| Musical Style: Melodic Metal | Produced By: CJ Grimmark |
| Record Label: Sound Pollution | Country Of Origin: Sweden |
| Year Released: 2026 | Artist Website: Narnia |
| Tracks: 10 | Rating: 95% |
| Running Time: 42:39 |
While its neo-classical aptitude, melodic metal inclining and progressive undertones check the right boxes, it’s the virtuoso guitar playing of Carl Johan Grimmark and accomplished vocal abilities to Christian Liljegren that elevates Sweden’s Narnia above the competition. The talented duo might have explored neo-classical territory on inaugural Narnia releases Awakening (1998) and Long Live The King (1999) but reinforced the greater progressive affinity on turn of the century albums Desert Land (2001), The Great Fall (2003) and Enter The Gate (2006). Subsequent to the Germán Pascual fronted melodic metal to Course Of A Generation (2009), Narnia maintained a similar musical bearing with Liljegren returning for Narnia (2016) and Ghost Town (2023) only to take a more progressive direction in between for Angelic Warlord album of the year recipient From Darkness To Light (2019).
Aptly entitled Sound Pollution May of 2026 Narnia tenth album X succeeds from musically drawing upon all eras of the groups history. It bases upon a framework of catchy melodic metal, distinguishing how X features some of Narnia’s strongest choruses and most uplifting melodies to date. Yet, it does not forsake the intricate progressive aesthetics innate to the group’s songwriting not to mention the foundational neo-classical underpinnings. Where X stands apart and lends a further dimension to the Narnia sound is manner in which joining Liljegren on lead vocals is Grimmark (helping front two tracks) and bassist Jonatan Jono Samuelsson (two others).
First half to X reveals the melodic side to the Narnia songwriting beginning with standout opening track “Like A Thief In The Night”. Song embodies inspiring tempo manifest, identifying the electrifying meld of emboldened guitars and gleaming keyboards that enliven the unquestionable hooks to hold sway. Liljegren ascends with his signature hearty and mid-ranged vocal delivery.
“Oceanwide” follows suite in similar invigorated form. With a quick drum solo to start, song glimmers through its initial verse sections with rhythm guitar at a reduced position in the mix only to burst forth as guitar recoils to buttress the exhilaratingly catchy ‘Your love is ocean wide , Your mercy higher than the tide’ refrain. I take to manner in which organ helps adorn the instrumental moments. Lyric snippet:
In this day
We’re standing firm
Lord, I need You more than ever
To reveal to me, the truth again
Your love is ocean wide
Your mercy higher than the tide
Your love is ocean wide
And I… I’m by your side
“Heavens Calling” begins to the voice of a preacher narrating from Matthew 24:30. It proves heavier than the preceding two, realizing the mountainous guitar mix and darker manifesting found in the deeply woven backing vocals, but fails to forsake the enticing allure, noting how the technical melody stays true to the incontestable themes. I detect a hint of the classic Rob Rock cut “The Revelation” (off Holy Hell from 2005).
“Walk On Water” represents another in a line of equally good songs to open the album. I find it to take an added symphonic approach realized in the glistening keyboards, while retaining the teeming heavier instincts and overriding hook driven basis. The catchy riffs are borderline infectious. Lyric snippet:
Walk by faith
Not by sight
That’s my written word in black and white
When You say: ‘Come!’
I will walk on water
You lift me up
As the flood pulls me down
Walk on water
You called me out to sea
Album takes a turn towards the progressive with the incomparable “God Under Fire”. Song proves a centerpiece for Grimmark’s shredding abilities, as found in the hyper-intensive opening and closing Impellitteri like lead guitar runs. It also allows him to exhibit his smoothly middle register vocal style, pointing to the powering verse sections, alongside those more soaring from Liljegren, exhibiting his full range for the regal, medieval tinged refrain. Not so much albums best song but rather one of my all time Narnia favorites.
“Remedy (SOS)” ups aggression to a speed based bearing. It does so by taking a duet approach, with Samuelsson’s rough and tumble lower register voice almost allowing a folk metal touch, which due to contrasting with Liljegren’s higher register flair evokes images of Sacred Warrior’s “The Flood” (off Master’s Command from 1989). In the end, what we have is a strong statement of creativity on Narnia’s part. Lyric snippet:
You breathe Your life into me
You see beyond my pride
In my desperation I cry to You
You see the beauty of a broken man
Willing to kneel, beginning to heal
Your love is breaking me down
Melted a heart of stone
When You saved my soul
“Jerusalem” is another top cut. Song finds Narnia exploring its symphonic power metal side, indicating the exquisite keyboards of Martin Härenstam, while retaining the commercial touches, I also detect a catchy eighties hard rock slanting indicative of Stryper. Of equal note are Anders Köllerfors creative drum rolls and fills lending to the song a technical element.
“Every Breath” rates with albums heaviest, embodying a straight on metal form as not the most intricate or complex but essential all the same. Liljegren lends some fitting earthy gravel to his delivery, while periodic harsh backing vocals allow a firmer edge. All the excited guitar riffs you could ask round things out. As for Grimmark’s extended stretch of rousing lead guitar, I do not know if Heaven’s Metal still gives out an annual ‘guitar hero’ award, but Grimmark is more than deserving. Lyric snippet:
Every breath, I give to You
All I am belongs to You
Jesus Christ, You are my everything
Every breath, I give to You
All I am belongs to You
You wore my shame under a crown of thorns
You turn my weakness,
By Your mercy, into strength
Narnia takes a ‘throwback’ approach with “The War That Tore The Land (Reprise)”, which pays tribute to the From Darkness To Light track “The War That Tore The Land”. As its ‘reprise’ namesake implies, the X rendering is an abbreviated version that while staying true to the melody to the original, allows Grimmark to highlight his bluesy if not moving licks and chops to extent Pink Floyd comes to mind. Lone complaint is I wish Narnia had carried it out an extra minute or two.
Album closes to seven-minute progressive rock magnum opus “The Man From Nazareth Pt. II”. As a sequel to the standout Enter The Gate track “The Man From Nazareth”, song takes a similar slow and emotional but abundantly melody filled veering, emanating of piano, classic keyboards and guitar ranging from atmospheric to staunch as Grimmark and Liljegren trade vocally. In the end, what we have is a song of the year contender. Lyric snippet:
They put You in a tomb
To keep You locked up with the dead
They put a guard outside the door
Little did they realize that You would rise, as it was foretold
Go into the world
And proclaim the news all over the land
Now and forever, let the Kingdom come for all to see
In my opinion, X ranks alongside Enter The Gate and From Darkness To Light as Narnia’s finest. All the ingredients are in place for musical greatness: melodic songwriting skirting the complex and technical, varied but complementary vocals and superlative musicianship, with point being there is more to Narnia than Grimmark and Liljegren in that cohorts Köllerfors, Härenstam and Samuelsson also put in top performances. Fans of Narnia or any combining of melodic, power and progressive metal would be well served to make X a priority purchase.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Like A Thief In The Night” (3:41), “Oceanwide” (3:46), “Heavens Calling” (4:24), “Walk On Water” (4:03), “God Under Fire” (4:22), “Remedy (SOS)” (4:09), “Jerusalem” (4:49), “Every Breath” (4:21), “The War That Tore The Land (Reprise)” (2:15), “The Man From Nazareth Pt. II” (6:47)
Musicians
Christian Liljegren - Lead Vocals
CJ Grimmark - Guitars
Jonatan Jono Samuelsson - Bass
Martin Härenstam - Keyboards
Anders Köllerfors - Drums
