{{Short description|Norwegian rock band from Oslo}} {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians --> | name = Moron Police | image = Moron-Police_Band.jpg | caption = Moron Police in a mirror | background = group_or_band | origin = Farsund, Norway | genre = Progressive Rock | years_active = 2006–present | label = Mighty Jam Records | website = {{url|https://www.moronpolice.no}} | current_members = Sondre Skollevoll<br/>Christian Fredrik Steen<br/>Lars Christian Bjørknes | past_members = Rune Stordahl<br/>Thore Omland Pettersen }} '''Moron Police''' is a Norwegian Progressive Rock group currently based in Oslo.<ref>{{cite web |title=Best Prog Albums of 2025 |url=https://progreport.com/best-prog-albums-of-2025/ |website=progreport.com |access-date=8 May 2026}}</ref> Their musical style has been described as Progressive Rock/Metal while borrowing heavily from other genres, most notably, Pop, Funk and Country rock.
The band has released four studio albums: ''The Propaganda Machine'', ''Defenders of the Small Yard'', ''A Boat on the Sea'' and ''Pachinko''. They have also released one EP: ''The Stranger and the Hightide''.
All Moron Police material is self-produced by the members of the band, most notably, Sondre Skollevoll and Lars Bjørknes.
==History== === Formation, early years and ''The Propaganda Machine'' (2006-2012) === Moron Police was founded in Farsund, Norway in 2006 by Sondre Skollevoll. He was joined by Thore Omland Pettersen on drums and Rune Stordahl on bass and harsh vocals in 2008.
The band quickly gained a local following and started touring the surrounding towns and cities, culminating in them performing with the Kristiansand Symphonic Orchestra in January 2012. A recording of one of the songs was later used as the intro on their first album, ''The Propaganda Machine''.<ref>{{cite web |title=fremtiden-blomstret-i-kilden |url=https://www.fvn.no/kultur/i/aeaPO/fremtiden-blomstret-i-kilden |website=Fedrelandsvennen |publisher=Schibsted |access-date=8 May 2026}}</ref>
''The Propaganda Machine'' was released on the 21st of September, 2012, through self-publication via their label, Flying Panda Records.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Menear |first1=Kai |title=En smørje som glir ubemerket forbi |url=https://gaffa.no/anmeldelser/2012/september/releases/moron-police-the-propaganda-machine/ |website=gaffa.no |access-date=8 May 2026}}</ref> The album was followed by extensive touring across Norway, notably playing both Norway Rock Festival and Hovefestivalen after winning a "Battle of the Bands" competition in 2011<ref>{{cite web |last1=Havaas |first1=Svein Morten |title=«Moron Police» blant de som kommer |url=https://www.lister24.no/kultur/n/jymqb/moron-police-blant-de-som-kommer |website=Lister24.no |access-date=8 May 2026}}</ref>
During this period, Moron Police supported acts such as Major Parkinson, Dunderbeist, Paul Di'Anno, Audrey Horne and Black Debbath.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Abrahamsen |first1=Else Marie |title=Moron Police inntar Pakkhuset |url=https://www.lister24.no/kultur/n/6JLle/moron-police-inntar-pakkhuset |website=Lister24.no |publisher=Schibsted |access-date=8 May 2026}}</ref>
=== ''Defenders of the Small Yard'' (2012-2014) === They then returned to the studio between 2012-2013 to record ''Defenders of the Small Yard''.
''Defenders of the Small Yard'' was released on 17 April 2014, after a successful crowdfunding via Indiegogo, garnering some positive reviews.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hartenberg |first1=Marcel |title=Album Reviews |url=https://www.dprp.net/reviews/2016/016#moronpolice |website=www.dprp.ne |access-date=8 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Laume |first1=C.G |title=Moron Police - Defenders of the Small Yard |url=https://www.coreandco.fr/chroniques/moron-police-defenders-of-the-small-yard-4584.html |website=www.coreandco.fr |access-date=8 May 2026}}</ref>
The album was produced and recorded by Sondre Skollevoll and Christian Holtsteen, as well as being mixed by them both, and mastered by Chris Sansom at Propeller Mastering. The album was again self-published by the band via Flying Panda Records.
