Bushman's Revenge is a Norwegian power trio who seamlessly meld jazz improvisation with heavy metal dynamics and prog rock. European festival favorites since emerging in the early 2000s, Bushman's Revenge gained wider acclaim with their dynamically adventurous albums, including 2009's You Lost Me at Hello, 2012's A Little Bit of Big Bonanza, and 2016's Jazz, Fritt Etter Hukommelsen.
Hailing from Oslo, Bushman's Revenge was formed in 2003 by guitarist Even Helte Hermansen, bassist Rune Nergaard, and drummer Gard Nilssen. After establishing a near-rabid live following in clubs and garnering some festival invitations, the band's debut, Cowboy Music, was recorded for saxophonist Jon Klette's
Jazzaway Records in 2007.
After an extended Western European tour and appearances at jazz festivals, Bushman's Revenge signed to
Rune Grammofon. Their debut for the label, You Lost Me at Hello in 2009, garnered near universal acclaim from critics. In 2010, the band issued Jitterbug, which featured keyboardist
Stale Storløkken in a guest capacity and found the band turning more toward the rock side of their persona; they even included a cover of
Metallica's "Damage." A Little Bit of Big Bonanza and Never Mind the Botox followed in 2012. The trio toured not only in Europe but also in Japan. The live album Electric Komle was released in 2013, followed by Thou Shalt Boogie in early 2014, with concert appearances in Europe, Asia, and the United States.
Upon returning to Europe, they played the festival circuit and worked on new material in the studio. The activity resulted in two simultaneous releases in 2016: a studio offering entitled Jazz, Fritt Etter Hukommelsen that opened with a reading of
McCoy Tyner's "Contemplation," and the LP-only live set Bushman's Fire. In 2019, they moved to the
Hubro label for the expansive full-length Et Hån Mot Overklassen. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi