Progressive Rock
Clive Nolan, keyboardist and composer known for his work with Arena, Pendragon and Shadowland, has released “The Woman from Varteig”, a new preview of “Song Of The Winter Throne: The Saga Of Håkon Håkonsson”, his forthcoming concept album. The track’s guest vocal comes from Christina Booth, singer of Magenta. The album comes out on 2 October through We Låve Rock and Oskar Music.
The album narrates the saga of Håkon Håkonsson, one of the most significant figures in medieval Norway, with episodes of conflict, power, loyalty and dynastic legacy. “The Woman from Varteig” gives voice, fittingly, to Inga of Varteig, the king’s mother and the subject of the track that bears her name, the second of fourteen tracks in total (with eleven additional tracks on the 2CD+DVD earbook edition). Musically, Nolan combines progressive rock, folk, orchestral film music and symphonic elements, continuing the direction he already explored on “Song Of The Wildlands” (2021), his previous work rooted in Nordic themes.
Ahead of the official release, Nolan will premiere material from the album live on 25 and 26 September, at the “Music at the Mead Hall 5” festival. The earbook edition will include, besides the additional disc of bonus tracks, the documentary “Forging the Winter Throne: The Making of the Album”.
Nolan is one of the most prolific figures in British progressive rock today, with a long career as keyboardist and composer in Arena, Pendragon and Shadowland, alongside his many solo concept works. Christina Booth, for her part, has been the voice of Magenta since the Welsh band formed in 2001.
Text by Guillem Cardós