Tag Archives: västerbotten

Album Review – Backengrillen / Backengrillen (2026)

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Behold the scathing debut by this Swedish ensemble, filled to the brim with the self-hatred endemic to the province of Västerbotten from whence they hail.

The grill will fucking rule things. A new ensemble born from the ashes of Refused, with their roots in Hardcore, Punk Rock, Noise and free Jazz, Umeå, Sweden-based Experimental Death/Doom Metal/Punk Rock/Jazz entity Backengrillen is ready to attack your senses with their self-titled debut offering, filled to the brim with the self-hatred endemic to the province of Västerbotten from whence the member’s hail. Blasting an antifascist and antiracist free form of death-jazz in the memory of Swedish musician Lars Lystedt (RIP), the band formed of Dennis Lyxzén on vocals and effects, Mats Gustafsson on saxophone, flute and live electronics, Magnus Flagge on bass, and David Sandström on drums and electronics brings forward a paean to chaos and destruction in their debut opus, inspired by the most distinct acts the likes of The Cramps, Little Richard, Albert Ayler, Polly Bradfield, Entombed, John Zorn, Misfits, Stooges, Lars Gullin, Can and much more.

The album kicks off with ten minutes of absolute sonic insanity entitled A Hate Inferior, starting in the most serene, grim manner before evolving into a deadly Sludge and Doom Metal feast led by the demented sax by Mats; and such a high level of craziness goes on in full force in Dör för långsamt, or “dying too slowly” in English, where Mats’ flute walks hand in hand with the tribal beats by David, all boosted by the bursts of sheer dementia by Dennis on vocals. Then their wicked fusion of metal music with the unique sound of the saxophone sets the tone in Repeater II, where Dennis once again sounds killer on vocals supported by the thunderous kitchen crafted by Magnus and David. Backengrillen, the song that carries the name of the band and of the album, brings to our avid ears a fully Experimental Doom Metal sonority with hints of Noise, sounding utterly sluggish, caustic, and visceral, followed by Socialism or Barbarism, the most dissonant yet melodic of all songs, perfect for dancing inside the mosh pit, with Mats once again stealing the show armed with his infuriated sax.

Backengrillen was written on a Thursday during their first ever rehearsal, performed live on a Friday and recorded on a Saturday, so what you’re hearing is raw, stupid, gut instinct music played by seasoned purveyors of Hardcore Punk, countless forms of metal music, free Jazz, Noise, and so on, positioning the band as one of the most innovative names of the current Swedish rock and metal scene. Backengrillen are such a weird band to the point they don’t have any profiles in any type of social media, giving them an even rawer and unique vibe, but of course you can put your damned hands on their destructive debut by purchasing it from BandCamp or from Svart Records. Backengrillen is Swedish for “back grill,” which makes me wonder if the band is inviting us to enjoy some quality barbeque with them while listening to their album, or if they simply want to throw us in the grill to feel the fire of their demented music. Either way, I’m in.

Best moments of the album: Repeater II and Socialism or Barbarism.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2026 Svart Records

Track listing
1. A Hate Inferior 10:09
2. Dör för långsamt 12:12
3. Repeater II 6:11
4. Backengrillen 10:18
5. Socialism or Barbarism 9:37

Band members
Dennis Lyxzén – vocals, effects
Mats Gustafsson – saxophone, flute, live electronics
Magnus Flagge – bass
David Sandström – drums, electronics

Album Review – Malakhim / And In Our Hearts the Devil Sings (2025)

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Let the devil sing inside your dark and evil heart to the sound of the sophomore album by this up-and-coming Swedish Black Metal horde.

“You may claim to not know or believe in the Devil, but rest assured that the Devil knows you…”

From their formation in 2016 onward, the ascent of Umeå, Sweden’s own Black Metal horde Malakhim has been both steady and swift, from their first demo Demo I, to their first EP II, to their first full-length album Theion, culminating now in 2025 with the release of their sophomore opus, beautifully and poetically entitled And in Our Hearts the Devil Sings. Once again engineered by the band’s longtime friend and co-conspirator Marcus E. Norman (aka Vargher of Naglfar, Bewitched, Ancient Wisdom), with an ominous artwork by Kristina Pavleska of Mors Ultima Ratio Art (and additional booklet artwork by longtime friend Karmazid), the new offering by vocalist E, guitarists AK and AN, bassist TK and drummer VT isn’t strictly a concept album per se, as its lyrical themes are nevertheless deep, loosely based on the ideas of Yetzer Hara (Hebrew for “evil inclination”), a concept in Jewish thought that represents the innate human tendency to do evil, commit sins, or act against moral principles.

