Norwegian rock band Arabrot are certainly not quiet chaps, the metal noise makers are Kjetil Nernes and Vidar Evensen, who have been joined by noise artist Stian Skagen. Playing drums and guitar only, the group produce a hellish noise, which is quite incredibly loud and deep, considering the lack of instruments.
There is no doubt that Revenge, released on the 13th September and the group’s fourth full album, since starting out in 2001, displays musical talent. The drum kit of Vidar Evenson is pummelled into submission, throughout the record, with thumping, high paced whacks of skin and reckless, crashing of symbols. Kjetil Nernes's guitar is frantically strummed also, I am sure he has broke a string or two in his time as he produces tormenting, screaming riffs and crazed, deep rhythms.
The nine track album leaves your head pounding and your ears bleeding, full on from start to finish and full of hardcore blitzes of metal noise, this album is not for the faint hearted, or those with neighbours. Musically, you cannot help but appreciate the individual aspects. Evenson’s drumming in particular is fantastic and demonic and Nernes’s guitar is thoroughly tested to its limits, his riffs are huge climbing, screaming indulgences of amp blowing fury.
Vocally however, the group do little to impress and once you throw this element in with the musical elements, everything starts to go downhill, rather quickly. Kjetil Nernes’s high pitched, horrendous screams are painful. There is no relent from this either, almost every track is filled with his howls apart from The Pilgrimage, which save for the last minute, uses sampling over the music and up to the point where Nernes begins to draw breath, ready to pop my ear drums, this track is actually pretty good. Deep and rich, it is very textured and experimental and then it unfortunately harks back to the familiar vocal racket of the rest of the album.
The Primrose Path is another track which saves us from Nernes’s horrid tones, perhaps by now his voice is too sore to continue screeching, as he talks over the track with an aggressive rasp rather than his usual unrelenting din. Extremely atmospheric and dark, this is another good track on an other wise horrific album.
There are elements to this album that I do like, the drumming and guitar playing are fantastic, the experimentation with music and sampling is very good also, as are the scenic atmospheres of horror and death that the music manages to portray. Barring the two tracks mentioned above however, the horribly caustic vocals destroy all of this and blur everything into an unthinkably horrendous noise. A noise so terrible that you will be faced with an eviction notice should you choose to play this album.
Stereoboard Rating 2/10.
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
Vocally however, the group do little to impress and once you throw this element in with the musical elements, everything starts to go downhill, rather quickly. Kjetil Nernes’s high pitched, horrendous screams are painful. There is no relent from this either, almost every track is filled with his howls apart from The Pilgrimage, which save for the last minute, uses sampling over the music and up to the point where Nernes begins to draw breath, ready to pop my ear drums, this track is actually pretty good. Deep and rich, it is very textured and experimental and then it unfortunately harks back to the familiar vocal racket of the rest of the album.
