Album Review: Årabrot – Of Darkness and Light (Pelagic Records)

The last two decades have seen Årabrot shapeshift through multiple iterations and on October 13th, the latest version emerges with the arrival of their tenth album, Of Darkness and Light. Out via Pelagic Records.

Consistently unique, constantly eclectic, and commandingly interesting, Årabrot’s rock sound is always worthy of attention. Ten albums in, and they continue to enthral in ways that few others can. Of Darkness and Light is Årabrot, but once again, they push onwards and upwards.

It’s a strong album that shows Årabrot’s creativity isn’t diminishing over time. Revealing ten tracks that have varying degrees of body shaking rock groove, mind warping melodies, dreamy ambience, emphatic energy bursts, and an overall infectiousness that excites from beginning to end. So creative is this record, that Årabrot have no qualms about going in big from the start with Hangman’s House.

Not only the longest track by some distance, it’s also one of the moodiest and melancholic of all that comes on the album. Yet it never becomes tiresome as Årabrot are all about layers and progression. Something that is so apparent when the track really rocks up.

It might seem as though anything else could pale by comparison but that’s certainly not the case with a band as inspired as Årabrot. Clearly feeling fulfilled, You Cast Long Shadows is one heck of a foot-tapper and the fun ‘lightness’ of Horrors of the Past sure does stick. With these tracks it becomes clear that variety is going to be a major component of this album’s overall appeal.

How about the erratic and atmospheric Madness? Where the two vocalists combine for a strong chorus. The brilliant blend of evocative melodies and anthemic rockiness that comes from Cathedral Light? The thumping excitability and edginess that We Want Blood offers? Or how about the explosive blend of intensity and avant-garde that is Fire!? There’s a blend of ideas here and each track deepens the affection most will have for the entire album.

Affection that comes about because Årabrot really know how to capture the imagination and hold attentions. So much so, that as the album reaches its twilight phase, the excitement for what comes next is still palatable.

There’s nothing wrong with the trippy melody and catchy chorus of Skeletons Trip the Light Fantastic or the chilled-out groove of Swan Killer. Two more memorable and varied hits, before Årabrot wrap up this latest experimental entry in their catalogue with the rockabilly-tinged Love Under Will. A fun and effective way to wrap up what is a very good album overall.

Årabrot – Of Darkness and Light Track Listing:

1. Hangman’s House
2. You Cast Long Shadows
3. Horrors Of the Past
4. Madness
5. Cathedral Light
6. We Want Blood
7. Fire!
8. Skeletons Trip the Light Fantastic
9. Swan Killer
10. Love Under Will

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