On their first album of new material in four years, this Swedish
band continues to reinforce the relevance of classic rock. If The Who
had been as metaphysically inclined as The Moody Blues, this might have
resulted. First impressions of Communion may be dominated by the
eerily smiling consumers on the liner. Once you’ve heard the music,
they look like zombies. “Killing machines are born to stay fueled” keys
the storm that is “Ra 88” (radium). “Second Life Replay,” sweetened by
harpsichord, describes time in limbo as a commodity. While “Flipside”
plays on fear, it raises the spirit for future battles. Even at 24
tracks, Communion leaves me hungry for more.
This article appears in Apr 2-8, 2009.