Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Vildhjarta - Måsstaden Under Vatten (2021)
A decade had passed since the djenty debut album by Vildhjarta, Masstaden, the album that pushed the boundaries of djent just like when Meshuggah invented it in the mid-90s. The long wait for their second album is partially because of Calle Thomer (guitar) and Buster Odeholm (drums) being focused on fellow thall developer Humanity's Last Breath. They still have their perfect groove-ish progressive djent in this next album, the massive 80-minute Masstaden Under Vatten (Seagull Town Underwater)!
While thall can mean anything, I would say it's as evil and strong as Thrall, the World of Warcraft character that inspired the genre's name. This is exemplified by the complexity, atmosphere, and downtuned heaviness that make the subgenre.
"Lavender Haze" makes its immediate entrance with staccato riffing. Enough to make up for Ion Dissonance disappearing after their 2016 album! Starting off a 3-part epic is "Nar De Du Alskar Kommer Tillbaka Fran De Doda" (When Those You Love Come Back From the Dead), sounding progressive and heavy as always. "Kaos2" attacks with its hammering riffing and monstrous vocals. "Toxin" continues on and once again follows the band's unconventional ways including no set structure, destructive riffing, and clean melody only used for haunting atmosphere, thereby maintaining the band's aggressive evolution. "Brannmarkt" (Branded) sounds dark and heavy while twisted through deathly heaviness. The single "Den Helige Anden" (The Holy Spirit) was released two years before the rest of the album, and blends melancholy with polyrhythms.
Taking things to another level is "Passage Noir" with catchiness to go with the atmospheric savagery. Then the 5 and a half minute instrumental "Masstadens Nationalsang (Under Vatten)" (Seagull Town's National Anthem (Underwater)) follows, a highly extended re-recording of a song from the previous album. The riffing can repeat without sounding repetitive, allowing you to let it flow. "Heartsmear" is more dynamic, as the riffing can go from slow and crushing to fast and blasting. The long 7-minute "Vagabond" sets the apocalyptic mood in downtuned chaos. "Mitt Trotta Hjarta" (My Tired Heart) reminds you not to give up on this 80-minute journey, not matter how tiring it is to some.
"Detta Drommars Skote en Sloja Till Ormars Naste" (This Womb of Dreams is a Veil to the Nest of Snakes) is another impressive deep thall labyrinth. "Phantom Assassin" is another short track yet so detailed. I consider the two "Sunset Sunrise" tracks as one. Those two tracks once again break down the walls of conventionality with the talent of each member. The vocals of Vilhelm Bladin, the drums of Buster Odeholm, the guitars of Calle Thomer and Daniel Bergstrom, and the bass of Johan Nyberg, all drifting through these dark djenty waters. The tempo is cranked up in "Penny Royal Poison", sounding so clean and filthy at the same time. The closing epic "Paaradiso" is the band's longest single track at 10 minutes, and there's nothing exhausting about at it all. Dexterous harmonies with hints of post-jazz make another sonic behemoth. And after a brief fade into the background, it all ends with a final atmospheric brutal touchdown, like a world-ending apocalypse.
Masstaden Under Vadden continues Vildhjarta's brutal glory after that decade-long gap between albums. It's like after djent faded from popularity, it was jolted back into memory by the fresh sound of thall. It has opened up dimensions of darkness and brutality that barely any other band could. This is true kaos!
Favorites: "Nar De Du Alskar Kommer Tillbaka Fran De Doda", "Toxin", "Den Helige Anden", "Passage Noir", "Vagabond", "Detta Drommars Skote en Sloja Till Ormars Naste", "Sunset Sunrise", "Sunset Sunrise Sunset Sunrise", "Paaradiso"