Most albums that take a decade to make either collapse under their own pretension or drown in overproduction. But Simeon Kirkegaard‘s “*” (Asterisk) isn’t most albums. 10 tracks of pure, raw drive that’ll make your speakers beg for mercy. It’s indie-rock grit meets orchestral bombast, and it’s not here to play. Recorded in some of Ireland’s coolest studios—Westland, Orphan, and The Meadow—and given that extra polish (mixed in LA by Benny Steele, mastered at Abbey Road), * is a freaking earthquake in musical form.
Kirkegaard, a Norwegian-Danish maestro and architect (literally—he designs buildings and music), isn’t joking. His sophomore LP slaps you awake with opener “Fever,” a track that roars to life like a runaway train. Imagine Oasis colliding with Radiohead, then singing out loud.
But here’s the kicker: * declines to sit still. Just once you feel you’ve got it guessed out, “Wave After Wave” comes in with this massive orchestral pop vibe. Thank Fiachra Trench for that – the guy who’s worked with McCartney and Zimmer. Suddenly, you’re not just hearing the music; you’re feeling it in your bones. Trench’s work isn’t just icing on the cake – it’s the whole damn bakery. It turns tracks like “Here I Stand” into these epic, goosebump-inducing experiences that wouldn’t be out of place in a Tarantino flick.
Let’s break some tracks down so you can grasp the concept:
- “Fever”: The album’s snarling opener. Fuzzy guitars, ghostly harmonies, and a rhythm section that doesn’t quit. Kirkegaard’s voice teeters between “I’m so done” and “Come at me, bro,” setting the tone for an album that’s as restless as its creator.
- “Black Dog”: A slow-burner with chiming guitars and hypnosis. It’s the kind of song that worms its way into your head and sets up camp. Shows Kirkegaard can do intimate just as well as he does chaos. Props for keeping it old school and recording solo, just like back in the day.
- “Here I Stand”: The emotional nucleus. Stripped to bass (courtesy of Bush’s Corey Britz), drums (Nate Barnes), and guitars, this track is all muscle and marrow. Kirkegaard’s lyrics here—raw, direct, and dripping with factual fatigue—hit like a punch to the belly. “Every night I see your face inside my dreams…” Yeah, we’ve all been there.
- “If Only”: The closer starts off all quiet and acoustic before blasting into this enormous wall of noise. You’ve got these ghostly background vocals, drums that’ll rattle your teeth, and guitars escalating off into space. It’s the perfect way to wrap up an album that refuses to go out with a whimper.
After his debut LP—a solo affair—he enlisted an army of over 50 musicians for *, including Dublin producer Gavin Glass, who bluntly told him to rewrite half the lyrics (and saved the project from oblivion). Co-producer Alwyn Walker laid the groundwork at Westland Studios, a now-shuttered icon whose SSL desk left an indelible mark on the album’s DNA. That place might be gone now, but its soul is all over this record. But here’s the kicker: For all the orchestral pomp and guest talent, * never loses its edge. Tracks like “Taken By You” hit you with that resolute Americana vibe, while “Ocean Life Living” is like an upsurge of guitar that’ll knock you on your backside.
Let’s get real: * is Kirkegaard spilling his guts. Written between his 30s and 40s, it’s a way of mining deep into all the chaotic stuff – love, heartbreak, and those 3 AM thoughts that make you question everything. Tracks like “Black Dog” and “Here I Stand” are like diary entries from a man rebuilding himself piece by piece. And yet, for all its introspection, the album never wallows. Even when it gets dark, there’s this “screw you, I’m still standing” boldness that gleams over.
Simeon Kirkegaard didn’t make * to please some faceless streaming algorithm. He made it for the lifers—the ones who still believe rock can be both smart AND kick ass, who want music that sticks and riffs that’ll melt faces. It’s an album that needs patience (hell, it took him 10 years), but every second pays off. From the Westland Studios’ SSL grind to Abbey Road’s polished sheen, this is a record that earns its ambition.
So play this album loud. Let “Fever” shake your walls, let “Wave After Wave” drown you in strings, and let “If Only” remind you why rock ’n’ roll still matters. Simeon Kirkegaard is a member of the remaining upholders of true rock music, and in 2025, we need that more than ever. Listen to * (Asterisk) on Bandcamp, Spotify, and wherever else you get your fix. Vinyl pre-orders (limited to 100 copies) are live now—act fast or regret it forever.