Skogen: "Skuggorna Kallar"

A turn to something worse, or the beginning of a new exciting chapter?

Skogen is one of those bands that just keep getting better and better. From Vittra in 2009, through Svitjod and Eld, I Döden from 2014 was the culmination of a lengthy venture into the ultimate combination of traditional black metal guitar riffs and exceptionally immersive atmosphere. I Döden was - and still is - one of the most surprising and stand-out black metal albums of the 2010s for me. But leave it to Skogen to throw us another curve ball.

Anna Von Hausswolff: "Dead Magic"

A bridge over the deep waters that separate styles

Thanks to a former boss who recommended me her previous album, Anna Von Hausswolff is now one of those artists that I continually look forward to hearing from. The Miraculous from 2015 received a 9/10 rating, and I'm happy to say that while 2018's Dead Magic is in many areas a vastly different endeavour, it is absolutely as deserving of the same score.

Grift: "Arvet"

Contemplative style-defying music

Grift, the project founded and maintained by Erik Gärdefors since 2011, has always marked itself as an endeavour that wholeheartedly belongs to neither a pure metal or rock ethos. In that regard, Grift seems like a symbol of the direction of contemporary music, mixing typically oppositional elements of desperate black metal, airy post rock and sombre dark folk with just a sprinkle of shoegaze in a conglomerate that could best be described merely as 'art'.

Frozen Realm: "Frozen Realm"

A closed fist in the face of their own heroes

Once the acoustic guitar intro to Frozen Realm's debut EP of the same name breaks into an orgy of flashy guitar melodies, there can be no doubt as to the nature of the Swedish band. Balls deep in the long-standing tradition of the Gothenburg sound, Frozen Realm break into full-fledged melodic death metal, complete with every element that the definition entails.

Wall of the Eyeless: "Wimfolsfestta"

Consistent but effortless

Crossing country borders, Simon from Sweden and SL from Russia created their collaboration Wall of the Eyeless in 2011. That same year their debut demo Through Emptiness garnered a few positive reviews, to be followed in 2013 by the Wimfolsfestta demo.

Hammerfall: "Built to Last"

As the regular writer on TONEwood is obviously way too busy listening to tapes, sewing on limited edition patches and doing other trve metal stuff, and not having the golden hair it takes, I was given the opportunity to write a review of the new Hammerfall album Built to Last and – if you’re already a fan of Hammerfall – you are in for an absolute treat!

Phidion: "Flesh of the Forsaken"

Rich in history without looking forward too often

When the five man strong thrashing death metal outfit from Stockholm come into play, their moods vary from narrow interpretations of ominous aggression, menacing fury and focused anger. The group's third release, the Flesh of the Forsaken EP from 2012, explores a lyrical universe consisting of the recurring history of humanity's affinity for warfare as well as other topics, set to a barbaric soundtrack of mid-paced, thrash-laden death metal that only Swedes can deliver.

Manifestor: "Old Monster"

Short and rough, a violent riot in its own right

Being a thrashy death metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden, you'd expect Manifestor to be just another one of your average run of the mill bands with fuzzed out guitars, trashy bass, bland vocals and programmed drums. After all, it's not that much of a stretch of imagination. But what Hatetriot and Asbest, the two sick brains behind the band, have created is a bit more surprising.

Soliloquium: "When Silence Grows Venomous"

Promising delivery of captivating ideas

Soliloquium started out in Sweden in 2011, and already by 2012 they had released this demo. The band consists of two people, Jonas Bergkvist and Stefan Nordström, both also part of the bands Ending Quest and Desolator. For Soliloquium the duo have held on to their death metal roots, but by mixing it with a cold and melancholic strain of doom metal, the aesthetic changes drastically. Seeming almost customary for the region of Northern Europe, their style recalls early Katatonia, Swallow the Sun, Ghost Brigade, October Tide and the like.

