ICS Vortex is the bassist for Borknagar (reviewed in the next issue of Muse), and also handles the bass guitar and clean vocals for Dimmu Borgir.
Storm Seeker is his first solo album, and bares very little resemblance to the abovementioned extreme acts. While not tame by any measure, the album has a far more rock-oriented outlook woven into these 11 Metal songs. With no otherworldly growls or piercing screeches (but some enthusiastic oh yeah ’s), the distinct vocal style of Mr. Vortex on its own with no extreme counterpoints kicks the gear back a notch. With contributing musicians from his two bands, you don’t get wall-to-wall intensity and wild experimentation, but rather a more widely accessible Rock swagger Metal blend.
His Norwegian roots come through in tracks like “Odin’s Tree”, but the subject matter takes on more tangible and far less mythical ideas ranging from cars to gambling(!), and closes off with a trippy, almost Jean-Michel Jarre styled synth instrumental. It may not be up the alley of ultra die-hard fans of his other projects, but loyalty is bound to win them over.
