Kvelertak were a band that eluded me for quite some time. They were recommended to me many many times during the cycles of their last three albums but I always just forgot to give them a chance. Finally, when their new album "Splid" was announced, I figured now was the right time to give this Norwegian band a shot. What I found was some of the most unique modern Heavy Metal I have never heard from anyone else. Combining extreme metal, old school punk rock and even the melodic nature of classic rock, Kvelertak definitely sound all their own. However, with new vocalist Ivar Nikolaisen, I can safely say this may be their best album yet.
Opening with the explosive straight forward "Rogaland", this is definitely how you start off an album. Even though the lyrics arent even in English with just about the whole album, they still know how to make it as catchy as possible. This song leads into the main single "Crack Of Doom" which features another catchy chorus and some awesome straight forward sludgy punk riffing. Up next is a song with more high energy "Necrosoft". There is even some Jerry Lee Lewis style piano in the background here in parts which is super cool. This song also shows some of the more prog-like elements of the band while keeping it catchy enough for a casual listener. Honestly just about every song on this album are a home run oozing with concrete songwriting, enough character to be diverse from each other and almost nonstop energy. From the straight hard rocking to full on thrash assault of "Fanden ta dette hull!" to the almost new wave sounding "Tevling", this albums got it all. Their new vocalist really has the charisma to match this bands energy and I'm excited to see future releases with him on the mic. Toward the end of the album, the band starts to go in the heavier prog territory especially with the epic "Delirium tremens" which is the longest song on the album. While it is an ambitious song, it unfortunately gets kind of lost throughout for me. It just drags on a bit too long for how this album is structured. However, the album ends on a very explosive note with the extreme black metal influences on full display in"Ved bredden av Nihil".
Besides the album getting a little muddy with too much going on in the end, "Splid" is still an amazing output and still sits as my album of the year. The energy this album radiates is something I really haven't felt in a long time, especially from a more modern metal act. If you want an explosive and unique album this early in 2020, then check "Splid" out, you won't regret it.
8/10
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