Unleashing Fury - Sweden's Bödel Prepares to Unchain Debut Album 'Dödsbringaren' on January 30th
- jaybroderick
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
By: Jay Broderick - Sweden has never been short on ferocious punk outfits like Anti Cimex, and Raised Fist, but Dödsbringaren (translated to English as Bringer of Death) arrives with a level of anticipation usually reserved for legacy acts making a triumphant return. The name might suggest a black‑metal onslaught, yet Bödel’s debut is something far more volatile. It's a pure hardcore detonation. It’s political. It’s furious! It’s delivered with the conviction!!
Front and centre is 19‑year‑old vocalist Leya, whose presence alone would make this record noteworthy. But she’s not here to be a novelty... she’s here to burn the whole corrupt mess down. Backed by her father Arvid (The Crown, Deny) on guitar, Henke (Pastoratet, The Liptones, Vänsternäven) on bass, and drummer Micke (The Crown, Adept, Impious), Bödel emerges from Skaraborg with a lineup that blends punk, metal, and youth.
The album wastes no time announcing itself. The opening seconds of “Extremt jävla vansinne” crash in with a metallic edge, before Leya’s voice slices through the mix like a warning siren. The track’s title translates to “Extreme Fucking Insanity,” foreshadowing what is to come musically over the album's 12 track assault. But the track itself is a target to Sweden’s privatized welfare system. Even without the translated English lyric sheet provided by the band’s publicist, the disgust is unmistakable. Leya doesn’t just sing these lines, she spits them out with venom.
From there, Dödsbringaren barrels forward with the kind of breathless momentum that makes me think of Slayer's Reign in Blood. Not specifically in sound, but in speed. Twelve tracks in 21 minutes and 31 seconds, each one a tightly packed explosion of rage, speed, and purpose. As a note, the CD edition expands the experience to 23 tracks, containing earlier releases for a more complete portrait of the band’s catalogue.
Songs like “Domare och bödel” (the album's first single), “Korsfäst och dömd”, and the title track “Dödsbringaren” showcase Arvid’s razor‑sharp riffing, which leans heavier than most hardcore licks, but never completely crosses into the heavy metal realm. Henke’s bass snarls underneath, and Micke’s drumming is a relentless punishing engine, constantly pushing the band to the edge. Each is discernable from the other, leaving a clean mix that even Jason Newstead would be happy about.
But let's cut to the chase... it's Leya who defines this record. Her delivery is raw and powerful. Whether she’s tearing through the 48‑second blast of “1789” or stretching into the album‑closing “Ängel af död”, she is a vocalist who refuses to be ignored. And for the listener, the language barrier is a non-factor. Despite the fact that the vocals are completely recorded in Swedish, the intent is clear. This record isn’t just about aggression. Bödel isn’t angry for the sake of aesthetics. They’re angry because they’re paying attention, and shouting might be the only way to be heard.
Track List
1. Extremt jävla vansinne 1:03
2. Domare och bödel 1:55
3. Döbygd 1:29
4. Skarprättare Jansson 1:38
5. Korsfäst och dömd 2:09
6. Dödsbringaren 2:45
7. Inte ditt jävla val 1:35
8. Deprimerad 1:33
9. 1789 0:48
10. Stilla natt, blodiga natt 1:30
11. Nio års träning i likgiltighet 1:37
12. Ängel af död 3:29
Bödel’s debut is more than an introduction. Dödsbringaren is short, sharp, and impossible to ignore. The band makes their arrival known! For me, only one question remains... when will the band cross the seas for an assault on Canada?
Bödel Online
Album Release Date: January 30, 2026
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