I first discovered Gazpacho with their 2014 masterpiece Demon, and I was completely awestruck by what I heard. It was haunting, unsettling, and beautiful all at once. With the albums that came before and after, I grew to expect something interesting and unconventional, always a little different from what we usually encounter in the prog world. Now, with their 12th album Magic 8-Ball, this hidden gem of a band from Norway has once again delivered something haunting, eerie, and beautiful. But how does it measure up?
Musically, the album is unmistakably Gazpacho, filled with atmosphere, layers, and emotion. It is built around somber piano refrains and bursts of heavy distorted guitars, with vocalist Jan Henrik Ohme’s distinctive voice filling the space in that hauntingly human way only he can. It opens with the nine-minute “Starling,” a slow build of a track that gradually rises before exploding with drums around the six-minute mark. It is a gripping opener that sets the tone perfectly.
The second track and single, “We Are Strangers,” is about as close to a pop song as this band ever gets. It has a modern pulse in the verses, leading to lush harmonies in the chorus. Later, “Ceres” begins with a signature Gazpacho piano motif that feels straight out of a psychological thriller, yet this brief three-minute piece turns out to be one of the album’s more melodic and uplifting moments.
A definite highlight is the first single, “8-Ball,” with its circus-like instrumentation and hypnotic rhythm. Ohme’s lower register vocals are as distinctive as ever, and the recurring “Your Idea” refrain lingers long after the song ends.
The album closes brilliantly with two of its strongest pieces, “Immerwahr” and “Unrisen.” “Immerwahr” captivates from the first note, its chorus melody drawing you in further until it reaches an epic conclusion. “Unrisen,” by contrast, begins as a tender ballad before unfolding into a soaring finale that feels like the perfect end to the journey.
In many ways, Magic 8-Ball delivers exactly what we have come to expect from Gazpacho. They do not reinvent their sound here, but they do not need to. Their music remains distinct, immersive, and emotionally resonant, standing apart from everything else in the genre. What they do, they do brilliantly. Magic 8-Ball is a wonderful eight song collection from a band that never disappoints.
Released on October 31st, 2025
Order here: https://gazpacho.lnk.to/magic_8_ball
Gazpacho – Magic 8-Ball
1. Starling [09:12]
2. We Are Strangers [04:47]
3. Sky King [05:02]
4. Ceres [03:22]
5. Gingerbread Men [07:10]
6. Magic 8-Ball [03:10]
7. Immerwahr [07:41]
8. The Unrisen [06:12]
Jan Henrik Ohme / vocals
Thomas Alexander Andersen / keyboards, programming
Jon Arne Vilbo / guitars
Mikael Krømer / violin, guitar
Kristian “Fido” Torp / bass
Robert Risberget Johansen / drums
Add comment