Norway’s very own Sandvika and Finnmark-bound newcomers Tjære and Lil Snus have been doing an impeccable job in representing a consistent branding of an anti-authoritarian death cult that is against bogus, ingenuine, mass-produced capitalist systems in the industry. They strongly aspire to show people who understand their values and what they’re aiming for and to advocate what they stand for. 

Proclaiming to be “anti-everything and everyone” as stated on their press release, the duo Tjære & Lil Snus (also known as Emosjonellegutter as their official duo name) manifest the values of pure authenticity of being and becoming, with a touch of anti-authoritarian regime type of nuance, which somehow reminds me of the aesthetics of Gnod’s 2017 album Just Say No To The Psycho Right-Wing Capitalist Fascist Industrial Death Machine. All in all, with the youthful leftist spirit they incorporate throughout the trajectory of their creative process, they stand true to their core principles and values, and they take no cap; the music they create is purely out of their own idealism and never for engagements and numbers.

Their music is a mixture of everything they listen to and everything they are inspired by, but their main influences revolve around the likes of hardcore, thrash, and trap – and that is also why, on their latest release NikotinTapen (Self-released, out May 12, 2023), they converge altogether the elements of hardcore-influenced, Refused-like abrasive riffs and catchy trap materials. I also can sense Against Me!-esque references on this album, especially with the relevant and similar themes surrounding, such as anarchy, chaos, and freedom of expression. There are also tracks that speak of everyday issues, such as ‘Aasmund Røyker’ – an explosive and aggressive punk song that narrates about cigarettes and cancer.

The rap passages they present here are all-around enjoyable, and those verses and bars are presented in a way that would convince the listeners that they know what they want and what they stand up for. What’s even better is that this album was produced by PinkPuddle who has also worked for one of their main influences in music, which is the synthpunk overlord N8NOFACE.

This is overall a very genuine and enjoyable release to explore and dig. I should say that their act of revolt against the capitalist system of the Norwegian mainstream music industry would do wonders in the future.

Stream the album here:

https://open.spotify.com/album/3q9TNI3frItiQ6XChE1jjY?si=alhNHu5LT0us2jEUvrFuRw

9 / 10

RALKA SKJERSETH