GLUECIFER

“We had no plans to release anything unless we felt it was top notch.”

“We like the sound of guitar, drums, bass, and vocals. Classic rock lineup.”

“We were constantly cutting things away, keeping everything simple and direct.”

“We wanted new songs to play live – not just be a nostalgia trip.”

“The new songs fit in well with the old ones. These are Gluecifer songs.”

“We treat tradition and heritage with respect, but not reverence.”

“We started calling ourselves Kings of Rock just because we thought it was fun.”

“We’ll keep doing this as long as it’s fun.”

More than twenty years after their last studio album, Gluecifer return with ‘Same Drug New High‘ – not as a nostalgia act, but as a band fully aware of who they are and why they still matter.
In this interview with Fok ’bs‘, Biff Malibu singer of this Norwegian rock institution talks about restraint over excess, writing songs meant to live on stage, and why longevity matters less than honesty.
‘Same Drug New High‘ is your first studio album in more than twenty years.
When did you realize this wasn’t just ‘new songs‘, but a full-fledged Gluecifer album that actually meant something?
“We realized that around the moment we decided it was going to be an album. We had no plans to release anything unless we felt it was top notch. How much it will end up meaning remains to be seen, but we’re happy with the record.”
Since the reunion in 2018, you’ve never tried to modernize your sound to seem relevant.
Was that a conscious decision from the very beginning, or simply the only honest approach?
“Well, we probably sound a bit different than we did twenty-five years ago. But it’s true that we haven’t tried to modernize or introduce new instruments. We like the sound of guitar, drums, bass, and vocals. Classic rock lineup.”
A lot of bands talk about ‘chemistry‘, but Gluecifer sounds unusually tight on this album.
What did it mean to work at home in Oslo for the way you wrote and recorded the record?
“I don’t know if the city itself mattered that much, but it was practical. No traveling, easy access to the studio. What really mattered was working with our friend Johnny Skalleberg in his excellent studio, Amper Tone. That’s one of the reasons the album sounds as good as it does. Johnny knows us well, is a very skilled engineer, and knows how we sound best.”
The title ‘Same Drug New High‘ suggests familiarity without stagnation.
What does that phrase mean to you personally, beyond the obvious rock’n’roll interpretation?
“The title is pretty self-explanatory. We like rock, and we like being back at it.”
Songs like ‘The Idiot‘ and ‘Armadas‘ are direct, uncompromising, almost confrontational.
Do you feel freer today to say exactly what you mean than you did in the late ’90s and early 2000s?
“Not really. We’ve always felt free to do and say whatever we wanted – then and now. But we wanted both of those songs to bite a little.”
Looking back, was the breakup in 2005 something that had to happen for Gluecifer to exist the way it does today, or do you ever wonder what might have been if you’d continued?
“I haven’t spent much time thinking like that. What happened in 2005 wasn’t easy, but now we’re doing really well together and enjoying playing again. We’re inspired too.”
You’ve always carried the title ‘Kings of Rock‘ with a mix of irony and conviction.
Has that concept taken on a different meaning at this stage of your career?
“Haha. We started calling ourselves Kings of Rock when we were playing tiny stages in Oslo for fewer than 100 people, just because we thought it was fun. Now we’re more like a kind of House of Rock-lords – but that doesn’t sound as good.”
There’s a clear sense of restraint on the new album – no excess, no filler.
Have age and experience sharpened your instincts for what a Gluecifer song actually needs, and what it doesn’t?
“We were constantly cutting things away, keeping everything simple and direct. Getting to the core. That’s probably something we’re better at now than we were back in the day.”
Songs like ‘1996‘ openly reference your own past without feeling nostalgic.
How do you look back on your history without turning it into a museum?
“We laugh about it a lot. So many wild and funny things happened. Gluecifer has always been an adventure we were lucky to be part of. When it comes to rock, we treat tradition and heritage with respect, but not reverence.”
Over the years, Gluecifer has shared stages with legends and helped shape a Scandinavian rock movement.
Do you see yourselves today as part of a tradition, or have you always felt slightly outside established scenes?
“We feel we have something in common with several other Scandinavian bands from that era – a similar attitude toward playing rock. Energy and joy. But we’re probably a bit more on the outside of other scenes.”
Your live reputation has always been central to the band’s identity.
How does playing new material alongside the classics affect the dynamic on stage?
“That was the starting point for the whole album. We wanted new songs to play live, not just be a nostalgia trip. The new songs fit in well with the old ones. These are Gluecifer songs, and as you pointed out earlier, we haven’t changed our expression all that much.”
In an industry obsessed with constant renewal and visibility, Gluecifer seems comfortable with longevity.
What does long-term endurance mean to you now compared to when you started?
“We actually spend very little time reflecting on things like that. We enjoy being together, like playing great shows, and figure we’ll keep doing it as long as it’s fun. We make all the decisions for this band ourselves.”
If someone hears ‘Same Drug New High‘ without knowing anything about Gluecifer’s history, what do you hope they’re left with when the final track fades out?
“That they want to listen to it one more time – and that they want to see us live.”
With ‘Same Drug New High‘, Gluecifer prove that relevance doesn’t require reinvention – only clarity, energy, and the confidence to leave nothing unnecessary behind.
The album stands as a continuation rather than a comeback, driven by songs meant to be played loud, live, and without compromise.
by Fok ‘bs’

track-list:
The Idiot
Same Drug New High
Armadas
I´m Ready
The Score
Pharmacity
1996
Made In The Morning
Mind Control
Another Night, Another City
On The Wire

