Fredag 13 september
September in Oslo is time for by:Larm, a music conference and festival that originated in Trondheim in 1998. It is held over three days and consists of seminars, lectures and panels as well as over 100 concerts across 10 stages, where new and unknown bands can introduce themselves to a wider audience. Among the artists who have made their breakthrough via by:Larm are Kvelertak, Aurora, Kaizers Orchestra and Kakkmaddafakka. We went along on Friday night to check out the unorthodox Oslo band Rosa Faenskap at Vulkan Arena, who claim to be a declaration of love for – as well as a declaration of war against – black metal itself. They strive to ‘the best of their ability, to drive black metal purists insane’.
The band fuses elements of black metal, post-rock, prog, shoegaze and hardcore punk. As soon as they begin playing, opening their high energy set with the explosive ‘Paradis’, a single from the band’s debut album ‘Jeg blir til deg‘ (released in late 2023), it is clear that the sound is huge and expansive, despite there being only 3 people on stage. The soundscape is similar to the Icelandic band Misþyrming. Instead of black metal war paint, they wear eyeliner, a touch of grim glamour. The band logo, in pink with a heart above it, glows brightly behind hard-hitting drummer Anders Jansvik. The band think the genre is ‘marinated in unhealthy amounts of testosterone’ and want to stand as a counterbalance.
The lead vocal delivery from Håvard Solli is intense, reminiscent of Deafheaven’s ‘Black Brick’, as are the guitar rhythms from guitarist Emil Vestre, dressed in priest like long black drapes. Vestre, who has something of a star quality about him, shines during the mid-set cathartic track and album closer ‘Neonlys’. Finishing the set with the album’s powerful, chugging, title track, it is clear that this unique band had gained new fans, confused (but also impressed) a few purists, and are definitely a band to watch. Rosa Faenskap deserve to make a breakthrough at by:Larm. 4.5/6
Text and photography: Anne-Marie Forker