The ferocious union of Death Metal and Jazz has found its way into existence in the shape of the Norwegian six-piece band, Agabas. Following the release of their latest album Hard Anger (Deluxe) in March, they have announced a UK headline tour for November.
They will begin on 12 November in Leeds at the Royal Park Cellars and will call through Cardiff (Fuel Rock Club), Bristol (Exchange), Manchester (Star & Garter), London (Black Heart) and finish on 19 November in York at The Fulford Arms. Tickets are available HERE.
Talking about the tour, the band say, “Our last time in the UK was such a blast, we can’t wait to come back! We’ve added some cities we didn’t get to visit last time, which is very exciting, and we’re working on a lot of new material these days, so we’ll probably be testing out a few new songs as well! Some of the venues we played last year almost sold out, so we’ve got high hopes that this is going to be a packed and sweaty affair. See you guys in November!”
Photo (c) Terje Frostad
The sound is uncompromising. Mercilessly downtuned breakdowns collide with savage, unrelenting saxophone lines that refuse to play a supporting role. The influence of Meshuggah, The Dillinger Escape Plan, and Gojira is unmistakable, but so too is the freeform intensity of John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, and Miles Davis.— something distinctive, unruly, and entirely its own.
That depth is no accident. Between them – Sondre Sørensen Brønstad (Vocals), Oskar Myrseth (Guitar), Jarand Aga Baas (Guitar), Johan Jamtfall Eriksen (Bass), Alexander Dellerhagen (Saxophone) and Bjørn André Syverinsen (Drums) – hold jazz performance master’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees in music technology and musicology, and an academic seriousness that underpins the chaos. Singer Brønstad even wrote his master’s thesis on the history and cultural impact of mosh pits. These are musicians who understand both the tradition they draw from and the rules they are breaking.
Their live shows have seen them join Avatar on their February-March European tour, as well as previously going out on the road with Kvelertak.
Themes of war and humanity coil around Hard Anger. The deluxe-edition single ‘KILL’ explores a near-future dystopia in which artificial intelligence erodes truth itself. The title comes from the Norwegian phrase Kunstig Intelligens Lager Liv (“Artificial Intelligence Creates Life”), which forms the acronym KILL that feels both prophetic and unsettling.
But, above all, Agabas are intent on building community. Inclusivity is foregrounded at their shows. “Join Agabas and help us create our legacy together,” vocalist Brønstad urges. “We stand together, against injustice.”
Deathjazz is an unfamiliar hunger, and Agabas feeds it to you until your body dissolves into rhythm and your heart freezes, perfectly reshaped into the curve of a saxophone.
Tour Dates
Tickets are available HERE.
23 Oct – Stockholm – Kollektivet Livet – Sweden
12 Nov – Leeds – Royal Park Cellars – UK
13 Nov – Cardiff – Fuel Rock Club – UK
15 Nov – Bristol – Exchange – UK
17 Nov – Manchester – Star & Garter – UK
18 Nov – London – Black Heart – UK
19 Nov – York – The Fulford Arms – UK
