Kvelertak - Kvelertak

On paper, I admit that Kvelertak might sound like a terrible proposition, the prospect of a Norwegian band merging garage rock with black-metal isn’t very appealing and might even raise a few eyebrows to say the least. But once opening song “Ulvetid” kicks in, it becomes near impossible to resist the band’s tremendously contagious energy.
Arguably one of the best albums to come out in the last year, “Kvelertak” is a furious, dirty and catchy record that meshes the worlds of punk, garage rock, thrash and black-metal in a way that sounds so natural and wicked. Imagine if Satyr, Iggy Pop, Nicke Andersson and Lemmy all meet in a rehab program and decided to form a band to channel all their energies and frustrations into music, the end result wouldn’t be too dissimilar from Kvelertak self-titled debut record. The Norwegian piss all over the genre’s conventions that some of you hold sacred to discharge upon us all a potent and infectious blend of sleazy rock 'n' roll melodies, fist-pumping riffing, thunderous beats and harsh black-metal screams.
“Kvelertak” is a wholehearted recommendation for fans of everyone from The Stooges to Enslaved, from Motorhead to The Hellacopters, from Metallica to Turbonegro, and I bet it won’t be the one-trick pony that some are suggesting on various message boards. (9/10)

David Alexandre

Band info: www.myspace.com/kvelertak
Label info: www.myspace.com/indierecordings
For fans of: Satyricon, Enslaved, The Hellacopters, Turbonegro