Best New Tracks - Pitchfork: Iceage: "The Lord's Favorite"

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Iceage: "The Lord's Favorite" Posted: 25 Jul 2014 07:00 AM PDT The early accusations of fascist sympathies wouldn't have stuck if Iceage's music didn't have such a pronounced streak of militant physicality, purity and discipline—you could mosh at one of their shows until you got knocked unconscious, but if you're looking to joke, smoke, drink or fuck, take that shit elsewhere. New Brigade established the Danes as deadly serious missionaries, while the uncompromising You're Nothing solidified that image. "The Lord's Favorite" finds them rebounding off their reputation with equal and opposite force. Ian Curtis and Nick Cave were once peers, so Iceage trading their scorched-earth nihilism for a soused cowpunk is actually a lateral shift rather than a bold leap forward. The more striking change manifests in Elias Bender Rønnenfelt's lyrics. He plays out his own version of the National's smirking send-up "All the Wine", presenting himself as god's gift and, as such, entitled to caricatured spoils of hetero privilege: "100 euro wine", women in smeared makeup and five-inch heels. Iceage has always been a stylish band, so the accompanying video takes every opportunity to drive their point home: while taking lurid pulls off cigarettes and martinis, Ronnenfelt's searing stare betrays the fact he knows damn well how much he's playing against type. Even if they're having a laugh, there's no questioning Iceage's commitment to "The Lord's Favorite", so is it really that different than any of their songs?