It must have been 2003, maybe even 2002, when I read about a Norwegian rock ’n’ roll band with the strange name “Gluecifer” in an issue of the Greek edition of Metal Hammer magazine. At the time, they were releasing their fourth album, which received a very strong review and high rating, “Basement Apes”. Having absolutely no idea what to expect—and with no YouTube back then, or any other platform to give you a taste of what it was about (that’s how things worked in the old days, I’m talking to the younger ones!)—I went straight to Metropolis, an iconic record store in the heart of Athens that’s long gone, and found a double vinyl. It didn’t line up with the others on the shelf, though, because its diameter wasn’t 12 inches, but 10! These Norwegians must be crazy i thought, but that’s a good sign!
From that point on, I followed them, collected several of their albums, and even saw them live—rather unexpectedly, I’d say—in 2004 in Manchester, during the Monster Magnet tour, where Gluecifer were playing alongside the Swedes, The Quill. For the record, we had also hosted the relevant interviews on Rockpages.gr back then!
What happened next? I’ll tell you… the band broke up after the following album, “Automatic Thrill”… perfect timing, just as I became a fan. In the years that followed, there was radio silence, with the exception of guitarist Captain Poon, who released two albums with his new band, Bloodlights, where he also handled vocal duties. Oh—and a few compilations packed with B-sides and unreleased material, which felt like rubbing salt into the wound.
Until… 12 years later, they announced a reunion! They tore through the summer festival circuit, played in their strongholds—Norway, Sweden, Germany—and then decided to release their first album in 21 years…
I don’t know how you approach a situation like this—your favorite band releasing their first album after 20+ years. There can’t be many cases like that. Personally, I was cautious, mostly afraid of disappointment. What if the album wasn’t good? What expectations can anyone realistically have after so many years?
The first single, “The Idiot,” was one of the fastest songs they’ve ever released, with a sound unmistakably their own—slightly more modern, heavier—and with the riff from “Ace Of Spades” making an appearance towards the end… not bad at all. Things got even better with “Armadas” and “I’m Ready.” The anxiety vanished, my heart returned to its place, and I ended up enjoying one of the best albums they’ve ever released. I’d rank it second, right after “Tender Is The Savage”.
The style is what we used to call “rawk,” straight out of the great Scandinavian school—a genre that survived during the ’90s grunge onslaught. Excellent, well-crafted compositions with attention to detail, tons of energy, not a single song letting up in pace, and a ferocious “Captain” delivering masterclass performances putting down some of the best solos of his life, plain and simple.
The difference compared to their earlier work lies in the more dystopian atmosphere and themes, as opposed to the lighter tone of the ’90s and ’00s, along with a heavier sound closer to “Automatic Thrill”; higher speeds and beefier guitars. References to the past—like “1996,” which deals with that heroic era when Gluecifer were just starting out, long before they became the “kings of rock ’n’ roll,” the most successful rock band in the country, before they broke up and reunited—are inevitable and welcome.
Most importantly, though, this release doesn’t rehash the past, nor does it attempt to imitate their old, glorious days. Those belong to the past and “new highs” await. The band has matured and evolved, even during their absence—and that’s what separates the kings from the courtiers.
Oslo, I’m coming!
