Norwegian metal band, Communic, was founded in March 2003 by guitarist/vocalist Oddleif Stensland and drummer Tor Atle Andersen (both ex-Scariot). shortly after they were joined by bass player Erik Mortensen, (a former band mate of Oddleif's from Ingermanland). What started out as a project band for Oddleif and Tor Atle, was soon to become a full-fledged band, and in January 2004, the band entered dUb studio and recorded a three-track demo, distributed in only 100 copies. Shortly after (March 2004), the band hooked up with the Danish based Intromental Management. The demo was voted "demo of the month" in Rock Hard Germany, and a song from the demo was also featured on a CD sampler in German metal-magazine, Heavy Oder Was. In April 2004, Oddleif Stensland quit Scariot to fully focus on Communic. The musical style of the band is rich both in emotional depth, and musical broadness. It includes many elements from various metal genres. Catchy vocal melodies, thrilling bass and guitar lines colliding with power, thrash, progressive and a bit of doom and groovy metal.

CONSPIRACY IN MIND (2005) NUCLEAR BLAST

Communic sort of just exploded into the scene. I did not ever hear about this Norwegian band until they had their debut out on Nuclear Blast. And my interest in the band was quickly triggered for a number of reasons. 1. I always look out for Norwegian metal bands, 2. these guys got great reviews, 3. some of the members have a past in Scariot, and 4. the band was likened to Nevermore and Sanctuary! And it is a pleasure for me to announce that Norway now have yet another awesome band to contribute to the worlds metal stable. These guys can mess with the best of them, as they have delivered a debut album to be really proud of. Can they even manage to top this on later occasions? The music is filled with moods not unlike what mentioned Sanctuary and Nevermore might come up with. But I'm not sure I'd hear these comparisons as good if it hadn't been for Oddleif's voice. For some reason I also get a little King Diamond vibe here and there. But don't think for a moment that this is a copy band, because these Norwegians have found their own sound. The song structures are progressive in nature, but there is nothing overtly technical with their playing. In fact, some of the parts are surprisingly simple, borderline repetitive. There are no songs that clocks in under 6 minutes, but still none of the tracks gets boring, so the band have done a fine job in creating variations within each composition. I also love their use of harmony vocals to add depth to the vocal lines, without sounding "happy". Simply put, this is another fine addition to my collection, and you need to check it out! This goes into my top 20 list of 2005 releases.

Killer tracks: Conspiracy In Mind, History Reversed, They Feed On Our Fear, Communication Sublime, The Distance

WAVES OF VISUAL DECAY (Limited Edition) (2006) NUCLEAR BLAST

It's never easy to do a follow up to a debut that is so hyped up as 'Conspiracy In Mind' was. And to tell the truth, I was not impressed by this CD when I first put it in my player. But I've said it before, and I'll say it again here; The best albums are those that grow on you! And that is just what happened. 'Waves Of Visual Decay' is nearly as good as the debut, and it is certainly a worthy follow up. Again we get slightly technical and progressive power metal. But not the "happy" European kind. Communic are way more rooted in the American style, which means that they have their emphasis on heavy! Numbers like "Frozen Asleep In The Park" are mesmerizing, and the title track might be one of their finest compositions to date. Any way you slice it, this is yet another awesome CD! This limited edition comes with 2 demo versions of songs from the debut as bonus tracks.

Killer tracks: Frozen Asleep In The Park, Watching It All Disappear, Fooled By The Serpent, Waves Of Visual Decay

PAYMENT OF EXISTENCE (2008) NUCLEAR BLAST

Communic have come really far in their few years of existence. They have crafted their own brand of gloomy, progressive power metal. Now they are already on their difficult 3rd album, and after having hit home-runs with their first 2 efforts, one could only have high hopes for this new one.

I was also dead set on not letting any first impressions ruin my thoughts of this CD, but rather wait it out to see if it was a grower, like 'Waves Of Visual Decay' was. Turns out that 'Payment Of Existence' is probably just as good as it's 2 predecessors. It certainly holds some of the bands finest moments in compositions like the title track and "Raven's Cry". Still I can't help to feel that they could have turned it up a notch with this one. Perhaps I'm jaded, because in all fairness the boys do deliver some excellent music here, but I'm not as excited this time around. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with this album. I just feel that Communic could have taken it to the next level.

If you are new to this Norwegian band, I would recommend 'Payment Of Existence' to get to know their sound, and any long time fan will also find plenty to enjoy here too, but it will not become my favorite album of theirs.

Killer tracks: On Ancient Ground, Payment Of Existence, Raven's Cry

THE BOTTOM DEEP (Limited Edition) (2011) NUCLEAR BLAST

3 years have passed since we last heard from Communic. And while a 3 year gap between albums aren't all that drastic, the reason for this gap is! The events that went down prior to the recording of 'The Bottom Deep', Communic's 4th album, left the terms of he bands existence uncertain. With the result in hand, it's not hard to understand why.

As the title suggests, 'The Bottom Deep' is a dark album. It deals with a topic I hope most of us will never have to deal with. Nevertheless, Oddleif Stensland did, and wrote this album as a catharsis for his feelings. You see Oddleif and his wife lived though the nightmare of loosing a newborn child. And when such tragedy strikes, pretty much all else feels unimportant. So the continuation of the band was up in the air. In lack of a better term, "luckily" Oddleif opted to use what he knows best to deal with the sorrow, namely write and record music.

Thus we get 'The Bottom Deep', an album so personal, and obviously painful to create, it can only end up as a masterpiece! Don't get me wrong, I've liked all 3 prior albums from Communic. Still, 'The Bottom Deep' is in a league of it's own. First of all, the band has shed any and all similarities to other bands, and finally they have a sound all of their own. Secondly, they are simply impossible to put into any sub-genre stereotype box, but create heavy metal using large, empty canvases. Obviously the lyrics are heartfelt, and the journey this album puts you through is as fascinating as it is painful. We follow all of Oddleifs thought and emotions, be it grief, anger, loss of faith etc. All this is sung to melodies so strong, there is not a weak spot in sight. The songwriting on 'The Bottom Deep' is the best I've heard in a long time, and it will remain one of my favorite albums from 2011.

My special edition comes with a bonus track. The song in question is a cover of the Overkill classic, 'In Union We Stand'. The Japanese edition comes with a different bonus track in the Twisted Sister cover, "The Fire Still Burns". While I really dig the Overkill cover, and I'd love to hear them roar though "The Fire Still Burns", these songs doesn't really fit in with the theme of the album. I guess the most logical bonus track come as the iTunes exclusive bonus, "Hurt", a Nine Inch Nails cover. I have yet to hear this one, but my guess is that they a cover of Johnny Cash's famous cover of said song. And if that is the case, this would fit perfectly on the album. All 3 bonus tracks are tacked on the last side of the 2LP brown vinyl edition of the album.

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