Elias Rønnenfelt, the unmistakable voice behind Danish punk band Iceage, is stepping out solo with his debut album Heavy Glory.
Set to drop on 25th October via Escho, this new project sees Rønnenfelt diving deep into personal territory, combining rock, poetry, and the chaos of life. And to give us a taste of what’s coming, he’s just released the single ‘Worm Grew a Spine’, a track that’s as much a wild ride as its title suggests.
Driven by a relentless drum machine, ‘Worm Grew a Spine’ brings to mind the gritty jams of Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde era, but with Rønnenfelt’s signature intensity. The song comes with a surreal green screen video that captures the dark, edgy vibe he’s known for. Talking about the track, Rønnenfelt channels the same off-kilter energy fans of Iceage will recognise, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you hooked.
Heavy Glory is a record born out of both isolation and excess, telling stories of survival in a chaotic world. Recorded in Copenhagen over the span of a year, the album features collaborations from Iceage’s own Dan Kjær Nielsen, punk legend Peter Peter, and vocalists Fauzia and Joanne Robertson, both of whom Rønnenfelt has worked with on past Dean Blunt projects.
The album’s creation was far from conventional. In 2022, frustrated by the uncertainty of the pandemic, Rønnenfelt threw himself into the road, playing impromptu gigs wherever he could across Europe. Living rooms, chapels, forests – each space shaped the songs on Heavy Glory, giving them a gritty, lived-in quality that reflects the artist’s tireless work ethic.
Tracks like ‘Like Lovers Do’, ‘No One Else’, and the latest single ‘Worm Grew a Spine’ are just the start of what’s shaping up to be a bold solo statement. Heavy Glory promises to be a journey through Rønnenfelt’s world – one that’s both fragile and fierce, dreamlike yet grounded.
In support of the album, Rønnenfelt is set to play the Pitchfork Music Festival in London on 7th November at The Lexington. Get ready for a live experience that will likely be as unpredictable and captivating as the music itself.
Heavy Glory drops on 25th October, and it’s already shaping up to be one of the year’s most intriguing releases.
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- Danish Punk
- Elias Rønnenfelt
- Escho
- Heavy Glory
- Iceage
- Indie Rock
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- Pitchfork London
- Poetry
- Worm Grew a Spine