Death Is Not Glamorous
Soft Clicks

A Norwegian melodic hardcore punk band? Formed in Oslo in 2004? With 2 albums and a couple of EPs under their belt? Followers of Dag Nasty, Embrace, Minor Threat, Fugazi, and Rites of Spring? They promise well. In fact, more than well, and the expectations are certainly not disappointed.

The bizarre cover we have in front of us belongs to the second album by Death Is Not Glamorous, released in early 2009. The cover is definitely peculiar and doesn't evoke cold sensations like the climate of their land. At first glance, we won't find melancholy and atmospheric music here, but we expect to find lots of fun. Exactly.

Indeed, we start off at full throttle, with the excellent bass line of "Life Is A Huge" accompanied by a quite lively and catchy riff. The excellent beginning makes us realize we are dealing with one of the best European punk rock bands of recent years. "Set In Stone," "No Mistakes," "Aware-Wolf," and "Crack Stone" are 4 sparkling and short pieces with an engaging melody that precede in the lineup "Straight Through," a track of 3:40 minutes that starts as energetic as the others but from the minute mark onward becomes rather calm before giving way to the minute of pure frenzy of "Clear Lines."

Right after, it's time for the Californian "Moving Parts" with its fast drumming and West Coast-inspired riff. The influence of Minor Threat can be heard in "New Ways To Breath," with a sprinkle of the infectious melody that has accompanied us so far.

In "To Tell You The Truth" and "For Keeps," we find a decent dose of Strike Anywhere and, if you like, early Offspring; the result is certainly not bad. With "Magic Fang," we return to the calmness that could predict an outburst of madness, which, however, does not come. Indeed, the closing of the album is entrusted to the excellent and well-measured "Beyond The Shadow Of Doubt."

Ladies and gentlemen, this is Norwegian Punkrock!