Following in the wake of Flown, their critically acclaimed 2020 debut album, Norwegian art rockers Dim Gray return with its follow-up, Firmament, this September. The album will be released on English Electric Recordings, the label run by UK prog titans Big Big Train.

Consisting of twelve direct, vivid and melody-driven songs, it is a record bursting with life and colour, making for an engaging and constantly surprising journey as it weaves a route from strings-infused chamber pop, through evocative indie-folk and lush electronics and into grandiose art rock. 

Thematically, Dim Gray further explore the landscape of loneliness and melancholy that was introduced on Flown, but this time those sensations are contextualised in the depressions of the modern world juxtaposed against romanticised ideas of "simpler times" through childhood memories interspersed with myths and superstition.

Dim Gray incorporate elements from folk music into a forward-thinking aesthetic. A wide and ever-changing palette of sounds and ideas is rooted in the constants of aching vocals and subtly reverbed guitars.

The trio who form Dim Gray come from three different places—musically and geographically. Håkon Høiberg, Oskar Holldorff and Tom Ian Klungland all moved to Oslo in 2012. The three members have contrasting musical backgrounds in genres as diverse as black metal, prog, blues, folk and film music, but in fusing these together they began to develop something distinctive and unique.

The band released their debut album Flown in 2020, a concept record with intertwining songs structured like one continuous story. The album relates a vivid tale of loss and loneliness that constantly twists and turns, with intimate and spatial moments offset with massive and colourful soundscapes.

‘Elegiac and beautifully dense post-prog from Norway’ – Prog

‘Well-written and superbly performed material that stays with you’ – Guitarist

Meridian

Firmament

Iron Henry

Cannons

My Barren Road

Long Ago

Abalus | In Time

Mare

Alternative rock band Dim Gray join forces with indie pop singer and fellow Norwegian Vaarin on the song Myopia. Vaarin’s captivating voice interweaves with organic elements like cello and piano, set against a backdrop of pulsating synths and electronic drums. The result is a cinematic and atmospheric chamber pop track that invites the listener into an immersive sonic landscape.

Dim Gray singer Oskar says: “We are thrilled to feature Vaarin on Myopia. She’s an incredibly talented and interesting artist, and took ownership of the song from the first note. Her voice is full of suspense, which really underlines the drama and emotion in Myopia. It’s a song about echo chambers and tunnel vision; about tearing down something that belongs to someone else in order to build something in one's own image.” 

Vaarin adds: “The first time I heard Myopia I felt as if drawn into a mystical spell. The string arrangement, drums and melody made me think of infinity and a battle scene between man and nature. Being allowed to sing on this song is a great honour for me and I felt at home with the song from the very beginning. The mystery and emotion of the song touched my heart and my voice felt like a natural part of the spirit of the song. I hope the listener hears it the same way I do. Dim Gray is a group of inspiring musical chefs who create unique things. I am lucky to be a part of their world.”

Myopia is part of Dim Gray’s third studio album, Shards, which will be released on February 28. Two weeks later, Vaarin’s third album, Heading Home, will also be available.

Dim Gray is a five-piece from Oslo consisting of Oskar Holldorff (vocals, keys), Håkon Høiberg (guitar, vocals), Tom Ian Klungland (drums), Milad Amouzegar (guitars, keys) and Kristian Kvaksrud (bass). Hailed by Guitarist as “Superbly performed material that stays with you”, Dim Gray’s sound merges folk influences with a forward-thinking aesthetic, evoking a blend of Radiohead’s experimental edge and Fleet Foxes’ pastoral warmth. A wide and ever-changing palette of sounds and ideas is rooted in the constants of aching vocals and echoing guitar melodies. The quintet explores themes of nature, isolation, and self-reflection through richly layered instrumentation and vivid storytelling. The band have established a strong live presence, as per their recent live EP, and have thrilled audiences while supporting renowned acts like Marillion and Big Big Train.

Vaarin is an indie pop, folk and jazz artist from Hokksund, Norway. She was A-listed on national radio with her hit Lovers In Memory and has supported artists such as AURORA, Bel Canto, Darling West, Valkyrien Allstars and Fay Wildhagen. Vaarin has been referred to as Norway's answer to Tori Amos and Agnes Obel.

Myopia

‘Elegiac and beautifully dense post-prog from Norway.’  – Prog (UK)
‘Masterpiece. 6/6, Norwegian Album of the Year.’ – Disharmoni (NO)
‘The dream debut that every band hopes for and that few bands are capable of.’ – iO Pages (NL)
‘I cannot remember having heard a stronger debut album. Revelation of the Year.’ – NRK ProgLogg (NO)
‘A better debut could not have been hoped for. 10/10.’ – Musipedia of Metal (UK)

Oslo-based art rockers Dim Gray play melody-driven songs in a post-progressive vein, incorporating elements from folk music into a forward-thinking aesthetic that results in a hauntingly evocative sound. A wide and sophisticated palette of sounds and ideas is rooted in yearning vocals and subtly reverbed guitars.

The trio who form Dim Gray came from different places, both musically and geographically, with all three - Håkon Høiberg, Oskar Holldorff and Tom Ian Klungland - moving from different parts of Norway to its capital city in 2012 to continue their studies. Having found each other, they soon began playing together. The three members have contrasting musical backgrounds in genres as diverse as black metal, progressive rock, blues, folk and film music, but in fusing these together they began to develop something distinctive and unique. 

2020 saw the band issue the songs ‘Ráth', ‘Again', 'Light Anew' and ‘Ouroboros' prior to a digital only debut album entitled Flown in the summer. A concept record with intertwining songs structured like one continuous story, the album relates a vivid tale of loss and loneliness that constantly twists and turns, with intimate and spatial moments offset with massive and colourful soundscapes. Describing their lyrical approach, the band explain that “rather than tell a linear story, we attempted to structure it as a circular narrative, with the protagonist trapped in a downward spiral, a vicious cycle without a clear beginning or ending. The story can be interpreted in various ways, but the lyrical themes remain centred around loss, longing and loneliness, and the psychological toll these feelings can take on a person.”

Musically, Flown weaves a route from strings-infused chamber pop, through dark indie folk and into grandiose art rock. It is an ambitious musical statement that will appeal to fans of artists such as Radiohead, Fleet Foxes, Steven Wilson, Sigur Rós and Susanne Sundfør.

Flown was released on double vinyl and CD 25 June. The band is currently in the final stages of recording their sophomore album, to be released in the spring of 2022.


Dim Gray are:
Håkon Høiberg—guitars, vocals
Oskar Holldorff—vocals, keyboards
Tom Ian Klungland—drums, vocals

Dim Gray

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