Norwegian noise rockers, Årabrot, have been busy. Having only just released the EP “The World Must Be Destroyed” in January, they’re back already with their new album “Norwegian Gothic”. Hardly surprising; when there are no limits to the expansiveness of your sound then multiple releases are required to encompass the sonic fallout. This time around Årabrot are bringing along an entire host of guest musicians for the ride, contributions from Lars Horntveth (Jaga Jazzist), cellist Jo Quail, Tomas Järmyr (Motorpsycho), Anders Møller (Turbonegro, Ulver) and Massimo Pupillo (Zu) are scattered throughout this hour long opus. As if that wasn’t enough, “Norwegian Gothic” was produced by the reputable Jaime Gomez Arellano, who has worked with the likes of Paradise Lost and Hexvessel to provide the best mixing and production quality available within the industry.

Ranging from Ghost/Grave Pleasures sounding hybrids to Nick Cave moodiness and avant-garde jazz, this opus is a kaleidoscopic amalgamation of every facet of the band’s sound. An audial journey through the soundscapes that they have traversed over the years, weirdly this album is Årabrot’s most accessible work to date. With the exception of a couple of spoken word filler tracks, every song on this record has a catchy, danceable beat with a strong overtone of pop musical influences apparent throughout. It’s not without heaviness, however, at its core this is still very much a rock/metal album.

A veritable melting pot of weirdness and instrumental diversity, the only minor downside to this release is the spoken word fillers – thankfully, they’re short and you won’t be missing anything worthwhile if you choose to skip over them. Another major push of the envelope for these Scandinavian experimentalists and the payoff is simply phenomenal. A genuine pleasure to listen to from start to finish, “Norwegian Gothic” is the peculiar gothic party album that 2021 didn’t know it needed. (8.0/10)

Angela Davey

Band info: https://arabrot.bandcamp.com
Label info: https://pelagic-records.com


Read More »

For some strange reason I've passed on Rabbits up until now. I don't know why but I thought they were a powerviolence band or something. That couldn't be further from the truth. Well, there is ample power and it can get violent but Untoward, the latest full-length from this Portland group is more methodical than manic.

The trio of drummer KG and guitarist/vocalists Sethro and Booze use sludge as a base for crafting a noisy racket. It reeks of spilled whiskey, bloody teeth and a sticky basement floor. There's a raw, DIY feel to it despite sounding pretty slick that gives the album an indescribable charm.

KG lays down the heavy beats with the necessary unconventionality that matches the eclectic interplay between Sethro and Booze. But at the same time he's smashin' those skins like they owe him money. You can almost picture the twisted grin and wild eyes morphing into furrowed brows and back again as the track dictates.

There's even more of a mind-body-instrument connection felt with the guitars. They win at the tone game with a beefy sludge sound. With it comes a barrage of pulsing riffs spliced to noisy atonality and ample groove. The two guitars don't so much mate with each other as much as they feed off each other's energy. One takes the high road of broken chords and repetitive hypnotism while the other winds around the whole like a serpent tempting the listener to fall deeper down the unholy uh, rabbit hole. But if only it were that simple.

Rabbits lull the listener into a trance and then get all crazy or blitzing or belligerent, snapping the attention back to the immediate crush of filth violating your ears. Comparisons to the Melvins aren't unwarranted either.

Vocally speaking you wouldn't expect anything less than the coarse yelling that's found here. The lyrics are kind of all over the place in a good way but none of it fails to make you feel good on the inside. As hollered on “Pack Up Your Shit” they “drink and fucking cuss” so you get the idea. It's like having a pair of drunk uncles pointing their fingers in your face as they recount life lessons still unlearned.

Untoward stuns and disorients, hypnotizes and invigorates. Swampy riffs, marching pulses and a noisy thunder all marry up with a handful of mental illnesses and warm, inviting tone to take the listener on a trip they weren't expecting. Especially the ten and a half-minute closing dirge of “Like You A Lot”. Total schizo zone out.

It might sound challenging or downright painful but once you get over the initial shock and let the eclecticism seep into your pores it's actually quite fun! Or maybe we're all just a little “out there”.

Matt Hinch

Band info: www.facebook.com/RabbitusMaximus
Label info: www.facebook.com/LambUnlimited

Matt Hinch lives an unassuming life on the backroads outside Forest Mills, Ontario, Canada. He packs in as much metal as he possible can amid factory work, raising three daughters with his wife and working the land. In addition to Scratch the Surface Matt also writes for Hellbound, Metal Bandcamp, About Heavy Metal and his own blog, Kingdom of Noise. Keep up with him on Twitter @KingdomofNoise.

Read More »