New Noise Magazine Issue #51

PHOTO BY JONATHAN VIVAAS KISE

K

INTERVIEW WITH GUITARIST BJARTE LUND ROLLAND BY THOMAS PIZZOLA

velertak, the six-piece Nor- Kvelertak then had to go about Well, maybe a little bit. “discord,� a commentary on the band wegian punk/metal wrecking making a new record. In order as well as the state of the world. crew, have come a long way to achieve rock excellence, “There was no real plan in terms of in their 13 years as a band. They’ve they decamped to Salem, direction other than that it generally “The title is a reference to discord won Norwegian Grammys and nu- Massachusetts in the fall of 2019 to gets boring to do the same thing in our personal lives in and outside merous, critical accolades for their record with Kurt Ballou at his God over again, so we always try to do the band,� says Rolland, “As well as albums, and have been handpicked City Studios. Ballou produced the something new and mix it with the grown-up stuff like politics and the to go on tour with bands such as Me- band’s first two albums, and they old,� Rolland says. lame state of public discourse.� tallica and Slayer. Yet, their ascent knew he was the right man to help was almost cut short when vocalist them create their fourth one.

The album also features two Kvelertak have managed to turn and co-founder Erlend Hjelvik left  songs sung in English, “Crack Of potential tragedy into triumph. the band in 2018. Some bands might “It just made sense, with the new Doom� and “Discord.� This is a bit They have a killer new album pack it in after something like that, vocalist and everything, to go back of a departure for Kvelertak, since in Splid along with a killer new but not Kvelertak. They love what and record in a safe environment. they’ve always written their song vocalist. The band’s future is once they do too much.

Kurt is very easy to work with and titles and sung the lyrics in their again looking bright. They have has a very particular trademark native tongue. definitely blasted through all “We wanted to continue with sound,â€? Rolland says.  roadblocks and are ready for the Kvelertak because we think it’s a “We’re trying to get bigger in the next phase of their career. pretty sweet-ass band, and it’s fun The fruits of their labor, Splid, out U.S.A. so we can tour there more to play gigs and hang out and stuff,â€? now on Rise Records, is a testament because it’s so fun, but the radio “It’s definitely the next chapter. I guitarist Bjarte Lund Rolland says. to their devotion to their music and won’t play our songs because foresee a future heavily laden the glory of rock ‘n’ roll. Over the they’re in Norwegian,â€? says with our certified, face-melting In order to continue, the band—which course of its 11 tracks, the band Rolland. “We figured if we asked a blend of progressive punk rock also consists of guitarist Vidar Landa, deliver another sermon in bringing few friends to sing on a couple of (or something). We’ll be touring guitarist and vocalist Maciek Ofstad, the rock early and often. Splid songs, we’d have a good excuse for a while after the release, bassist Marvin Nygaard, and drummer has a little more of a hard rock to have something in English, so but hopefully we’ll get to work HĂĽvard Takle Ohr—needed to find a strut and a little less black metal maybe we’ll get a tiny bit bigger in on a new record ASAP,â€? Rolland new lead singer. In their minds, there than Kvelertak’s previous releases. the States.â€? concludes. đ&#x;’Ł đ&#x;’Ł đ&#x;’Ł was only one person up for the job, and This wasn’t exactly thought out in that was Ivar Nikolaisen. advance.

The album’s title translates into

62 NEW NOISE