aaamusic | On 04, Feb 2011

Presents

Kellermensch (Denmark) + Årabrot (Norway) + Deathcrush (Norway)

@ The Lexington, London on Thursday 24^th February

Ja Ja Ja February Night by JaJaJaMusic

Including Årabrot ‘End of First Chant II’, Kellermench ‘Moribound Town’

& Deathcrush ‘Lesson No. 1’ (unmastered)

Not resting on its laurels for one second, Ja Ja Ja have managed to top trump even January’s curator (none other than Tom Robinson of 6Music – if you weren’t there you missed out!). For JaJaJa February is a double-whammy, with not one, but two heavyweight curators for our evening of Nordic muso love-in. Phil Hebblethwaite and John Doran, respective founders of the print and on-line music bibles that are The Stool Pigeon and The Quietus, are joining forces to bring you the loudest, darkest, most out-there and frankly bonkers Ja Ja Ja yet.

The first two bands to adorn the Lexington’s stage will be Deathcrush and Årabrot.

Both hail from Norway, a country where “metal is like the national folk music”– Phil Hebblethwaite. Rocksound describe Årabrot as “more extreme than anything that’s emerged from their home-land’s black metal scene of late. A hybrid of AmRep-inspired lunacy and churning industrial punishment, which veers from the perversely catchy to the downright terrifying”(in a good way that is, for they gave their latest album ‘Revenge’ 8/10). While Deathcrush simply make “filthy no-wave for dirty sluts and horny bastards” – Lars Preus, Tiger Record Store. Last on will be Kellermensch, Denmark’s existential metallers who Rockfreaks.net describe as an audio “ride through darkness and all its obscene eccentricities”. That is what I call an explosive and loud-as-f**k mix. Count me in.

BAND BIOGS:

Kellermensch (Denmark)

Formed in 2006 in Esbjerg, Denmark, Kellermensch’s songs are dusty and dirty tales of emotional stress that combine awkward aggression and melancholy. The band’s influences span across music, literature and art – from the German expressionistic movement, Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky and musicians including Tom Waits, Einstürzende Neubauten, Paradise Lost, Neurosis, The White Stripes, Black Flag and Neil Young. The result is a rough and simple rock instrumentation with piano, pump organs, violins and upright bass playing and songs with great melodies and distinctive moods.

Kellermensch have a reputation for being a must-see experience on stage. With high profile festivals such as Roskilde, Sonisphere + various events as Spot, Popkom, Eurosonic under their belt – as well as the accolade of being one of the very few bands to play live radio sessions for the UK’s BBC Radio 1 and Radio XFM. Kellermensch will release the self-titled debut album this spring and are working on their second album.

Årabrot (Norway)

Årabrot hail from Oslo, via Haugesund and formed in 2001. They’ve released four critically acclaimed albums and collaborated with the creme-of-the-crop of the rock fraternity. Their debut album ’Proposing A Pact With Jesus’ (2005) saw them work with the  infamous underground producer Billy Anderson (Melvins, Fantomas, Swans, Sleep…), the result made the industrial-noise outfit bigger, tighter and harder. Third album – the Norwegian Grammy nominated (in the Best Metal category)  – ‘The Brother Seed’ was completed in Electrical Audio Studios in Chicago, USA. Recorded by legendary Steve Albini (Nirvana, Pixies, Plant/Page, Big Black) and mastered by Bob Weston of Shellac at Chicago Mastering Service  – and was followed with two EPs, the second of which ‘I Rove’, was produced by Emil Nikolaisen of Serena Maneesh. Årabrot’s most recent, forth album ‘Revenge’ (out now) again saw the band team up with Billy Anderson and again saw them achieve great critical acclaim – abroad and here in the UK’s discerning rock press. Årabrot have toured Europe several times, including a legendary UK show where vocalist Nernes blew a lung while performing ‘Ramshackle Row’ from ‘Rep.Rep’ album, only to continue the nine! other scheduled dates with a blown lung. Årabrot have also played US, showcasing at SXSW Austin and CMJ in NYC.

Deathcrush (Norway)

Deathcrush are a No Wave/Noise Rock trio whose success has come quickly. Six months after their first gig, they were hailed as one of the most anticipated acts booked for Scandinavian music convention by:Larm 2011 (Oslo, Norway). Less than a month later they were the first Norwegian band booked for SXSW in Austin, Texas. While National Norwegian music show Lydverket included Deathcrush in their ‘Ten Acts to Look Out for in 2011’.Deathcrush are reminiscent of the reckless sonic heritage of Teenage Jesus and the Jerks or James Chance. The band distribute honors to Mayhem and Cliff Burton as effortlessly as they quote Snoop Dogg – and although they would never claim to be black metal, the band are not afraid to add a touch of darkness for the road. The first songs laid down fro the band were recorded at Crystal Canyon studio (Ulver, Turbonegro), and have  both been recommended by national broadcasting channel NRK. ‘Lesson #1 (for Snoop Dogg)’ is played regularly on the radio show NRK Urørt, whilst student radio and the Tiger Record Store peeps proclaimed their love for ‘Lesson #2 (for Cliff Burton)’. The latter is available on ‘Bransjevelter #5’ (Tiger/Diger/Fysisk Format compilation release, Aug. 2010).