Vittra Intense Indifference Review
Vittra
Intense Indifference
Self-released
2025
Vittra are a Swedish band working on their second full-length, Intense Indifference. Formed in 2022, they quickly gained ground in the extreme metal world with their debut Blasphemy Blues. Their name (originally Vildvittra) was inspired by characters from Astrid Lindgren’s Ronja Rövardotter (Ronia, the Robber’s Daughter, first published in 1981). These days they go simply by Vittra, drawn from the mythical creatures of Swedish folklore. This new album centers on one’s emotional journey, soul searching while fighting an uphill battle. Struggle metal? Sure. Let’s call it that.
Vittra fall under the umbrella of melodic death metal, a broad spectrum these days—but their lineage is clear: At the Gates, Dissection, early In Flames, and Megadeth all echo through their sound. The ten songs were recorded and engineered by Simon Johansson (Soilwork/Wolf), produced by Johan Murmester, and mixed/mastered by Lawrence Mackrory (Lik, Bloodbath, Katatonia). Guest appearances include John Lönnmyr (Night Flight Orchestra), who adds piano to “Transylvanian Buffet”; Bastian Thusgaard (Soilwork), who contributes shaker on “Burn(h)er” and vibra-slap on “Transylvanian Buffet”; and Linus Öhrn (Valkyrja), who adds backing vocals on several tracks. The production strikes a balance between old-school rawness and modern polish, with no instrument crowding another in the mix. Everything hits hard—thick low end, biting highs, and plenty of aggression.
So what about the songs? They don’t linger, averaging two and a half to three and a half minutes each, but they pack a lot into compact structures. Opener “MOFO” storms out of the gate with tremolo-picked guitars before settling into blackened pacing and voicings, matched with a Jeff Walker/Tomas Lindberg-style mid-to-high death growl. The shouted refrain of “motherfucker let’s go!” makes for an urgent, blood-pumping kickoff. “Reign Supreme” dials back into a thrashier, mid-paced groove with harmonized guitars and a clear Megadeth influence, there’s even a tasty Skin O’ My Teeth nod and Friedman-esque lead work. “Burn(h)er” rockets forward again with speed and a catchy chorus, blending their blackened edge with death/thrash precision. Then comes “Transylvanian Buffet,” which throws in piano and vibra-slap during a tripped-out punk/ska section, yes, it sounds insane, but it works.
“Soul Searcher” brings more thrash mechanics before swerving into a smooth jazz breakdown ahead of the solo. These curveballs come out of nowhere, yet the band pulls them off effortlessly, a testament to how tight and well-rehearsed they are. From there, “The Leap” charges ahead with melodic death fire and clever interplay between low and high growls. “Bound by Blood” channels prime In Flames, while “Hate” tears into brutal, fast-paced territory. “End to It” opens with a bass intro and slides into a groove metal stomp, pairing its melodic chorus with blackened ferocity and even hardcore-style gang shouts.
The album closes with a cover of Slayer’s “Piece by Piece” from Reign in Blood. Vittra nail it, it fits their style perfectly, but honestly, I wouldn’t have minded another original track to finish things off.
All told, Intense Indifference is a varied and exhilarating sophomore album. Vittra wear their Gothenburg-inspired influences proudly while twisting them into something fresh, surprising, and visceral. Grab your snus and let Intense Indifference slaughter your soul, but wipe the blood from your nose before leaving the house, because these guys throw a mean punch.
~TB