Tromso, Norway is above the Arctic Circle, where you don’t see darkness in summer, nor daylight in winter. It’s one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights, and it’s hometown to one of the most exciting new rock bands that you’ve never heard of… unless you’re from Norway.
Heave Blood & Die have been hailed by Norwegian national radio as one of the most exciting new bands in Norway, have been nominated for the Norwegian Grammy (Spellemann), played big festivals like Øya & ArcTanGent, and toured with Norwegian heroes, Kvelertak. 2026 is the year the world below the circle discovers the Arctic’s Best Kept Secret.
Arduous Records and The Fellowship Artist Management president, Blaze James, was invited a year ago to be an industry ambassador for Bukta Festival in Tromso, and figured “When the hell will I get another chance to see Northern Norway?” He quickly accepted. The only obligations were to speak at a panel and watch some of the prized local artists perform. He approached the stage, waiting to see this band with the semi-hilarious name, and was completely gobsmacked. “I couldn’t believe it. I was in shock. It’s not that i wasn’t expecting much, it was just that I couldn’t believe how incredible this band that I was obligated to watch actually was.” James muses. “So energetic and powerful and perfect collision of stoner rock, goth and post-punk. I couldn’t believe it. I thought to myself, ‘they can’t be this good on record.’ So I listened to their catalog on the entire 15 hour flight home. I couldn’t get enough.”
‘Burnout Codes’ – Heave’s most recent album – is being re-released by Arduous Records on 1st May, “because the world needs to hear it,” says James. The new iteration of the album will include two bonus tracks – ‘Post People’ and ‘Radio Silence’, which appear on an earlier release from the band but have been updated for 2026. Arduous recently inked an imprint deal with Virgin Music Group, and Heave Blood & Die join influential Los Angles band, Failure as the label’s inaugural signings.
“On ‘Burnout Codes‘, the listener will meet a band that is gearing up the pace of their hypnotic synth-driven rock into a nightmarish urge of energy often associated with punk rock or electronic club music” says vocalist & guitarist Pedersen. “(The song) ‘Dog Days,’ he continues, “portraits late nights in big concrete cities, filled with seemingly never-ending anxiety. Aimless wandering in high-intensity traffic. Fighting ‘the man’ under strobing neon lights in a POV and resolution that resembles a brawl in ‘Punk Alley’ from the PlayStation classic Tekken 3.”
The album is dedicated to the memory of original bassist Eivind Imingen who decided to end his life between the recording and release of this album.
This new edition of ‘Burnout Codes’ drops just before the band hit UK shores for two headline shows in London and Southampton, and an appearance at The Great Escape in May. Ready yourself.
HEAVE BLOOD & DIE IN THE UK:
13 May Sebright Arms, London
14 May Heartbreakers, Southampton
15 May The Great Escape, Brighton
HEAVE BLOOD & DIE ARE:
Karl Løftingsmo Pedersen – vocals, guitars
Marie Sofie Mikkelsen – synth, vocals
Jonas Helgesen Kuivalainen – guitars
Kenneth Mortensen – drums
Luna Storeide – bass
CONNECT WITH HEAVE BLOOD & DIE:
Instagram | Linktree | Spotify | YouTube
