Norwegian noise rockers Arabrot have never been ones to work to convention; from their ever-changing sound and air of experimentation to their lyrical content which has time and again hit on the most taboo of subjects, often combined with a sense of mischief. Even in their artwork they often convey a shock value, at least to the less jaded. Latest EP (and the last in the recent trilogy of EPs) You Bunch Of Idiots is graced with an especially provocative cover art, which kind of brings an even more twisted and OTT version of ‘Springtime For Hitler’ to mind. It also aptly conveys the EP’s sense of dark humour and misleading simplicity.
Of the three EP’s, You Bunch of Idiots, on the surface, is the more straightforward after Murder As Art’s dissident nature and the following I Modi (all Fysisk Format) more exploratory direction. Here the song structures fit the more formulaic durations and are laden with more hooks, but still possess that fuzzy, abrasive tone. Coupled with Kjetil Nernes’s gravelly drawl; which seemingly flits between pure venom and a sense of sarcasm and antagonism and you have, of the three, perhaps the closest to a blueprint of the band if even possible.
As one of the world’s most challenging acts for a number of reasons, in You Bunch of Idiots Arabrot have released one of their more simplistic sounding albums, which is still holds up with their confrontational side. Musically it is up there as one of the easiest of theirs to latch on to. Just don’t go showing the artwork to your mum.
7.0/10
CHRIS TIPPELL