III is Swedish dark indie pop group
Makthaverskan's third album and first as a quartet, with guitarist Gustav Andersson leaving the fold to go solo. His departure doesn't change much. The band's blend of new wave hooks, post-punk desperation, and indie pop melodies remains intact; if anything, they sound tighter and more powerful. The guitars have the same spiky, jangling presence; the rhythm section pushes the songs ahead like a speeding train; and vocalist Maja Milner continues to be a force of nature. With a voice that stretches from a breathy whisper to a
Björk-like bellow, Milner is the focal point of the songs, bringing an intense drama and passionate beauty to each one. The lyrics hover between melancholy and bleak, and Milner delivers each feeling like a shot in the upper arm, right where the muscle and bone connect. It's impossible to listen to
III without realizing that the people who made the album felt each note immensely and weren't fooling around even a little. There's a deadly seriousness to the record that even the catchiest melody, sharpest guitar line, or most galloping rhythm can't disguise or sweeten. Despite being loaded with songs that hit hard on first listen and stay stuck like glue afterwards -- the aching pop song "Leda," the churning, very
Banshees-sounding "Witness," and the soaring "Siren" being solid examples -- this isn't easy listening. The depth of emotion involved and the band's insistent presentation mean it's impossible to let
III just stay in the background. Even the tracks that don't lash out like downed power wires, like the musically subdued "To Say It as It Is" and "Days Turn into Years," still feature Milner singing her guts out and guitar lines that cut through speaker wires like laser-sharpened knives. Giving
III the listen it deserves might leave one wringing wet with emotional sweat, feeling all the desperate feelings and giving the tear ducts a real workout. It's indie pop with a purpose, full of drama and intention, great songs, and breathtaking performances that put other bands mining similar territory on notice. ~ Tim Sendra