If you are a fan of Interpol’s sinister menace, The Cure’s jagged guitar lines, or New Order’s electronic bass lines, you may want to check out Permafrost. This enigmatic Nordic/British quartet’s music is a mix of all three but has its own unique aesthetic—its self-described “Optimistic Melancholy.”
Named after a 1979 song by Mancunian post-punk band Magazine, Permafrost was initially formed in the coastal town of Molde, Norway, in 1982 by school friends Frode Heggdal Larsen and Kare Steinsbu. Molde was known for its vast jazz and literary festivals but was still a little behind the post-punk movement. Still teenagers at the time, Permafrost debuted with the “Godtment” EP in 1983, which was released on a limited edition of 50 numbered cassettes. Over the years, the band have undergone various transformations and have now incorporated the talents of fellow Norwegian Robert Heggdal and UK-based Daryl Bamonte (who has worked very closely with Depeche Mode and The Cure in multiple roles). Together, they have built an impressive discography of authentic post-punk, early ’80s music.
In 2019, the ‘Permafrost” EP was released on vinyl, making it digitally available in 2021. 2021 was a hectic year, with the band releasing three critically acclaimed singles. “Femme Fatale” and “Closed Eyes” both achieved remarkable success, reaching No.1 on the Indie Disko Top40 chart, with the latter maintaining the top spot for six consecutive weeks. These singles also performed well on the Deutsche Alternative and Native 25 charts while earning placements on influential playlists such as Apple Music’s “New in Rock”. The third single, “Restore Us”, continued their streak of success by hitting No.1 on the Indie Disko Top40 chart and the Native25 chart. For good measure, their 2022 single “Come Back To Surprise” reached No.3 on the Deutsche Alternative Chart and No.5 on the Indie Disko Top40 Chart.
This year, they released two singles: “Wrong Heart,” which reached No.4 on the Indie Disko Top 40, and “Ultimo August,” which debuted at No.2 on the Deutsche Alternative Chart. Now, 42 years after their original formation, Permafrost release their debut album, The Light Coming Through, which features all previously released singles and is supported by the focus track “Lights Out.”
The opening track is appropriately titled “Intro” and is a resplendent, instrumental start with shimmering, choral synths, brooding bass notes and rich guitar twangs. It sets the scene atmospherically for the rest of the album and showcases Permafrost as a confident and experienced band. Kare’s strong Nordic vocal is one of the defining elements of the band’s sound, and the lyrics are almost an announcement: “So here we are, standing in front of our shadows, preventing the light coming through”. This opening lyric defines the band’s intention with the album’s theme: to show the light, darkness, and hope in their music.
“Femme Fatale” and “Closed Eyes” are album highlights. Both songs have dark melodies but also have such an infectious energy with driving drum beats and shimmering synth keys. “Care”, although more upbeat in its instrumentation and with an endearing backing vocal chorus, is a track about being hurt from a relationship breakdown and shows a different side to Permafrost.
The pace is taken down a notch for “Come Back To Surprise,” the most mellow song on the album—a haunting, heartfelt plea. Kare’s voice is vulnerable as he sings, “How long is too long? How long is enough?” Rumbling drums and glints of synth add the right amount of melancholy.
A primal bass line sets the stage for “Lights Out,” the focus track for the album release. The track builds to a crescendo of crashing cymbals and razor-sharp guitar work that slice through it like icy lightning. Kare’s intense, baritone vocal cuts through it all. Written as a battle cry for the weary soul, Frode’s lyrics dig deep into the struggle between giving up or pressing on in a hopeless situation.
“Wrong Heart” is reminiscent of New Order’s “True Faith” with its bass-driven energy and glistening keys. It is a hopeful song about a new day’s dawn ahead. The cinematic “Restore Us,” a song about resetting and restoration, continues the theme of hope with a captivating track featuring spiky guitars and soaring synths. It was the first single to be released after lockdown ended.
“Hourglass” is a sonic curveball at the start, with electronic pulse beats that give the song a “Blue Monday” club vibe before ominous guitars and intense drum beats work furiously to ramp up the energy—this is a great track. “Ultimo August” closes the album and is another highlight. Driven by pulsating basslines and intricate guitar work, this song captures the essence of Permafrost’s signature sound, blending icy synths with despairing vocals to create chilling soundscapes.
The Light Coming Through is a collection of introspective and outward-looking songs. Whilst the songs are dark, they are not gloomy. The melodies and musical arrangements are brooding but upbeat. The music of Permafrost is primarily cool, dark wave but they allow hints of warm light to come through. This band does not need to replicate the sounds of early 80s, post-punk – they have experienced it for themselves and are confident in their skin. The band has stated that the album’s sound is melancholic optimism. It could also be described as optimistically melancholy. Either way, this is an impressive debut.
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