The new album by this Swedish melodeath outfit marks the dawn of a new creative era for the band, one that fuses technical mastery with raw emotional power.

A Melodic Death Metal and Metalcore band that started in autumn 2020 at the Academy of Music & Business, a school for 16 to 19-year-olds situated in Vara near Gothenburg, Sweden, with their musical style having its roots in the melodeath movement that was big in the 90’s and early 2000’s, the up-and-coming Thermality are unleashing upon us their third studio album, titled Concept 42, following the global breakout of their 2024 release The Final Hours (which dominated international metal charts and entered the official Swedish sales rankings). Recorded at the iconic Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, and displaying a cinematic artwork by Andreas Marschall (Kreator, In Flames, Blind Guardian), the new album by Ludvig Sommar on vocals, Noel Hoflund Jonsson and Walter Hamilton on the guitars, Ture Skärfstad Stål on bass, and Hampus Sätterlund on drums marks the dawn of a new creative era for the band, one that fuses technical mastery with raw emotional power where each track is part of a larger conceptual journey.

The band quickly transports us to their wicked world in the opening track Friction, exploding into sheer Melodic Death Metal savagery led by Ludvig’s harsh vociferations, while Noel and Walter take the lead armed with their scorching riffs in Helix, once again inspiring us for some wild action inside the pit. Brainstorm sounds and feels heavily inspired by giants the likes of Soilwork, In Flames and At The Gates, with Ture’s bass and Hampus’ drums making the earth tremble, followed by Inception, not as exciting as the other songs of the album, with even Ludvig’s vocals sounding less aggressive. Concept 42, the song that carries the name of the album, kicks off to the rumbling bass by Ture, evolving into a melodeath beast overflowing harmony and rage, whereas Reminiscence starts in an ethereal, almost melancholic manner, quickly exploding into another blast of heavy and piercing sounds by Thermality.

Breaking Point then blends the classic Gothenburg sound with nuances of modern metal styles, with Noel, Walter and Ture once again giving a lesson in heavy music with their intricate and fierce guitars and bass lines, and it’s time to bang our heads together with those beyond talented Swedish boys in The Hollow, where they speed things up, offering Ludvig exactly what he needs to bark like a demented entity. The band brings forward another song with a more melodic intro that quickly morphs into classic Melodic Death Metal made in Sweden entitled Bright Side, with Hampus making sure there’s plenty of heaviness flowing during the entire song. “SMILE” again showcases that traditional Gothenburg sound led by the striking riffage by Noel and Walter, turning into an excellent option for their live concerts; and get ready to bang your head like a true metalmaniac to the sound of Lost Inside, with Ludvig barking and screaming in great fashion for our total delight. And last but not least, their harmonious yet visceral sounds will penetrate deep inside our minds in Tomorrow, with its guitar solos and breaks adding an extra kick to the music.

“Writing music is absolutely the best thing we know. Music gives us the most support and joy in our daily lives, and we hope it can do the same for those of you who listen to our music. The response we have received since starting this band has been incredible in so many ways. So we wanted to take a sec here and thank you and appreciate all those who came before us in this genre, all the feedback we have received on our previous releases, and everyone who listens to and supports us.
We truly hope you enjoy the album and approach it with an open mind when you listen to the music. With this album, we feel we have taken another step in the direction we want to go-one more step toward reaching the level our music deserves to be at,” commented the band, and if you’re a fan of bands like Gojira, Architects, Lamb of God, In Flames, and Fit For An Autopsy, you should definitely give them a try. You can also find those talented guys on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their music on Spotify, and purchase their new album from their own BandCamp, from Sound Pollution, or by clicking HERE. Concept 42 will most definitely take Thermality to new heights, keeping the flames of Swedish melodeath burning for many years to come through the band’s undisputed music.

Best moments of the album: Helix, Concept 42, and Lost Inside.

Worst moments of the album: Inception.

Released in 2025 Black Lodge Records

Track listing
1. Friction 4:30
2. Helix 3:56
3. Brainstorm 4:00
4. Inception 4:15
5. Concept 42 3:53
6. Reminiscence 3:41
7. Breaking Point 3:40
8. The Hollow 4:00
9. Bright Side 4:13
10. “SMILE” 4:35
11. Lost Inside 3:32
12. Tomorrow 5:00

Band members
Ludvig Sommar – vocals
Noel Hoflund Jonsson – guitar
Walter Hamilton – guitar
Ture Skärfstad Stål – bass
Hampus Sätterlund – drums