Kvelertak - "Mjød" (video)

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Only Scandinavians could make punk like this. Norway’s Kvelertak remind me of Refused at times; in the video for “Mjød” above, they remind me of Carpathian Forest crossed with Torche. The song is a little black metal, and a lot of almost bubblegummy powerpop.

Its video is a gas. What starts out as a rockin’ show ends in cannibalism and a bloodbath. Perky handclaps seal the deal. Yet the outdoor settings are stark and lonely, recalling Let the Right One In. Only Scandinavians could make tattoos, Motörhead, and other rock ‘n’ roll tropes this clean. (Hellacopters come to mind.)

Kvelertak have some big name associations. Baroness’ John Dyer Baizley did their album artwork. Converge’s Kurt Ballou recorded their album. Trap Them’s Ryan McKenney does guest vocals on the album. Justin Bartlett and Seldon Hunt did t-shirt designs for the band. Kvelertak are touring Europe this summer alongside Converge, Kylesa, and Gaza (what a bill!).

Dizzy yet? I am, with anticipation. Their self-titled debut comes out a month from today on black metal bastion Indie Recordings.