By DJ Monk
TGTB&TZ will be very familiar to regular ÜR readers, as we have been championing their cause for several years now, fighting their corner long before they even thought about bothering the attentions of the mainstream media – which, of course, they have now done, mainly thanks to singer Ivar Nikolaisen being recruited to the ranks of countrymen Kvelertak. Of course, the Norwegian deathpunks have always been something of a shifting collective of musicians, with various members drifting in and out of other projects such as Kosmik Boogie Tribe and The Devil And The Almighty Blues (both of whom have also featured in these pages).
Despite it having been two long years since their last album, the ironically titled ‘Algorithm & Blues’ sees the Zuglies showing no sense of slowing down, as they blast punk rock anthem after punk rock anthem straight into the deepest recesses of your aural cortexes, where they explode with the fury of a well-targeted drone strike.
The opening bars of ‘Welcome To The Great Indoors’ roll out of the speakers like those to ‘DC’s ‘Thunderstruck’ before the song, and thus the album, explodes into life with furious intent, the band setting down their marker with the main riff and then Nikolaisen’s acerbic, in-your-fucking-face, snot fuel, ranting screams. This is proper, old-school punk ‘n’ roll with a modern twist, as the band rail against the faceless, petty-minded keyboard warriors – or the “deep down low-life loudmouths with loud voices and fake profiles, hiding behind their computers” as the band themselves so eloquently put it, as Nikolaisen summarizes their attitude in one single phrase: “I am a liar, a fucking liar”.
With lyrical themes that cover egotism and, primarily, the pettier aspects of life, as expounded by the abovementioned computer geeks, ‘Algorithm…’ rattles along at a characteristically frenetic pace, appealing to both our basest intellectual instincts and the need to dance around the room like a three-year who has found a tin of Red Bull (although other “energy drinks” are available).
If your knowledge of Norwegian hardcore-infused post-punk doesn’t yet extend much beyond Kvelertak or Turbonegro, then you seriously need to check out TGTB&TZ. If you’re already a fan, then ‘Algorithm & Blues’ is both faith and life-affirming in equal measure, proof positive that embracing pettiness is possibly the clue to surviving this fucked up life and living it to its full. Pogo-tastic stuff all ‘round.
‘Algorithm & Blues’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
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