Lamashtu – Längtan

Lamashtu
Längtan
Label: Self-release / Wormholedeath
Out: July 19^th, 2024 / December 13^th, 2024
Playing time: 54:55

Lamashtu is a Swedish Symphonic Metal band with a front woman. But the band is not satisfied with just one singer. There are others in the choir. Lamashtu was founded back in 2011 in Gothenburg, Sweden. The following explanation can be found for the band’s name: ‘Lamashtu is the mother and patroness of deformed and malformed creatures.’ The debut album ‘Fallna själar’ was released in 2016. The two successors are released every two years. However, fans had to wait four years for the current album ‘Längtan’ (English: Longing). This was initially self-released in July. After signing a record deal with Wormholedeath, the album is now available worldwide.

First of all, the Swedes sing exclusively in their mother tongue on this album. This gives the album a slightly exotic flair. As can already be heard on ‘Du är vad du är’. Nonetheless, the guitars are blasting. Behind them lie beguiling vocals. The voice of singer Lamashtu (Sandra Mattsson ?) is unique. And it takes some getting used to. Probably not everyone can make friends with her singing. At least I like it. ‘Ett svek’ offers a completely different sound. At the beginning you can hear choppy-sounding guitars. Later it sounds hard and rhythmic. Strings can be heard. Presumably from the computer. ‘Du var’ starts as an acoustic ballad with a strong folk flavour. But the Swedes don’t keep this up for a long time. The vocals sound hectic at times. Lots of melody, speed and rhythm changes make for a strong progressive flavour. Later, there are also nagged metal screams. And it remains varied. ‘Alla djur’ tends towards Doom Metal. And the progressive flavour continues. ‘Res dig’ starts with heavily distorted guitars and vocals. Later, beautiful melodies dominate, countered by the slightly weird-sounding vocals. The interlude ‘Sov mitt barn’ features a simple melody with backing vocals accompanied by the sound of wind and rolling thunder. The last three songs ‘Slakta dina barn’, ‘Små steg’ and ‘Mer än allt’ are also very varied, sometimes calm and contemplative, sometimes hard rocking. Rhythmic and melodic.

The press release speaks of Symphonic Metal. But that doesn’t really describe the sound of Lamashtu. I would rather categorise the album ‘Längtan’ as a mixture of Art Rock and Progressive Rock / Metal. With interspersed symphonic elements. That increases the exotic effect it has on me. Sometimes it’s melodic, but there are also a lot of unwieldy passages. You have to engage intensively with the music. But then you can hear a lot of subtleties.

Lamashtu – Små Steg: https://youtu.be/2qKMue8ErjQ?si=l15tumHrxy3DUmfr

Lineup:

Lamashtu – vocals
Empusa – choirs vocals
Avarshina – choirs vocals
Azura – guitars, choir vocals
Paimon – drums
Janus – guitars, vocals
Ammit – choirs vocals
Purson – bass

Track list:

• Du är vad du är
• Ett svek
• Du var
• Alla djur
• Res dig
• Sov mitt barn
• Slakta dina barn
• Små steg
• Mer än allt