This also marks the first time the band would collaborate with the artist DULK for both the cover art and the vinyl/CD release. DULK would go on to do artwork and graphics for almost every subsequent release.
=== ''A Boat on the Sea'' (2014-2019) === The interval between ''Defenders of the Small Yard'' and ''A Boat on the Sea'' was a transitional time for the band. Rune Stordahl left amicably in 2014<ref>{{cite web |title=Moron Police Facebook Post, December 27, 2014 |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=924048187618978&set=a.694704039330883 |website=www.facebook.com |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref> while Sondre and Thore relocated to different cities for work and studies.<ref>{{cite web |title=Moron Police Interview |url=https://progreport.com/moron-police-interview/ |website=progreport.com |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref> Sondre joined fellow progressive rock band, Major Parkinson, in 2015 on guitars and backing vocals—helping to write and perform on Blackbox and Valesa Chapter 1 & 2.
From Major Parkinson, Sondre recruited keyboardist Lars Bjørknes, and then recruited Christian Fredrik Holtsteen, who had featured as a guest on ''Defenders of the Small Yard'', on bass. This lineup continued until the passing of founding member Thore Omland Pettersen in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trommis fra Lyngdal omkom |url=https://www.nrk.no/sorlandet/trommis-fra-lyngdal-omkom-1.15814548 |website=www.nrk.no |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref>
The band started recording ''A Boat on the Sea'' in 2016, with drums being recorded at Duper Studio in Bergen, Norway, and recording the rest themselves in their own studio in Bergen.<ref>{{cite web |title=A Boat on the Sea (Bandcamp Liner Notes) |url=https://moronpolice1.bandcamp.com/album/a-boat-on-the-sea |website=www.bandcamp.com |publisher=Bandcamp |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref>
''A Boat on the Sea'' was released on the 16th of August, 2019, to critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hutchinson |first1=Martin |title=Moron Police A Boat On The Sea (Album Review) |url=https://progreport.com/moron-police-a-boat-on-the-sea-album-review/ |website=progreport.com |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rodriguez |first1=David |title=Moron Police – “A Boat on the Sea” |url=https://everythingisnoise.net/reviews/moron-police-a-boat-on-the-sea/ |website=everythingisnoise.net |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Boardman |first1=Mark |title=Moron Police – A Boat on the Sea (Album Review) |url=https://www.sonicperspectives.com/album-reviews/moron-police-a-boat-on-the-sea/ |website=sonicperspectives.com/ |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref> It was mixed at VuDu Studios on Long Island, New York by Mike Watts and mastered by Dag Erik Nygaard in Bergen, Norway<ref>{{cite web |title=Album liner notes |url=https://moronpolice1.bandcamp.com/album/a-boat-on-the-sea |website=bandcamp.com |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref> DULK returned for the artwork design. The success of the album took the band by surprise,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hatton |first1=Thomas |title=Interview with Sondre Skollevoll (Moron Police, Major Parkinson) |website=proglodytes.com |access-date=11 May 2026 |url=https://proglodytes.com/2020/01/17/interview-with-sondre-skollevoll-moron-police-major-parkinson/}}</ref> as they had no intention of promoting the album on release.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rodriguez |first1=David |title=WFA: Moron Police |url=https://everythingisnoise.net/weekly-featured-artist/wfa-moron-police/ |website=everythingisnoise.net |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref> It was nominated for "Best Rock Album" and "Best Artwork" at the AIM Independent Music Awards 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hatton |first1=Thomas |title=Moron Police nominated for Independent Music Awards, launch playthrough for “A Phantom Below” |url=https://proglodytes.com/2020/04/27/moron-police-nominated-for-independent-music-awards-launch-playthrough-for-a-phantom-below/ |website=proglodytes.com |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref>
The band later launched a successful crowdfunding campaign to produce physical copies of the album, ending at 300% funding above their initial goal.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hoel |first1=Olav |title=– Responsen har vært helt vanvittig |url=https://www.lister24.no/kultur/n/GGke26/responsen-har-vaert-helt-vanvittig |website=Lister24.no |publisher=Schibsted |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref>
The band signed with the Japanese label Avalon under Marquee Inc, who released the album in Japan featuring four bonus tracks and an alternate layout.
During lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the band performed a stripped down-version of the song "The Undersea" for The Prog Report, called Prog From Home--an online concert featuring prog artists like: Mike Portnoy, Haken and Neal Morse, among others.<ref>{{cite web |title=Prog From Home |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSKx4G_ICZc&t=1425s |website=www.youtube.com |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref>
''A Boat on the Sea'' was also featured on Loudwire's list of "11 Obscure Prog Albums Just as Good as the Biggest Classics"<ref>{{cite web |last1=Blum |first1=Jordan |title=11 Obscure Prog Albums Just as Good as the Biggest Classics|url=https://loudwire.com/obscure-prog-albums-good-as-classics/ |website=loudwire.com |publisher=Townsquare Media |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref>, as well as Ross Jennings' list of "10 Best New Prog Rock + Metal Bands Since 2010" for the same publication.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jennings |first1=Ross |title=10 Best Prog Metal Bands in the Last 10 Years, Chosen By Haken's Ross Jennings |url=https://loudwire.com/best-new-prog-rock-metal-bands-since-2010-haken-ross-jennings/ |website=loudwire.com |publisher=Townsquare Media |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref>
=== ''The Stranger and the Hightide EP'' (2019-2021) === In 2020 Moron Police started recording an EP called ''The Stranger and the Hightide'' at Havnelageret Studio in Bergen. In an interview, Sondre remarked that the EP was a tie-in to their next main album which would be a concept album featuring the titular character from this EP.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rune |first1=Rune |title=Progtalks interviews Moron Police (Sondre Skollevoll) |url=https://theprogspace.com/progtalks/progtalks-interviews-moron-police-sondre-skollevoll-ep-28/ |website=theprogspace.com |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref>
''The Stranger and the Hightide'' was released on the 29th of October, 2021. A music video was released for the track "Parachutes" on 4 December 2021, featuring behind-the-scenes footage of the recording process.
=== Death of Pettersen, ''Pachinko'' (2021–present) === On the 16th of January, 2022, Moron Police released a statement on social media that founding member Thore Omland Pettersen died from injuries sustained in a car accident the day before (January 15th).<ref>{{cite web |title=Moron Police |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=5220192524671168&set=a.694704032664217 |website=facebook.com |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ewing |first1=Jerry |title=Moron Police drummer Thore Pettersen dies after car accident |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/moron-police-drummer-thore-pettersen-dies-after-car-accident |website=loudersound.com |publisher=Future plc |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Haaland |first1=Tonette |title=Omkom i elsparkesykkelulykke |url=https://www.dagsavisen.no/nyheter/omkom-i-elsparkesykkelulykke-navnet-frigis/5681018 |website=dagsavisen.no |publisher=Schibsted |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref>
On 21 August, they released a new statement explaining that the band would continue and that work on ''Pachinko'' would resume, in honor of Thore's memory.<ref>{{cite web |title=Moron Police |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=5856375604386187&set=a.694704032664217 |website=facebook.com |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref>. They secured the services of The Dillinger Escape Plan drummer, Billy Rymer to complete the album as a guest performer, and recording commenced in December of 2022.
