Norwegian noise rock duo Barren Womb have dropped a new short documentary that captures the unhinged, ragged charm behind the making of their fifth album, Chemical Tardigrade. Clocking in at just under 13 minutes, the film is a stripped-down, often absurd glimpse into their creative process and DIY approach, offering something more candid than promotional: a portrait of two people building chaos with intent.
Directed by Carl Christian Lein Størmer of IGH, the documentary culminates in the video for “Squat Walker,” a track from Chemical Tardigrade that’s tightly bound to the anarchist community of Svartlamon in Trondheim.
The area, long known for its resistance to gentrification and its radical values, plays a central role in the video. Størmer explains: “Squat Walker is a portrayal of an act of human resistance. In this case, the battle against capitalistic forces about to eradicate the area of Svartlamon in Trondheim. The main protagonist, Olav, won’t give up without a fight. And Barren Womb’s song encapsulates the spirit of revolt perfectly, performed while the inhabitants of Svartlamon stare capitalism straight in the all-seeing eye.”
Barren Womb—Timo Silvola and Tony Gonzalez—formed in 2011 and have built their name on frantic live shows, lean noise rock instrumentation, and a streak of sarcasm so dry it might catch fire. With four albums behind them, including 2020’s Lizard Lounge, and nearly 300 shows logged across Europe and the U.S. alongside acts like Entombed A.D., Voivod, and Nomeansno, they’ve made a habit of staying loud, angry, and sharply self-aware.
Chemical Tardigrade, released in 2024 on Fucking North Pole Records/Blues For The Red Sun, feels like their most realized work to date. It’s a record of contradictions—snarling but focused, brutal but at times melodic.
The influence of their side projects Velcro Dog and Twin Serpent shows up in subtle textures and new layers of emotional range. Tracks like “Bug Out Bag,” “Campfire Chemist,” and the closer “Dung Lung” carry more weight than their runtime might suggest. There’s still plenty of absurdity, but also a growing sense that the laughter masks something more reflective.
The duo’s signature mix of punny titles and unrelenting drive remains intact. “D-Beatles” stands out, not just for its jabbing rhythm but its eye-roll-inducing name. “Bachelor of Puppets,” “Keep it R’lyeh,” and “High Fructose Napalm Syrup” are equally loaded, both sonically and lyrically. Throughout the album, they layer their dual vocals over grinding riffs and abrupt shifts, weaving dystopian themes of escapism, collapse, and survival.
Recorded and mixed by Eirik Øien at Fjøset Lydstudio and mastered by Alan Douches, the record doesn’t try to smooth out the band’s rough edges—instead, it leans into them. Øien also contributed electronics on four tracks, subtly expanding the duo’s minimalist palette without undermining its raw core.
In the film, the chemistry between Timo and Tony is laid bare: funny, chaotic, and full of deadpan commentary. The documentary isn’t stylized or polished, but it doesn’t need to be. Like their music, it runs on instinct. And in tying it to a real-world act of resistance in Svartlamon, it places Chemical Tardigrade in a larger context.
Barren Womb are building something jagged, loud, and oddly sincere, and we’re so into it.
