The Danish underground scene. I’ve lost count of the number of artists and bands that I’ve written about over the years that have emerged from that labyrinth.
The latest is Black Seagull, a band formed in 2014 by former members of On Trial (very Kafka-like) and Passion Orange (I won’t mention you know who), and which has since built a catalogue of singles and albums.
Their habitat is rock, indie and folk which they blend in their own unique style.
For their latest album, ‘Rules and Gods’, which was recorded in 2025 and released on 13th March, they chose to place greater emphasis on a more electric soundscape than previously, while writing about identity, freedom and faith.
Writing from Manchester, where Dylan was famously decried publicly as ‘Judas’ for doing much the same at a gig I’m sure the reaction will be more sympathetic, exactly six decades on.
On ‘Rules and Gods’, Black Seagull explores the tension between human experiences, societal norms, and personal values. It is a very apposite time to be considering these profound matters. I can’t speak for Denmark but I live in a country that is rapidly losing its moral compass.
I selected the second song, ‘Lines’, for the sample track here; a relatively old one as it was released as a single in 2024. Also because by all accounts it has become a crowd favourite.
The ‘Lines’ of the title have a clever double meaning as I read it. Firstly the little lines that surround her eyes and which express the doubt she has about him. And secondly the need for him to read between those lines to understand where she is coming from and hence to resolve the distrust.
It’s all a bit too much. “Oh show a little love”, he pleads.
Musically I was attracted particularly to subtle Dire Straits-like guitar fills and a hearty bridge solo while Bo Morthen Petersen’s vocal presses all the buttons as a man hovering hopelessly between machismo and capitulation.
(Continues after the Spotify link).
The album was produced by Black Seagull and Lennart Wendt.
Black Seagull comprises:
Mads Juhl: Percussion, Drums and backing vocal
Bjarni Olsen: Guitar
Benjamin Hammerum: Guitar, and backing vocal
Bo Morthen Petersen: Vocal and guitar.
Find them on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackSeagullBand
Bandcamp: https://blackseagull.bandcamp.com/album/rules-and-gods (link to album).
