Those in the know still get a perverse kick in being able to thrust this band upon the unsuspecting. First thoughts of those new to the game probably lean towards pointing out the band's testicular fortitude in selecting a mysteriously subtle form of disparaging bigotry as a moniker. Following that is the disbelieving wonder that said irreverent noise rock collective are also Grammy winning artists. Of course, that initial thought couldn’t be further from the truth – Årabrot is actually the name of the garbage dump in the band’s hometown of Haugesund, Norway. And about that Grammy thing; well, their eighth full-length, Solar Anus, did win best metal album in 2011’s Spellemannprisen, which are the Norwegian Grammies. So there.
If anything, being somewhat accepted by the establishment has resulted in guitarist/vocalist/mastermind, Kjetil Nernes displaying fits of reactionary weirdness, a path which he continues to travel down on latest EP, I Modi. Where the grating clang ‘n’ clatter of off-kilter noise rock pretty much had listeners taking it on the chin from start to finish on albums like The Brother Seed and Revenge, I Modi exhibits a more diverse and textural side of the band. The six songs on the docket here are divided between a thunderous clap of down-picked accents that would easily receive a Melvins stamp of approval juxtaposed against the sort of ambient soundscapes and experimental noise excursions that can frustrate those looking for riffs, riffs and more riffs.
“The Grip of the Family, A Cinc” is a glorious display of percussive wash, horror movie vocals and an absolutely filthy bass tone the totality of which is as singular and unique as it is a collision of recognizable names like Faith No More, Karp and Big Black. Whether the ominous feel of this lead-off track is the result of, or simply augmented by, Årabrot choosing to capture this in an abandoned 19th century chapel in the Swedish countryside is something to ponder as the scathing riff and criss-crossing vocal layers of “Fillip the Pudenda, Tongue The” rages on through. From this point onward is when things turn towards the strange. “Protomartyr Thekla” sees Nernes vocally recombining the DNA of Unsane’s Chris Spencer and various characters from Sesame Street and, as the EP goes on, space becomes more plentiful, oddball ambience and eerie soliloquies become more noticeable and potent ingredients on the wispy “The Isis Pool” and title track.
Admittedly, ambient waves of grey are a matter of preference; if you have issues with patience and the sound of waiting for something to happen, it’d suit you better to seek out something a bit (or a lot) busier. If you like your Swans and Tribes of Neurot filtered through the likes of Amon Düül and the guitar stylings of Oren Ambarchi and Caspar Brötzmann, chances are you might appreciate this much more than if your daily routine includes the hunt for riffs, riffs and more riffs.
6.5/10
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhuNwyiqiZk&w=560&h=315]
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