What to make of Norwegian terrible twosome Årabrot is tricky. There just aren’t many bands that sound as if they so deliberately want to make themselves horrendously unattractive to potential listeners in the way that Årabrot do. Their horrifically noisy take on guitar music, in large enough doses, is probably capable of inducing cardiac arrest, or at least some seizures, in some listeners. In a way this is what makes Årabrot so brilliant. They sound like the scummy muck at the bottom of the musical dustbin and they don’t care if people don’t like them. The fact is, however, that there is a lot to like about Årabrot.
The corrosive nature of their sound is uppermost amongst Årabrot’s strong points. If you dropped a copy of 'Solar Anus' on the floor you’d be worried that it might burn a hole in your carpet. If you played it whilst cooking you could conceivably end up with food infested with maggots…or something. From first note to last, this is a filthy journey through the most disgustingly destructive noise rock imaginable. With a fine production job by legendary ‘recordist’ Steve Albini having wrung out every last drop of malice, 'Solar Anus' is the Årabrot album that has always threatened to be. This is a seething, unpleasant listen in many ways but, for those who are willing to absorb themselves in the insane darkness of this type of music it is also a shockingly rewarding one.
It’s difficult to pick out highlights from 'Solar Anus' as it is an album with notable consistency, but the eight minute title track that opens the record sums up everything Årabrot do best. The unholy roars and screeches of Kjetil Nernes, made using both his guitar and his voice, are accompanied by the thunderous work of Vidar Evensen behind him. In fact Evensen is one of those rare drummers who sounds like they’re trying to physically demolish their kit rather than actually play it. The utterly incredulous lack of concern for traditional songwriting and structuring on this album is a treat. This album is all about creating a noise as terribly filthy as possible, and it works…big time. Most people who hear this will probably hate it. Those who love it won’t care.
'Solar Anus' is out now via Fysisk Format. Årabrot tour the UK in October.
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The corrosive nature of their sound is uppermost amongst Årabrot’s strong points. If you dropped a copy of 'Solar Anus' on the floor you’d be worried that it might burn a hole in your carpet. If you played it whilst cooking you could conceivably end up with food infested with maggots…or something. From first note to last, this is a filthy journey through the most disgustingly destructive noise rock imaginable. With a fine production job by legendary ‘recordist’ Steve Albini having wrung out every last drop of malice, 'Solar Anus' is the Årabrot album that has always threatened to be. This is a seething, unpleasant listen in many ways but, for those who are willing to absorb themselves in the insane darkness of this type of music it is also a shockingly rewarding one. 
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