Poetic Terrorism

Release Date: 09/25/2006 · Format: CD · Catalog-No:

We live in a world where the word “terrorism” immediately conjures images of mayhem, bloodshed and shock. How then is it possible to bring a rock record to the top of the sales lists (on first week of release!) with the very word terrorism in its title? The answer is simple and complicated at the same time. The Norwegian rock trio Bigbang just added poetry to the equation and immediately the whole message changed.
Poetic Terrorism is Bigbang´s fifth studio album since the band’s start ten years ago. Bigbang’s singer, guitarslinger and main songwriter Øysten Greni ran across the concept of “poetic terrorism” while visiting his girlfriend, Maria Orieta’s, homeland of Argentina. A country plagued by bad economy and constant social unrest. In this situation the Argentinean artists have created a set of tools to get their messages across, spearheaded by cheap graphic solutions such as stencil graffiti and low-budget movie making. The impact of the Argentinean art is felt all through the new Bigbang album, from the title to the cover art to the song lyrics.

Bigbang`s ascent to the top of the Norwegian rock scene (which currently is very vibrant with internationally acclaimed bands/artists such as Kings of Convenience, Sondre Lerche, Turbonegro, Madrugada, Motorpsycho and Röyksopp) has been fairly unusual. The band spent some time in the trenches getting the tough education that comes with carrying your own equipment and promoting your own shows. Then suddenly everything changed. The very potent combination of a certified hit single (“Girl in Oslo”) and a band with a crystal-clear front figure and dynamic, rock-trio set up, put Bigbang on everybody’s lips. The Bigbang concert experience, once described by Øystein as “freedom rock,” drew the crowds to the extent that Bigbang’s 2004 double live-album (remember those?), Radio Radio TV Sleep, has became the most successful live album in Norway ever. The album has gone platinum and is still selling.

Today Bigbang consists of originator Øystein Greni with Olaf Olsen on drums/vocals and Erik Tresselt on bass/vocals. Erik was Bigbang’s original bass player, but has been out of the band since the early years. Olaf Olsen has earned himself the very coveted title of “The longest-serving Bigbang drummer.” To Norwegian music fans that is pretty significant, as one of the myths surrounding Bigbang is that the drummer’s seat is a very dangerous one indeed. To celebrate this mystic fact, Bigbang once did a show presenting all their drummers! It is rumoured to have been a very long evening. Poetic Terrorism could easily have borrowed R.E.M.s album title, Out of Time. The 11 songs float above rock history, from the 60s onwards, dipping into the 70s, 80s, 90s and on into the current decade without settling anywhere.

The album is produced by Øystein Greni for the band´s own label, Grandsport, and is mixed by American producer/engineer Sylvia Massy Shivy, known for her work with Rick Rubin, Tom Petty, Tool, Prince and the legendary Johnny Cash.

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