Operating out of the Norwegian capital they refer to as Ugly Fucking Oslo, four piece necro sludge act Haust have been a well known name in the Norwegian hardcore and metal scene for the past few years. With their noise rock approach to hardcore and black metal, Haust have created a musical universe of their own - standing at the frontier of a new Norwegian scene of dirty, sludgy metal along with fellow Oslo bands Årabrot and Okkultokrati.
Their 2008 album debut "Ride the Relapse"...
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Operating out of the Norwegian capital they refer to as Ugly Fucking Oslo, four piece necro sludge act Haust have been a well known name in the Norwegian hardcore and metal scene for the past few years. With their noise rock approach to hardcore and black metal, Haust have created a musical universe of their own - standing at the frontier of a new Norwegian scene of dirty, sludgy metal along with fellow Oslo bands Årabrot and Okkultokrati.
Their 2008 album debut "Ride the Relapse" received a warm welcome in the Norwegian media - both mainstream and underground, and lead to shows at major festivals like the Hove Festival and the Øya Festival. Two years later, the band released their sophomore album "Powers of Horror".
"Powers of Horror" has been sucked out of the slimy subconsciousness and is ready to meet the daylight. Two years have passed since the thundering LP debut "Ride The Relapse", the first record to be released by the now highly respected Fysisk Format label. Since then, Haust have maintained a low profile, and besides releasing a split 12" with Next Life and a few exclusive shows - the Haust myth has built it self.
"Powers of Horror" was recorded a weekend in Caliban Studios, still with the bands guitarist Ruben Willem as the producer and engineer. Why rent foreign labour when you can do it yourself? During the past years, Willem has produced records for bands such as Nattefrost, Mongo Ninja Kvelertak, and Okkultokrati. The cover art for "Powers of Horror" is made by american illustrator Peter-John de Villiers.
What appeared as a fresh and tight line-up at the first album, has now evolved into a crew of musicians who grant themvselves an even bigger musical freedom for this new record. The songs are longer, heavier and darker then earlier material. The music is more varied, but Haust's characteristical ability to find a groove amongst the sludge is still there - and still summoning hordes of Haust fans.
The album title is borrowed from an essay by Julia Kristeva about abjection. Abjection is the ambiguous experience of something repelling and nauseating: the smell of corpses, blood, and feces. The fact that this still is a natural human attraction is confirmed daily in the stories that surround us - be it drunken rants, news, or movies. The more repelling, the more attracted are we. This is the step onward from "Ride The Relapse". When all self confident negativity back fires and swallows you whole. "If the first album was the party, then 'Powers of Horror' is the day after", says vocalist and lyricist Vebjørn Guttormsgaad Møllberg.
One does not need to listen to many seconds of "Powers of Horror" before ears, nose, and throat can assure us that this fall will be as rotten, wet, and macabre as the previous one. The sweet yet sour bonfire of a sound is not to be mistaken: Punk sludge with a hint of black metal is still a kids' favorite.
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