Think the melancholic guitar leads from The Cure, the steady and hypnotic rhythm and vibe of Joy Division and most of all, especially because of the almost industrial drumcomputer, the sickness and grime of Alien Sex Fiend! Infused with modern, suicidal black metal’s vocals and bedroomriffs they combine the best of both worlds in my opinion.

Talking about the vocals, did you notice how, apart from the spoken word and suicidal wailing, he incorporates this eerie whisper and low humming? And how he sometimes does all of these in the span of one sentence? This is one versatile vocalist if you ask me. Noteworthy, to say the least. His performance seems very sincere, genuinely emotional, desperate and lacks that almost comedic aspect I hear in bands like, for example, Silencer.

Maybe it’s all about context with this one. “Sjukdom” is almost like a microcosm of 30 years of dark music. It needs to sink in, fester about and you’ll end up either loving it or hating it, as is with most genre-bending albums. As is with most classics? ;)

I should clarify: the Nachtmystium comparison was most notable in the arrangements and loud/quiet parts when I was referencing the guitar work – Nachtmystium and Lifelover both being acts that cross-pollinate black metal with other genres (post-rock, shoegaze, etc) and implement said approaches. It was intended as a point of reference, NOT that they necessarily sound like each other.

I do like this record! But to summarize my review: I feel this was more of a lateral move for the band rather than a breakthrough or dismantling of their sound.

I think early Katatonia is probably a better reference point than Nachmystium. And 5 albums in, you’d think the band probably has exactly the drum sound they want [whether or not you like it is another story…].