Album Review: Kvelertak's "Nattesferd"

KVELERTAK

*Nattesferd*

(Roadrunner)

Defying the laws of physics, Norway’s Kvelertak keeps getting better, improving even from the brilliance of “Meir,” the band’s 2103 album that was one of the best heavy metal albums of that year. On its third album, the band crafts the tastiest hooks of any: “1985” is all the proof one needs. A mid-tempo, groovy riff is mined to the core, with an extended instrumental section of one repeating riff spanning minutes--without overstaying its welcome. The ferocity of lead singer Erlend Hjelvik’s gruff vocals have been tempered a tad since “Mier,” to the band’s overall benefit. A wide array of metal instrumental stylings--from the opening hardcore shredding of “Dendrofil for Yggdrasil” to the punk rock of “Bronsegud” to the prog metal epic “Heksebrann”--are given ample room for the band to explore. The Norwegian lyrics may be indecipherable (they may as well be in Klingon), but the musical talent displayed is universal. Kvelertak is simply one of the best metal bands on the planet.

9/10
Link to print version of review, published in the Julu 2016 issue of Illinois Entertainer magazine. Click the link and navigate the PDF file to page 28.