Måsstaden
November 28, 2011
- Century Media Records
The problem with having fans is that they can build an image in their own minds of what a band should be. Taking a virtual ownership, holding the band in question to certain standards, expecting certain things from it. This is often one of the biggest dilemmas for a band. They are forced into asking themselves "will the fans like this?". It can create an interesting conflict of creative control, one that can often tear bands apart. Let's look at this problem through the perspective of Vildhjarta, for no particular reason! A band, which has been around the scene for a long time, one with plenty of fans. A band defined, until now, by their demo 'Omnislash'. Omnislash contains two songs, 'Shiver' and 'Lady Luck (Don't Fail Me Now)'. The pair are full of catchy grooves, big choruses and a unique tone. On Vildhjarta's debut album, 'Måsstaden', all has changed.
However, change is usually a force for good and this record is no exception. Måsstaden's cover art immediately reminded me of a big, old hardback of Watership Down I have had since my childhood. The rich colors, the hand drawn anthropomorphic animals, the vast, ancient forest all speak to the fables and fantasies of our youth and generations before us. The one enormous, key difference between my dusty children's book and the metal album Måsstaden is the atmosphere. Evil, pure evil and darkness surrounds every facet of this record. The riffs are demonic, random, filthy, productions of some sort of nightmarish steampunk machine. The soundscapes are cold and dank, full of metallic textures that clang and clank. The vocals are mercilessly harsh, with two vocalists ranging from mid-range roars to low-down brutality with utter relentlessness.
After all I have written above, after all descriptors I have tried to use to convey what Måsstaden sounds like, my efforts are ultimately futile. Vildhjarta's riffs are unlike anything else out there. The seemingly impossible grooviness of Monuments, the power of Gojira and the abuse of guitar techniques/sound of Tom Morello all mix into a witch's brew of unbelievable potency. Not only is it potent, it still has an amazing amount of substance. Some riffs present on the album, hell, some songs, I would struggle to call cohesive, throwing random riffs and noises out at will, blindsiding the listener and on a few occasions almost provoking laughter from me for being so ridiculous.
Let it be known however; it works. The ridiculous song composition and unforgiving vocal styles are melded together in an extremely smart way. Vocals are not a throwaway; they add to the songs and there is no doubt that an instrumental version of the album would be a lesser one. The production fits too, with the trademark frigid, trebly and crunchy Vildhjarta tone, tight and punchy drums and snarling bass, perhaps not present enough, but it is a metal album after all.
Leading from that statement about good production, this album is not easy. It is not a simple album, not one that can be present as just background noise. It demands the cliche of "absolute attention from the listener". Without this effort, the music can quickly fly over a listener's head and come off as, quite simply, random and static. None of the elements I have praised the album for make it any easier on a listener who may be just getting into djent or even one who is a fan of Vildhjarta's old material.
"But Klonere", you may be asking yourself, "You haven't mentioned any of the songs!". You'd be 100% correct, I have not. 'Traces' is a very special piece on Måsstaden, being the only song containing clean vocals and a track that has been around for a very long time, the second result on YouTube for "Vildhjarta". The song has gone through some changes: the aforementioned clean vocals, a rearranged mid-section and a completely different ending, to properly fit in as a song in the middle of an album. Of course, the whole affair is far darker and more complete on the album, with the cleans fitting in perfectly, giving the sparse preceding mid-section some life to it.
After 'Traces' we have 'Phobon Nika'. One of the shorter tracks on the album, it perfectly illustrates the new Vildhjarta sound. Many people may regard it as filler at first, considering its length and construction. However, on an album dependent on building atmosphere, the track is necessary and well-placed. It opens with a simple yet eerie clean guitar backed by some minimal yet threatening ambiance. The whole thing dies down and another, more prominent clean guitar section comes in with a simple, haunting passage. Another brief fade, the guitar returns, with some glitchy but muddied drums until the full heavy crunch comes in backed by the real drums. Then hell breaks loose. The whole experience feels a lot shorter than it truly is, yet it also feels like you have been shown another little part of the world of Måsstaden.
