The Quill In Triumph

2006, Yes, it's a bold statement, but one that Swedish four-piece The Quill is not afraid of making. Based out of the coastal town of Mönsterås those guys have payed their dues and then some. The core members - vocalist Magnus Ekwall, guitarist Christian Carlsson and drummer Jolle Atlagic - have been playing together since the early nineties. The band eventually became The Quill and in 1995 released its self-titled debut, to much critical acclaim.
For the fifth album - the third for SPV/Steamhammer - The Quill decided to record in Area 51 Studios in Celle, Germany, using the skills of acclaimed producer Tommy Newton (UFO, Helloween, Victory etc.). Sound-wise, the intention was to go for clarity and a less is more approach. With the music, The Quill wanted to write straight-forward songs. That sometimes meant using ideas that previously might have been thrown away, deemed too "obvious".
The result is a revelation. "In Triumph" charges out of the speakers and rocks with new-found conviction. After a psychedelic build-up, opener "Keep The Circle Whole" challenges Audioslave for groove power and a song like "Trespass" just might be the most ass-kicking tune The Quill have recorded so far. Not sacrificing its grandeur, the band excels in "Black", an Eastern flavoured epic that brings both Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple to mind. It's one of the highlights of an album that's sure to expand the "classic The Quill songs" catalogue.