In the span of two years, Simon Lindgren from Skellefteå, Sweden, managed to release no less than four full-length albums, two EPs, two splits, and six singles—all on his own. Only the vocals were occasionally assisted by a certain Johanna Furberg. They say too much can be a bad thing, but while other bands take five or six years to come up with something new, this Swede churns out fresh material every few months.
So, the question is: is it any good? Well, when it comes to his latest release, Lidande, the answer is a resounding yes. It’s an exceptionally well-produced atmospheric black metal album with plenty of variety and strong compositions.
In the opener Vermod, Simon showcases his skills on the acoustic guitar in what I believe is an instrumental—until a sudden scream scares the life out of you. What follows is The Strive for Existence, featuring well-layered guitars, plenty of reverb, and a great atmosphere.
Compared to Tårfödd’s previous releases, Lidande benefits from a more mature production. Musically, the overall body of work remains fairly consistent, but in terms of production, Lidande definitely stands out.
What also stands out is the artwork by artist Vindur (Drömskogen Art). The canvas portrays the anguished subject, tormented by his nightmares, embodied by two forest trolls in the background. A beautiful interpretation of the album’s title, Lidande, which means “suffering.”
The almost tragic Moraliskt Förrfall is one of the absolute highlights of this album. The desolate guitar parts create that unsettling feeling in your gut—the very thing that makes this music so enjoyable.
This applies to several other tracks on the album as well, including Sju, with its recurring guitar riff that echoes throughout the entire song. Absolutely beautiful.
The release pace is high, and that’s not always a good thing. However, Lidande is a solid album and hopefully a sign of much more great music to come.
85/100