Kvelertak Wins Two Spellemann Awards

Norwegian blackened punk metallers KVELERTAK were honored in the “Best Newcomer” and “Best Rock” categories at the 39th annual Spellemann awards (the Norwegian equivalent to the Grammy Awards). The largest and oldest Norwegian music awards show was held last night (Saturday, March 5) at the Spektrum in Oslo, Norway and was broadcast live on the Norwegian channel TV2.

In February KVELERTAK won the Statoil grant and 1,000,000 NOK (approximately $180,000). The Statoil grant is a prize which helps promising Norwegian bands on the verge of international breakthrough to succeed internationally.

Their self-titled debut album was released June 21, 2010 via Indie Recordings and continues to receive rave reviews from mainstream media and metal web sites alike for its unique TURBONEGRO/black metal/punk/classic rock/blues elements. Produced by Kurt Ballou and mixed by Alan Douches with artwork by John Baizley and guest appearances by Hoest (TAAKE), Andreas Tylden (JR Ewing and ALTAAR), Ivar Nikolaisen (SILVER), and Ryan McKenney (TRAP THEM), “Kvelertak“ has been dubbed “the best Norwegian debut album of all time,” and the band “the new MASTODON.”

“Kvelertak” will receive a North American release on March 15 via The End Records. The North American edition includes six bonus tracks: live recordings of the songs “Fossegrim”, “Sjøhyenar (Havets Herrer)“, “Blodtørst” and “Mjød” from the BBC Sessions last year, as well as demo versions of “Ordsmedar av Rang” and “Utrydd Dei Svake”.