Six in Line: "U Shud Hev Invtd Me"

A bit too fun without too much thought about substance

Metal doesn't have to be serious business all the time, but it helps when the music doesn't have to be held up by a gimmick like comedy and humour. Seriousness about your craft and ideals can often be misinterpreted as self-importance and arrogance, or come off as goofy. Most comedic bands, however, are too caught up in their own inside-jokes to worry about the actual quality of their music. Everything in moderation.

Malfeitor: "Dum Morior Orior"

Standing in the shadows of giants, peeking out every once in a while

Malfeitor was originally concieved right at the height of popularity of Swedish death metal in the early 90s - But even so, their name doesn't invoke the same reverence that bands like Dismember or Grave do, possibly because they seemingly never amounted to any form of release during their original five year tenure in Sweden's capitol. After a fifteen year break, the band reformed in 2010 with two of its original members, guitarist Benny Moberg and vocalist slash bassist Mattias Parkkila, both of which were also involved in Blood Mortized - Another Swedish death metal band.

Extrakt: "Stuck in the Trash"

Sufficiently idolizing Teutonic titans in the cold North

Invoking the sacred names of Destruction, Sodom and Kreator, Extrakt approach from Sweden's small northern university town Umeå, armed to the teeth with thrash clichés and riffs to match the outfit. Their first incarnation, the 2012 demo Stuck in the Trash, is a short and straight to the point bastard creation in the vein of Teutonic thrash legends. Boasting simple titles like Bitch, Extraktified and Stuck in the Trash, you get the picture well before you've even put on the demo.

Snaegr: "The Hordes of Chaos"

Never above or below decent

Swedish death metal is arguably one of the most iconic branches of extreme metal with its buzzing chainsaw guitar sound, churning riffs, menacing atmosphere and filthy production. You can usually tell if a death metal band is Swedish miles away, and Snaegr are no different with their third demo The Hordes of Chaos.

Putrified: "Neurotic Necrotic"

When everyone has access to instruments and recording equipment, mankind will reap as it has sown

There will always be bands and musicians that seek to push forward, perpetually experimenting and breaking new ground. Opposite those, there will likewise be those who delve into the sounds of the past - Traditional revivalists hellbent on perfecting an older blueprint. Some branches of music have so much influence and power that they never quite go out of style. Old school Swedish death metal like Grave, Dismember and Entombed continues to strike a chord with fans both new and old, their influential reaching far across the span of time.

Greenleaf: "Rise Above the Meadow"

Relevant, ballsy in attitude and free of trend

The Swedish band Greenleaf has had a lineup in near constant turmoil since their debut in 2000. Yet they've always managed to channel that change into a positiv thing, utilising it to mix things up with their sound. Though originally combining stoner rock and alternative rock elements like Queens of the Stone Age and similar bands they've since become more modern and as a direct result come more into their own.

Anna von Hausswolff: "The Miraculous"

Apocalyptic, gothic beauty

Anna Michaela Ebba Electra von Hausswolff, shortened to Anna von Hausswolff with good reason, has achieved quite the following with her music. The Swedish singer and songwriter has far exceeded her heritage as daughter of noted sound artist Carl Michael von Hausswolff, and her outings have seen her tour with acts like Lykke Li, Tindersticks and earned her well deserved comparisons to legends such as Kate Bush.

Witchcraft: "Nucleus"

The Swedes leave behind the 70s

Witchcraft broke out as an early mover in the the resurgence of 70s influenced doom metal and hard rock in the 00s with classic albums like "Witchcraft" and "Firewood". Their style, however, changed quite a bit with 2012's "Legend", the Swedish group's fourth album. By then the songwriting had put on a more modern guise, taking on a more widespread audience. This time around Witchcraft's main songwriter Magnus Pelander is flanked by two new members in Tobias Anger on bass and Rage Widerberg on drums.

Benalthel: "Reach Towards the Sky"

Melodic death metal, the comic sans of metal

Commercially speaking melodic death metal is probably one of the most popular subgenres of metal. The popularity of bands like Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, In Flames and Soilwork stands testament to the appeal such bands pose. It is however also abundantly clear from the oversaturation of the melo-death scene that only very few manage to actually produce anything worthwhile.