ALBUM REVIEW: Vildhjarta – måsstaden under vatten

“Thall.”

Ten years is a long time in the music world. In the now full decade since the original måsstaden’s release in 2011, djent has evolved from a niche progressive metal subgenre to a chart-topping, widely accepted style. While Vildhjarta’s own brand of atmospheric, off-kilter djent (thall) is oft imitated, rarely replicated, and generally quite inaccessible to most, it’s undeniable the level of influence they’ve had on the metal world at large since that original album’s release. Now, with the release of måsstaden under vatten, Vildhjarta seek to take back their throne as the kings of thall with a gargantuan 17-track, 80+ minute endeavour into the wildest reaches of progressive, extreme and avant-garde metal.

Opener “lavender haze” wastes no time in introducing the listener to the rhythmic chaos they will be subjected to over the next hour. Frantic polyrhythms and atmosphere galore, this instrumental opener sets the tone of måsstaden under vatten masterfully, feeling like an overture of what’s to come across the record through its different sonic phases throughout its three-minute runtime.

A string of three singles follows, starting with the harrowing “när de du älskar kommer tillbaka från de döda”, leading into packaged-in singles “kaos2” and “toxin”. “kaos2” stands out amongst not only the singles, but the album as a whole as one of the strongest tracks this band has ever written. Replete with all the percussive insanity one comes to expect from Vildhjarta, but made all the more dynamic and effective with a blindsidingly gorgeous clean vocal section. Grandiose, harmonized vocals briefly soar over the top of a typically slick, chuggy instrumental in a moment that, for all my love of this record, I wish we got more of. Instrumentally, this album has keen melodicism and atmosphere strewn across most of its tracks, however the change of pace from vocalist Vilhelm Bladin’s evil shrieks to the unique timbre of his clean singing make for some of my favourite Vildhjarta moments ever in the few moments they do crop up.

On the note of specific members, drummer Buster Odeholm is the absolute star of the show here. Carrying the rhythmic madness on his back like a god, his insane chops are no better exemplified than with mid-album track “heartsmear”. Some eagle-eyed fans may recognize that name from a teaser the group released all the way back in 2016, and the final product does not disappoint. Standing as far and away the most crushing track across måsstaden under vatten, “heartsmear” pounds the listener into the ground as guitarists Daniel Bergström and Calle Thomer chug away without abandon.

Following track “vagabond” serves as the meeting point between the album’s two halves. A seven-minute track divided into three distinct sections; it serves as an incredibly effective transitional point. Slyly calling back to the mesmerising clean guitar motif found at the end of “kaos2” before dropping back into a doomy, polyrhythmic breakdown, “vagabond” is a shining example of just how considered and effectively structured this album is.

The album’s back half, much like the first, contains nothing but strong material. Truth be told, there isn’t very much to fault måsstaden under vatten on whatsoever. From the stank-face-inducing chugs of “sunset sunrise”, to the frantic blasts and haunting ambience of neighbouring track “sunset sunrise sunset sunrise” (not a typo, it’s actually called that), the album’s final moments serve to be just as strong as its opening ones – a level of quality and energy the album somehow maintains through its seemingly daunting runtime.

Closer “paaradiso” serves to round off the entire experience. A ten-minute onslaught of riffs and motifs, packaged (much like opener “lavender haze” and transitional point “vagabond”) in distinct phases; “paaradiso” is a heavy, chaotic and downright beautiful end to a truly breathtaking record.

All in all, with måsstaden under vatten, Vildhjarta have somehow truly outdone themselves. A dense, mesmerising experience from beginning to end; it seems that time has only served Vildhjarta well. From its sheer rhythmic chaos, to its keen grasp of haunting melodicism, måsstaden under vatten is simply some of the best metal I’ve ever heard. While the extremity of it all might leave it a tad inaccessible, it scratches such a visceral itch for me that I can’t help but be truly in love with this record.

måsstaden under vatten will be available this Friday, October 15th via Century Media, and you can pre-order the album here. For all things Vildhjarta, metal and music in general, keep it locked on Boolin Tunes.

9.5/10