ÅRABROT – live in Oslo
- Posted on 21-09-2025
Reviewed by Andrea Chirulescu
Full photo gallery by Jonathan Mazin:
Formed back in 2001, going through various lineup changes, but with a current strong foundation from Kjetil Nernes and Karin Park, and having recently released “Rite of Dyonisus” (the sbling of last year’s “Of Darkness and Light”), Årabrot has embarked on a mini autumn tour to promote the release and enchant the Scandinavian stages (plus one in Budapest and one in Montpellier). And most important, bring their dirty, ugly rockn’n’roll to all venues along the way.
I have discovered their wild stage shows a few years back and did my best to watch them live with every occasion. Even if they have recently have performed at Desertfest in Oslo, I was still thrilled they’d have their own show I can attend only shortly after. Årabrot delivers something that is constantly awesome, but also quite unpredictable. And always in full force.
The evening at Parkteatret was opened by «underaapenhimmel», a project of Ole Ulvik Rokseth ( SÂVER, HYMN, Gundelach +). I fully respect his work when I witnessed it live, but I didn’t get this so I will just say that a lot of people seemed excited with what he delivered on stage and that’s all that matters.
Back to Årabrot, we were told that Kjetil and Karin got married in the church – which is also their home – exactly 10 years and a day ago (they had opened this tour on their marriage anniversary) and at that time, Kjetil was also fighting quite a health battle. We can only be thankful that it had the outcome which allows us to watch them live, and Kjetil certainly celebrates each second of being on stage. The two have a fantastic chemistry, where love, admiration and respect for eachother mingle in the right amount to make them a true force on stage. And they certainly know how to both include but also to conduct the impressive drummer that brings the powerful rhythms to their guitar/synth/vocal works. It’s really interesting to watch the dynamics on stage and every single time I find myself admiring everything as a whole. While I don’t think it’s planned to the second, it is surely a sweet mix of planning and letting some improvisation carry everyone away when the moment calls for it.
The songs were mainly from the last album(s) and I found myself listening quite often to the releases as they have a way of getting intimate with you, but also bringing power and intensity to your day. The most personal song on the album, ‘Mother’, was left out of the live show, which seemed just right in the context of building up to a hour of madness, which literally exploded when Karin was dancing wildly on the ending hit ‘Of Darkness and Light’. And I believe there were more people in the audience who just couldn’t stand still anymore, as we were all somehow post-invited to their wedding ceremony, the union of Darkness and light.
I refrain myself from trying to speak of resemblances between what Årabrot does or sound like. They have found their unique way, they can remind you of a multitude of artists and styles, but I simply like the feeling of genuine happiness of being on that stage and performing the music for the audience. Especially when Karin goes, literally, on top of the audience, either singing from the baricade or crowdsurfing while doing so. Her stage presence is mesmerizing and I’m sure everyone who gets to interact with her during those moments, ends up feeling very special for participating.
We have had a chance to interview the band prior to the show and also photograph the concert. My colleague had to leave on a long travel after the concert, and while we usually try to wait and deliver both images and text for an event, I just didn’t have the patience and wanted to have the words leave my mind and my fingers and share the impressions from the crazy evening. My neck still hurts from the headbanging.
So visuals and interview to follow and if you get a chance, do go and watch Årabrot live
September 25th Kulturhuset, Bergen 
October 4th Stavanger Rockfest
October 9th Blårock, Tromsø
October 11th A38, Budapest 
October 25th Maison des Chæurs, Montpellier 
November 7th Haugaland Progfest, Haugesund
Get your tickets here: