Kvelertak were formed in Stavanger, Norway in 2007. The band's name is the Norwegian for "stranglehold" or "chokehold". A demo, Westcoast Holocaust, was self-released that year. The band released their debut album, entitled Kvelertak, on June 21, 2010 via the Norwegian record label Indie Recordings, and on March 15 via The End Records in North America. The album was certified gold by IFPI in Norway for selling over 15,000 copies.
In March 2011, Kvelertak were presented with two Spellemannprisen Awards, a prestigious Norwegian music award similar to the American Grammy Award—for Best Newcomer and Best Rock Band. The Kvelertak song "Mjød" was used as the end music for the film The Troll Hunter.
The second album, Meir, was released in March 2013. The band's third studio album, titled Nattesferd, was released on May 13, 2016. Their fourth studio album, Splid, was released on February 14th, 2020, their first with Ivar Nikolaisen on lead vocals.
Berserkr
Kvelertak Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Styrtregn mellom mektige graner
Tiden var kommen for den rituelle jakten
Ensom forlot han sitt følge
Oppfylling av den norrøne pakten
Med kroppen full av Valkyrien sitt mjød
Skal han skjenka udyrets død
Dyriske berserkere i ulv og bjørnehud
Ja dei var Odins sendebud
I holtet sto han ansikt til ansikt
Med eit mørkt og frådandes dyr
Tennene spådde hans endelikt
Tross visste han tiden ikkje var omme
Dødsøksen hogga kvikt
Bjørneblod fløyt overalt
Han flådde pelsen og ruset seg på dens livskraft
Eit blodig offer til vår allvitande gud
Dyriske berserkere i ulv og bjørnehud
Ja dei var Odins sendebud
Krigerlauget sto ved stranden
Ein mordermåne er oppstanden
Dei lepjar i seg dyreblod
Slik at drapslyst skal få gro
Kroppen full av psilocybe
I svartsyns øyemed
Uten brynje bar i bjørneskinn
Gjort til beist med ulvesinn
Dei satte hoggtenner i skjolda
Fiendar med henda folda
Hæren visste ikkje kva som traff dei
Då dei blei ekspedert til Helheim
The lyrics to Kvelertak's song "Berserkr" describe a ritualistic hunt carried out by a berserker, a fierce Norse warrior dedicated to Odin. The song portrays a scene of intense darkness and primal energy. The singer, alone and fueled by Valkyrie's mead, fulfills the ancient Norse pact by confronting a dark and foaming beast in a hollow. Despite the beast's ominous teeth predicting his demise, the berserker remains determined and swiftly strikes with a deathaxe. Blood from the bear flows everywhere as he skins the animal and indulges in its life force.
The lyrics speak of a blood sacrifice to their all-knowing god and the presence of berserkers adorned in wolf and bear skins, acting as Odin's messengers. The powerful image of these warriors invokes a sense of primal and brutal nature. The berserker confronts his fate, knowing that his time is not yet over. This act of violence and ritual is celebrated as a testament to their devotion and connection with the divine.
Overall, the lyrics of "Berserkr" paint a vivid picture of a primal and savage hunt, showcasing the strength and connection to the gods that these Norse warriors possessed.
