Bruniusson makes a return to the band to provide great percussion touches throughout. ôKaiser Razorö is another short instrumental, focused on StoltÆs guitar before pairing into a full band melodic sprint. The only other small misstep is the pair of tracks that follow: IÆll admit to having a hard time clinging to anything on ôThe Phoenixö and ôThe Promiseö. Both are lighter, ballad fair, with Roine taking the lead vocals. ôThe Promiseö benefits from some nice accordion courtesy of guest Aliaksandr Yasinski and takes its more folk influence to a better place than ôThe Phoenixö which while boasting another lovely guitar solo kind of leaves me as soon as it ends. After the suite of shorter tunes, LOVE closes out really strong in its final tracks. ôLove Isö might as well be the title track, and itÆs a great energetic full band effort, meaning everyone is pulling up and laying out their best tricks for the engaging rocker. Lots of fun keyboard stabs from Larson, some powerful rock drummer from DeMaio, and did I mention how great StoltÆs guitar playing is? Because itÆs fantastic, and despite LOVE not being the heaviest of albums it might boast some of his best guitar work in forever. ôWalls of Shameö is classic Flower Kings: beautiful melodies with a killer Hasse Fr÷berg vocal, breaks and segues and a beguiling guitar solo that almost but doesnÆt quite hide how much fun Michael Stolt is having exploring every space in the song with his bass. The keyboard work is fantastic û another huge lift over Look At You Now which was mainly Stolt doing the keyboards himself. IÆve seen some criticism over Larson not being Tomas Bodin, and well yeah: heÆs not. But like Reingold (whoÆs happy putting out his own music) I can hear Larson fitting in much more seamlessly in the band, and when he shines heÆs incredible. That leaves the closing epic ôConsiderationsö to provide maybe the biggest surprise on LOVE; itÆs written and sung by Michael Stolt, along with Jannica Lund. An epic û a closing epic (well, as epic as you can get in 10 minutes)- and itÆs not written by Roine Stolt? IÆm as shocked as anyone, and after getting used to StoltÆs much deeper voice IÆm kind of delighted by how fun it is. Maybe the most stereotypical ôprogö track on LOVE, it gets downright funky in moments, Stolt letting his guitar zip along with fun lines while Larson again stands out with his organ (ewww) and electronic flourishes and a great solo spotlight. LOVE did not need to be this good, especially 17 albums into the bandÆs career. But good it is, even great. I was honestly afraid after Look At You Now that the band might fade quietly into their twilight, but Stolt proves that quiet doesnÆt mean tired, and thereÆs still plenty of creativity and drive left. LetÆs hope it continues; in the meantime IÆm plenty happy to spin LOVE another dozen times this week.                                  ▀▀░                                                                                                                ░▄▀                                  ▄█▀                                             ░▄           ░▐███░               ▀█░▄▄▄                    ▄░       ▀█░░                      ░           ▀▀░                                         ▄  ░                                          ▄     █          ▀                 ▄              ▄█▄ ▄ ██▄         ▀░▀     ▄         ▀                ▀░▀   ▀         ▀▀████████▀░                   ▀ ▄      ░                      ░░       ░▀██▀                    ▀██▄                ▄               ▐     ░      ░  █▀▄    ▐▓▓▌   █                    ▄   ▄▄       ░                    ▄▄▌█  ▄▄▓▓▓▀  ▄                      ▄ ▀   ████      ░                   ▐███▌  ░ ░                  ▄██▀     ▄▄██▄▄           ░           ▄▄███▄▄ ▄  ▓                         ▐▓▓▌  ░   ▓████▄        ▀          ▀    ▓█████▓  ▀ ▄                           ▀▓▓▓▄▄   ▐▓███ ▌                       ▌█████      ▀██▄   ▄                ░▄  ▀▀██▄▐████ ▌▐ ▌▓                ▓▐ ▌█▓███       ▐▓▓▌ ▀░▀           █    █  ░ ░▓▐████▄▌▐ ▌▌ ▌▌▐ ▌▐▄ ▐▐·▌▌▐▐ ▐ ▄█████    ▄▄▓▓▓▀                            ▓ ▓▐████ ▌▐ ▌▌ ▌▌▐ ▌▐▐▓▐▐ ▌▌▐▐ ▐ ▌█████ ▄█▓▀▀  ▄░ ░            ▄▄▄░      ▓     ░▐████▄▌▐▄▌▌▄▌▌▐ ▌▐▐▄▐▐▄▌▄▐▐▓▐▄▌█████ ▓     █               █████      ▐▄░   ▓▐████ ▌▐ ▌▌ ▌▌▐ ▌▐▐ ▐▐ ▌▌▐▐▓▐ ▌█████   ▓░   ▄         ▐▓    █▓███░    ▓▐█░▄▄  ▐████ ▌▐ ▌▌ ▌▌▐ ▌▐█ ▐▐ ▌▌▐▐ ▐ ▌█████    ▄██▄ ▀ ▄      █▌    █████▓   ██▀█▀▀   ▐█▓██ ▌▐ ▌▌ ▌▌▐ ▌▐▐ ▐▐ ▌▌▐▐ ▐ ▌███▓█   ▐█▓██▓   ▀██▄ ▀██▀   █████▓░    ▓█▌    ▐████▓▌▐▄▌▌▄▌▌▄ ▌▐▐▄▐▐▓▌▌▐▐▄▐▄▌█████   ▐████▌    ▐▓▓▌▓█▌   ▄█▓███▄░     ▐█▄▓  ▐████ ▌▐ ▌▌ ▌▌▐ ▌▐▐ ▐▐ ▌▌▐▐ ▐ ▀█▓███   ▐████▌ ▄▄▓▓▓▀  █▓  ████████▄▄▓ ▄█████▌ ▐████ ▌▐ ▌▌ ▌▌▐ ▌▐▐ ▐▐ ▌▌▐▐▓▐ ▌█████   ▓████▌░ ▄▄   ▄▄█▄▄ ██████████████████████████████▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄     █████  ░██▓████▓██▓▓██████ █░█████▄▀█▄░████████▄▄▄▄▄██████▓████████░██████▄▄▄▄▄███████░▄██░█░█████████ ▓██▀█████▓░░ ░ ░ ░ ░ ░ ░░░▓███▓█████ ████████▓ ▓██▓▐████▓ ▓██ █░███ █░██████▓ ███▓▄▀█▓ ▓ ▓█████▓███████ ▓███ ░▄▄▄▓████▓ ▓████████▓ ▓██████▓ ▓████▓