Without knowledge of the language, it's difficult to verify this theory, but it's certainly the way I choose to view the album. Each track seems a continuation of sorts of the previous song, as opposed to a simple collection of songs, though that's a rather crude way to describe a standard album. The album, at least to this reviewer, is thematically continuous. Like every other aspect of the band's sound, the vocals defy convention on their own merits, but the alien tongue only adds to their mystery (for the foreign listener, of course). Frontman Janove may throw in the odd English phrase here and there (hear the bewildering 'Made In Hong Kong' refrain in Resistansen), but this album is all Norwegian, all the time.

This may hamper any dreams they have of mass worldwide success, but Norwegian or not, its a very endearing aspect to their music.

The band proudly sing in their native tongue. Perhaps the most helpful way to describe the band would be 'neo-Tom Waits' in Norwegian. The website spiel goes on to declare: 'The line-up features drums and electric guitar, which goes without saying, plus double bass, a pump organ and oil barrels plus whatever junk they find along the way.' If nothing else, they're slightly insane.Īttempts to classify the band within traditional framework or otherwise are really in vain. The band's website takes a wild stab (a sound probably found on the album) at classifying the sex-piece, announcing: 'Their style of music is rock, with a major Eastern European flavour, la Tom Waits.' If nothing else, they're cultured. Their sound is typified by a mix of alley-pan drums, raucous horns and dirty jazz guitar. The band's name gives one insight, they're definitely an orchestra of some kind, albeit a completely unheard of kind. There's no conventional way to describe how the band sounds. Ompa Til Du Dor was their first album, released in 2002, and they have since released two further LPs, Evig Pint in 2003 and Maestro in 2005. The band puts on an energetic live show, playing 150+ shows a year primarily in Norway, Denmark, but also at various festivals and key locations in Europe. Three hit albums, a Norwegian grammy, and numerous other accolades later, there are few who would dare challenge them for the crown. They were formed in Bergen, Norway, in 1998 and set out with the intent mission of becoming Norway's greatest ever live act. They have quite a dedicated fanbase in mainland Europe, and a huge following in their native land. Little seems to be known in the English-speaking world of the rather unorthodox-in-every-way sextet from Norway, Kaizers Orchestra.

Kaizers orchestra resistansen