Honningbarna "La Alarmane Ga" - Review

The best music makes you initially prick up your ears, take a step nearer the source before  recoiling slighty whilst proclaiming "Whhhoooaaaahhhhh, what the hell is that," exactly my response on hearing Honningbarna (The Honeychildren) for the first time. While the band have appeared from within the Norwegian punk scene, the genre description doesn't fully illustrate the basis of their sound.

Releasing debut album "La Alarmane Ga" in March last year, it quickly garnered praise within their homeland, winning the equivalent of a Noregian grammy at the Spellemannprisen awards, which also highlights the appreciation Scandinavia affords more extreme music compared to the U.K.

The twelve tracks which constitute "La Alarmane Ga" ("Let the Alarms Go") crackle and fizz with pure punk energy, the listener feeling the force of a lightning bolt as it enters one aural orifice before departing the opposite side, although more intricate and unusual aspects also pervade throughout. Lead vocalist Edvard Valberg proves classically trained, utilising the cello to unusal, but great effect within "Fri Palestina" for example.  The site of Edvard playing live, sat behind his instrument, spitting politically charged lyrics from a seated position quite something to behold.

It's the ability to surprise which makes "La Alarmane Ga" such an incredible debut, especially from a band of such tender years. The influences extend beyond punk, into metal, classic rock, hints of The Hives surfacing as the chunkiest of riffs and absolutely blistering solos accompany the dirtiest of  guitar rhythm sounds, reverberating bass with the pre-requisite Norwegian drumming, an impression of additional limbed, super human efficiency behind the kit.

Tragically, at the end of January this year, drummer Anders Eikas died in a car accident, throwing the future of the bad into doubt. A decision made however, with the blessing of the Eikas family, for Honningbarna to continue.

          

To suggest a highlight from such an accomplished and blistering album proves difficult, although perhaps" Klart Blikk" an ideal starting point, the drops, breakdowns and introduction of keyboards a personification of the ability to surprise, never allowing complacency to reign over invention.

Honningbarna have within  "La Alarmane Ga"produced one of the most exciting albums I've heard this year, the fact all the lyrics are sung in Norwegian not mattering in the slightest, still managing to enduce scream a long elements.  Quite simply, a classic debut and a band that must be seen live.  

Check out a Mudkiss interview with Edvard below. 

 http://www.mudkiss.com/honningbarnainterview.htm