I’m sitting at my desk, typing on my laptop as I work on my next review, which covers the surreal, sludgy, and experimental sounds coming from the heart of Sweden. For nearly 20 years, Moloken have been pushing boundaries and proving how far they can stretch their progressive, metallic sound. Their new self-titled fifth album, released through Discouraged Records, marks their first release in six years.
As someone new to Moloken’s music, I found this release nothing short of fantastic. They navigate dark alleyways using acoustic and folk-like structures, balancing roaring “cookie-monster” vocals with clean, textured passages that make the journey entirely worth taking. This dynamic is especially evident on ‘Fault Line’, a track that evokes a city on the brink of collapse. It feels as if Arkham Asylum has reached its breaking point, waiting for criminals to reign terror over Gotham once and for all.
‘Eternal Sleep’ shifts into a post-metal/post-punk frequency, fuelled by an intense bass-and-drum pump that adds fuel to the fire, making our worst nightmares a reality. The band channels the moody energy of The Cure from The Crow soundtrack (1994), conjuring images of Eric Draven rising from the dead in a rain-soaked Detroit to seek vengeance for his murder.
The fire continues to spread on the galloping tidal wave of ‘21.12.21’. The track feels like a growling parallel universe where former heroes have turned into homicidal maniacs, reminiscent of Gail Simone’s 2014 dystopian graphic novel Leaving Megalopolis. Moloken effectively creates an alternate soundtrack for survivors desperately trying to escape the city.
And escaping is the hardest part; it’s survival of the fittest. Take the opening track, ‘The Burden of Our Awareness’, with its short, guitar-layered drone structure before all hell breaks loose. It functions like a dark overture, setting up the horror about to unfold before the listener’s eyes.
From the acid-folk and ominous finger-picking of ‘En Lek Med Doden’ to the crushing, seven-minute finale of ‘A Night Vision Revealed (Asterion Pt. 1)’, Moloken showcases a brutal awakening. The rising, blood-boiling energy translates the band’s ferocious live presence straight onto the record, complete with chanting structures that will leave metalheads eager to see them perform in person.
Moloken has delivered an immersive, intense experience that demands to be heard. If you are new to the band, this self-titled effort serves as the ultimate introduction.
