Kristoffer Gildenlöw - Empty (2024) Hi-Res

Kristoffer Gildenlöw is becoming a force within progressive rock with his solo releases, I’m convinced. He is getting ready to release his fifth solo effort, this one called Empty, and it somehow feels both familiar and fresh at the same time.

Kristoffer is a veteran of the scene, from his original gig with his brother in Pain of Salvation, to his work with KAYAK, Damian Wilson, Neal Morse, and Lana Lane, to his solo efforts over the last decade. For this release, the lineup includes Kristoffer on vocals and most instruments, and also guest musicians Dirk Bruinenberg and Jeroen Molenaar on drums, Joris Lindner on drums and Hammond organ, Paul Coenradie, Marcel Singor, and Patrick Drabe on guitar solos, Ola Sjönneby on brass, Ben Mathot on violin, Anne Bakker on violin and viola, Maaike Peterse on cello, and Jan Willem Ketelaers and Erna Auf der Haar on backing vocals.

Notice the three guest musicians who recorded guitar solos? This album is something of a departure from his other works in that it has upbeat sections and driving rock portions, and especially emotional and confident guitar solos. There are many of them, and it is definitely one of the highlights of the record for me. Still, Kristoffer’s dark, emotional, and almost Gothic signature sounds are still here, too, which makes the album all the more interesting because of the sheer contrasts in play. You’ll also notice a certain Pink Floyd influence on this album, which isn’t the norm for Kristoffer’s solo works, so it has to be deliberate.