It may have taken awhile for Kvelertak‘s self-titled opus to arrive in North American stores, but it most certainly didn’t take long for the buzz behind it to build. Originally released overseas last year, this Scandinavian outfit, who sing in their native Norwegian tongue, had already made a large impact in the land of opportunity long before their album could be domestically purchased there.
Equal parts blackened death metal, scummy punk and beer soaked rock n’ roll, Kvelertak encompass a variety of anarchistic influences which they regurgitate with impressive amounts of bile and fire. In modern terms this may equate to a cagey mixture of Doomriders, Turbonegro and Trap Them (whose frontman Ryan McKinney guest appears,) but there’s a rare spark and undeniable energy to Kvelertak that makes them almost entirely endearing.
The band are well aware of the strengths of focused songwriting and continually use the resulting momentum and payoffs to their advantage. Building their craft with enough determination to erect songwriting milestones rather than mere breakdowns, the group are free to repeatedly indulge in a rich tapestry of classic rock n’ roll inspired guitar heroics; putting a refreshing slant on what would normally be a oppressive, if not caustic experience.
It’s a rich and engrossing listen, one that is expertly captured by the production of Converge‘s Kurt Ballou (though admittedly Kvelertak‘s aesthetic and sound may be a bit stereotypical of Ballou these days.) Sure it’s not revolutionary, but Kvelertak have a rare sense of heart that shines through from behind their hatred, even with such an imposing language barrier.
