Kvelertak

they *totally* rule, live and recorded

one of those bands I like to imagine what their popularity ceiling would be with a melodic singer

but the vestigial black metal-isms of those records are gone, too, replaced with fistfuls of '70s FM/AOR hooks

HELLO

my god this thing cooks

i'm sort of disappointed that this doesn't sound as "good" as their last record but they traded ballou for another guy. it's kinda got a black metal majesty feel in how trebly it is though

this album makes me feel as if i live in a town called riff city

Population: ROCK

The city keeps very poor census data.

The Pitchfork review is really good.

Ballou is back for the new one!

And it fuckin' rules.

As does this band.

bump because this is the best album out today

I'm ambivalent. The new singer is...fine, but they should never have English-language lyrics again. The riffs are as good as any they've ever written, but the session drummer is functional at best. Their old drummer Kjetil was crucial to their sound; I hope his actual replacement brings it live. The background vocals on "Bråtebrann" rule. In fact, that's my favorite song on the record so far.

still love this band

Me too, the new one rips. I like it even more than Splid. Could have used Ballou production, but I dig this and, thankfully, they appear to have switched indeed ditched the English lyrics.