Justifying filler tracks is extremely hard for a band to do, and on Måsstaden Vildhjarta manage it. It is again a testament to how 'together' the whole album feels. Like their colleagues in Uneven Structure, Vildhjarta have made the extra effort of creating a cohesive and clear story in both music and lyrics; a true concept album. Neither element takes away from or hinders the other. Each in turn, they amplify the listener's journey through Måsstaden. When music can create such a strong set of images in one's mind, it is almost certainly worthy of praise.
So, there we have it. Worth the wait? A long, long wait indeed, much like... well, nearly every other significant djent release. In my mind, Måsstaden proves that Vildhjarta not only know exactly what they are doing, but also that they are capable of making focused, engrossing and fantastic music. This album goes beyond the simple yet catchy grooves of the demos into a mature, atmospheric and refined record which is hard to get into at first, but has many many hours of listening in it. When this officially drops, you cannot ignore it.
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Comments
This turned out to be a pretty decent album. Very complicated songs, dark riffs, and not as melodic as most other djent bands. It's like the evil version of TesseracT while also being a hybrid of Nemertines and Cleric with Daath vocals. The only clean vocals are more similar to Power Metal (I'm thinking of Angra here) than Metalcore so they're a little more unique in that way.
Dagger's the catchiest track to me so far. I haven't given it enough listens but it's nice to hear another band similar to Meshuggah, in terms of harsh vocals.
An instrumental album would still be prefered, with this band especially because the instruments can get very technical sometimes, the djent is obscured by the growling and the vocals aren't even that loud compared to other death metal bands. The Arusha Accord is very technical too and did this, it almost sounds like two seperate albums with and without vocals. But hearing it with vocals first, then without kinda messes with your head if you really like the singing. I usually don't so that doesn't effect me.
It would'nt be better or worse as an instumental... it'd be just as good in a totally different way.
HB_Dad I actually agree with a lot of what you said, however let me just say instrumental music is essentially the spirit of classical music and jazz, it's like abstract art; you're not told what to see or think you just see/listen. I think instrumental music is kind of like it's own super-genre because you have to listen to it in a different way then music with vocals if you really want to get the most out it. Honestly the things that got me into instrumental music was my dislike of "screamo/emo/core" vocals and how much I like electronic music (which usually doesn't have vocals) as well as ambient music... amongst other things.
Slashmole - obviously I agree, I think that the biggest part of enjoying the metal genre of any sort is the instruments. With or without the vocals, I love all of it. But instruments take the cake on everything, I play guitar, bass, and drums. There is always big musicianship when it comes to metal, I mean, it is the most extreme thing you can do with the instruments besides classical. But everyone is entitled to their opinion here. This was mine.
To also compliment one of HB_Dad's comments, I do enjoy big powerful clean vocals as well. Corelia kills it. Cheers.
HB_Dad - Dude, start your own band then? But even that I know exactly what you're talking about, we can't all ignore all of these true and repeating things. But you can't control what is going to continue to happen by stating the obvious and demanding as a fan? Pick up a mic/guitar/pen. Start doing it yourself.
Getting away from all this negativity I want to thank the 142 of you who liked this <3
"Joined: 09/11/2011" I guess it's Slashmole decided to troll us.
Are you like the Anti-Slashmole?
Wow, you sound bitter.
I am glad this is NOT an instrumental album! I hate instrumental albums as they always feel incomplete. Take Animals As Leaders, their new album is awesome musically but without vocals, it doesn't hold my attention at all.
Here are 8 trends that I think really need to die with albums:
1. Instrumental albums need to stop! They just feel incomplete! You need someone to give each track some sort of narrative, a story teller if you will...
2. Useless intro tracks have been running rampant in punk, metal, and hardcore since really the 90's and were really made popular by bands like AFI though they were not the first to do it obviously. A useless intro track is usually not a full-band effort or can even be a non-band effort utilizing instruments not even being played by the band or appearing anywhere else on the record.
3. Pointless instrumental interludes given their own tracks needs to stop! If there is nothing musical about them but they serve as a real lead in to the next song, either connect it to the end of one track or to the beginning of the next track. Don't try to justify it as another track so you can milk more people on iTunes. Uneven Structure, are you listening?
4. Hidden tracks following several minutes of blank space, especially when it is just some bullshit and not even a real song. If it is a real song, give it its own track though pay attention to point 5 below...
