Ole Anders Winge Walseth – Borodino 1812
Ole Anders Winge Walseth (OAWW).
An epic name tied to an epic new EP – Borodino 1812, a six-song offering that feels like a clarion call for war. Even just the mention of “1812” evokes images and feelings of a battle long since past, and OAWW brings it to life with a passionate blend of alt rock and metal. Written over the course of 8 years (2017-2025), Anders Winge Walseth and Erlend Naalsund teamed up to write the majority of this Norwegian rock EP, with the exception of “Death on the Horizon” and “Ocean Liners,” which come straight from OAWW’s brain.
We’d be remiss without starting with the title-track and opening track, “Borodino 1812.” Through epic guitars, snarling vocals, and a 5+ minute runtime, the band delves into a powerful soundscape that copes with themes of conflict, valor, and what it truly means to be “human.” These themes can be found across the rest of the album too… “Steel Sky” opens with a chest-thumping prog rock intro, layering soaring guitars that squeal with pinch harmonics, Rush-like splashes of synth leads, and epic drum slamming that feels like a headlong rush into the thick of it, whatever “it” may be in this scenario. “Midnight turns the rain like steel / the shadows roar / the feelings strong,” OAWW sings, ramping our emotions with viking-like mantras.
Elsewhere, “Death on the Horizon” reads like Bon Jovi-meets-Alice in Chains, utilizing chiming acoustic guitar to great effect. When OAWW culminates in an “Ai-ai-ai-ayyy” call, it feels more poignant than powerful, but still has that adrenaline-surge-inducing primality (more of this acoustic-driven energy found on “Ocean Liners,” later, as well). “Envision” steers back into electric territory, but keeps a mid-tempo energy that pairs perfectly with its predecessor, especially with the syncopated hits that smash mid-song.
By the time you’re blasting through the high octane closer “Sachenring Trabant 601,” you’ll be adding Borodino 1812 to your hype-up playlist… Or at the very least, your workout jams. The album is available now (October 1st, 2025) – check it out below.
Categorised in: Album Reviews
This post was written by Nick Sessanna