Reviews on Walle Gnav:

“ Tumult is a straight folk-rock band with fiddle, electric guitar, bass, and drums. It’s first release, Wallegnav, is a collection of four traditional Danish songs and seven instrumental pieces that also show a strong traditional influence and were written by the fiddler/vocalist Jørgen Dickmeiss. Guitarist Thomas Kristoffersen plays some decidedly unfolky lead guitar runs, and the bass and drums avoid falling into a folk-rock rut. The music is well played and nicely melodic, and the band’s underlying sense of humor keeps things from becoming too heavyhanded. It has a fun sound that should appeal to anyone who likes their folk music loud and playful.”
Dirty linen December 2001 by Jim Lee (Simi Valley, CA)

“ Tumult is from the city of Odense on Funen, the Danish Island between the mainland and the island which holds Copenhagen. Hatched in 1999, this ensemble of a traditional fiddler and singer and three rock musicians is emerging as a fine 'heavy traditional' band. Wallegnav is a skillful, differential mix of traditional lyrics and traditional-style original folk tunes, heavy rock, and just enough good natured jazz. Most of the traditional music is Scandinavian, much the same style as one would hear across that big bridge to Malmo, but some is the legacy of the many Scottish and Irish touring bands that have invaded the continent; as a reference point Tumult could be called three quarters Hoven Droven, one quarter Shooglenifty. The mix is smoother than that of Hoven Droven, and on some tracks the Polka Steady vocals of fiddler-composer Jorgan Dickmeiss can be heard instead of only tunes devoid of human voice.
Though an album of several moods, in its shining "heavy" moments Wallegnav is an interplay between Dickmeiss' bright-eyed traditional fiddle and a barrage of metallic bassline Kristian Lassen), simmering blues rock guitar (Thomas Kristofferson), and insistent drumming (Lars Frimodt-Møller. Tumult
may start out like Iron Maiden for a few bars, but the fiddle always wins. The album begins in this manner with two tracks: "The Husband and the Wife," with humorous traditional lyrics (in Danish), and the instrumental "Wallegnav." In between these and an ending synthesizer infused slow Zealand traditional song ("The Love Song") are Celtic dance tunes, waltzes, and more hard rock-trad fusion with a slight Scottish lilt. A high point of the album is "The Unique" a funky mildly off tempo and discordant rocker, injected with an exotic jam.”
RootsWorld Bulletin #165, april 2001 (internetmagasin about world-/folk-music with more than 100.000 hits a day) By JUDITH GENNETT

“ New and refreshing folk music from a team of experienced musicians. Tumult is, according to themselves playing Folk-Rock-Trash, which I might say is a very precise definition of their music. Tumult is most certainly not afraid of exploring different genres, but they always make sure to keep the integrity of folk music centered.
An exiting crossover between, traditional Danish folk music, and young potent punk rock.”
Musikeren (Danish magasine for organized musicians) Nr. 4. april 2001 by Troels Skjærbæk

“ The Danish band Tumult, is making its debut with this cd containing a exciting mixture of true rock’n roll and sensible folk music.
The title of the cd refers to a person who lived about 100 years ago, at the country side of Viborg - who went by the name Walle Gnav (apparently he was a grumbler).
On the 11 tracks of the cd you can hear Jørgen Dickmeiss (fiddle, viola, song, bodhran, acordion), Thomas Kristoffersen (acoustic and electric guitars), Lars Frimodt Møller (drums and percussion), Kasper Lauersen Christensen (bass) and Kristian Lassen (bass).
The cd is mainly carried by Jørgen Dickmeiss with cheerful song and good fiddling, and to whom most of the writers credits goes. However in the booklet (which I almost had to use a magnifying glass to read!) some pretty precise definitions have been made about who must be credited with tune and music - which bears witness of serious teamwork in the band.
You will not find a lot of traditional stuff in the tracks, but the intention was never to pass on the traditions of folk music anyway. Whereas in folk-fusion, or folk-rock or whatever you might call it, there often prevails a less secure and less loving relation to the rhythmic part of folk music, Jørgen Dickmeiss and Tumult has most certainly a firm grasp on both musical styles. And where folk music cd’s are often based on a random presentation of different tunes, the compositions on this cd really compliment each other as a connected whole. Maybe that is the reason why this cd stands out as being uncommonly secure, and consistent.
I had to adapt a bit to the style of the music - and to the boyish way of Dickmeiss’ singing. I also had to get over the fact that these young musicians are really lashing out at the traditions of folk music on the behalf of rock! But my respect grew as I realized that a whole lot of discipline must have lain behind the relaxed end product, and the self secure landing - that the band has done with this remarkable album, which is indeed marked by an unfailing sense style.
A fine cd for the young folk music scene, and a well-directed kick in the butt, for the conservatives and other grumblers who are only ready to accept folk music in its traditional form.”
Folk & Musik (Danish leading folk-music magasine) August 2001 by Michael Sommer

