Iceage – ‘For Love of Grace & the Hereafter’ album review: indie sleaze, is that you?
The broiling, boisterous antics of indie sleaze are often painted as a relic of 20 years ago or longer. However, in the case of Iceage, they still seem to be living it.
The Skinny: This is far from the first rodeo for the Copenhagen five-piece, having been a unit for fast approaching two decades now, and with their debut album, New Brigade, celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. Yet their last effort, For Love of Grace & the Hereafter, shows absolutely no signs of slowing down or becoming jaded.
Indeed, from the very first second the album opens with the jangling ‘Ember’, there’s a constant stream of fizzing energy that both pulsates and punctuates the record. That particular song is endearingly loose, raucously lively, and charismatically charming, so it simply steers you into listening more, even if you were to believe this was just another rock album.
Probably the best way to describe the overall sound from that point forward is ‘rough around the edges’ – and, to be clear, that’s not a criticism. An inherent playfulness powers through the following tracks, ‘Match Head Girl’ and ‘The Weak’, that somewhat gives an air of a band being let loose in the studio and playing with all the shiny new toys.
Cynically, you could argue this is a cultivated effect from a band who have been treading the boards for so long, but it’s a forgivable sin that perhaps more outfits of a certain calibre and vintage should look into if they want to inject a bit of life and spontaneity into their veins, let alone their work.
Don’t get me wrong, does that off-the-cuff approach sometimes come at the expense of the sonics? Perhaps a little. Between melodies played on glockenspiels, out-of-tune recorder solos, and blitzing guitars, there are some moments that may make you wince at first, before giving way to the sense of freedom that only such an uninhibited album can provide.
The real trick is to occasionally tune this out and truly listen to what lies underneath. There are tracks like ‘Salve For Every Sore’ or ‘Lifetime’, which talk about the “rightfully bludgeoned” and repeat a riff about getting ready for “a lifetime of beatings”. The stark violence and bloodiness of the lyrics may catch you unawares – but that’s kind of the point.
That sonic childishness, a playground of sound and opportunity, masks a real dark heart which lies beneath, and it’s this quality, above all else, that makes the album stand above the parapet of the usual sleazy repertoire. It’s imperfect, rough, brash, and maybe just a tiny bit callous at times, but for once in a while, there’s a delight to be found in dancing with the devil.
Standout Track: ‘Ember’
The Verdict: For Love of Grace & the Hereafter is a deeply eloquent and stylish title for what is otherwise a pretty deliberate mess. A pile-on of sound, it’s meant to be played loud – through the speakers, primarily, until they break, before countless sweaty rooms and turbulent mosh pits inevitably take the helm. But be careful – Iceage might slowly be trying to thaw every one of your morals and principles, inviting you over to a much darker side of life.
Release Date: May 29th, 2026 | Producer: Elias Rønnenfelt/Dan Kjær Nielsen/Jakob Tvilling Pless/Johan S Weith/Casper Morilla Fernandez/Nis Bysted | Label: Mexican Summer
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out New Music Newsletter
All the latest New Music from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.