The Light Coming Through, by Permafrost (2024)

1.

Intro lyrics:So here we areStanding in front of our shadowsPreventing the light coming throughSo here we areWaving the remains of our handsPretending there is nothing to hideSo here we areKeeping our eyes at the doorHoping there is something more

2.

Femme Fatale lyrics:Just like feathers falling to the groundYelling to the skiesLift your arms and say goodbye Again, again, again and over again Just like waves hitting the shoreSinging for dead soulsCover wounds and praise the day Again, again, again and over againAgain, again, again, again, again Just like brothers sharing the same bloodGive it all in for good Walk the path on different tracksAgain, again, again and over again Just like lovers used to do by themselvesBuilding walls of distance Raise your voice and say a lieAgain, again, again and over againAgain, again, again, again, againJust like lovers used to do by themselvesBuilding walls of distance Raise your voice and say a lieAgain, again, again and over againAgain, again, again, again, againAgain, and again, over again

3.

Care lyrics:You put me in agonyYou left me here aloneThis is what i’ve come to beThis is how i do appearFeelings don’t count in hereThat’s why…Fields of green in my sightFor what purpose i don’t knowNowhere to escape, to disappearJust let me stay downtown(Where all of us will drown)I don’t care… (That’s why)

4.

Come Back To Surprise lyrics:How long is too longHow long is enoughWaiting for that moment When everything is doneHow long is a lifetimeHow long do we waitSaying this is overIs staying far too lateCome back in my lifeThe same words are spoken Too late to arriveThe spell that was brokenCome back to surprise Be softly awokenNot too late to tryTo tell you are chosenLooking over shouldersWatching broken livesBuilding other futuresHoping for those timesHow did this not happenHow did this escapeThe past is not a featureA stranger to this age

5.

Lights Out lyrics:She was always down, but still alrightWatching from a distance, watching from behindSomehow, somewhere, she lost her mindWhere do we go when the lights go outWhere are we heading from hereWhere do we go when the lights go outWhere are we heading from hereAll the windows are wide open, but shutShe was not telling, not to anyoneWhere do we go when the lights go outWhere are we heading from hereWhere do we go when the lights go outWhere are we heading from hereCatching all the echoes, from herselfSomehow, somewhere, she lost her heartDividing black from grey, everydayShe was trying too hard, not for anybodyDancing on the ground, on the leaves from the trees Somehow, someday, she will stop to pray

6.

Wrong Heart lyrics:The crimson ray of another dayCrashing itself through the dark Showing the way that time has changed So we do not lose our heartWithout any hesitationsWhere it startedWithout any second thoughtsI had the wrong heartThere’s a blackbird dumb, deaf and blind Leaving the rain drained ark Its outer self washing away Knowing it will soon be back Without any hesitationsWhere it startedWithout any second thoughtsI had the wrong heartI had the wrong heartThe light of my eye, fire of my tongueOnce again teach me a lessonFor what I know, I cannot tellAnd what I prey on, I don’t say Without any hesitationsBack where it startedWithout any second thoughtI had the wrong heartWithout any hesitationsWhere it startedWithout any second thoughtI had the wrong heartI had the wrong heart

7.

Restore Us lyrics:This balance sheet we’ve got it right now, it doesn’t look goodOkay I know, you did it, all you couldThis problem we all got involved in, we should be able to fixOkay I know, we might need some magic tricksRestore us, restore us, restore usThis darkened path that we are walking on, it’s a bumpy roadOkay I know, we’ve all got a heavy loadIn this room of silence where we pass away, it needs some cleaningOkay I know, we might just be dreamingRestore us, restore us, restore us, restore usRestore us, restore us, restore us, restore us

8.

Hourglass lyrics:It’s more than I’m used toThis time aroundMaking mistakes, as a routineThis country is dyingTime falls, time falls by the hour (do-do-do-do-do)Time falls, time falls by the hour (do-do-do-do-do)You said it didn’t matterAfter a while - it didDoing night shifts - in daytime This country is dyingTime falls, time falls by the hour Time falls, time falls by the hour I got it wrong, I want it now, and in a while, we will do it againTime falls, time falls by the hourStories no one used to believe inMaking headlines every dayBury the truth - with abuseThis country is dyingTime falls, time falls, time falls by the hourTime falls, time falls, time falls by the hourI got it wrong, I want it now, and in a while, we will do it againTime falls, time falls, time falls by the hour

9.

