Day 97
Band Origin: Stavanger Norway
Genre: Hardcore / Rock / Black Metal
Label: Indie Recordings
Running Time: 48 minutes
Release Date: June 21, 2010
Best Part: Black metal inspired insanity with cowbell.
Favorite Tracks: Liktorn, Sultans of Satan, Offernatt, Ulvetid, Mjød, Blodtørst, and Utrydd Dei Svake
Grade: 5.0
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Kvelertak in way more than 20 words or less:
The self-titled debut release from Kvelertak, the Norwegian band that can best be described as 'Kvlt n' Roll' is probably one of the most bizarre and uniquely awesome fusions of style that you can come across.
The Band:
Kvelertak is a six member black metal and punk rock band from Norway that released their self-titled debut record in 2010 to high praise and relative acclaim - a feat which is rare for both the localization and genre bending involved in their music. Kvelertak is hard to describe in a single string of buzzwords, but the easiest explanation is a sound that takes the fast and aggressive beats of hardcore, meets up with some classic rock n' roll and then takes a moonlit drive through the Norwegian countryside. Not clear enough? It's like if Fugazi decided to meet Queens of the Stone Age in a dark alley and then Darkthrone came along and made them have an insanely loud and kickass baby. And if that's not any clearer, I'll just go with what I prefer to call them: Kvlt n' Roll.
Jay's Take on Kvelertak:
When I first went to listen to this album well over a year back, all I remember was seeing high review scores, praise and some of the weirdest yet awesome sounding commentary for such an album. And as soon as I got through the end of the first track Ulvetid I instantly understood why. Kvelertak was definitely not what I expected - I mean when you go to listen to a recording listed as black metal, you have certain expectations that go in line with the genre. The band definitely doesn't fall within the mold of a black metal band, simply because of the predominant styles that are put forward by the band, those being hardcore punk and rock and roll. But the black metal influence is not easy to ignore. You can feel it whenever there's speedy tremolo picked riffs, that slight bit of intermittent distortion and the mesmerizing type aura felt at the beginning of tracks like Sultans of Satan and Ulvetid, and all throughout Liktorn. The screams which while not your raspy black metal shrieks, rather more straight forward hardcore screams, still possess some of that black metal 'gusto', plus the lyrics are completely Norwegian - not that having Norwegian lyrics makes you instantly black metal, of course. Kvelertak is just a record that knocked me on my ass because it was so unexpected - and so god damned fucking good. The entire record sends you heaving in one direction and then sends you on a twist, with what would appear to be your standard progression turning into the next backyard rock anthem of the future generation. If the fact that it even has fucking cowbell wasn't enough to sell this record, how about the album art by John Dyer Baizley, who's cover art consistently graces some of the best albums out there.
Kvelertak is a six member black metal and punk rock band from Norway that released their self-titled debut record in 2010 to high praise and relative acclaim - a feat which is rare for both the localization and genre bending involved in their music. Kvelertak is hard to describe in a single string of buzzwords, but the easiest explanation is a sound that takes the fast and aggressive beats of hardcore, meets up with some classic rock n' roll and then takes a moonlit drive through the Norwegian countryside. Not clear enough? It's like if Fugazi decided to meet Queens of the Stone Age in a dark alley and then Darkthrone came along and made them have an insanely loud and kickass baby. And if that's not any clearer, I'll just go with what I prefer to call them: Kvlt n' Roll.
Jay's Take on Kvelertak:
When I first went to listen to this album well over a year back, all I remember was seeing high review scores, praise and some of the weirdest yet awesome sounding commentary for such an album. And as soon as I got through the end of the first track Ulvetid I instantly understood why. Kvelertak was definitely not what I expected - I mean when you go to listen to a recording listed as black metal, you have certain expectations that go in line with the genre. The band definitely doesn't fall within the mold of a black metal band, simply because of the predominant styles that are put forward by the band, those being hardcore punk and rock and roll. But the black metal influence is not easy to ignore. You can feel it whenever there's speedy tremolo picked riffs, that slight bit of intermittent distortion and the mesmerizing type aura felt at the beginning of tracks like Sultans of Satan and Ulvetid, and all throughout Liktorn. The screams which while not your raspy black metal shrieks, rather more straight forward hardcore screams, still possess some of that black metal 'gusto', plus the lyrics are completely Norwegian - not that having Norwegian lyrics makes you instantly black metal, of course. Kvelertak is just a record that knocked me on my ass because it was so unexpected - and so god damned fucking good. The entire record sends you heaving in one direction and then sends you on a twist, with what would appear to be your standard progression turning into the next backyard rock anthem of the future generation. If the fact that it even has fucking cowbell wasn't enough to sell this record, how about the album art by John Dyer Baizley, who's cover art consistently graces some of the best albums out there.
Judge for yourselves, this album is insane - in a satisfyingly good way. And if you've ever seen Troll Hunter you may recognize a track from the credits.
Sample of the Day:
The first track off of Kvelertak and then of course, cowbell.
- J
1 comments:
MORE COWBELLL!!!!!!!!!
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