ICEAGE play Parts & Labour August 17. See listing. Rating: NNNN
Music critics have bandied about the term “post-punk” since Joy Division, but little of the associated music sounds very punk. The whirlwind debut LP from Denmark’s Iceage melds a number of early-80s influences – everything from Mission of Burma to Big Black to Sonic Youth – and reintegrates them with the snotty, shout-along urgency of punk. It’s an impressive feat for a group of 18- and 19-year-olds.
Most tracks clock in at under three minutes, but each is densely layered with abrasive blasts of noise, chilly bits of synthetic drums and scraping guitars and the occasional honest-to-goodness melody. It’s a lot to wrap your head around, especially given the brief run time, but it also hits with a powerful immediacy, even on first listen. Justifies the hype.
Top track: Broken Bone
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