AGABAS

At first glance, it seems an unlikely birthplace: a log cabin set deep within the Hardangerfjord of western Norway. A place of stillness, surrounded by the breathtaking majesty of the “Queen of the Fjords.” Hardly the soil from which a ferocious union of Death Metal and Jazz might rise – a sound Agabas call deathjazz.

The Norwegian six-piece band have announced the signing to Mascot Records (Calva Louise, Dinosaur Pile-Up, VOLA, THE HARA, Conquer Divide) and the release of their latest album Hard Anger as a Deluxe Edition on 5 March. The band will also be on tour in Europe through February and March with Avatar.

The sound is uncompromising. Mercilessly downtuned breakdowns collide with savage, unrelenting saxophone lines that refuse to play a supporting role. Blast beats tear forward, bass rumbles like shifting earth, and guttural Norwegian vocals are hurled straight at the listener. The influence of Meshuggah, The Dillinger Escape Plan, and Gojira is unmistakable, but so too is the freeform intensity of John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, and Miles Davis.— something distinctive, unruly, and entirely its own.

That depth is no accident. Between them – Sondre Sørensen Brønstad (Vocals), Oskar Myrseth (Guitar), Jarand Aga Baas (Guitar), Johan Jamtfall Eriksen (Bass), Alexander Dellerhagen (Saxophone) and Bjørn André Syverinsen (Drums) – hold jazz performance master’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees in music technology and musicology, and an academic seriousness that underpins the chaos. Singer Brønstad even wrote his master’s thesis on the history and cultural impact of mosh pits. These are musicians who understand both the tradition they draw from and the rules they are breaking.

Formed in Trondheim, once the Viking Age’s beating heart; a place where Kings ruled and war councils yielded power. Over 700km from Trondheim, the Hardangerfjord offered them a place of quiet reflection. Away from everyday noise, it allowed their minds to turn to larger questions — toward the uneasy sense that the world itself is turning another restless page in its long and troubled story. The world has changed, yet remains the same.

Themes of war and humanity coil themselves around their new album. The deluxe edition single ‘KILL’ explores a near-future dystopia where artificial intelligence erodes truth itself. The title comes from the Norwegian phrase Kunstig Intelligens Lager Liv (“Artificial Intelligence Creates Life”), forming an acronym KILL that feels both prophetic and unsettling.

For all the ferocity the band emits, Agabas radiate an unexpectedly inviting presence—black uniforms traded for Hendrix-style paisley, seriousness swapped for humour. Sondre commands the stage with warmth and infectious energy, breaking down the barrier between performer and crowd – instigating their infamous Saxpits.

The band documented their time in the cabin through a series of Instagram and TikTok reels, their humour and self-irony drawing in curious onlookers. Over 1.6 million views and 35,000 new followers later, Agabas had begun explaining deathjazz to people who wanted to understand it — and to those who didn’t.

From sweat-soaked clubs to grand theatres the band dive into the pit with their audience, turning spectators into collaborators. What unfolds is a thrilling juxtaposition: far from the blood-and-thunder chaos you might expect, Agabas delivers a flamboyant, cathartic, and overwhelming live experience—intense, loud, and immersive—where the saxophone reigns and bodies collide. This has taken them on a ride across Europe, through the UK and on tour with their heroes, Kvelertak.

They carve out humanity’s horrors on the album. ‘Jævla menneske’ translates as ‘Damn Human’ and features Jørgen Munkeby of Norwegian experimental metallers, Shining. “‘La Blodet Flomme’ dismantles the nonsensical logic behind conflict. “Are war crimes punished, or is it only genocide if you lose?” asks Brønstad.

But, above all, Agabas are intent on building community. Inclusivity is foregrounded at their shows and embedded in ‘Arv.’ “Join Agabas and help us create our legacy together,” Brønstad urges. “We stand together, against injustice.”

Myrseth explains further, “I think if you have something to say, you should say it. We’re making music and sharing it with the world and we want to build a community around that. We want to make it clear what our values are. It’s about inclusivity and love.”

Myrseth ponders their unique deathjazz sound, “We noticed intense, hard-hitting moments in jazz, like Coltrane in the ’60s, and thought, why not combine that with the heaviness of Meshuggah to create a new kind of hard?”
Deathjazz is an unfamiliar hunger, and Agabas feeds it to you until your body dissolves into rhythm and your heart freezes, perfectly reshaped by the curve of a saxophone.

Track List

Kjærlighet for alle
Jævla Menneske
En vakker himmel
La blodet flomme
Se det for deg
Vis meg alt
Råte
En enkel sjel
Arv
På åpent hav
KILL (BONUS TRACK)
Mørke Daga (BONUS TRACK)
The Wizard (BONUS TRACK)

Tour Dates:
Tickets available HERE

Feb 5 – Stockholm – Fållan, SWEDEN *
Feb 7 – Helsinki – Kultturilato, FINLAND *
Feb 9 – Oslo – Sentrum Scene, NORWAY*
Feb 10 – Copenhagen – Vega , DENMARK*
Feb 11 – Osnabrück – Botschaft, GERMANY*
Mar 7 – Luxembourg – De Gudde Wëllen, LUXEMBOURG*
Mar 9 – Wiesbaden – Schlachthof, GERMANY*
Mar 10 – Zlin – Datart Hala, CZECHIA*
Mar 11 – Warsaw – Stodola, POLAND*
Mar 12 – Berlin – Columbiahalle, GERMANY*
Mar 13 – Hamburg – Docks Club, GERMANY*

*Supporting Avatar