A quartet of fresh-faced youths lounging next to a tree in a sunny setting doesn’t exactly scream/growl/wail “extreme Norwegian black metal,” but looks can be (somewhat) deceiving. Sure the lack of corpsepaint is, ahem, a dead giveaway that something is a little different about Fanatisme, but that’s largely because on their debut full-length, Tro, håp og kjærlighet, black metal is just one influence at hand. This roughly recorded (and played) seven-song record takes a raw black metal aesthetic and vocal approach and marries it to early ’80s post punk and goth gloom. These four youngsters—Stian Hjertvik (rhythm guitar/synth/vocals), Håkon Leira (lead guitar), Erik Consani (bass), Birk Hynne (drums/synth)—sound like Darkthrone trying to play Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures or the Cure’s Faith. It’s both acerbic and strangely melodic.
Tro, håp og kjærlighet was recorded at Gladland, Easter 2025, by Cato Stormoen (Deathhammer) and mixed by Mode Kjevik. It’s set for release on CD, vinyl and digitally on December 12 via Fysisk Format Records. Place your preorder here.
The band described its debut as such:
“I hope this album can make sense to an international audience despite the emphasis on nordic scenes and emotion, even though I would imagine people already like and respect that within black metal. Feelings transcend language and can touch the souls of those who open themselves up for it through the various riffs, shrieks and imagery we deliver with this record. This is only the beginning.”