“ If you look in the bible of worldmusic , The Rough Guide, Denmark appears to be an underdeveloped country concerning worldmusic, where nothing has happened since the fiddler Evald Thomsen (who died in the 1980´ties). It is a pity, cause recently an explosion has occured with the record-company Go´Music as pivotal point and promising artists as Serras, Haugaard & Høirup, Fenja Menja and many more. Here is an excellent CD with sparkling violin playing in the foreground of a band rooted in a heavy rock sound – played lightly, playfully and elegantly. The fiddler is called Jørgen Dickmeiss and he is challenged in an exciting way by the guitarist Thomas Kristoffersen, who plays a juicy rockguitar, who plays with folk-chordshifts so you almost get a flashback of schottish Big Country or english Oysterband. Still Tumult’s music has a distinctively Danish tone and is very exciting. Serious, swinging fiddle music performed in a climate where programmers have been sent on leave and where only musicians of flesh and blood are allowed access. Promising!”
Gaffa (Danish popular music magazine) April 2001, By Torben Holleufer

“Fiddlers rock: The group Tumult, is yet another fruit of the ever blooming, and fertile environment of folk musicians surrounding the Carl Nielsen Acadimy Of Music, residing at the Danish island of Funen. This is where musicians of different musical background meet, and new music sees the light of day. An example is that Tumult takes old Danish traditional tunes, but mixes them with rhytms of rock, raw power and energy. This gives birth to a whole new kind of fusion you might call ” fiddler’s rock”.
The folk musician of the band, is the very talented, and versatile fiddler Jørgen Dickmeiss (he is also playing traditional folkmusic and argentine tango in other bands) that has teamed up with 3 musicians with a rock background. Thomas Kristoffersen (guitar), Kasper Laursen Christensen (bass) and Lars Frimodt Møller (drums and percussion).
The group is playing both original, newly composed music, and traditional songs wich are interpretated cheerfully (on vocals) by the multi-talented Dickmeiss.
There is a lot of creative, vital energy and a good sense of humor in the music, but sometimes the musical arrangements seem a bit cloudy, with a bit too much emphasis on the entruding rock rhytm - to satisfy my taste. The somewhat strange transition to the last track on the cd I just do not get, but perhaps that is just a product of Funen humour?..
The group has taken care of the production of the cd themselves, but they could with some advantages have hired an external producer to tighten up the production a bit.
And the cryptic title of the cd? Well, it refers to a grumbler who lived in the countryside around Viborg about 100 years ago.”
Jyllands Posten (Danish Newspaper) 13/03-2001 By SØREN CHR. KIRKEGAARD

” The Odense-based kvartet Tumult takes us where rock and folkmusic meets... with a boyish and devil-may-carish energi. I am not fond of the singing of Jørgen Dickmeiss in all the compositions, but he is a outstanding violinist who not least rythmically connects  / blends the musical elements of rock and folk very well. The electric guitarplaying of Thomas Kristoffersens and the drumming of Lars Frimodt-Møllers seems closer to a rockperception but they economize in general so that the music does not break over on the middle. Absolutely worth an aquaintance.”

Politikken (Denmark) 02/11 2001, Thorbjørn Sjøgren

” There are many fine details on the cd – not least in Tumult’s own compositions… One of the most catchy and expressive compositions on the album is the promising ”T4”, where the emotional solo of Thomas Kristoffersen’s guitar especiallly stands out. My absolute favourite is ”The unique”, where funny, strange grooves evolves on a heavily swinging rock beat. Lazy blues rhytms, east european folk music and substantial guitar riffs merge here. A composition filled with anarchy, provocation and vitality.”

Fyens Stiftidende, (Denmark)16/03 2001, Lene Kryger

“ A Danish Folk-fusion band hatched in 1999 by a singing fiddler, a rock-guitarist, a bass player and a drummer. This first cd contains a few traditional danish tunes and a lot of new compositions. The cd begins in a pretty hard rock atmosphere - even in the ballad ”Alle mand”, whereafter the style is more jazz-rock in ”Jigmeiss”. A very nice ”Oktobervalsen” is interpreted by an excellent fiddler succeded by a reasonable guitarist who has changed style remarkably. ”Petters pols” is a kind of waltz-polska on the fiddle - very rhytmic, with a short rock-improvisation and a fabulous light and fast drumbeat. The following traditionel song falls back into the heavy hard rock mood from the beginning of the cd. ”De Mageløse” brings the band back on the good track. There is some very good stuff on this cd, but the heavy intervention of the drums often leaves you bewildered.”
Le Canard Folk (Belgium Folk magazine) September 2001, by M. Bauduin

