The self-described purveyors of party black metal found themselves at a crossroads in 2018 after the departure of longtime larynx abuse specialist {|Erlend Hjelvik|}. The installation of a new lead singer can be fraught with danger, but {|Kvelertak|}... Read more

The self-described purveyors of party black metal found themselves at a crossroads in 2018 after the departure of longtime larynx abuse specialist {|Erlend Hjelvik|}. The installation of a new lead singer can be fraught with danger, but {|Kvelertak|}'s chassis has always been the sublime triple-guitar attack of {|Vidar Landa|}, {|Bjarte Lund Rolland|}, and {|Maciek Ofsad|}, which is set to full-on slay for album number four. {|Ivar Nikolaisen|}'s first stint behind the wheel feels less like a sea change and more like a subtle changing of the guard -- {|Nikolaisen|} has been in the band's orbit for years, even making a vocal appearance on their debut. His ability to replicate {|Hjelvik|}'s death rattle establishes some continuity, but his periodic forays into clean singing, often in English, represent enough of a stylistic departure to make {|Splid|} feel fresh, even when it's serving up the same ghoulish goulash of pick-slide-happy classic rock and Asgardian black metal as its predecessors. Produced with seismic heft by {|Converge|}'s {|Kurt Ballou|}, who helmed the band's first two outings, {|Splid|} (which translates to Discord) commences with a slow-building storm of distortion that gradually reveals a blazing, punk-metal core festooned with {|Iron Maiden|}-worthy guitarmonies. Album opener Rogaland is well placed, offering safe harbor for those concerned that {|Hjelvik|}'s absence might steer the good ship {|Kvelertak|} into unfamiliar waters -- the singles Bratebrann and Fanden ta dette Hull! are pretty much instant Valhalla-worthy classics. Crack of Doom takes a slight detour into stoner metal, with {|Nikolaisen|} joined on vocals by {|Mastodon|}'s {|Troy Sanders|}, and the taut and snappy Tevling flirts with {|Pixies|}-ish alt-rock, but for the most part, {|Splid|} picks right up where 2016's {|Nattesferd|} left off and never looks back. ~ James Christopher Monger Less