Agabas boldly claims that they're my "favorite deathjazz band" in their Bandcamp bio. Gun to my head, my current favorite would be Kayo Dot, or maybe Naked City? Whatever preconceived notions I have about metal mixed with jazz should be tossed aside for these Norwegian madmen and the deluxe version of their 2025 album "Hard Anger." This deluxe edition adds, get this, two whole bonus tracks. They've gained quite a cult following off of "Hard Anger," and I'd like to make up for not listening to it on release day by diving into "Hard Anger Deluxe." 

Starting with the main LP, it only takes me a couple seconds to realize that I've been forcibly saddled into a rabid musical horse (this analogy makes as much sense as the opener, "Kjaerlighet for alle"). The song is heavily influenced by grindcore, possibly by the previously mentioned Naked City. Through the rumbling sea of Johan's bass and Sondre's chants, Alexander's saxophone riffs through at the end. While frantic, the playing time was minimal. "Jaevla Menneske" is another fast-paced song with, while short, enough time to evolve into absolute mind fuckery. The blasts of drums and shrill woodwind streaks give you no time to breathe in between tracks like "En vakker himmel." It's a melodic and heavier track with far more groove and jazz. Alexander sounds like Mel Collins when he slows down (rarely). "La blodet flomme" and the following tracks that end the first half of the project, "Se det for deg" and "Vis meg alt," all fit into either grindcore, melodic(er) death metal, and absolutely crazy honky bullshit. I love the honky bullshit ("Vis meg alt").

"Rate" is extremely dissonant compared to the other songs due to the sheer amount of technicality. It's a rather short track, and that's a good thing - a minute more of "Rate" and I would've imploded. Either I hear a flute in "En enkel sjel," or my Agabas-induced paracusias is acting up again. I feel this track is the most complete in terms of length, variety, and brutality. The songs only get longer (on the main album) from now on, with "Arv" increasing the time by a couple seconds, and "Pa apent hav" by a couple minutes. Six minutes is way too long a song for a band like Agabas, no matter how progressive they may be."KILL" thankfully polishes the album up in the fierce manner I've come to enjoy. Moving on to the bonus material, "Morke Daga" is an eerily straightforward track for the band, and "The Wizard" features English lyrics, and now I can finally (try) to understand Agabas.

I have no idea what to think after "Hard Anger Deluxe." I'm pretty sure they're positive emotions, but my feelings are about as crazy as the album itself. How Agabas reached this level of recognition, I have no idea. What I DO know is that I'm recognizing them, and I'm pretty damn happy to. I have to take a nap.