Oslo noise rock trio Hammok have released ‘Tap Water’, a new single and video from their forthcoming album When Does This Place Become Our Scene, out June 5 via Sargent House.
We really likes the attention to detail on this one. The contrast between the quieter, restrained moments and the louder rocking out sections is really well formed. We like their aesthetic too. It’s noise rock done with genuine thought and care.
Following the raucous ‘Gooning For Free’ and ‘The Scene’, ‘Tap Water’ takes a different turn. It’s inventive and brooding, leaning into softer and more grooving influences. Vocalist and guitarist Tobias Osland describes it as “a moment to touch grass,” adding: “The song plays with the idea of self sabotage and reaching out for an exchange of energy. It’s not enough to do something just to say it’s done, it needs to be done for a reason and for actual effect, not for show.”
The accompanying video, directed by Christoffer Bya, was shot at Bromsjordet, a skatepark in Horten, Norway, a cherished spot for the band from their early days.
Hammok are the trio of Osland, drummer Ferdinand Aasheim and bassist Ole Benjamin Thomassen. Pitchfork described them as “erudite students of the genre who hit the ground running,” while Stereogum compared them to Refused, Birds In Row and early Queens Of The Stone Age. Their idiosyncratic blend of pop production, hardcore energy and experimental textures places them on the vanguard of forward-thinking punk.
When Does This Place Become Our Scene is available to pre-order now via Sargent House.
