Apollon
Question. Have you ever wondered what cabaret performed at the brink of societal collapse would sound like? Yeah, me too. Something like Norwegian band Major Parkinson’s new album “Valesa – Chapter II: Viva the Apocalypse!”. While the first chapter, “Valesa – Chapter I: Velvet Prison” from 2022 was the opening act of a strange and glamourous theatrical universe, the story is now escalated into something louder, darker, and far more unhinged and visceral.
The album was largely recorded live with the musicians playing together, which gives the songs a slightly feral energy. Horn sections, dual vocal lines, and thick rhythmic grooves make the music feel theatrical yet immediate, as though it’s unfolding on stage in front of you. The band’s signature blend—art-pop, psychedelic rock, and progressive theatrics remains intact, with an added dash of catchy hooks and dramatic crescendos. Vocalist Jon Ivar Kollbotn’s deep and dark voice is utterly captivating.
The album opens with a short but punchy introduction/overture, “Elevator Pitch”, that feels like the curtain rising on a bizarre stage show, creating a sense of chaos and anticipation that remains with you throughout the record. The album’s nine tracks unfold like scenes in a musical about fame and delusion. Although the music is hard to categorise, it’s not long before rock elements kick in, such as the guitar work on 80s tinged “Showbiz”, one of the album’s more accessible tracks.
Another question. Have you ever had a “superdad vasectomy?” No, me neither. “Superdad” is one of the strangest pieces on the record, part comedy, part tragedy, swinging between playful grooves and darker passages, giving it a slightly unsettling vibe. A mid-album highlight is the record’s centrepiece, the title track “Viva the Apocalypse!”. It’s a euphoric, horn-driven dance number that celebrates chaos with a twisted grin and a propulsive rhythm that turns the concept of global collapse into a carnival-like celebration.
The nine minute “Karma Supernova” is also a stand out track, and stretches into prog-rock territory with shifting dynamics and layered instrumentation. The track expands in multiple movements, quiet tension building into explosive climaxes. Sondre Veland’s drumming is particularly powerful. From that intensity, the album finishes with a couple of lighter pop songs, “Maybelline” and the romantic, lush curtain call “Kiss Me Now!”. The apocalypse, it seems, does not finish with a bang. The madness of the changing dynamics is clearly intentional. The band understands spectacle: dramatic builds, gospel-like backing vocals, and brassy flourishes create the sensation of a grand production.
Last question. Would you dance at the end of the world? If this was the soundtrack, I would. Flamboyant and entertaining, Major Parkinson have delivered a wild, decadent art-pop-rock spectacle that proves the apocalypse can be strangely joyous. 5/6
5/6 | Anne-Marie Forker
Release date: 13 March 2026
*Release concert on 13 March at Vulkan Arena! Tickets here.