Kvelertak release video for "Bruane Brenn"

On March 26 Norwegian band Kvelertak are set to release Meir (Roadrunner), the follow-up to their 2010 debut album, which came from seemingly out of nowhere and won over metal fans – and rock ‘n’ roll fans for that matter – worldwide. I’ve heard the new album several times now, and not only does it completely live up to the hype, but it’s quite a diverse collection of songs, too. While the band’s metal/punk hybrid is still intact, the songwriting now dips into classic rock riffs and melodies – much like their countrymen Turbonegro do – which makes for a much richer sounding album than a lot of people might have expected. Has the line between what’s “metal” and what’s not been blurred? Definitely. But it still projects great power, the band’s energy, captured so accurately once again by Kurt Ballou, palpable on every track. You don't need to understand what Kvelertak is singing about on Meir for that record to be a life-affirming experience, which it very much is.

“Buane Brenn” (Norwegian for “Burning Bridges”) is the first single from Meir, and its video has just been released. It’s a great one, too, going with the “band portrayed as kids” gimmick and finding a crew of youngsters who sell the idea very well. It’s a fun clip for a very good song, and that quirky little melody in the chorus will be in your head in no time.