Swedish noiserock quartet HUVET have previously described themselves as “idiots who play idiotic rock to counteract idiocy”. Now that’s my kind of band!
They list a lot of influences, such as Big Black, Cortex, The Jesus Lizard, Cypress Hill, and Flipper (to name just 5). I am usually reluctant to mention other bands in reviews because often people have no idea who I’m talking about, and it creates unnecessary comparisons and expectations.
I think it’s much better to explain the emotion and feeling of the music so that people can almost hear it just by reading the review.
Anyway, I don’t speak Swedish, but I can tell you that their new single, ‘Bostadslös’, is about the struggles of being homeless.
It’s nice and crunchy from the start. A raw guitar sound and some satisfyingly loose, spikey riffs. A pulsating note rings out like a distress call, supported nicely by the taut, driving drums.
Siri Strand’s voice has a clear tone, but a little raspiness adds some character. There’s a punk feel too, as the lyrics are spat, sung, snarled, and howled.
The groove has a swing to it that adds to the swagger and attitude of the track. It’s an effervescent atmosphere that crawls up your spine and chills your bones.
With effortless transitions and changes in dynamics throughout, it feels vibrant and has the energy of a surging crowd.
The intensity rises and falls, chanting vocals and staccato piano appear, and I feel like I’m in the middle of the crowd, jumping and screaming with everyone else.
As the track finishes, things wind down to a stop, and it feels like every last drop of energy has been poured into this performance.
The band says they break through the idiocy and create nervous vibrations. With ‘Bostadslös’, HUVET has created a menacing, atmospheric storm of a song that I suspect echoes the streets and the voices of the unhoused.
Written by Grubby
