Kvelertak (Eng: "Stranglehold") are a Norwegian metal band whose unique style combines Black Metal, Hardcore Punk and Hard Rock into a sound some fans have dubbed "Black 'n' Roll". It's a loud, throat-rending, but surprisingly accessible sound that's building them a fanbase across the world, despite them only singing in Norwegian.
The band's self-titled debut was released in 2010 to enthusiastic response, and 2013's Meir only more so, coming in at #1 in their native Norway and charting in several European charts that hadn't even noticed them first time around.
The band's current linuep:
- Ivar Nikolaisen – vocals
- Vidar Landa – guitar, piano
- Bjarte Lund Rolland – guitar
- Maciek Ofstad – guitar, vocals
- Marvin Nygaard – bass
- Håvard Takle Ohr – drums
Discography:
- Kvelertak - 2010
- Meir (More) - 2013
- Nattesferd (Night's Journey) - 2016
- Splid (Discord) - 2020
- Endling (Ending) (2023)
This band provides examples of:
- Album Intro Track: "Åpenbaring" on Meir, which is almost all guitar crescendo.
- Black Metal: The sound they're most connected to, though they deny being a metal band and apparently once commented on a removal request on Metal Archives to state that no, they weren't black metal or even metal in general.
- Book Ends: Both Kvelertak and Meir begin and end with the band shouting "KVELERTAK!" Played with in the latter album, where it's shouted in the beginning in reverse, then at the end in the middle of the self-titled song.
- Hardcore Punk: One of their influences
- Hard Rock: Another aspect of their sound. Especially prominent in "Undertro", "Tordenbrak" and the band's self-titled song.
- Heavy Metal
- Loudness War: They're loud and low on dynamic range at around DR8, but their records are mixed cleanly and clearly without clipping or brickwalling.
- Metal Scream: Erlend's default singing style.
- Self-Titled Album: Their debut. They also have a self-titled song, but it's on their second album.
