Endling＜限定盤/Glow-In-The-Dark Vinyl＞

With Endling, Kvelertak cement the validity of the second phase of their career. The Norwegian bands first three albums -- especially 2013s Meir -- were widely hailed for their vigorous amalgam of Scandinavian black metal and thrashy party rock. Fronted by guttural wildman Erland Hjelvik, their "black & roll" approach was more power than dour, injecting some fun into a traditionally gloomy scene. When both Hjelvik and drummer Kjetil Gjermundrod called it quits in 2018, many fans feared the party had come to an end. Their comeback album, 2020s Splid, was something of a revelation. Incoming sticksman Havard Takle Ohr slotted into the instrumental lineup seamlessly and Kvelertaks new frontman Ivar Nikolaisen proved himself a more-than-worthy successor, bringing a newfound melodicism that bolstered the bands already-hooky riffage. The bands new era continues on Endling, which has less to prove yet feels more confident for it. Recorded in the seaside Norwegian city of Bergen, the sessions were done live in the room, often with no click track, giving the set a bit more character and loose swagger. "Kroterveg Te Helvete" spends its first three minutes coming to a frothy boil, then cycles through a thrilling barrage of melodic choruses, punchy breakdowns, and power metal riffs before segueing into a smoky 70s-vibed outro reminiscent of Blue Oyster Cult. And thats only the first song. Throughout the set, Kvelertak touch on a variety of sonic hallmarks, from cocky thrash-punk ("Motsols") and chunky NWOBHM ("Likvoke") to abrasive folk-metal ("Dogeniktens Kvad"), all played with crackling, anxious abandon. Despite their increasing global popularity, the band still sings entirely in Norwegian, this time digging into obscure regional history and lore to create something even better. Nikolaisens fairly even clean/scream vocal split dovetails neatly with Kvelertaks triple-guitar battery of Vidar Landa, Bjarte Lund Rolland, and Maciek Ofstad, who have rarely sounded so in sync with each other. While there is much to love about Endling (including its title track), Kvelertak have made an instant classic in "Skoggangr," a black & roll banger that is as infectious as it is rowdy. ~ Timothy Monger