Hear Me Out: Iceage, 'How Many'

“How Many” is best described as Iceage’s three-minute catharsis. The Danish punk band’s last album was released in 2013, and in the year since, it seems they’ve reached an intolerable level of fury that’s itching to be released on their upcoming album, “Plowing into the Field of Love.”

In “How Many,” lead singer Elias Bender Rønnenfelt confronts the listener with a wave of frustration, releasing his vocals in near-screams. “Rubbing my perspiring hands…trapped in my body,” Rønnenfelt repents, making it clear that he’s angry and that he’s been waiting for a long time to tell us why. He’s restless: fed up with wasted drunken nights, unable to reach his “utopia,” dying to move on to something new. “How many more days of disorder?” he demands to know before moving on to the next item on his list of grievances. Ronnenfelt holds nothing back, letting us hear every crackle and breath of his screams.

While Rønnenfelt’s vocals remain passionate and engaging throughout the song, the track’s instrumentation seemed generic. The cacophony of winding guitars and repetitive drums drags on behind the lyrics, giving the track a tired quality reminiscent of earlier Iceage songs.

But just as it feels as though Iceage has finally worn itself out, Rønnenfelt gives one final shout of “How many?” and the guitars launch into another round of crashing chords. The band is back at it, drawing from a seemingly endless stream of disillusionment and agitation. Iceage’s pent-up frustration is very good news for the listener—judging by “How Many,” there will be plenty of energetic angst to fuel their upcoming album.

“Plowing Into the Field of Love” is out Oct. 6 via Matador.