” Un groupe de ”folkfusion” danois formé par un chanteur-violoneux, un guitariste rock, un bassiste et un batteur. Ce premier cd contient quelques traditionels danois mais surtout des compositions. Cela débute par une ambiance rock assez lourde, même dans la ballade ”Alle mand”, puis vient du jazz-rock avec ”Jigmeiss”. Une très jolie ”Oktobervalsen” est interprétée par un excellent violiniste relayé par un guitariste assagi qui a remarquablement changé de style. ”Petters pols” est une espèce de valse-polska au violon, très rythnée, avec une brèveimprovisation rock et un excellent jeu de batterie, léger et rapide. Mais le traditionnel qui suit retombe dans les travers lourds du début. Relevons encore ”De mageløse”, composition du prolixe Jørgen Dickmeiss. Il y a certes du très bon sur ce disque, mais les interventions souvent pesantes du batteur laissent perplexe.”
Le Canard Folk (Belgium Folk magazine) September 2001, by M. Bauduin

“ The second group from Denmark is called Tumult and that is exactly what the music is.The cd starts with the exiting song Manden og konen with a strong electric guitar lead. The songs are delivered with care and fantasy. Each one of the songs is exciting and the instrumental peaces remind me of the early Hoven Droven album, only Tumult knows when to give room to the melody (instead like Hoven Droven you can’t hear any melody, because of the heavy electric guitars and drums). I personally think that wallegnav is a convincing cd, no, even better: this cd belongs to the top of the danish folkrock scene.”
new folk sounds Dutsch Folkmagazine #77, Oktober/November 2001, by Eelco Schilder

“ Eelco Schilder listed the tumult cd wallegnav as number 5 in the top ten of the year 2001…”
new folk sounds #79 of the magazine

“ Decisamente meno conosciuti dei cugini svedesi Garmarna, questi danesi hanno molte frecce nel loro arco. Grande performance al 22° Kaláka folkfesztivál in Ungheria, e una verve decisamente fresca e piacevole nelle loro esecuzioni di traditionals danesi e composizioni. La figura leader del gruppo è il "basettone" Jørgen Dickmeiss, ed a lui ci rivolgiamo per chiedergli i motivi della somiglianza tra il suo stile violinistico e quello di Harald Haugaard, nostro amico di vecchia data. La risposta è disarmante... frequentano la stessa accademia musicale e si conoscono bene: praticamente lui è un suo allievo, e di Harald ammira e cerca di imitare la grinta inconfondibile che riversa sullo strumento. In effetti ci riesce benissimo e le melodie che escono dal suo strumento fanno spellare le mani al pubblico in delirio. Il resto del gruppo (Kasper Lauersen Christensen al basso, Lars Frimodt-Møller alle percussioni e Thomas Kristoffersen alle chitarre elettriche) lo asseconda alla grande senza soverchiare il violino del nostro. In definitiva, anche nei brani più elettrici restano molto più melodici e convincenti dei Garmarna.
Una nuova scoperta in terra danese dunque, e un disco che non dispiacerà affatto a coloro che sono già entrati in sintonia con gruppi come i Serras, i Dug, i Fenja Menja; i Tumult si confermano come gruppo di punta della scena folk-rock scandinava e la Danimarca si conferma, per l'ennesima volta, autentica fucina di nuovi gruppi di talento. Grande ritmo, grande violino, nessun sintetizzatore a mascherare il suono, che appare puro e limpido come l'aria del Grande Nord... Laggiù dove le note musicali sono davvero note musicali, dove il frastuono e il fracasso fine a se stesso sono aboliti per Legge.”
Etnobazar (Italian Italian folk magazine in the Internet) www.etnobazar.it, by Loris Böhm

” A singing and fiddle playing folky together with 3 rock musicians, you hear us coming: again a Danish folk-rock band. Except on 2 songs the guys play self made songs. This gives the whole CD a push direction WOLFSTONE. The only traditional thing abut this record is actually the fiddle fortunately everywhere on this record. Further you can find 4 ballades on this CD. The singing part is not so good but for most Danish people the lyrics will mean more... Sometimes the tempo goes down and the music becomes on the level of pop from Eurovision song festival. Probably this is because of the combination of fiddle and the traditional rock instruments and we suppose that the sound will be better with an extra traditional instrument. They proof it themselves: At 1 song the fiddle player takes an accordion and it sounds more colorful. In the better and powerful moments (and there are a lot) there appears a bit of SERRAS influences (see somewhere else in this magazine). This is actually the softer brother of SERRAS. Listen for example to T4, Peters Pols or the end of Kattens Ligfoerd (sounds a bit like the legendary DRONNIGENS LIVSTYKKE). Sometimes there are a bit softer (fiddle) songs who reminds about the way ROCK, SALT & NAILS play Irish tunes. Beautiful, without comment. Tumult brings traditional soft rock music with an extra fiddle and it is nice to listen to it without thinking.”
T’Bourdonske #3, 09/2001, Koen Vanmeerbeek, Belgium.