{"id":240034,"date":"2025-09-19T23:07:14","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T23:07:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/240034\/"},"modified":"2025-09-19T23:07:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T23:07:14","slug":"vittra-intense-indifference-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/240034\/","title":{"rendered":"Vittra – Intense Indifference Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Album<\/p>\n

Two months ago, I saw a post on social media announcing Vittra\u2019s<\/strong> sophomore album, Intense Indifference. The name struck me as funny. \u201cA bit like a Radical Neutrality Party or my side-project Exaggerated Understatement<\/strong>,\u201d I quipped quippily while jonesing for that sweet rush of dopamine that comes along with likes. But once my fix was had, I hastily forgot about them. As luck would have it, in this age when melodic death metal releases are few, far between, and often so drenched in reverb that it\u2019s hard to remember that this band is playing death metal, Vittra<\/strong> was my only choice for a melodic death metal record this week. And so, the obvious, hacky hook for which I would shame a n00b needs to be asked: \u201cIs it just a clever name?<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n

\ufeffIntense Indifference by Vittra<\/a><\/p>\n

Vittra<\/strong>\u2014hailing from Kolb\u00e4ck, Sweden (population 2,108)\u2014plays a very Swedish style of death metal. From the opening minutes, Vittra<\/strong> impresses with sticky hooks, thrashy energy, and the kind of melodic death that I associate with bands like \u00c6ther Realm<\/strong>, Mors Principium Est<\/strong>, or Xoth<\/strong> more than the stylings of the Insomnia<\/strong> or Omnia Gathera<\/strong> of the world. Vittra<\/strong> benefits from the sense that they are young, hungry, and probably deeply bored in the middle of nowhere in V\u00e4stmanland. And so, in those long dark winter nights, they have sharpened their riffs, their hooks, and developed a manic energy. And Intense Indifference is 33 minutes of the sharpest riffs, the best harmonies, and a caged animal energy that reminds listeners that Kreator<\/strong> is better than Anthrax<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Intense Indifference is a record with impeccable energy\u2014unimpeachable vibes. Calling back to the legendary \u201cGO!\u201d on \u201cSlaughter of the Soul,\u201d opener \u201cMOFO\u201d kicks off with a not-yet-legendary, but pretty rad, \u201cMOTHERFUCKER LET\u2019S GO!\u201d that sets the table. And these motherfuckers don\u2019t let up once they get going. Each song on here oozes with the energy and hunger of a young band with a love of riffs and guitar-driven, thrashtastic death metal. From the Dark Tranquillity<\/strong> riffs of \u201cReign Supreme,\u201d Soilwork<\/strong>\u2019s slick sensibilities on \u201cBurn(h)er,\u201d or a bit of Carnosus<\/strong>\/Black Dahlia Murder<\/strong> on \u201cThe Leap,\u201d you can go through and pick out all the ways that they synthesize the best of what melodic death has given us over the last 30 years and cooked it down into something you want to freebase.<\/p>\n

\"\"But Vittra<\/strong>\u2019s vibe offers a unique flavor that works well here, while providing ample promise for the future. These guys seem to have a deep appreciation for Americana, classic rock \u2018n\u2019 roll, and blues. And while I struggle with that stuff myself, somehow these Swedish weirdos make it work. \u201cTransylvanian Buffet\u201d transports you to the honkytonk on the piano, while Johan Murmester and new guitarist Lars Elofsson genuinely impress with acoustic blues on \u201cSoul Searcher.\u201d And throughout, there are moments when hard turns toward blue notes or start-and-stop writing evoke the genre\u2019s influence on Megadeth<\/strong> or AC\/DC<\/strong>. These bits are few and far between, but they keep things creative and fresh, and you can bet your ass that there\u2019s a lot of room for growth around them in the future.<\/p>\n

The problem with Intense Indifference is that it flies by too quickly. At 33 minutes, 2:06 of which is spent on a cover of Slayer<\/strong>\u2019s classic \u201cPiece by Piece,\u201d the record definitely fits within the 45-minute rule. But so little original music (covers don\u2019t count, dudes) is a bit of a disappointment, given that the quality on here is stellar. Between the band\u2019s two albums, they don\u2019t even have a headlining set. And that\u2019s a shame, because they have the kind of swagger we all love. And since the album sounds great, thanks to a Simon Johansson (Wolf<\/strong>, Memory Garden<\/strong>, now apparently Soilwork<\/strong>) recording, a Johan Murmester (Vittra<\/strong>) production, and a Lawrence Mackrory (FK\u00dc<\/strong>, Blackscape<\/strong>) mastering job, the listener wants more. And not just more bass. More great thrashy melodeath goodness!<\/p>\n

Intense Indifference may be a kind of stupid name, but it\u2019s also a better-than-kinda-good record, and the band is clearly better than this record. Right now, this slots easily into Listurnalia considerations and is one of the better melodic death metal records I\u2019ve heard in a while. Sure, if you\u2019re allergic to Slaughter of the Soul, you might call it tired. But I just call it very, very good.<\/p>\n

LET\u2019S FUCKIN\u2019 GO!<\/p>\n

Rating: <\/strong>Very Good!
DR: <\/strong>7 | Format Reviewed: <\/strong>320 kb\/s CBR MP3
Label: <\/strong>Self-released
Websites:<\/strong> Vittra Official<\/a> | Bandcamp<\/a> | Facebook<\/a> | Instagram<\/a>
Out Worldwide: <\/strong>September 19th, 2025<\/p>\n

\n\tGive in to Your Anger:\n<\/p>\n