Kvelertak are a Norwegian black n roll band from Stavanger, formed in 2007.… Read Full Bio ↴Kvelertak are a Norwegian black n roll band from Stavanger, formed in 2007. The group comprises vocalist Ivar Nikolaisen (who replaced founding member and lead singer Erlend Hjelvik in 2018), guitarists Vidar Landa, Bjarte Lund Rolland and Maciek Ofstad, bassist Marvin Nygaard and drummer Håvard Takle Ohr. Most of Kvelertak's songs have Norwegian lyrics, and their main influences are rock and roll and punk rock.

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.

Sjøhyenar
Kvelertak Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ute på eit svart hav
Å sjøhyenar ...?
Å du skal slaktas
I iskaldt sjøvann

Langt ute på eit svart hav
Å sjøhyenar ...?
Å du skal slaktas

I iskaldt vann

Havets herrer ler igjen
Dei har store kvite tenner

Sjøsalt fylt med blod
Dei har våte snuta, ...?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Kvelertak’s song Sjøhyenar paint a vivid picture of a gruesome fate that awaits someone out at sea. The opening line “Ute på eit svart hav” (Out on a black sea) sets the tone for the song as it hints at the darkness and danger of the ocean. The next line “Å sjøhyenar…?” poses a question about sea hyenas, which don’t actually exist, suggesting that the danger lurking in the waters is unknown and mysterious. The line “Å du skal slaktas i iskaldt sjøvann” (And you shall be slaughtered in icy seawater) reveals the person’s fate, which is to be killed by the creatures of the sea.

As the song continues, the lyrics describe the creatures responsible for the person’s demise as the “havets herrer” (lords of the sea) with “store kvite tenner” (big white teeth) and “våte snuta” (wet snouts). The imagery here paints a terrifying picture of these creatures, which are presumably sharks or other predatory sea beasts. The line “Sjøsalt fylt med blod” (Sea salt filled with blood) adds to the horror of the situation as it suggests that the person’s blood will be spilled into the very waters that will soon consume them.

Overall, the lyrics of Sjøhyenar are haunting and ominous, painting a vivid picture of the dangers that lurk in the depths of the ocean.

Line by Line Meaning

Ute på eit svart hav
Out on a dark sea

Å sjøhyenar ...?
Oh sea hyenas...?

Å du skal slaktas
And you shall be slaughtered

I iskaldt sjøvann
In icy seawater

Langt ute på eit svart hav
Far out on a dark sea

Å sjøhyenar ...?
Oh sea hyenas...?

Å du skal slaktas
And you shall be slaughtered

I iskaldt vann
In cold water

Havets herrer ler igjen
The lords of the sea laugh again

Dei har store kvite tenner
They have big white teeth