In a world overwhelmed by injustice and betrayal, where silence and indifference can be as damaging as the wrongdoing itself, music often becomes a beacon of truth—a mirror held to society’s darkest corners. The concept band Therapy In Rhyme, created by visionary lyricist and producer Jan Helge Almaas, stands firmly at the crossroads of emotional introspection and societal critique. With their trilogy of albums titled Tragedy in Corruption, the band offers not only a sonic journey but a scathing and articulate commentary on leadership failure, institutional misconduct, and the unspoken traumas that follow.
Formed by a core of deeply talented artists—Jan Helge Almaas (lyrics, keyboards, backing vocals, producer), Mikołaj Krzaczek (vocals, guitar, composer), Rune JM Almaas (bass, guitar, sound engineer), and Клайв Макмозок (drums)—Therapy In Rhyme also includes a rotating cast of vocalists and collaborators including Jack & Daisy, Darren Raymond, Sasha Svy, Kate Kálmán, and Eric Castiglia. Their collective strength lies in the ability to blend genres—from classical and orchestral arrangements to the fury of metal—into one cohesive, emotionally charged narrative.
Following the release of their powerful and thought-provoking trilogy Tragedy in Corruption, the concept band Therapy In Rhyme has firmly established themselves as a force in socially conscious music. We sat down with the minds behind the project to dive deeper into their creative process, the meaning behind their bold trilogy, and what lies ahead for this boundary-pushing collective.
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Jan Helge, thanks a lot for being with us today! We are thrilled to know more about the band’s artistic journey so let’s start from the very beginning. What inspired you to create Therapy In Rhyme as a concept band, and how did the idea for the trilogy Tragedy in Corruption first take shape?
Thank you for your interest in my project. The spark for Therapy in Rhyme flared in 2014 when I met my wife, whose Ukrainian roots opened my eyes to the political unrest tearing her homeland apart. By 2022, that turmoil had erupted into a humanitarian crisis, and as we prepared to bring her family and others to safety in Norway, poetry became my lifeline, a way to wrestle with haunted nights torn between the selflessness of those aiding refugees and the hypocrisy of leaders who turned their backs on government recommendations, guidelines, and laws. Therapy in Rhyme as a band was born in March 2023, when I lost all hope that our community would right its wrongs or stop them from repeating. As the only family with Ukrainian ties in our small town, we were gutted by the lost chance to bring more people to safety. After a year of pleading with leaders for answers and documentation that could explain their acts, their hollow boast—“We go to great lengths to ensure those settled in the commune can have their loved ones settled”—lit a fire under me. That betrayal drove me to set my poems to music, channeling the emotional rollercoaster of fighting for others while being crushed by systemic failures. It’s a cry from the heart, wrapped in music—a testament that betrayal is never forgotten or forgiven without an apology.
The three albums explore very distinct emotional states—Hope, Hate, and Tragedy. How did you approach translating these complex themes into music and lyrics across the trilogy?
Each album in the trilogy mirrors a stage of an emotional journey, and I wanted the music and lyrics to feel like they were bleeding from the soul. For Hope, the first album, I leaned into soaring melodies and classical touches to capture the warmth and courage of those who step up in a crisis—like the volunteers who helped refugees cross borders and bring them to a safe home in Norway. The lyrics are tender but determined, reflecting that flicker of light in the darkness. Hate, the second album, is where the rage boils over. Heavy metal riffs and raw vocals became the natural outlet for the betrayal and frustration of seeing leaders turn their backs on those in need, leaving us to carry burdens we shouldn’t have had. Tragedy, the final album, blends original and cover songs with a wider world perspective, its lyrics steeped in deeper grief. Writing them was like excavating my own trauma—every word came from sleepless nights, from the pain of fighting a system that didn’t care, and from the resolve to keep going despite it all. When words haunt your night, it’s good therapy to write them down and make them shut up until the next night.
“Shine On” is an incredibly moving track. Can you tell us more about its message and what it means to you personally?
Shine On is a love letter to the unsung heroes who keep humanity alive in the darkest times. It’s about people who drove through war zones to save refugees, neighbors who opened their homes, and my wife, whose Ukrainian name means “Hope.” She carried on helping others while I was consumed by frustration, fighting a system that betrayed us. The song’s message is simple: even when the world feels broken, there are those who shine with compassion and resolve. The acoustic version is especially close to my heart, raw and intimate, dedicated to my wife’s quiet strength that carried us through. Every time I hear it, I’m at her side, finding hope again through people’s good deeds.
“We were lost souls, searching for hope.
You walked beside us and helped us cope.”
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The first album of the trilogy, Tragedy in Corruption – Pt 1 – Hope, opens with a track that encapsulates its mission and musical elegance: “Shine On.” A heartfelt tribute to those who step up in moments of crisis, the song is inspired by the actions taken during the Ukrainian refugee crisis, particularly the Norwegian government’s compassionate policies that enabled people to prioritize saving lives over bureaucratic obstacles.
