By Carlos Ramirez |
@noechonet |
5.5.2026
Photo: Wagner Darling
Oslo, Norway’s Stabber are a relatively new band, but the groundwork behind them runs deeper than their short timeline might suggest. Formed at the end of 2024, the group came together out of a shared desire to play something faster and more aggressive than their other projects allowed. Bassist Toshi and guitarist Kenneth were already playing together in a Stooges-inspired punk/rock ’n’ roll band called Invisible Hand, but as Toshi explains to No Echo, “we played less than we wanted, also we wanted to play some hardcore punk as well.” That led them to start looking for members for a new band rooted in hardcore punk.
The lineup came together organically. Mathias, a friend of Kenneth’s, was brought in to handle vocals despite originally being a bassist. “He is a good guy and easy to get along with/hang out with,” Toshi says. After an initial drummer stepped away due to other commitments, Johannes joined the band, recommended by the previous drummer and already known within the local scene. The current lineup clicked quickly enough to get things moving almost immediately.
Musically, Stabber sits at the intersection of hardcore punk and rock ‘n’ roll, pulling from a wide range of influences. “I guess Stabber sounds like a mix of hardcore punk and Motörhead,” he adds, “we like rock ’n’ roll as well, not only hardcore, so it’s natural for us to mix that up a bit. For this band, I kinda have some sort of vague nostalgia of US hardcore punk in 2000–2010 when there were many killer labels putting a lot of good records such as No Way, Grave Mistake, Sorry State, Deranged, Katorga Works, Havoc, etc. I’m also originally from the garage punk scene, so having rock ’n’ roll elements in the sound is pretty essential.”
EP II by Stabber
That mix of influences comes through clearly on their recently released EP II, which were done quickly and under less-than-ideal circumstances. Both their self-titled EP from last year, and this new one, were recorded live by the band themselves at Endless Tinnitus Studio. “We wanted to record EP II before we needed to move out, so it was done in a couple of days,” Kenneth explains. The situation around the space added its own layer of chaos: “Our landlord for the practice space and studio is a well-known mafia guy—he’s your typical drugs, extortion, violence, real estate broker guy. He acts like a mayor in that part of the city.”
The material on the new EP reflects the realities of life in their city. “Lyrics are inspired by violence happening in Oslo on a daily, if not hourly, basis,” he says. “I also spent over a decade working with drug addicts and people suffering from paranoia, schizophrenia, and other heavy psychiatric illnesses. Those years have really affected my way of writing.”
Stabber is emerging at a time when their underground music community is experiencing a surge in energy. “The Oslo scene is really hot now,” Toshi notes. “The last couple of years have been the best since I moved to Oslo in 2015. Especially after COVID, a booking group called Den Bisarre Lyd has been putting on a lot of cool shows, which brought a lot of new, younger audience to the scene.” He also points to a growing number of promoters and bands contributing to that momentum, including Draumer, Assistert Sjølmord, AG-3, Que Lindo, Problems, Asinin, and Molbo.
Photo: Thomas Moe Ellefsrud
Beyond playing in Stabber, Toshi is also involved in organizing shows in the city, drawing inspiration from Japan’s DIY culture. “We also put up shows in Oslo, a number of series of shows mainly trying to invite bands from outside of Norway,” he explains. “It is pretty common in Japan that every band has their own numbered shows… which makes the scene active and encourages more exchange with other scenes.”
Members of Stabber also play in such bands as Knuste Rutter, Negativ, Invisible Hand, Svartepeeng, and Filthdigger. Check them all out!
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EP II is available on vinyl via Kick Rock.
Stabber on social media: Instagram
Tagged: stabber
About the Author
Carlos Ramirez
Owner of No Echo, Carlos Ramirez has played in the bands Black Army Jacket, Hope Collapse, and Deny the Cross. Born and raised in Queens, NY, Carlos resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two kids.