Elias Rønnenfelt, the charismatic frontman of Iceage, is stepping out on his own with Heavy Glory, his first solo album, dropping 25th October. If you’ve ever been captivated by his intense performances with Iceage, get ready—this solo effort is set to pack just as much punch but with a raw, personal twist.
The album took shape in 2022, during that strange period when the pandemic was fizzling out, but normal life hadn’t quite returned. Bored of waiting around, Rønnenfelt decided to hit the road and play anywhere in Europe that would have him. He was on a mission, playing new songs in forests, living rooms, and even chapels—wherever ears were willing to listen. These spontaneous performances birthed Heavy Glory, an album about love, chaos, and everything in between, written by a man who’s never been without his pen and guitar.
“Heavy Glory is the sound of growing up in the world by throwing oneself into the world,” Rønnenfelt says. This isn’t just another record; it’s a personal diary set to music, co-produced by Rønnenfelt and Nis Bysted, and featuring familiar faces like Iceage’s Dan Kjær Nielsen, punk icon Peter Peter, and vocalists Joanne Robertson and Fauzia.
The lead single, ‘Like Lovers Do’, kicked things off with a country swagger, while the latest release, ‘No One Else’, pulls at the heartstrings, reflecting on love that arrives just a little too late. The accompanying video, directed by Rønnenfelt, is just as evocative, featuring scenes of him blindfolded and riding a horse through the Wyoming plains, wandering the neon-lit streets of Las Vegas, and floating down a river—images that perfectly capture the melancholy of missed chances.
Reflecting on making the album, Rønnenfelt notes, “I’ve done this so many times, but capturing and crystallising an album remains a singular ritual, just with different circumstances. We are capturing something that is hard to hold down.” Heavy Glory isn’t just about love—it’s about the gritty, messy, and sometimes painful realities of it.
The album wraps up with two covers: Spacemen 3’s ‘Sound of Confusion’, which Rønnenfelt calls a mission statement for his life in music, and Townes Van Zandt’s ‘No Place to Fall’, a gentle, closing invitation to join him on this never-ending journey. It’s a journey full of twists and turns, where the music wobbles but never loses its way.
Ready to dive into Rønnenfelt’s world? Heavy Glory is available for pre-order now.
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