Review By Skid
Rockheim is the Norwegian National museum of music situated in Trondheim which exhibits the countries Hall of fame. The vast majority of the inductees are lesser known outside the Nordic region, the two exceptions are the 80’s pop icons A-HA and hometown rock hero’s TNT and it was from here that this album was recorded by the band who also call the city home.
The Golden Leaves are a band with a distinct and intriguing sound, blending influences from both classic and contemporary rock while maintaining their own unique identity. The new live album Still Dancing, Still Screaming, Still Alive seems to be an impressive achievement for a band still relatively early in their career, showcasing their growth and confidence on stage.
It’s particularly striking how the album can balance both the raw energy of a live performance with a crisp, professional production. It seems like they’ve managed to capture that “live” feeling—crowd interaction, authenticity—while avoiding common pitfalls like overproduction that can stifle the rawness of a concert album, that balance is key to preserving the integrity of the live experience, and it worked. The concert comes in at 80 minutes long consisting of 19 original tracks taken from both their long players, the 2019 debut “City Lights” and semaphore 2023 “Rebel, Saints and Villains” as well as cherry picking from their EPs and singles, albeit missing out the classy “Villain”.
David Nikolaisen’s vocal performance is a standout, especially considering that all bar one of the songs are in English, which isn’t their native language. That level of fluency and expression really adds to the overall impact of the album, as it showcases a level of mastery that might not be expected from a non-native English band.
However the lasting impression is twofold, firstly the punchy tightness of the rhythm section which holds the band together like local honey , but secondly and the jewel in this crown is the outstanding guitar work of Javier Campos with his ability to mix brutality with tenderness shows a sophisticated level of artistry and it’s clear that his contributions are central to the band’s sound that’s often rare in younger rock bands.
As for the question of whether this album could catch on internationally, it certainly seems like it has potential. Their mix of accessible rock elements (like U2’s anthem-like qualities and Muse’s grandiose sound) combined with a more raw, gritty edge suggests they could appeal to a broad audience. I still stand by my initial comment as it being a bold move so early in their career, but it is another strong addition to their CV and stands shoulder to shoulder with their other studio records.
Still dancing, still screaming, still alive is in my mind the best live album released within the past five or so years and as such this is a tribute to a band who have shown they are capable and deserving of a crack at the world stage. If they continue to develop their sound and presence, they might find a way to break through into the global market, for which I am sure they are eager and ready.
On a final note, the Norse god Bragi, associated with poetry, eloquence and music would be proud as this is a phenomenal live record, and I have no doubt that The Golden Leaves will be added into the Rockheim Hall of Fame in later years.
There is also a Youtube link to the concert video
The Golden Leaves:
Lead Vocal – David Nikolaisen
Lead Guitar/piano – Javier Nicolas Campos
Rythm Guitar – Ole Petter Høeg Bøe
Bass – Ådne Gerhardsen
Drums – Lars Martin Sollie
Keys/backing vocal/3rd guitar – Johan Breivik
Backup singers
Anita Haglund /w guitar
Benedikte Kornelia Hegset
Ida Graae /violin
Track List
- Intro
- Monster
- Speak of the devil
- Rebel
- Goodbye Blackbird
- Lights out
- My last cigarette
- Angel eyes
- The fall
- Insomnia
- I Fremmed Skog
- Remember me
- Higher than ever
- Somebody
- Invite me
- Lemon
- Overexposed
- Rebel, saint and Sinner
- Time is dancing
- Dancing
Rating – 11/10
Skid
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