In an era defined by restless change and constant reinvention, Gluecifer stand firm like a solid rock against the current.
One of Norway’s most successful and enduring rock bands, the self-proclaimed Kings of Rock have shown no interest in chasing trends since their triumphant reunion in spring 2018.
Instead, they continue to deliver their trademark blend of raw punk energy, classic rock ’n’ roll swagger, and flashes of glam decadence – exactly the way their audience wants to hear it.
That unwavering attitude finds its fullest expression on ‘Same Drug New High‘, Gluecifer’s first studio album in more than two decades.
Released on January 16, 2026 via Steamhammer/SPV on CD, LP, and digital formats, the record leaves no room for doubt:
founding members Biff Malibu (vocals) and Captain Poon (guitar), alongside long-standing comrades Raldo Useless (guitar), Danny Young (drums), and Peter Larsson (bass), sound sharper, tougher, and more determined than ever.
It’s a no-nonsense rock ’n’ roll statement – uncompromising, energetic, and unmistakably Gluecifer.
The album is fronted by a trio of lead singles that underline the band’s intent.
Opener ‘The Idiot‘ comes out swinging, proof that Gluecifer still speak their minds without filters.
‘Armadas‘ burns with apocalyptic urgency, while ‘I’m Ready‘ feels like a mission statement in song form – direct, defiant, and driven.
Elsewhere on the album, tracks like the gloriously toxic ‘Pharmacity‘, echoing shades of The Cult and The Rolling Stones, and the throwback punch of ‘1996‘ nod to the band’s roots while keeping their sound firmly grounded in the present.
As Malibu puts it plainly:
“Our fans want songs that kick ass. The days of stadium rock and big ballads are over – tough sounds are the order of the day.”
Formed in Oslo in 1994, Gluecifer built their reputation on relentless touring, sweat-soaked shows, and a run of five albums that helped define the Scandinavian high-energy rock scene.
When they called it quits in 2005 after an extensive farewell tour, the band may have left the stage – but never the memories.
Their 2018 reunion was met with overwhelming enthusiasm, followed by packed shows and high-profile festival appearances at Azkena, Hellfest, and Tons of Rock, among others.
The demand for new material was immediate – and ‘Same Drug New High‘, written, produced, and mixed in their hometown of Oslo, is the long-awaited answer.
With the album’s release, Gluecifer are gearing up for an extensive European tour in spring 2026, kicking off in Sweden on release day and rolling through Germany, Spain, and beyond.
Fans can expect a set packed with classics, greatest hits, and fresh material from the new record – delivered with the same ferocity that has made Gluecifer’s live shows legendary.
As the band themselves put it:
“When a new album is finished, we have only one goal – to get out on stage.”
Timeless, honest, and gloriously loud, Gluecifer remain exactly what rock ’n’ roll needs.

‘I’m Ready‘ signals the unshakeable core of the Kings of Rock.
With ‘I’m Ready‘, Gluecifer offer another revealing glimpse into ‘Same Drug New High‘, their first studio album in more than two decades, due on January 16, 2026 via Steamhammer.
Where previous singles from the campaign leaned into menace and weight, this latest track shows a different side of the Norwegian Kings of Rock:
confident, direct, and unapologetically alive.
‘I’m Ready‘ was among the final songs written for the album, and its immediacy is no accident.
According to vocalist Biff Malibu, guitarist Captain Poon arrived with a chord progression that clicked instantly.
“It had a kind of happy and positive ring to it,”
Malibu explains.
“I threw in some lyrics on the same note, and the song sort of wrote itself.”
That sense of natural momentum runs through the track.
It’s lean, punchy, and powered by Gluecifer’s trademark mix of punk urgency, classic rock swagger, and a subtle melodic lift that feels almost defiant in its optimism.
In a world obsessed with reinvention and constant upheaval, ‘I’m Ready‘ doesn’t chase trends – it plants its feet firmly in the ground.
That grounded confidence has long been Gluecifer’s strength.
Since reforming in 2018, the band have never attempted to modernize their sound for the sake of relevance.
Instead, they’ve doubled down on what made them essential in the first place:
songs that hit hard, grooves that swing, and an attitude that feels earned rather than manufactured.
‘Same Drug New High‘ captures that philosophy perfectly.
It’s not a comeback album in the traditional sense, but the sound of a band fully aware of who they are – and comfortable with it.
The current lineup – founding members Biff Malibu and Captain Poon, alongside long-time collaborators Raldo Useless, Danny Young, and Peter Larsson – sounds tighter and more purposeful than ever.
Age has sharpened rather than dulled their instincts.
There’s less excess, more intent, and a clear sense that every riff and chorus serves the song.
Recorded, produced, and mixed in Oslo, ‘Same Drug New High‘ reflects a band working on home turf, free from outside pressure and expectation.
That autonomy translates into music that feels honest and direct, balancing raw drive with a seasoned sense of dynamics.
‘I’m Ready‘ in particular stands out as a statement of resilience – less about nostalgia, more about endurance.
The album’s release will be followed by an extensive European tour in spring 2026, kicking off in Sweden on release day before rolling through Germany, Norway, Spain, and beyond.
For Gluecifer, the goal remains refreshingly simple.
As Malibu has made clear time and again, the real destination is the stage.
With ‘I’m Ready‘, Gluecifer aren’t announcing a rebirth – they’re confirming their permanence.
In an era of fleeting hype and disposable heroes, the Kings of Rock remain exactly what they’ve always been:
solid, loud, and impossible to ignore.