Opening with a sweeping orchestral arrangement, “Shine On” flows like a cinematic overture. The rich, resonant voice of the lead singer immediately takes center stage, delivering Almaas’s razor-sharp lyrics with warmth and urgency. As the track builds, Jack & Daisy’s voices weave into the mix, creating lush harmonic layers that crescendo into a moving emotional apex. The chorus is a rallying cry—a reminder that hope is not passive, but active and radiant:
“Hope is the beacon in the night, with pure love it’s our guide
We’ll make a harbor that in struggle will bring us light
Shine on, shine on, our beacon in the night
Through the storm, you keep our hope alight”
“Shine On” is more than a song—it’s a statement of gratitude, a reminder of humanity’s potential for good amidst chaos.
“Opposite Game” has such an intense and raw energy, both musically and lyrically. What was the writing and recording process like for this song?
Opposite Game erupted from a place of searing rage and disbelief at leaders who play a cruel game of hypocrisy, preaching help while delivering betrayal. The song’s heart was ripped open by the moment I realized I had to buy a house in 2023 to keep refugee families together by following leaders undocumented opposite rules—a desperate act forced on me because those in charge secured funds for a crisis but hid behind guidelines that clearly don’t exist, dodging the rules they were bound to follow. That betrayal burned deep, fuelling lyrics like “The common man wears anguish like chains. Sanity deemed worthless, sinking forever in drains” which scream the pain of carrying their lies. Writing it was like howling into a void, every word a jagged edge of frustration. The recording process was a mental theatrical rollercoaster—pure catharsis. We cranked the distortion to blistering levels, let the drums thunder like a heart on the brink, and pushed the vocals to breaking to capture that chaotic fury. It’s chaotic, but that’s exactly how it felt to live through those betrayals.
The trilogy is deeply rooted in political and social commentary. Were there particular real-life events or moments that influenced specific songs or lyrics?
The trilogy is steeped in the raw wounds of real-life betrayals. We brought refugees to Norway, trusting the system would support them so we could bring more to safety, but we were crushed by leaders who ignored their duties and denied us the documentation needed to fight further up the system. When complaints are silenced and proof dismissed, you’re trapped in a soul-crushing bureaucratic maze. When wrongs are allowed to repeat, they’re not just mistakes—they’re scars that shaped every note and word. For me, “Sleep My Love” was the scariest yet most impactful, reflecting the toll on my wife and my neglect of our family amid my impossible fight against a society that boasts about helping rather than acting. Its words— “Come and rest now, there’s no need to fight. Focus on our family and avoid the dark night”—mark my surrender to prioritize love over a hopeless battle.
Your albums feature an impressive lineup of vocalists and musicians. How did these collaborations come about, and how do you manage such an international creative effort?
The collaborations were born from a shared passion for music and for giving voice to global issues. Some connections sparked through friends in the metal scene; others through online communities where we bonded over the trilogy’s raw themes. Each artist brought a piece of their heart—for example, Vivian Wong and Oleksandr Vesnin brought such soul to Part 1, and Mikołaj Krzaczek’s intensity elevated Part 2. My brother, guitar maestro Rune JM Almaas, was the glue, engineering every track with passion. Managing an international team was a logistical puzzle—time zones, language barriers, you name it—but we kept it human. I gave everyone creative freedom to pour their own emotions into the songs, which made the music feel more alive and added more variety than strict guidelines would allow. Regular video calls, messages, and shared files kept us in sync, and publishing promos made it easier to accept that this is a time-consuming project. It was messy, but that passion made the music pulse with truth.
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Where “Hope” uplifts, Tragedy in Corruption – Pt 2 – Hate plunges us into a darker, heavier, and more harrowing world. The standout track “Opposite Game” shifts the musical tone dramatically—embracing a thunderous metal approach that perfectly mirrors its scathing lyrical content.
Built on a foundation of searing guitars, guttural growls, and pulsating drums, “Opposite Game” dissects the cruel mechanics of corruption, power hunger, and moral decay. The song’s concept is chilling: a game in which lies win, laws are twisted, and empathy is the price of admission. The band writes:
“Welcome to a game where everyone is dishonest and breaking promises is a common practice… where lies and deception are celebrated.”
The chorus unleashes the full weight of the band’s musical prowess, fusing harsh vocals with clean melodic lines to create a powerful contrast. Midway through the track, the instrumental section erupts with blistering guitar solos and pounding rhythms—Rune JM Almaas and Mikołaj Krzaczek bringing both technical brilliance and raw emotion to the forefront. Клайв Макмозок’s drumming is relentless, anchoring the chaos with hammering precision.
The lyrics, grim and direct, underscore the song’s powerful critique:
“Opposite rules, twisting like a knife,
Trapped in a web of political strife,
Secret documents, concealed from our eyes,
With lies buried deep, the fuel: corruption’s rise.”
“Opposite Game” is not just a heavy song—it’s a wake-up call, a cry of rage and warning wrapped in thunder and steel.
