Photo by Linus Brorsson
“Reign Supreme” is the latest single from Swedish melodic death/thrash metal unit VITTRA. Now playing at Decibel Magazine, the track comes off the band’s second full-length album, Intense Indifference, set to drop on September 19th.
Intense Indifference follows VITTRA’s critically lauded debut, Blasphemy Blues, released in 2022, and centers on one’s own emotional journey — soul searching while simultaneously fighting an inner battle, all while presenting an untroubled, almost indifferent attitude. Inevitably, it all cracks.
“This one’s about strength in numbers and opposing false promises and ideals,” elaborates VITTRA vocalist David Döragrip on “Reign Supreme.” “Stay real; don’t let your fears petrify you. We’ve got the numbers to reconquer the throne!”
Adds guitarist Johan Murmester, “I have been wanting to write a song where you have that right-hand rhythm work on guitar, but still with a groovier mid-tempo feel on drums and bass. Now we have it together. I also love the mid-section with the more rock ‘n’ roll, Priest-style riffing…coming via Annihilator though.”
Stream VITTRA’s “Reign Supreme” HERE.
Watch the band’s previously released video for “The Leap” HERE.
Intense Indifference was recorded and engineered by Simon Johansson (Soilwork, Wolf), produced by Johan Murmester, and mixed and mastered by Lawrence Mackrory (Lik, Bloodbath, Katatonia). The record includes several guest appearances including John Lönnmyr (Night Flight Orchestra) who adds piano to “Transylvanian Buffet,” Bastian Thusgaard (Soilwork) who contributes the shaker on “Burn(h)er” and vibra-slap on “Transylvanian Buffet,” and Linus Öhrn (Valkyrja) who contributes backing vocals on several tracks. Cover art for Intense Indifference was created by Hjules (Accept, Destruction, Jungle Rot) and based on his own interpretations of the record’s lyrics.
Intense Indifference will be released on LP and digital formats. Find preorders at THIS LOCATION.
Intense Indifference Track Listing:
- MOFO
- Reign Supreme
- Burn(h)er
- Transylvanian Buffet
- Soul Searcher
- The Leap
- Bound By Blood
- Hate
- End To It
- Piece By Piece
Originally called Vildvittra, based on the characters created by Astrid Lindgren as part of Ronja Rövardotter [Swedish for Ronia, The Robber’s Daughter, a children’s fantasy book first published in 1981], their name later evolved into VITTRA, inspired by the mythical creatures appearing in Swedish folk stories. And while Swedish folk is a recurring theme weaving in and out of their music, the band is firmly rooted in melodic death and thrash metal in the vein of At The Gates, Dissection, and Megadeth.
In 2023, VITTRA released their full-length debut, Blasphemy Blues. Produced at SolnaSound in the Fall of 2021 and supported by both Simon Johansson (Soilwork) and Mike Wead (King Diamond, Mercyful Fate), the record reaped critical accolades with Heavy Music HQ writing, “The album grows in interest with each passing song, as VITTRA use acoustic guitars on ‘Satmara,’ multiple bass guitar breaks, and silky-smooth guitar solos coming up every few minutes. It’s when the lines between melo death, black, and thrash become less separate where Blasphemy Blues gets to shine.” PopMatters championed a, “supremely fun romp underlined with just a bit of sonic nostalgia,” further elaborating, “ [while] reminiscent of early Children Of Bodom (RIP Alexi Laiho), Kalmah, or In Flames, Blasphemy Blues leans on the thrashier side of the genre, switching gears between compact, blast beats-driven sections and more insidious grooves propelled by swirls of catchy riffs coupled with on point, abyssal growls… the album has a slightly anachronistic, familiar sheen to it, but VITTRA’s incorporation of obvious influences is done with taste and wrapped around solid, tight songwriting.”
VITTRA:
Alex Smith – drums
David Döragrip – vocals
Gustav Svensson – bass
Johan Murmester – guitars
Lars Elofsson – lead guitar
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