Closed Eyes lyrics: It won’t take too longBefore it’s all goneAgain you’re back in the line This is your timePlease pick up the new stylesLeaving the files behindCause everyone else is runningCause everyone else is runningCause everyone else is running Running towards nothingCause everyone else is closing their eyesIt won’t take too muchBefore it’s enoughSome day you will regret the noiseThis is for realPlease choose a place to fadeLeaving the shade behindCause everyone else is runningCause everyone else is runningCause everyone else is running Running towards nothingCause everyone else is closing their eyesIt won’t even hurtBefore it’s overMove on to the unknown past This is their piecePlease let the lie give away Leaving the day behindCause everyone else is runningCause everyone else is runningCause everyone else is running Running towards nothingCause everyone else is closing their eyes

10.

Ultimo August lyrics:I remember your birthday It’s not the day I died More like we’re in a movie It’s not the day I’d flyAway with your heart Away with your soul Away with your smileAway with your laughter Down to your abyss eyes Down to your shadow soulDown to your carnal bodyDown to your choral voice I remember we metOn a day just like this It was the ultimo August It was the day I divedI remember you left On a day like this We’d just caught our last movieAlready knew that you’d flyAway on your wings Away with your education Away with your social network Away with your shares Away with your wordsAway with your friends & family Away with your social status Away with your trail Down on the floorNot to be mistaken for an animal Staring up the wallI’d say it’s not, not too lateDown on the floorNot to be mistaken for an animal Staring up the wallWell, I’d say, not too late Away with your heart Away with your soul Away with your smileAway with your laughter Down to your abyss eyes Down to your shadow soulDown to your carnal bodyDown to your choral voice

More than two years after the release of ‘Come Back To Surprise’, the Nordic-British post-punk quartet Permafrost returned with a new single, ‘Wrong Heart’, on 4th July. This release kicked off the lead up to their new album, ‘The Light Coming Through’, set to unveil in October this year. In addition to the lead track, Mental Overdrive (aka Per Martinsen) remixed the single, which was also available on 4th July. They then followed up with another new single on 16th August, aptly named ‘Ultimo August’, which debuted at #2 on the Deutsche Alternative Chart.

Formed originally in Molde, Norway in 1982 by school friends Frode Heggdal Larsen and Kåre Steinsbu, Permafrost has undergone numerous transformations over the years. Now joined by fellow Norwegian Robert Heggdal and Daryl Bamonte from the UK (who worked very closely with Depeche Mode and The Cure for several years), they continue to deliver the authentic post-punk sound of the early '80s. While many contemporary musicians attempt to replicate this era, Permafrost have lived it. Their latest single, ‘Wrong Heart’, has also evolved over time, ultimately resulting in a dark, bass-driven post-punk track that transports listeners back to the shadowy, goth-filled clubs of the '80s.

Alongside the single, they have released the music video for ‘Wrong Heart’. In a wholesome contrast to the song’s dark sound and nature, the video follows four young girls as they set out to create a music video. Of the video they said “In another dimension Permafrost could be a girl band. In this reality they are planning to create a music video. They have to drag their equipment into the forest to get to the preferred spot, making it into a road movie with a lot of obstacles on the way - like grazing sheep and deer in the blossoming Norwegian nature. When they finally arrive at the spot and want to start playing, the song finishes. All that work for nothing.”

Spread across Trondheim, Oslo and Margate, Permafrost's creative process is a challenge which the band have had to overcome. During the pandemic, they held weekly video meetings to plan new songs and other band-related issues, leveraging improved long-distance collaboration technology to maintain momentum. The songwriting process typically begins with one member suggesting an idea, which bassist Robert (Bob Frost) then develops in Logic Pro, programming drums and other elements. Singer Kåre creates a melody to match, and lyrics are selected from a collective vault they have accumulated over the years. The song is refined through a collaborative process, passing back and forth between all four members until everyone is satisfied.

Utilising their refined songwriting process, Permafrost meticulously crafted their forthcoming album, ‘The Light Coming Through’. Describing their sound as “Optimistic Melancholy” the album aims to offer inspiration and escapism during challenging times. Infusing politically charged lyrics with dark, synth-infused post-punk instrumentation, Permafrost employs metaphors to convey their message effectively.

Permafrost has built an impressive discography over the years. They debuted with the 'Godtment' EP in 1983, released on a limited edition of 50 numbered cassettes. In 2019, they followed up with the 'Permafrost' EP on vinyl, later making it available digitally in 2021. Throughout 2021, the band dropped three critically acclaimed singles. ‘Femme Fatale’ and ‘Closed Eyes’ both achieved remarkable success, reaching #1 on the Indie Disko Top40 chart, with the latter maintaining the top spot for six consecutive weeks. These singles also performed well on the Deutsche Alternative and Native25 charts, while earning placements on influential playlists such as Apple Music’s ‘New in Rock’. The third single, ‘Restore Us’, continued their streak of success by hitting #1 on the Indie Disko Top40 and the Native25 chart.

‘The Light Coming Through’ was released on 11th October 2024, on digital and vinyl.