When you think of Norwegian metal, the first thing that comes to mind is often the dark, heavy riffs and the raw, unfiltered energy that legendary bands like Darkthrone and Dimmu Borgir bring to the table. But what happens when you mix this brutal genre with a bit of humor and a whole lot of speed? Enter Rat Lord, the powerviolence/hardcore outfit from Bergen, Norway, ready to shake things up with their latest track, “Raised on Kneipp.”
Rat Lord’s Yngve Andersen (guitars, vocals) and Sigurd Haakaas (drums), alongside Martine Green (bass), are delivering a serious sonic assault that parodies and pays homage to the infamous Norwegian black metal scene.
Their latest album, “Blazed In The Northern Sky,” set to release on August 30th, 2024, through Loyal Blood Records, is an 11-track blitz of fast punk that laughs at, mocks, and celebrates black metal all at once.
So, what’s the deal with “Raised on Kneipp”?
Comments the band: ““Raised On Kneipp” is a reference to when the Norwegian black metal band Darkthrone was asked what they thought about fellow Norwegians Dimmu Borgir’s music and replied: “It’s good with cream cake once in a while, but you need (kneipp) bread from day to day to survive, and our music is kneipp bread.””
Kneipp bread, for the uninitiated, is a staple in Norwegian households, much like how black metal is a staple in the country’s music scene. Invented by Dr. Kneipp in ancient times, this bread was even rumored to prevent people from masturbating too much—an odd but intriguing bit of trivia that adds to the track’s quirky charm.
“Most Norwegians are raised on kneipp bread, and this type of bread was invented by Dr. Kneipp in ancient times to prevent people from masturbating so much. This is actually a fact. Look it up. The song is also a reference to Darkthrone’s “Raised On Rock” and is about when you try to be polite to someone, but in reality, you want them to die ASAP.”
“Raised on Kneipp“
In “Raised on Kneipp,” Rat Lord takes this concept and runs with it, creating a song that embodies the gritty, day-to-day struggle of hardcore, while also poking fun at the grandiosity often associated with black metal.
It’s a track about trying to be polite to someone you secretly can’t stand, a sentiment many can relate to, delivered with the kind of ferocity and speed that only powerviolence can offer.
The band’s new album promises to be a wild ride.
“Blazed In The Northern Sky” is a nod to Darkthrone’s “A Blaze in the Northern Sky,” but instead of brooding darkness, Rat Lord brings relentless speed and a tongue-in-cheek attitude. This is hardcore for fans of The Locust, Gulch, and Jesus Piece, and it’s not for the faint of heart.
Based in Bergen, the trio’s mission is simple: make fast punk songs about everyone and everything they hate.
Rat Lord’s music is made to kill—it’s aggressive, it’s fast, and it’s unapologetically in-your-face. “Raised on Kneipp” is just a taste of what’s to come. So strap in, because this album is going to be one hell of a ride.
“Blazed In The Northern Sky” is out through Loyal Blood Records on August 30th 2024.
“11 fast punk tracks pissing on and laughing at and celebrating BM. All just for fun.” – says the band.