Line by Line Meaning
Brannfakler ildne opp natten
Burning torches illuminate the night
Styrtregn mellom mektige graner
Torrential rain falls between powerful fir trees
Tiden var kommen for den rituelle jakten
The time had come for the ritual hunt
Ensom forlot han sitt følge
Alone, he left his companions
Oppfylling av den norrøne pakten
Fulfillment of the Norse pact
Med kroppen full av Valkyrien sitt mjød
With his body full of Valkyrie's mead
Skal han skjenka udyrets død
He shall toast to the death of the beast
Eit blodig offer til vår allvitande gud
A bloody sacrifice to our all-knowing god
Dyriske berserkere i ulv og bjørnehud
Bestial berserkers in wolf and bear hides
Ja dei var Odins sendebud
Yes, they were Odin's messengers
I holtet sto han ansikt til ansikt
In the thicket, he stood face to face
Med eit mørkt og frådandes dyr
With a dark and ravenous animal
Tennene spådde hans endelikt
The teeth foretold his doom
Tross visste han tiden ikkje var omme
Regardless, he knew his time was not over
Dødsøksen hogga kvikt
The death axe struck swiftly
Bjørneblod fløyt overalt
Bear blood flowed everywhere
Han flådde pelsen og ruset seg på dens livskraft
He skinned the fur and indulged in its life force
Krigerlauget sto ved stranden
The brotherhood of warriors stood by the shore
Ein mordermåne er oppstanden
A killer moon has risen
Dei lepjar i seg dyreblod
They lap up animal blood
Slik at drapslyst skal få gro
So that the lust for murder may flourish
Kroppen full av psilocybe
The body full of psilocybe
I svartsyns øyemed
In the purpose of black vision
Uten brynje bar i bjørneskinn
Without armor, wearing bear skins
Gjort til beist med ulvesinn
Transformed into a beast with wolf-like senses
Dei satte hoggtenner i skjolda
They sank their fangs into the shields
Fiendar med henda folda
Enemies with folded hands
Hæren visste ikkje kva som traff dei
The army did not know what hit them
Då dei blei ekspedert til Helheim
When they were sent to Helheim
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BJARTE LUND ROLLAND, ERLEND HJELVIK, GEIR-MARVIN NYGAARD, KJETIL HAUGLAND GJERMUNDROED, MACIEK OFSTAD, VIDAR LANDA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
FF
Lyrics translation: Berserkr (Berserker) – In a dark and dim forest warriors are preparing themselves by drinking blood from wolves and bears. (Album booklet description)
Torches fires up the night
Downpour between mighty spruces
The time had come for the ritual hunt
Lonesome he left his companions
The fulfilment of the norse pact
With the body full of the Valkyrie’s mead
Shall he bestow the beast’s death
A bloody sacrifice to our all-knowing god
Animalistic berserkers in wolf- and bearskin
Yes, they were Odin’s messengers
In the woods he stood face to face
With a dark and frothing animal
The teeth predicted his end
Despite this he knew the time was not up
The axe of death chopped fast
Bear blood flew everywhere
He skinned the fur and got high on its life force
A bloody sacrifice to our all-knowing god
Animalistic berserkers in wolf- and bearskin
Yes, they were Odin’s messengers
The guild of warriors stood by the beach
A murder moon is risen
They drink animal blood
So that a lust for murder will grow
The body full of psilocybe (psychedelic mushrooms)
In black sight’s purpose
Without chain mail, bare in bear pelt
Made to beasts with wolves' mind
They put their fangs in the shields
Enemies with folded hands
The army didn’t know what hit them
When they were sent to Helheim
The dead bathe in a sea of red
They were born for this
Thank the one-eyed’s gifts
For widows visiting empty graves
Armsauce
Best song they've recorded so far. I don't know how people can't get into this album.
triumphant39
@Dustin Pine Not sure if that is accurate, as such people wouldn't like any kvelertak, not simply disliking this album. I think the correct answer is that it's more downbeat, artsy, and meandering than some of their other music. it has more of a post-black sound (this song is a bit of an exception, though), I have this album on lp.
Dustin Pine
Gatekeepers, elitists
Esoteric Sigmarism
For real, this is peak awesomeness
Ryan Rainwater
Whenever i'm having a bad day at work (I work in retail. It gets extremely frustrating having to fake being nice to assholes all day), I go in my car on my break, light up a cigarette and put this song on... This band has saved me from getting fired a few times, lol.
SpeedBottles
Kvelertak just do things diffrent, they don't repeat themselves over and over again, that's why i love this shit!
Alberto Anguita Castilla
SpeedBottles Yeah man! And they are even better live \m/
Mark falisi
Exactly my point also
dre
2:35 - 3:28 is one of the best musical sections i've heard all year. reminds of scott pilgrim for some reason, almost sounds like a power pop song.
Esoteric Sigmarism
It's so psychedelic / melancholic but also happy for some reason - truely a special piece of music