The album kicks off with the seven-minute black mass entitled And In Our Hearts the Devil Sings, exploding into sheer madness to the crushing drums by VT and the demonic vociferations by E, while Solar Crucifixion also starts in a Stygian, cryptic manner before all hell breaks loose to the scathing riffage by AK and AN, not to mention how piercing E’s vocals sound. Then investing in a more straightforward Black Metal sonority we face A New Temple, simply reeking of all elements that make the genre so compelling; and E’s demonic roar sets the tone in the electrifying, venomous Into Darkness We Depart, with TK and VT shaking the foundations of our rotten planet with their infernal kitchen. The pounding drums by VT will smash your cranial skull in Angel of the Bottomless Pit, again presenting the band’s trademark devilish riffs and otherworldly vocals, while Hearts Ablaze presents a classic Black Metal vibe, albeit it sounds a bit convoluted or too chaotic at times. Lastly, they get back on track with eight minutes of total darkness in the form of The Firmament Submits, where AK and AN sound ruthless with their striking riffs and solos before the song reaches its climatic, atmospheric ending.

Showcasing a concertedly more melodic and majestic Malakhim, offering the band’s trademark orthodox Black Metal with a death and doom vein, And In Our Hearts the Devil Sings is undoubtedly the band’s strongest effort to date, and you can join their sinister cult by purchasing a copy of the album from their own BandCamp, or from the Iron Bonehead Productions’ BandCamp or webstore. You can also find more information about such a talented horde on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their discography on any available platform like Spotify, or simply click HERE for all things Malakhim. Because if the devil truly sings deep inside our blackened hearts, we can all rest assured he’s singing the songs found in the new album by Malakhim.

Best moments of the album: And In Our Hearts the Devil Sings, Into Darkness We Depart and Angel of the Bottomless Pit.

Worst moments of the album: Hearts Ablaze.

Released in 2025 Iron Bonehead

Track listing
1. And In Our Hearts the Devil Sings 7:44
2. Solar Crucifixion 6:12
3. A New Temple 5:27
4. Into Darkness We Depart 5:50
5. Angel of the Bottomless Pit 5:32
6. Hearts Ablaze 4:30
7. The Firmament Submits 8:20

Band members
E – vocals
AK – guitars
AN – guitars
TK – bass
VT – drums

Album Review – Scitalis / Maledictum (2025)

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Your body and soul will burn to the new opus by this Swedish Black Metal horde, a haunting exploration of despair and wrath inspired by Sweden’s witch trials during “Det stora oväsendet” (1668–1676).

After their successful 2022 debut Doomed Before Time, Umeå, Sweden’s own Black Metal horde Scitalis returns with their sophomore opus, entitled Maledictum, a haunting exploration of despair and wrath inspired by Sweden’s witch trials during “Det stora oväsendet” (1668–1676). The band’s evolving lineup is reflected throughout the entire album, with newcomers W on drums and L on rhythm guitars joining vocalist and bassist A and lead guitarist S, resulting in a raw, emotional record that captures the agony and anger of the time while showcasing the band’s growth and uncompromising approach to our beloved Black Metal.

W already showcases his welcome card with his demented blast beats in Reborn, an old school, in-your-face Black Metal beast with A gnarling nonstop for our total delight, followed by Suffering, an avalanche of ruthless, sulfurous Black Metal for the masses led by the scorching riffs by S and L, showcasing over six minutes of absolute darkness for admirers of the genre. Seven Years Ov Blood is another bold, multi-layered creation by such an uncanny horde, with the strident riffs by S and L matching perfectly with A’s devilish vociferations; flowing into the also harsh and impious Trial, presenting hints of Blackened Doom in its sluggish beats and low-tuned bass.

This unyielding Swedish horde comes ripping once again in Burn Before Dawn, another savage composition blending the fury of classic Black Metal with the hypnotizing passages of Melodic Black Metal; and the guitars by S and L transpire pure evil in Ashes After The Fire, being gradually accompanied by the massive beats by W and the always visceral roars by A, resulting in a monumental aria of darkness and blasphemy. There’s time for one final breath of evil by Scitalis, entitled Endless Wrath, with the reverberating bass by A and his always menacing gnarls haunting our damned souls for all eternity, all boosted by another violent performance by W on drums.

After all is said and done, you’ll realize the Black Metal feast blasted by Scitalis in Maledictum (available in full on YouTube and on Spotify) is a more than perfect choice for representing the horror of the witch trials in Sweden in the 1600’s, and you can know more about the band, their music and the whole concept behind their pulverizing new album by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by streaming their wicked creations on Spotify, and by grabbing a copy of the album on BandCamp or by clicking HERE or HERE. The burning of witches has always been a constant topic discussed by countless bands from all genres and subgenres of metal music, but it’s when you face a band like Scitalis that you can feel the fires burning your body and soul while they keep filling every single space in the air with their caustic music, exactly like what’s found in the incendiary Maledictum.

Best moments of the album: Suffering, Burn Before Dawn and Ashes After The Fire.

Worst moments of the album: Trial.

Released in 2025 Vendetta Records

Track listing
1. Reborn 4:16
2. Suffering 6:21
3. Seven Years Ov Blood 5:59
4. Trial 7:13
5. Burn Before Dawn 5:44
6. Ashes After The Fire 6:20
7. Endless Wrath 6:31

Band members
A – vocals, bass
S – lead guitars
L – rhythm guitars
W – drums