Iceage have always been a band about evolution. Their debut LP New Brigade displayed an innovative aggression that caught the world by storm, and since then they’ve been refining their post-punk sound into something that is uniquely their own. Last year’s impressive and aggressive effort You’re Nothing only came out a year after their debut, and their artistic fervor has only gotten stronger since then. Plowing Into The Field Of Love, the newest LP from this Denmark 4-piece perfectly encapsulates sui generis; it’s a record that mostly sets aside the bands combative and sonically berating ideals for a series of explorative and provoking ballads. While they haven’t completely dropped the engine of post-punk from their sound, Plowing Into the Field Of Love’s delicately selected instrumentation and personalized lyrics make it Iceage’s lushest and most refined record yet.
One of the favoured instrumental additions to Plowing Into the Field Of Love is piano, which is displayed on the opening track “On My Fingers”, a gentle piece that paces along a strong piano drive whilst vocalist Elias Bender Ronnenfelt increasingly distressed croons provide their own engine. Piano serves as the anchor for a couple key moments of Plowing Through the Field Of Love – the emphatic build of “How Many”, and the intensely endearing “Against the Moon”. While there are other instrumental additions that this 4-piece wouldn’t normally associate with (horns on multiple tracks, most notably album standout “Forever”, mandolin on the Irish drinking anthem “Abundant Living” and bowed strings on “Stay”) this LP can’t be mistaken for anyone, but Iceage. “The Lords Favorite,” the first track to drop off the album is driven by a country-punk swing that, while it sounds nothing like Iceage at first is quickly given the bands signature stamp once Ronnenfelt’s vocals kick in to bring the picture into breathtaking focus. Tracks like “Cimmerian Shade” stick to the bands typical setup, distorted guitars, stop-and-start riffs and passioned vocals, but feature a matured and engaging build that surpasses the bands past compositional complexity. Though things are loud, “Cimmerian Shade” still sounds relatively clean compared to tracks like You’re Nothing’s “Ecstasy”.
Ronnenfelt has only further come into his own on Plowing Into The Field Of Love as well, delivering some of his most distressed verses while also displaying some of his most earnest as well, all with incredible aplomb. While only 21 years old, he’s conveying emotion in these songs that harken as much to H.R. as they do Ian Curtis, but making them his own through powerful deliveries and surprising brevity. Personal moments like “whatever I do, I don’t repent” (“Against The Moon”) or “When I’m alone, it poses a constant threat, merciful derelict” (“Stay”) are lining the record, giving the entirety of Plowing a sincerity that tops their previous efforts. Ronnenfelt’s is still angry too, though, which is evident on bloodthirsty tracks like “Let it Vanish,” not to mention the constant barks, growls, and grunts that he spews on many tracks.
In many ways, Plowing Into the Field of Love, much like Seek Warmer Climes, the debut from their Danish friends Lower, is a breath of fresh air for Iceage, if not the first breath in a new body. “Post-Punk” is still the best label for the group, but Iceage’s third full-length has grown to encapsulate a multitude of musical avenues while still making it accessible to most punk-purists. Ronnenfelt’s vocals are strong and sincere, the rhythm section of Jakob Tvilling Pless and Dan Kjær Nielsen is as driving as always, and Johan Surrballe Wieth’s balance of clean and distorted guitars perfectly suit the instrumental game of tag that occurs on the LP. It’s as if Iceage took tracks like the You’re Nothing standout “Morals” and fully realized it’s potential in a full album capacity, and went with it. Plowing Plowing Into the Field of Love is the sound of a band maturing, a soaring set of tracks that easily stand as the groups most refined effort yet, but one that also shows that Iceage won’t be throwing in the towel anytime soon. Plowing Into The Field of Love is sparse, but demanding, tortured but comfortable, clear but kaleidoscopic. It’s an unclouded look into some of the most “punk” minds in today’s music, even if the music itself doesn’t scream punk.
Rating: 4.6/5