5. Cover songs, especially "joke" cover songs need to stop. They've already been recorded by their original "artists", move on.
6. Albums that are too short. Albums less than 30 minutes should be sold as an EP though EP's shouldn't exist either. Put in the effort to make a real full-length of at least 35 minutes or so.
7. Dub Remixes. Big Chocolate or whatever the fuck his name is needs to stop. This isn't a fucking rave!
8. Terrible Clean vocals need to stop! No more whiny/nasally emo vocals please! Unless you can sing with a powerful voice like the dudes from Opeth, Scar Symmetry (old vocalist), Devin Townsend, Uneven Structure, or Warrel Dane, don't bother!
I was being very, very, very sarcastic.
How can I like specific comments?
Klonere wins so hard in here!
You are one, cold, Thall brother, hahahaha!
I would greet Hell with a smile upon death if it meant early inheritance of the Vildhjarta album.
Hell is filled with desires and good intentions. I welcome all.
I fully intend to buy the album, go to as many shows as possible, but I simply need this album now. I can't wait till the 29th, so if a link exists that can sate my Thall needs, I have to find it!
Beware the preacher with stitched eyes...buy the cd or buy the download. Support the art but buy the artists. That's THALL!!...A Message Of Finer Djentle Affairs...
Do you know that a link exists, and you're just trying to find it?
damn i need to read entire threads more often.
( regardless really anticipating this album in its entirety as it was intended to be. trolls gonna troll and thalls gonna thall
Klonere first comment to slashmole was, if it was an instrumental it would of been 11/10. By now if you give slashmole the credit, there's no living with the guy. It would have been beyond perfect(without vocals) was klonere's response, after the review...
Though he still gave it a 10/10?!?
And ended with, TesseracT having a sub record instrumentally...yeah that's not going anywhere with this kid!
You need to get your sarcasm detector fixed
I mean jesus, he couldn't make it any more obvious I think 
If a band includes vocals on an album than it is their intention. It is not your right to say that an album would be subjectively "better" because of an instrumental version. In fact, that's just foolish. Record the album yourself if you want to hear it how you want to hear it. If you can't, then don't. Leave it up to the bands and respect the music that they release as they release it. I'm sure they put a lot more time in to it than you did writing this barely cohesive comment Klonere.
I CANT FUCKING FIND THE LINK, I NEED IT! PLEASE SOMEONE SEND IT TO ME! I NEED THIS ALBUM ILL BUY IT WHEN IT COMES OUT BUT I CANT WAIT ANYMORE, PLEASE. IM DYING. PLEASE...
A question, nothing to do with the review but more to do with Vildhjarta. Definitely not trying to be funny. I was just listening to 'Carrie' by Europe. Does anybody know what they think of Europe? My first cassette bought was The Final Countdown. Curious, since I'm from America and I know big this band was in the 80's, how does today youth of metal, especially Swedish metal youth, think of Europe? Not sure if this post here was as good as any...but
But trolling is also a art
You guys are way too sensitive. Klonere you make it sound like i'm insulting vocals. However I politely said "I disagree and here's why"
"The genius of removing vocals also removes the lyrics" No, you can still read the lyrics in the book, I did that with Periphery.
"We can also all agree that an instrumental version of the album highlights just how easy the job of a vocalist is." I never said it was an easy job! You're really trying to make it look like i'm insulting singers, that's just childish i'm not, I'm just saying djent is about the guitars to me and this type of singing does not appeal to me. Trust me I could say a lot of really mean things about this style of singing but I won't because there's just no need to attack anyone.
"Vildhjarta's "Black Metal" image makes them inaccessible, which is surely only a good thing." Long story short, some artists like to be underground. Kinda why Aphex hasn't released anything in several years. But explaining that fully would take a while.
"if you think Tesseract's One is a better album instrumentally then you can shove hot iron rebar up your anus." That just goes to prove everything I said, which is funny because here I am saying how much I dislike certain singing stlyes, and trying not to be offense. Yet in the end i'm the only one that seems capable of holding a real argument.
Seriously I wrote my first reply as kindly as humanly possible, Music is a matter of opinion by the way, like all art.
