Album Review: Jordsjuk — ‘Råtner på Rot’

Norway’s Jordsjuk consist of a selection of the country’s greatest musical weapons — Renton on bass and drums, Sagstad on guitars, and Mannevond on vocals. Past and present, these outstanding artists have played with black metal powerhouses, such as the Spellemann / “Norwegian Grammy”-winning Djevel, Urgehal, Koldbrann, Sarkom, and Nordjevel. Furthermore, the exciting news recently broke that Mannevond is now fronting Sweden’s Craft. Only excellence could be expected of the Jordsjuk team. Jordsdjuk’s debut EP, Råtner på Rot, naturally represents a major victory for extreme music.

Jordsjuk’s refreshing style is bound to appeal to a broad range of listeners. The band combines black, death, and thrash metal. Jordsjuk’s prominent bass and wicked groove put them in a category with groups like Tulus. Jordsjuk combines necrotic brutality with ear candy. Each of the four beautifully crafted songs on Råtner på Rot proves highly pleasing. Given the phenomenal talent and shared history of the creators involved, it is not surprising that Råtner på Rot stands out as a terribly confident offering. The team’s chemistry is magnificent.

Renton masterfully composed both the music and the lyrics by himself. The strength of his vision contributes to making Råtner på Rot a gripping and unforgettable effort. Renton’s musicianship likewise leaves no room for doubt. Sagstad certainly does justice to Renton’s killer guitar writing. Of course, Mannevond has earned quite a reputation as a remarkably skilled and charismatic frontman. His cadence on Råtner på Rot is exceptional. Thanks to Mannevond, Renton’s words can be heard clearly and therefore fully appreciated.

After I first experienced the EP’s opening track, the explosive and mesmerizing “Stein til Byrden,” in 2023, I penned that Jordsjuk seemed to be one of Norway’s most promising groups. In other words, I have been looking forward to Råtner på Rot for quite some time and consider its unveiling a very special moment for the metal scene. Jordsjuk has since signed to the revered Indie Recordings, the home of legendary acts like Seigmen. In January, Indie unleashed a music video for “Siste Skanse,” which is now technically regarded as Råtner på Rot’s first single, on the same day as the band’s first live gig, which took place at the festival Orgivm Satanicvm at Oslo’s hip Blå venue. “Siste Skanse” is a highly catchy yet dangerous number that has already earned acclaim. On Råtner på Rot, “Siste Skanse” is followed by the gangrene-inducing title track. Råtner på Rot’s finale, “Viva la Apocalypse,” can be described as the EP’s most frenetic track. Indie wisely selected it as the EP’s second single. The fiery intensity of this song confirms that Jordsjuk’s momentum on Råtner på Rot never wanes. As a whole, the totally cohesive Råtner på Rot deranges the senses, causing an unhealthy dose of madness.

The excellent production ensures that Råtner på Rot’s organic sound perfectly suits the material. In every respect, the EP is thoroughly professional, yet it is not in the least overly polished, which is especially important in light of the music’s rawness. Renton served as the EP’s producer while the esteemed Jaime Gomez Arellano, who collaborates with the likes of Paradise Lost, handled mixing and mastering. Gomez Arellano has an old-school approach that preserves both the character and the authenticity of the content.

Since the recording of Råtner på Rot, ex-Dead Trooper’s Birger Larsen has become the newest member of Jordsjuk. This vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, who has already worked with other members of the band, has been assigned the role of bassist. We can’t wait to hear what Larsen and the rest of Jordsjuk will surprise us with in the future. Again, Jordsjuk truly has the potential to set the music world ablaze.