Masshysteri – Masshysteri (Feral Ward)
Umea, Sweden’s Masshysteri have never been able to live down their influences. Their previous releases all wore the same few reference points proudly on their sleeves: the drive of the Wipers, the male/female vocal harmonies of Dead Moon (though unlike Dead Moon, Masshysteri’s were on key), and the propulsive twang of surf music. They haven’t disavowed anything on their newest release, but Masshysteri has synthesized those elements more thoroughly than ever before, rendering each component of their sound a true influence, rather than just a record review reference point.
Masshysteri – Masshysteri (Feral Ward)
Umea, Sweden’s Masshysteri have never been able to live down their influences. Their previous releases all wore the same few reference points proudly on their sleeves: the drive of the Wipers, the male/female vocal harmonies of Dead Moon (though unlike Dead Moon, Masshysteri’s were on key), and the propulsive twang of surf music. They haven’t disavowed anything on their newest release, but Masshysteri has synthesized those elements more thoroughly than ever before, rendering each component of their sound a true influence, rather than just a record review reference point.
The album places a strong emphasis on dualities. Songs like “Beskjutna” and “Vintern” demonstrate a solidly executed balance between stripped-down production and tightly executed harmonies. The aforementioned decades-old influences coalesce into a sound that the band has made very much their own. The instrumentation derives its power from a simple guitar/bass/drums lineup but is complemented nicely with organ and saxophone touches on songs like “Dom Kan Inte Hora Musiken” and “Masshysteri Del Tva.” Even the album art balances uber-punk grainy photos and typewriter-font lyrics with images of the attractive young Swedes themselves. And most notably, the songwriting balances piss-and-vinegar energy with a melodic sense that leaves each song eerily familiar but utterly new. Any listeners who speak enough Swedish to decipher the lyrics would likely be able to sing along with every song before their first listen is complete.
And on that note, non-native English speaking bands who sing in their native language have always held a soft spot for me, even when I can’t understand a single word they sing. So many artists around the world opt for English in hopes of more universal acceptance, which can lead to awkward phrasing and can sell short a lyricist’s ability to express him or herself as fully as he or she would be able in a more familiar tongue. There are, of course, exceptions to this, but Masshysteri’s rejection of the stilted English of members’ previous band The Vicious has proven an advantage, especially on this most recent album. While neither vocalist is a virtuoso by any stretch of the imagination (it’s punk – they’re not supposed to be), there is a vocal dexterity present on the album that adds immeasurable depth to the already-impressive melodic capabilities of the band. My one complaint – and this may seem slightly hypocritical considering my earlier point – is that I wish there were translations provided. Everything else about this album is so killer, I can only imagine I’d like the lyrics.
Any fan of stripped-down garagey punk that’s derived from the past but doesn’t live in it would be well-advised to check out Masshysteri. Their newest album demonstrates the extent to which they have honed each of their many strengths, reconfiguring rather than regurgitating influences and crafting songs which will lodge themselves firmly into the head of any listener, regardless of whether or not he or she can understand the lyrics.
