Swedish band DÖDAREN was formed back in 2010, and just one year after their formation they were ready with their first EP in 2011. Work commenced on their first full length album towards the end of the year, with recording sessions over and done with before the winter had left at the start of 2012. Since then the band has been picked up by Transubstans Records, who released their debut album “Maen” in December 2012.
As is customary with bands signed by Transubstans Records, we’re dealing with a unit that has quite a lot of the heart and soul of their music in yesteryear. The 1970’s in particular, but also with shades from both the 60’s and 80’s in the case of this quartet.
Guitar riffs is the central feature throughout this album. Dual layers of them, and fairly massive and intense at that. Most commonly with one guitar providing a firm relatively static riff foundation, while the second provides subtle counterpoints by way of lighter toned or more distorted riffs, as well as providing guitar solo escapades obviously. More often than not the riff constructions are loud and dominating, albeit more often compact and harder edged in expression rather than rich and majestic. Shades of Tony Iommi is a recurring feature, perhaps rather unsurprisingly, but riff constructions of a different nature altogether also have their place. Punk-tinged riffs with an origin traceable back to the likes of The Who have their place here as well, and occasionally we’re also taken on a ride that appears closer in sound and expression to early 80’s heavy metal. On opening piece Ågren Ner I Graven there’s even a sequence that to my mind invites associations towards the likes of Iron Maiden, at least in the bass guitar department.
While loud and intense, many of the compositions also find room for gentler interludes and alterations in pace as well as intensity. Which does add a touch of sophistication to the proceedings, as well as creating an arguably needed rest from the otherwise loud and at times unforgiving proceedings when two guitars, bass and drums all hare having a field day in creating arrangements just about as soft as granite rock.
With lead vocals of a suitably melodic and powerful nature this adds up to a band and an album that forms a cohesive and well defined whole. This is a band that have a lot going for them, but at least to my ears they still aren’t quite the finished product just yet. For me many of the songs become just a tad too repetitive in nature, and perhaps with too much focus at times of that energetic, intense delivery. A matter of personal taste more than anything else obviously, but I can easily see why some people would love this album while others might find it somewhat uninteresting.
Still, if intense, energetic music residing in the borderland between hard rock and heavy metal is something that has a general appeal for you, Dödaren’s debut album “Maen” is a disc that merits an inspection. Especially if you like bands of this type to incorporate the occasional mellow or slower paced interlude in their material.
My rating: 68/100
