And welcome to Day number two in our Christmas Calendar countdown bonanza! Today the winds grow slightly colder as we move to the picturesque country of Iceland…

Agent Fresco – Destrier 

Similar to its beautiful landscape progressive rockers Agent Fresco have single handedly created one of the most innovative and emotionally engaging albums of the year. Detailing singer Arnor Dan Arnorson‘s coming to terms with an unprovoked incident the record is painfully honest. Owing to the singer’s beautiful voice Destrier pulls not only at the heartstrings but the aural strings. Bringing cohorts Vignir, Toti and Hrafnkell along for the ride the band have synthesised genre spanning music without pigeonholing themselves.

Peaks and troughs of emotion highlight the album’s sense of being. Piercing through the often cynical facade of the Metal head “Wait For Me” lends itself to piano pieces and melancholy. The beautiful and complex understanding of “Howls” a personal favourite of the year showing the cries of a wounded being to headstrong singles “Dark Water” and “See Hell” brings the album together. Combining both the emotional range and musical composition the album is an absolute masterstroke. As horrific as the events might have been have led to one of the most honest, bare and real listens in years. With the band having just finished a fantastic debut UK tour an incredibly positive outcome for the the most humble of bands. A beautiful fluctuation of the musical soul.

If you gushed as much about Agent Fresco as I have then you can pick up the record here!