Årabrot – Revenge
Fysisk Format
First of all, it should probably be said that this trio’s moniker, Årabrot, is not an attempt to snare Morrissey or Nick Griffin as fans but a reference to a notorious rubbish dump and special needs school on the outskirts of Haugesund, Norway, where the band formed. And secondly, even though this extraordinarily punishing rock group, often come with a black metal tag, their astounding album has very little in common with the output of, say, Mayhem or Xasthur. It is true that guitarist/singer Kjetil Nernes has a particularly necrotic vocal style that lies on the unconsecrated and desiccated ground between Alan Dubin (Khanate, Gnaw), David Yow (Jesus Lizard, Qui) and Zed (Police Academy, Police Academy 3: Back In Training). But like with the aforementioned Jesus Lizard and caustic Colorado war metal duo Cobalt, the rabid and blood-curdling howling is anchored in place by a deceptively sophisticated and metronomic rock backline.
In fact, since their gripping but flawed UK debut (The Brotherseed), Årabrot have finally nailed a sound (also captured on the peerless ‘I Rove’ EP) that is both unique and adrenalising. The spirit of Event Horizon-strength psychedelia summoned up by ‘I Rove’ is revisited on ‘The Dolorous Years’, which takes the blueprint of The Birthday Party and stretches it far beyond breaking point. Likewise on ‘The Primrose Path’ — an ashen-faced romantic revenge song — grips early Shellac by the hair of the crown and smashes its face into the pavement repetitively until it breaks apart into gore. Shorter songs such as ‘The Most Sophisticated Form Of Revenge’ take a (moderately) less violent approach melding the Germanic metal pulse of Loop and the strafing, atonal guitars of Unsane.
Basically, if you’ve ever read Michael Azerrad’s Our Band Could Be Your Life and thought, “Why do we never get bands like this anymore?” then Årabrot are for you. John Doran
