Casper Balslev directs a superb origin story for Danish metal band 802, where it's 1986 Forever: a short film, that tells the tale of small town losers Andreas Asingh and Emil Sorensen's long journey to rock 'n roll glory.

1986 Forever is a follow-up to Casper Balslev's marvellous A Heavy Metal Bedroom Story, released last year, featuring the band's debut single My Girl - a deadpan black comedy about to goth-obsessed girls who find each other. And it's a more ambitious proposition, as we are treated to a mythic story of the band's early struggles, back in 1986, packed with comedy, violence and a hallucinatory trip to Tenerife.  

The main thrust is Andreas and Emil's long search for the bass player of their dreams - achieved when they find Kasper Holbaek in Tenerife - followed by their eventual progress to the recording studio and a dangerous encounter with a psychopathic label boss.

Balslev masterfully maneuvres the story with considerable skill and, bolstered by excellent performances across the board, and excellent period detail in both art direction and DoP Tobias Scavenius's 80s-esque cinematography.

The official video for 802's track 1986, comprised of a cutdown section of this full-length short film, was released earlier this year. But this actually feels like it has the potential of being a full length movie, like Kneecap. A must-watch.