INTRODUCING: Rendezvous Point

There must be something in the water in Scandinavia. By all accounts, Europe’s northernmost region seems to hold an ever-tightening vice-grip on the world’s creative industries. The likes of Denmark’s Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal) and Sweden’s Stellan Skarsgård (Game Of Thrones) are currently leading the charge into Hollywood, and the world of rock and metal music paints a similarly promising picture. From seasoned greats OPETH and MESHUGGAH to sprightly up-and-comers VOLA and HUMANITY’S LAST BREATH, the future beyond the North Sea seems bright. Oslo’s RENDEZVOUS POINT are clearly keen to maintain this upward trajectory.

Bolstered by the familiar face of drummer Baard Kolstad (LEPROUS), this is a five-piece who proudly tip the cap to a familiar, 70s-esq prog sound whilst delicately injecting a contemporary metal spin. In an ongoing crusade to stamp their authority and establish a distinct sound, the outfit have recently unhanded sophomore full-length attempt Universal Chaos, a dazzling successor to 2015’s critically acclaimed Solar Storm.

“Heavy, energetic, powerful,” says guitarist Petter Hallaråker in offering a nutshell description of the band’s sound. And frankly, he’s right on the money. RENDEZVOUS POINT effortlessly offer soaring melody, mind-bending technicality and crushing heaviness in equal measure, making for the ultimate prog-metal experience. Akin to the likes of LEPROUS, TESSERACT and HAKEN, ballad-esq clean vocals oft glide over the mix in epic fashion whilst robust, poly-rhythmic grooves form the backdrop. Factor in a handful of meandering, atmospheric sections, a dash of electronic influence, and a pinch of sheer class and attitude for good measure, and hey presto, you’ve got RENDEZVOUS POINT.

As one would typically expect from progressive music, this band offer a rich, eclectic sound, and one that can only stem from a broad canon of influence. In addition to prog metal, Hallaråker cites rock, classical, electronic, pop and even a select few hip-hop artists as areas of inspiration for the sound, and goes on to note the range of musical backgrounds among the group. He speaks of a “mutual love and appreciation” for classical music, an of a past involvement with areas such as black metal and film score work. Keyboardist Nicolay even has a history of playing with several different Norwegian pop artists. The diversity amongst this group is glaringly obvious. “The musical influence is all over the place,” Hallaråker concludes.

Despite the band’s nine-year history, it would be remiss to neglect some closer analysis of RENDEZVOUS POINT‘s current piece de resistance, Universal Chaos. Adorned with grace, groove, technicality and at times a bullish aggression, this record serves as a microcosm of prog-metal’s vast spectrum. Variety is a theme that protrudes throughout, provoking the vivid mental image of a mythical beast persistently shape-shifting and flitting from place to place in a puff of smoke. With scarcely any warning, crushing breakdowns metamorphose into heart-wrenching ballads, solo vocal sections into penetrating grooves, hook-laden choruses into dazzling guitar solos, and so on. “I feel like each song has a different mood,” says Hallaråker in another apt summary.

RENDEZVOUS POINT may have two stellar albums in the archives and a distinct, confident sound, but as we all know, ambition is the first step to success, and these guys clearly don’t plan on stopping. Hallaråker states that “playing is priority”, and he’s not kidding; the band have a slot at Dutch festival ProgPower in October, and have just been announced as openers for an extensive European run with Danish sensations VOLA, alongside English prog-fusion act ARCH ECHO. Not at all bad for a first major tour.

“We want to continue doing this, and we feel that our music has a lot of potential”, says Hallaråker in a final remark. We feel very much inclined to agree. This is an act that have imperiously marched into the scene in abrupt fashion, asserting themselves as another in a seemingly endless roster of new, aspiring progressive outfits. RENDEZVOUS POINT, whatever you’ve got up your sleeves, we’re stoked for it, and Scandinavia, whatever’s in that water, keep it comin’.

Universal Chaos is out now via Long Branch Records. 

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