Pom Poko’s Champion is like running into an old friend who’s just returned from a spiritual retreat and now talks to you about enlightenment in between sips of Red Bull and flawless backflips.
The Norwegian quartet’s third album takes their trademark chaos and channels it into a space that’s as much about subtlety as it is about energy. While Birthday (2019) and Cheater (2021) were bursts of frenetic, art-punk madness, Champion marks a deliberate shift toward something more refined and emotionally rich. Perhaps that depth was always there, but the band’s previous whirlwind pace never gave it room to breathe. Now, Pom Poko makes space for their ideas and melodies to expand, taking their time to say everything they want to. But don’t think they’ve put the fuzz pedal away—Martin Tonne’s guitars remain explosively unrestrained, a maelstrom of buzzing and squealing that occasionally sounds like a 747 in distress.
Pom Poko opens their doors to a potentially wider audience with a raucous yet welcoming noise-hug of an album. Across its eleven tracks, they blend the pop delicacy of the Cardigans with the genre-defying noise antics of Deerhoof. Champion kicks off with a double punch: the grungy heft of ‘Growing Story’ epitomising the band’s shift toward personal growth, and the infectious, anthemic ‘My Family’ (referred to by mentor and label boss Simon Raymonde as Pom Poko’s ‘Green Day song’) which radiates unexpected nostalgia. This is captured perfectly in the GoPro shots showcasing their tour antics on the accompanying video (below)
That sense of personal growth and connection is also reflected in their creative process. For the first time, they self-produced the record, building their sense of freedom and unity. As singer/lyricist Ragnhild Jamtveit notes, “It feels like we’re maturing and growing up together.” Champion sounds like that too, with the introspection really shining through on the title track. A gentler departure from the earlier breakneck dynamics, ‘Champion’s steady groove and thoughtful words explore what it truly means to be a champion: “say something, keep trying”. Similarly, on ‘Pile of Wood’, a clever mix of gentleness and power flows seamlessly from its mellower melodies to intense riffs. ‘Bell’ also stands out as a mid-point moment of calm, rippling softly as the album’s serene heart. ‘Bell’ offers a breather, and also a rare chance to catch Ragnhild Jamtveit’s softer vocal brilliance.
‘Go’ serves as a reminder of Pom Poko’s tight, almost telepathic collaboration and experimentalism. A whirlwind of string harmonics and unpredictable rhythms, ‘Go’ proves an exhilarating, technically challenging and delightfully chaotic ride that demonstrates they haven’t lost their knack for keeping things exciting. How this song translates live should be interesting to see. Elsewhere, the equally intricate, but more accessible guitar work in the chorus of ‘Never Saw It Coming’ and the concise, beautiful melodies on ‘Druid, Fox and Dragon’ further highlight how far Pom Poko have come since the sprawling complexity of Cheater. ‘Druid, Fox and Dragon’ in particular is a real favourite, with its riff-heavy structure and contrasting bittersweet vocals: “I want better things”.
As the album winds down, ‘Big Life’ delivers its final deep surge of energy. With a sharpened, more deliberate intensity, Jonas Krøvel’s visceral bass rumble growls like a bear, before jumping off in pursuit of a frantic rhythm propelled by Ola Djupvik’s animalistic beats. Finally, ‘Fumble’ brings the album to a lighter-hearted thoughtful close, its naive melody touching on themes of chosen family and personal bonds. It wraps things up with a cosy flourish of flutes and subtle brass, leaving a sense of closure and gentle afterglow: “You’re the one that feels that wherever you are, you’re the one that feels like family”
Not just a progression from their earlier works, Champion is a heartfelt expression of where Pom Poko are now. Here they lay it all out, showing us who they are with an honesty and maturity that’s both refreshing and profound. And, with a wonderful balance between their characteristic experimental approach and newfound emotional depth, we suspect Champion will be the moment many more will fall for Pom Poko’s curious charm.