The final chapter, Tragedy in Corruption – Pt 3 – The Tragedy, closes the trilogy with sobering reflection. While the first two albums represent hope and fury, this one sits in the aftermath—the smoldering ruins where betrayal, unaddressed and unresolved, leaves lasting scars. It completes the cycle not with resolution, but with resonance.
Therapy In Rhyme doesn’t claim to offer solutions. Rather, they expose the patterns of systemic failure and the deeply personal pain it causes. Their music becomes a tool for collective mourning, remembrance, and perhaps—eventually—healing. The trilogy as a whole is a testament to the importance of speaking truth through art, especially when traditional avenues of justice fall silent.
The blending of classical, orchestral arrangements with metal and hard rock elements is striking. How do you balance those genres in your production process?
Balancing classical and metal was like weaving together light and shadow. The orchestral elements—strings, pianos—carry the hope and humanity, like the compassion of those helping refugees in Shine On. Metal and hard rock, with their raw power and aggression, channel the rage and despair of betrayal, like in Opposite Game or Trinity of Evil. In production, we started with the emotional core of each song. For hopeful tracks, we’d layer delicate keys first, letting them breathe, then add strings to ground them. For angrier songs, we’d build from crushing riffs and drums, then weave in orchestral touches to add depth, like a storm breaking over a battlefield’s chaos. It was a delicate dance to keep both genres distinct yet cohesive, but the emotions guided me—every choice had to feel true to the story, whether it was a tender moment or a scream of defiance.
What role does storytelling play in your music, and how important is it for you that listeners engage with the narrative as much as the sound?
Storytelling is the heartbeat of Therapy in Rhyme. Each song is a chapter in a larger saga of hope, betrayal, and resilience, drawn from real pain. The narrative is crucial because it gives the music weight; it’s not just sound, it’s a cry for justice. I want listeners to feel the story as much as they hear it—to walk with me through the joy of helping, the rage of being let down, and the healing of using art as therapy. Tracks like Tears in Their Eyes, “Oh, the women and children, tears in their eyes. Fearing more for the lost than for their own lives,” tell the refugees’ stories, while Licked Clean exposes the hypocrisy of those in power. If listeners connect with the narrative, they’re moved to question their own leaders or stand up for someone in need. That’s the power of storytelling—it turns music into a call to action.
Looking back at the trilogy now that it’s complete, what do you feel it has accomplished artistically—and what do you hope listeners take away from it?
Artistically, Tragedy in Corruption feels like a raw, unfiltered diary of survival. It’s captured the chaos of hope turning to hate, then settling into the heavy truth of tragedy, all while blending genres to mirror that emotional storm. Completing it was like climbing a mountain—exhausting but triumphant. It’s given a voice to the pain of anyone crushed by betrayal. I’m proud that it’s both a personal catharsis and a universal cry. I hope listeners feel the weight of the injustice but also the spark of resilience. I want them to walk away angry enough to demand better from their leaders, inspired enough to help others, and comforted knowing they’re not alone in their struggles. If even one person feels seen or moved to act, the trilogy has done its job.
What’s next for Therapy In Rhyme? Are there new themes, sounds, or projects on the horizon following Tragedy in Corruption?
After pouring everything into Tragedy in Corruption, I’m taking a brief pause to recharge, though inspiration still simmers. An animated series, Director of Corruption, is in the planning stage, turning the trilogy’s themes into a darkly comedic visual saga that amplifies the absurdity of collective betrayal. It places those actions in varied life situations to expose their ridiculousness, echoing the hollow boasts we faced, though nothing is signed yet. I still hold a faint hope that common sense exists and someone might offer an apology. A musical Part 4, inspired by stories from other refugees still trapped by repeated mistakes, has crossed my mind, but I’m hesitant to dive into that emotional rollercoaster again. Right now, I’m prioritizing children’s music, sparked by the joyful stories my children share—a healing cure with playful melodies that truly embody therapy in rhyme. For the trilogy, the next step is adding final touches and officially releasing all three parts, then letting time reveal what’s next.
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Therapy In Rhyme’s strength lies not only in their technical skill and genre-blending experimentation but in their fearless commitment to the message. Every song, every lyric, every composition is a piece of a larger tapestry—one that confronts the listener with hard truths wrapped in melodic beauty or metal grit.
From the orchestral grace of “Shine On” to the brutal honesty of “Opposite Game,” this band navigates an emotional and political spectrum few artists dare to explore. With Jan Helge Almaas at the helm and a diverse team of collaborators bringing his vision to life, Therapy In Rhyme has crafted one of the most powerful musical trilogies in recent years.
Because sometimes, the only way to heal from betrayal is to sing it out loud.
Check the links below, discover more about Therapy In Rhyme and their music, and remember to add their songs to your favorite playlists!
Official Website: www.therapyinrhyme.com
Spotify: Therapy In Rhyme
YouTube: Therapy In Rhyme
Facebook: Therapy In Rhyme
