Motorpsycho (NO)

About

Also known as: Motorphycho, Motorpsyco

Motorpsycho named themselves after a Russ Meyer film they caught as part of a triple bill, simply because the other two titles had already been claimed by other bands. That origin story fits a group that has always operated on its own logic. The Trondheim outfit built their reputation through relentless output across the 1990s, blending grunge, heavy metal and indie rock with noise experiments, and their ambitious 1993 double album Demon Box earned them a Norwegian Grammy nomination and a devoted following across Scandinavia, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. Over the decades Motorpsycho has refused to settle into any single sound. The 2000 album Let Them Eat Cake pivoted sharply toward jazz tinged pop songwriting, while 2012 brought The Death Defying Unicorn, a sprawling concept album born from a commission at Moldejazz and performed with orchestral forces. They were later inducted into Rockheim, Norway's rock hall of fame. In 2024 they put their stamp on Jethro Tull's "Up to Me" for a tribute record, delivering a heavier take that kept the flute interludes but added a rumbling bassline all their own.