Kvelertak : "Endling"

 Norway's most rocking punks are back. It's the same line-up that busted out "Splid' . The opening track finds them starting things off in a more jammy metallic direction. Though at almost eight minutes there is plenty of places for them to take the song, which ranges from an almost Blue Oyster Cult feel to very driven metal chugs. The vocals do not play a huge role in this song, but it still proves to be impressive. "Fedrekvlt" is more compact and punk in its snarled intentions. "Likvoke' keeps things at a pumped up pace while expanding beyond the confines of punk. 

They return to the rowdy confines of punk, with an AC/DC slant to it on "Motsols". Ivar seems most comfortable here, though he sounds more like the original singer in his more rough-throated approach on this album. There are a ton of influences that are shaken up and released like feral cats from a burlap sack. Country twang collide with black metal pounding, and moody post-punk brooding in equal measure on some songs. The title track finds the vocal colors shift to less larynx torturing, though not quite sung. "Skoggangr" is more anthemic, but something does not flow as well as the first half of the album to me. Not a bad song, just doesn't catch me the same. 

This album might be their best when it comes to production value. There are sonically more bells n whistles and they are all very well layered in the mix. This might not be used to its full potential on a straight-up punk song like "Paranoia 297" but the album typically benefits from it. 'Svart September" is pretty straightforward after the more melodic guitar intro that fakes you into thinking it might be a ballad.  The last song sfind them heading into a moodier more melodic sonic territory, while sometimes flirting with Metallica-like riffing. The vocals interplay well against these more deliberate riffs. It still retains the core of who the band is while branching out into sung vocals in places.  The fact they are a punk band that makes almost eight-minute songs interesting is very telling about who they are as a band. I will give this album a 9.5, they do what they do without recycling ideas, and not selling out, and the band continues to evolve in all the best ways. This album comes out September 9th.