The Most Quietly Consistent Band of The Past Ten Years
How a Danish punk band redefined themselves and punk in the process.
When you think of punk bands, Denmark is not necessarily a place that you would think of as a breeding ground. It’s a quiet country, and their neighbors Sweden seem to have the bulk of musical talent, from ABBA to Robyn. One exception to the rule is punk band Iceage.
Rising through the DIY scene (like any good punk band) in Copenhagen, they quickly ascended through the industry from local success to a Matador label deal.
At just under thirty years old, they have gone from outsider punks to something like mystics, reveling in the abstract and weird. Beyond that though, they are an incredibly accomplished band that took their punk success, morphed it with gothic influence, and came out the other end with five stellar records. Richard Hell and Iggy Pop have both sung their praises, that should be enough street cred.
Iceage formed in 2008 and released their first album, New Brigade, in 2011. From the start, the message was clear- direct, hard-hitting punk that just really wasn’t visible anymore. The record is under a half hour and absolutely tears through each minute, stopping for nothing.
At just under twenty, the band were taking punk to new heights. Elias Bender Rønnenfelt, singer and frontman, lets go completely, furthering the band in new directions. In fact most of his words are completely irrelevant, as the band takes over in a huge show of force. Elias hangs in the background but also knows when to enter the fold, sounding less like a frontman and more like a setpiece to the very unique mood.
It helps that New Brigade holds up a decade later. Its dark mood captivates along with powerful drums and driving riffs, and as a mission statement, it is very hard to fault.
They followed up New Brigade swiftly with You’re Nothing in 2013. As far as albums go, it’s more of the same but dialed up to eleven. The songs are faster, louder, harder, proving again that the still incredibly young band could match their heavy live shows. There’s little fat to trim here, with the same amount of songs as New Brigade in a slightly longer runtime. The album is a testament to how increased resources can really push the band to the next level. Tying all this music together is singer Elias, who again comes off inscrutable and positively magnetic. But there’s something more- every now and then, Iceage let back on the accelerator, and let the mood build. This paces the record, and would mark a beginning in their experimentation.
As far as first records go, both New Brigade and You’re Nothing are incredible showings, and for me, among some of the best punk you can listen to this side of Fugazi. There’s something about these punk anthems that are so sincere and also supremely dark that makes them a joy to listen to. If you’re talking best punk records of the 2010’s, we’re talking Japandroids, Savages, G.L.O.S.S., and of course Iceage.
Iceage had proven that they could be a deeply consistent punk band, but just three years later they would change styles completely, and become a better band for it.
Their third record, Plowing Into The Field of Love, in 2014 is a sharp left turn in the style of the band, reminiscent of a band none other than Radiohead. From the punk they were known for, they went, as Nick Cave did, into a more goth direction.
Just one listen to the introductory single, “The Lord’s Favorite,” shows a band miles away from its’ origins, and musicians talented beyond their years- the band members were only in their early 20’s at the time. The song itself is an incredible mash-up of the Elias’s growl and some sort of country twang. It’s amazingly stylish, and that’s not even getting into the lyrics.
Somewhere along the way, Elias has turned from a punk to some sort of low-key poet. And that’s the key here, Elias is no longer behind the guitars, he is direct in front. The lyrics here are at times raw, at times sad, but at most times still abstract and art pieces in and of themselves.
The new accompaniments to these tracks are amazing in how easily they fit in. When you hear a string instrument or a trumpet, you aren’t shocked at how it found itself there, you’re amazed at how at easily it fits into the vibe of the track.
Plowing, for me, is the height of their still-amazing career. The songs are punchy (“Simony”), slow and measured (“Against The Moon,”) and above all just fun to listen to (“Abundant Living”). It’s one of the best rock records of the 2010’s for sure, and it’s not much contest.
By 2018, their metamorphosis into something like late-age Rolling Stones was nearly complete. Gone was the razor-sharp punk, making way for the orchestra and backup singers- of which Sky Ferreira is a guest on “Painkiller.”
Here is where I understood how powerful Iceage were as a band. On album centerpiece “Catch It,” the guitar takes the lead, soloing, eventually descending into waves of feedback. The drummer keeps up the tempo, matching step for step with the band until they all take the foot off the gas at once and go back cruising speed. It’s an astounding moment from still such a young band.
It’s no surprise then, that the rest of the record reaches the standard of quality that you have come to expect from this band. The band stuns on “Under the Sun,” a slow-rolling plod led by Elias that expands into a string-and-horn-laden climax. The best comparison I can think of for Beyondless is a clear punk band draped in glitter, sitting on some sort of stage set from Vaudeville.
Coming into 2021, Iceage were still undergoing a change. Seek Shelter, their latest record is again far away from their punk origins. With a choir and orchestral components in tow, Iceage were back to flex their muscles yet again. Some songs, like “Drink Rain,” come entirely out of left field. You can picture the band swinging and humming in the studio, as opposed to the shredding and moshing of their early work.
At 29, singer Elias Bender Rønnenfelt has led his band through many transformations.He has always seemed to exist as an amalgamation of his high art and philosophy influences, but here, on the opener “Shelter Song,” he sounds downright melodic, going part for part with the choir they have enlisted. Seek Shelter takes from a lot of influences- something like Britpop mixed, again, with Nick cave.
In a decade where guitar rock has taken a backseat to hip hop and pop music, it’s refreshing to see a band that still pushes the boundaries of rock, albeit behind the scenes.
