Terje Gravdal doesn't mince words in his new single, "The Promised Land." B"yhood-bred in the idyllic, fjordside town of Odda, Hardanger, Gravdal trades the beauty of his surroundings for the brutalities of the present day, as the trail of his signature country-spiked soundscape takes the crowd for a ride while he throws a political rant on leadership.
With the finesse of a storyteller, Gravdal raises the titular question. Do politicians serve the people or act as well-dressed mouthpieces for corporate interests? His words are sharp but delivered with irony and a social critique. One of "The Promised Land's" boldest ideas is that politicians should wear corporate logos like race car drivers, an unapologetic demand for transparency in a world in which backroom agreements govern policies.
"The Promised Land" remains consistent with GrGravdal's signature sound, which is warm, rootsy, and unapologetically honest. His gritty but soulful delivery gives weight to the message, leading evocations of the country storytellers but feeling refreshingly relevant. The combination of classic country instrumentation and an edge of smoldering urgency gives this the retro vibe of a timeless work: A battle cry from the forgotten, directed at the people they put in office to serve them.
Terje GrGravdal's "The Promised Land" is a statement. It is a wake-up-and-speak-our-truths shout-out to anyone frustrated with contemporary politics.