KVELERTAK Forced To Miss First Few Shows Of WEEDEATER Tour

According to reports in the Norwegian media, blackened punk metallers KVELERTAK will likely miss the first few shows of their previously announced U.S. tour with WEEDEATER and ZOROASTER because their passports went missing just a few hours before the band was scheduled to board a flight out of Norway.

"I sat down to have a bite at Burger King at [the Oslo Central Station Friday night, March 4], and suddenly I discovered that the backpack with all six passports that I had placed next to me on the seat was gone," lead singer Erlend Hjelvik told Dagbladet.

It may take up to one week before the band can obtain new passports with valid U.S. visas. As a result, KVELERTAK is hoping to at least be able to make it to Austin, Texas in time for the band's March 16 scheduled appearance at the South By Southwest (SXSW) festival.

"We will go down to the passport office on Monday and see what we happens," Hjelvik said.

The members of KVELERTAK are not sure how much money they will end up losing as a result of the delayed start of their tour.

"We paid 70,000 NOK [approximately $12,500] for the flights, but we do not know if that money will now be used for the new tickets, refunded or if we have lost it entirely," the singer said.

KVELERTAK shamelessly draws inspiration from every corner of anything that fits into its idea of hard-hitting, catchy, extreme rock 'n' roll regardless of genre, always truthful to the basic idea of the band: good songs performed with the tongue-in-cheek attitude of their punk-rock pioneers. Unlike the majority of heavier bands, they sing in their native language, adding yet more character to their already unique sound.

It’s a classic story: A bunch of good friends decide to create a band. It turns out to be a very good band, and from the start of 2007 things have been on fast forward for these young lads from the west coast of Norway. National radio airplay and stunning live performances have taken them to some of the biggest festivals in the country including the infamous Roskilde festival in 2009, where they performed in front of 80,000 crazy fans. Astonishing for a (then) unsigned act with a few demos.

Their self-titled debut album was released June 21, 2010 via Indie Recordings and continues to receive rave reviews from mainstream media and metal web sites alike for its unique TURBONEGRO/black metal/punk/classic rock/blues elements. Produced by Kurt Ballou and mixed by Alan Douches with artwork by John Baizley and guest appearances by Hoest (TAAKE),Andreas Tylden (JR Ewing and ALTAAR),Ivar Nikolaisen (SILVER),and Ryan McKenney (TRAP THEM),"Kvelertak" has been dubbed "the best Norwegian debut album of all time," and the band "the new MASTODON."

KVELERTAK was nominated for two Spellemann awards, (the Norwegian Grammy Awards equivalent),in the categories of "Best Newcomer" and "Best Rock Album." The awards ceremony is being held tonight (Saturday, March 5). In February KVELERTAK won the Statoil grant and 1,000,000 NOK (approximately $180,000). The Statoil grant is a prize which helps promising Norwegian bands on the verge of international breakthrough to succeed internationally.

"Kvelertak" will receive a North American release on March 15 via The End Records. The North American edition includes six bonus tracks: live recordings of the songs "Fossegrim", "Sjøhyenar (Havets Herrer)", "Blodtørst" and "Mjød" from the BBC Sessions last year, as well as demo versions of "Ordsmedar av Rang" and "Utrydd Dei Svake".