So, wait...because of the vocals are you saying; TesseracT's, One record is better. Because I haven't heard an instrumental version of 'One'.
klonere, if my review lives up to that riposte you just gave then i'll be doing well
Oh my, in tears.
i think this review is perfect this album is exactly what i NEEDED vildhjarta to do.
-------------------------l----------l--- / \ l l !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
l l l / \ l l !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
l l l / \ l l !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
l l l / \ l l !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
l l l / \ l l !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
l l ---------l /-------- \ l l !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
l l l / \ l l !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
l l l / \ l l !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
l l l / \ l l !!!!!!!!!!!!!
l l l \ l_________ l__________ ........
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Klonere, you are my hero.
Slashmole, you are completely correct. In fact, without vocals, I believe this album may even qualify for an 11/10. The album would actually be beyond perfection.
By cutting out the useless fluff that is vocals, we truly can see what exact notes the band are playing at all times. Even if the aforementioned notes are written to be accompanied by voice, surely EVERYONE can appreciate the fact that these musicians are indeed, playing their instruments. The genius of removing vocals also removes the lyrics, something the ordinary, vocal-listening peon will surely be confused by! A concept album without lyrics provokes the listener into making up their own, firing their imaginations to unimaginable heights, the true ecstasy of self-imposed creation upon another work. This would easily make it better than Aphex Twin's masterpiece Drukqs or Deadmau5fuckkkyouputthosetwointhesamefuckingsentencejesus.
We can also all agree that an instrumental version of the album highlights just how easy the job of a vocalist is. I mean if I was listening to a song which clearly was calling for vocals in certain sections, say perhaps, choruses or verses, I would probably again, self-insert them! I might hum my own little vocal line. See how easy that is? If I can do it, any idiot can! There is simply no skill or technique when it comes to vocals. They can be arranged however the vocalist whims on the day see fit and seeing as they are likely to be the most prominent part of the music, listeners will automatically assume that the vocals must fit no matter how random or ill-thought out they are. The actual performance of them is trivial also. La la la. Ro ro ro. Ez pz man, no problem.
I also like the way you point out the fact that ANYONE can enjoy instrumental music! I also like the fact that you mention that you like the way Vildhjarta's "Black Metal" image makes them inaccessible, which is surely only a good thing. (There are no contradictions in this paragraph)
To conclude, I wish to bow my head and admit that indeed, an instrumental version of an album written for vocals would absolutely be the better version of said album. I mean no-one really cares when you remove one whole instrument (I apologize for referring to the lowly profession of vocalist as an instrument, it cannot compare to people who hit round objects with sticks or people who hit metal strings with plastic chips) from a piece of music - it is done all the time in metal where the bass is barely audible. In the end, if you think Tesseract's One is a better album instrumentally then you can shove hot iron rebar up your anus.
I see vocals as another piece of the puzzle. An instrument in the band. Another tool to get their vision across. That's just me though....
Also it's not that hard for me to dissect the vocals from the tunes when I want to.
thall
-G-
Slashmole, there are clean vocals in the album
not as much as before, but they are there (and used to great effect imo). listen to the live version of traces to gauge the amount of cleans you will have to deal with 
I disagree with you saying an instrumental album would be a lesser one, for you see the thing about Instrumental music is anyone can enjoy it.
Djent was created on the basis that it's instrumental, because when there's no vocals, there's no "star" of the show, instead the instruments are the stars and they truly get to shine. Maybe i got this mentality from listening to post-rock and bands like Godspeed you! Black Emperor, but it's like how electronic music has no vocals, and having highly technical drums allows djent to rival electronic musicians like Aphex Twin and Dead Mau5 while simultaneously competing with regular metal bands and dubstep with it's guitars.
I've seen far too many perfect 10's given to these new albums on this site. However i'm glad to hear there's no clean vocals here and i'll enjoy showing this to a lot more people because of that. I really like their image because of two things:
1. They're not "in space" like all the other djent bands
2. Their image and lack of clean vocals vaguely reminds me of the whole Black Metal scene, which was about fighting the mainstream and keeping their art "pure", doing so by not adding clean vocals making and thereby it more difficult to spread their music.
The wait for this is gonna be brutal! My ears will bleed and I will be wearing the tee everyday when i get it!
thall
-G-