King Hüsky – King Hüsky | Album Review

Founding Kvelertak guitarist Vidar Landa takes a break from the high octane black n roll ferocity for an exploration of softer indie folk textures with the debut album from his new side project King Hüsky.

When you hear “Kvelertak side project” your mind might wander a variety of spaces pondering what the abrasive blackened rockers might want to explore outside of their day job. Some ferocious crust punk? Perhaps a further jaunt into the murkier realms of black metal? One thing is for certain, you would not be expecting founding guitarist Vidar Landa to produce self described “painfully shy and awkwardly danceable” melodic indie-folk ear worms that make up the delightful thirty minute or so run through King Hüsky’s self-titled debut. The more cynical metal focused worshipers of Landa’s main body of work might see this a bit like those moments from Metalocalypse where Toki creates his own songs on first impression; but that would be doing a disservice to the intimate, heart-on-sleeve open nature of this album.

Opening track ‘Heads Above Water’ sets the tone for the experience ahead as a singer/songwriter album experience. Soft moody indie-folk/indie-rock with various instruments that appear throughout; alongside personal and introspective lyricism driving somber melodic explorations as well as dynamic and textural shifts in the songwriting. Despite for the most part distancing himself from the styles of his work with Kvelertak, the defiant punk spirit and hard rock worship still crawl into the fringes of this release in one for or another. The aptly named, sub two minute quick fire ‘Bürn In Hell” has a spark of punk rock running through its indie core standing out from the rest of the album somewhat with its more aggressive instrumental and hard-rock shredding solo, whilst still being planted in an indie-rock space. Likewise 70’s throwback glissando guitar tones make their way into moments like the classic rock solo in ‘Change Of Heart’ over the soft drummed acoustic guitars.

All tracks were written by Landa, who has clearly thrown his heart and soul into this debut effort and it shows, feeling like compositions backing readings from a diary of personal thoughts about everyday life. The song titles reflect this, some more overt than others; the likes of the lo-fi rock of ‘Wish I Had A Dog’ and the contemplative folk of ‘Lately I’ve Been Thinking Of Your Mother’ clearly stating the lyrical themes. The album was produced collaboratively between Landa and his partner Anne Lise Frøkedal (formerly of indie-pop outfit Harry’s Gym and current member of indie-rock trio I Was A King) who also provides backing vocals, guitar work and string arrangements. The songwriting and production evokes feelings of the likes of Real Estate, Belle and Sebastian and Teenage Fanclub, dipping its toes across the indie-rock to folk spectrum.

Closing with the soft acoustic ballad ‘Waiting For A Chance’ leaves the album on a poignant note, the raw intimacy of the lyrics reflected in the gentle composition. It is a gentle end to a wonderful experience with King Hüsky’s debut album. It may not be what you expected to hear from the continent hopping hard rock guitarist’s first solo efforts, but with the incredible sense of melody baked into the vocal and instrumental hooks will leave various sweet melodies living in your head rent free for days on end.