Bizarrekult fights for control on new single ‘Avmakt’

In keeping with black metal’s fiercely individual spirit, BIZARREKULT began its journey in Norway as a lone wolf. Much like the previous two retreats into the studio from lone mastermind Roman V., his upcoming third album emerged slowly and painstakingly from a deeply personal crisis. But the post-black metal luminary continues to expand his tortured vision by not breaking so much as bending with the genre’s storied traditions. On Alt Som Finnes, he confronts all there is with devastating clarity.

Now, Bizarrekult is releasing the third and final advanced single from Alt Som Finnes (All There Is). Caught between blistering rage and shadowy despair, “Avmakt” (Powerlessness) fights for control against the powers that be.

“This song deals with feeling like you have no control”, Roman says. “We carry on as bystanders, powerless over the direction of our lives”.

On the previous two singles from Alt Som Finnes, for the first time, Roman was accompanied by guest vocalists in Yusaf “Vicotnik” Parvez (Dødheimsgard) and Lina R. (Predatory Void, Cross Bringer). But “Avmakt” leaves him no choice but to fend for himself. His wounded howl doesn’t fill but tear through the void of existence, greeted by riffs that flash nothing but cruel indifference.

While Bizarrekult preserves the manic energy of old-school black metal, Alt Som Finnes strips away all our defenses with more post-metal ambience. A hypnotic pounding of drums takes hold beneath the swarm of “Avmakt”, though only for a brief yet terrifying moment. As if dropped from the sky by some terrible unseen force, the shards of melody fall then fade like the last glimmer of hope.

“I was not ready for all this”, Roman says about Alt Som Finnes. “None of us are, when the time comes. But at the end of this journey, it seems to have all been worth it. The music gave me hints as to where to go and what can be”.

Picture the ocean from inside the eye of a storm. Each rising wave presents its own unique threat, churned by the changing of the tides. But no matter how far you sink below the surface, all there is to see is one continuous expanse of water. This is the tortured yet piercingly clear headspace from which post-black metal curio Bizarrekult slowly and painstakingly emerged with its absorbing third album Alt Som Finnes.

In keeping with black metal’s fiercely individual spirit, Roman began his life as Bizarrekult as a lone wolf. The one-man project started in 2006 as a musical accompaniment to the poetic verses he’d written since childhood. However, it’s official recorded debut didn’t come until fifteen years later, after he moved from Siberia to Norway. Living closer to the genre’s birthplace inspired him to bend but not break with tradition. Bizarrekult can be as cold and raw as early Darkthrone, as eerily melodic as Enslaved, or as blistering in its beauty as Borknagar.

“Norway has become my second home”, Roman says upon reflection. “The years that led to the revitalization of Bizarrekult were spent reflecting on myself and reuniting with the things that are important – art and creativity”.

On Bizarrekult’s first album, Roman looked back on his childhood and family life while also examining his changing relationship with the world at large. Released in 2021, Vi Overlevde (We Survived) was perceived as a beacon of hope amidst the second trying year of the pandemic. Charting near the top of Sweden’s biggest newspaper’s year-end list attracted the attention of Season of Mist, who released 2023’s more expansive follow-up Den Tapte Krigen (The Lost War) to further critical acclaim.

Alt Som Finnes (All There Is) maintains the classic energy of the old school. “Drøm” seeks to escape into the comfort of dreams, chased by frantic riffs and hallucinatory screams. “It’s in our dreams that we can finally relax from everything that happens during the daytime”, Roman says. “You can grasp at who you actually are, the meaning of yourself”. While Bizarrekult remains rooted in Norwegian black metal, the album strips away all defenses while adding more post-metal ambience. “Verdens verste” rails against consumerism with blistering grooves, while “Avmakt” surges and seethes in a fight for control before losing power amidst melodies that fall then fade like dying pinpricks of light.

As with Bizarrekult’s two previous retreats into the studio, Alt Som Finnes emerged from a deeply personal crisis. Only this time, Roman is not alone in confronting all there is. He’s  joined in his struggle by guest vocalists from Predatory Void, MØL and Dødheimsgard. Behind a steady pounding of double bass, lead single “Blikket Hennes” buzzes with the all-consuming darkness of a guilty conscience, only for Yusaf “Vicotnik” Parvez to enlighten with soothing cleans.

“I wrote to Yusaf not about music, but life and its difficulties”, Roman says. “It became a connection”.

No one emerges unscathed from Alt Som Finnes. But while riddled with regrets, album closer “Tomhet” breaks new ground as the first Bizarrekult song sung in English. “Am I alone like this? No, we are many”. It’s a damning realization, but also a call for all of us to become something greater.

Line-up:
Roman V. — Vocals
Ignat P. — Guitars & Bass
Alexander P. — Drums