Today, Wednesday March 27, 2024, marks the release of Vermillion Sky, the fourth LP from Swedish rockers, Skraeckoedlan. Their 2011 debut, Äppelträdet, is among my favorite albums of all time. So, I’ve been waiting for this day with bated breath. While the band’s follow-up albums, Sagor and Eorþe, were solid, I’ve continued to maintain that their first is their best. It’s still too soon to tell, but my initial impressions indicate that this album has changed that.
This will not be a proper long-form review. Yet it’s the first post on this site to highlight only one record. Until now, I’ve done my music review posts in bunches, writing short blurbs about multiple new releases in a single post. This is the first time I’ve been compelled to approach an album in this way on the site. Deo volente, it won’t be the last.
Google Translate interprets the Swedish word skräcködlan as “the horror lizard,” and is, apparently, a more archaic word for “dinosaur.” The band takes its name from the Swedish title of the 1953 sci-fi action horror film The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, the screenplay of which was based on a Ray Bradbury short story.
Formed in 2009, the band currently consists of four members: Robert Lamu (guitar, vocals), Henrik Grüttner (guitar, backing vocals), Erik Berggren (bass), and Martin Larsson (drums, backing vocals).
Vermillion Sky is an evolution and a filling out of the band’s sound. They still have that psychedelic, fuzzed out stoner vibe. But they’ve advanced to integrate more progressive and space rock elements. The vocal melodies are relentlessly catchy, so much so that you’ll be singing along (or perhaps humming if you don’t speak a word of Swedish) on the second listen through. Masterfully crafted guitar riffs and tones abound atop rolling basslines and galloping percussion. The “progginess” comes out, not only in the strings, but also in the synth, the depth of which, quite effectively, will jar your insides at the right volume. I’m hoping the vinyl I just ordered will clarify who’s to credit for synth and keys.
The compositions are brilliant, taking the listener on an outer space journey. I’m especially drawn in by the hooks and movements of “Starsquatch” and the title track on side A. “Metagalactic Void Honcho” kicks off side B in an unexpectedly slower tempo, develops into something forebodingly dark and menacing, and ends with a riff that is both lusciously melodic and heavy. The concluding track, “Astronautilus,” is inexplicably mesmerizing, encapsulating the grandeur of the album as a whole in one epic. If you only have time for one song, let it be this one. It will force you to make time for the rest of the album, and likely many repeat listens.
If the music isn’t enough, the release is accompanied by its very own video game, a side-scrolling shmup, that is free to play.
The game can be enjoyed here: https://vermillionsky.se
Expect to see this album highly ranked in my 2024 album of the year list. It is towering like Godzilla over most of the competition through the first quarter of the year. Until then, may the fuzz be with you!
Tracklist
A1. Cosmic Dawn (2:42)
A2. Starsquatch (7:58)
A3. Mysteria (5:21)
A4. The Vermillion Sky (7:10)
B5. Metagalactic Void Honcho (8:07)
B6. Night Satan (4:53)
B7. Meteorb (3:38)
B8. Astronautilus (7:50)
Total runtime: 47:39
Order here: https://us.fuzzoramastore.com/en/bands/skraeckoedlan/
Be sure to follow Skraeckoedlan on Instagram and Facebook.
Be sure to follow Fuzzorama Records on Instagram and Facebook.
Official website (Skraeckoedlan)
Official website (Fuzzorama Records)