Norwegian post-rock band SPURV are preparing to return with their fourth studio album, "Kelolågen", due out on February 5, 2027. Centered on the slow transformation of nature, the album will be released through Pelagic Records. Its first single, 'Kelogadd', is already available, offering a dark post-punk approach shaped by electronic textures.

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The album's title combines two words from Norwegian and Sámi. Kelo refers to ancient pine trees that have stood for centuries before drying out, losing their bark and eventually turning silver-grey, while låg describes a tree that has fallen and lies on the ground. The concept carries particular significance in Norway, where old-growth forests account for only around one percent of the country's forests.

Throughout "Kelolågen", SPURV explore the life cycle of these trees through a six-track narrative. The idea took shape after the band's founder, Gustav Jørgen Pedersen, encountered kelo trees in Muddus National Park in northern Sweden. This experience marks the next chapter in the band's exploration of the natural world, following the peatlands featured on "Myra" (2018) and the glaciers that provided the focus for "Brefjære" (2023).

The album's first single, 'Kelogadd', offers an initial glimpse into the musical direction of this concept. Driven by prominent bass and electronic percussion, the track combines breathy vocals with a heavily processed field recording of a waterfall in an old-growth forest in northern Norway. The sounds of the natural environment thus become an integral part of the track's atmosphere.

Kelogadd Stream Here

"Kelolågen" also marks a new phase in SPURV's musical approach. Described as the band's most concise and dense release to date, the album favours a more direct structure over the lengthy instrumental build-ups and preludes found on previous records. Their characteristic melodies and orchestral arrangements remain intact, however. The inclusion of vocals on two of the album's main tracks represents another significant change: Pedersen, who says he originally started the band so he would never have to sing in one, takes on vocal duties for the first time on this record.

Greater involvement from the members in songwriting and arrangements has further expanded the album's musical range. Guitarist Eirik Ørevik Aadland wrote much of the material, including a substantial portion of the progressive rock-influenced riffing, while trombonist Simen Eifring composed the string arrangements. A pump organ has also found its way into the band's instrumental palette.

Rather than presenting old-growth forests as a lost natural paradise, SPURV portray them as complex, vibrant ecosystems in their own right. According to Pedersen, the album aims not only to highlight the importance of these forests and kelo trees but also to take a stand against their destruction. For the band, the forest also serves as a starting point for imagining alternative ways of organising society.

Recorded and mixed by Jørgen Smådal Larsen at Paradiso Studio in Oslo, the album's sound combines a raw, dense and organic production. Mastering was handled by Magnus Lindberg of Cult of Luna, with cover artwork by Sten Ove Toft and photography by Birte Magnussen.

Consisting of six tracks, "Kelolågen" will be released through Pelagic Records on February 5, 2027. Pre-orders are available via the label's SPURV artist page, while 'Kelogadd' is out now on digital platforms.

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