''Pachinko'' was released on the 28th of November, 2025 to critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ian |first1=Ian |title=Review: Moron Police – Pachinko |url=https://theprogressivesubway.com/2025/12/02/review-moron-police-pachinko/ |website=theprogressivesubway.com |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Joyce |first1=Steve |title=Moron Police – Pachinko (Album Review) |url=https://progreport.com/moron-police-pachinko-new-album-review/ |website=progreport.com |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Van|first1=Van |title=Moron Police – Pachinko |url=https://theprogspace.com/moron-police-pachinko/ |website=theprogspace.com |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref>
''Pachinko'' won "Album of the Year" in The Prog Space's 2025 awards<ref>{{cite web |title=The Progspace Awards 2025 |url=https://theprogspace.com/poll/tpsawards2025/ |website=theprogspace.com |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref> and "Progressive Rock Album of the Year" in the 2025 Prog Report Awards.<ref>{{cite web |title=2025 Prog Report Awards |url=https://progreport.com/2025-prog-report-awards-results/ |website=progreport.com |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref> The album also featured at the top of Loudwire's "The 11 Best Prog Rock Albums of 2025".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Blum |first1=Jordan |title=The 11 Best Prog Albums of 2025 |url=https://loudwire.com/best-prog-rock-albums-2025/ |website=loudwire.com |publisher=Townsquare Media |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref>
Later in 2025 they initiated a new Kickstarter to fund the physical release of the album. It was funded in less than 24 hours<ref>{{cite web |last1=Police |first1=Moron |title=You funded this big boi in 3 hours! |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1460738542727425&set=a.694704032664217 |website=facebook.com |access-date=12 May 2026}}</ref> and exceeded their goal by 500%.<ref>{{cite web |title=– Dette overgår vår villeste fantasi |url=https://www.lister24.no/kultur/n/OkQ4Gl/dette-overgaar-vaar-villeste-fantasi |website=www.lister24.no |publisher=Schibsted |access-date=6 May 2026}}</ref>
==Members== ===Current members=== *Sondre Skollevoll – vocals, guitar, keyboards, writer (2006–present) *Christian Fredrik Steen – bass (2015–present) *Lars Christian Bjørknes – synth (2015–present)
===Former members=== *Rune Stordahl – bass guitar (2008–2014) *Thore Omland Pettersen – drums (2008–2022, his death)
===Timeline=== <div style="text-align:center;"> <timeline> ImageSize = width:650 height:190 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:60 top:0 right:50 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/2008 till:01/01/2026 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Colors = id:Vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass id:Guitars value:green legend:Guitars id:Synth value:purple legend:Synth id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom
ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:2008
LineData = at:01/01/2012 color:black layer:back at:01/01/2014 color:black layer:back at:01/01/2019 color:black layer:back at:01/01/2025 color:black layer:back
BarData = bar:Skollevoll text:"Sondre Skollevoll" bar:Pettersen text:"Thore Pettersen" bar:Stordahl text:"Rune Stordahl" bar:Holtsteen text:"Christian Holtsteen" bar:Bjørknes text:"Lars Bjørknes"
PlotData= width:12 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) bar:Skollevoll from:01/01/2008 till: end color:Vocals bar:Skollevoll from:01/01/2008 till: end width:7 color:Guitars bar:Skollevoll from:01/01/2008 till: end width:2 color:Vocals bar:Pettersen from:01/01/2008 till: 01/01/2022 color:Drums bar:Stordahl from:01/01/2008 till:01/01/2014 color:Bass bar:Holtsteen from:01/01/2015 till: end color:Bass bar:Bjørknes from:01/01/2015 till: end color:Synth
</timeline> </div>
== Discography == ;Albums * ''The Propaganda Machine'' – 2012
* ''Defenders of the Small Yard'' - 2014 * ''A Boat on the Sea'' - 2019 * ''Pachinko'' - 2025
;EPs * ''The Stranger and the Hightide'' (EP) - 2021
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Norwegian rock music groups Category:Musical groups established in 2006 Category:2006 establishments in Norway