When you tell a friend that they should check out a Swedish melodic death metal band, they’ll probably roll their eyes and nod half-heartedly, as if to say, “Yeah, yeah, that’s it.” I would say ” Despite being a niche metal offshoot that on paper appears to be the most narrowly defined of subgenres, it’s packed to the brim with bands of its ilk. You know the names: Hypocrisy, Mourning, Earthwork, Scar Symmetry…
I could go on, but if I did I would be doing a disservice to the most promising entry, Orbit Culture.
Orbit Culture didn’t come directly from the Swedish MDM big bang. At the Gates, Dark Tranquility and In Flames were, and still are, the original faces of the Gothenburg explosion. These three bands in particular became superstars in the underground metal world after each was formed around 1990. To this day, each band still headlines quality metal festivals and, with the exception of In Flames, has churned out quality records that are certainly relevant in the modern era.
Naturally, the disciples of Sweden’s MDM forebears will forge their own path and develop into potential powerhouses. But at a time when young bands are being encouraged to buck historical trends, the young bands at the forefront are surprisingly also bearing the brunt of its consequences. Most of them were trying to bring veteran bands to the fore, but few predicted that the equally powerful and quickly emerging nostalgia trend would stifle it.
That’s not to discount At the Gates, Dark Tranquility, or even In Flames. They are capable of writing quality, fresh material and staging dynamic and immersive concerts, belying their age. But there’s a strong argument to be made that the trio of giants keeps smashing it so hard that there simply isn’t enough space for potential successors to grow on their own.
Join the Orbit Culture. Although his Swedish MDM band is that rare band that is irrefutably talented, powerful and even original, it transcends trends and traditions alike. This four-member gang is not new, having only formed in 2013 in Ekjö, about a three-hour drive east of Gothenburg.But you wouldn’t know it just from the sound descent (Seek and Strike), if there is any justice left in this world, a 2023 masterpiece that will transform the exponentially increasing number of metalheads into their sound in the coming years.
“In fact, Eksjö is like a small island in itself, so we have never felt like we are part of something bigger,” Orbit Culture founder Niklas Karlsson said in late January. He spoke in a video conversation. “We like to take baby steps.”
During the band’s first six years together, they played virtually no shows. Orbit Culture went through multiple line-up changes, a notorious feature of all Swedish MDM bands, but in the end they found “the right members,” Karlsson says.
However, the band’s current composition appears to be solid, with lead guitarist Richard Hanson and bassist Fredrik Lennartsson joining Orbit Culture in 2016 and remaining active ever since. Perhaps even more impressive is that Christopher Wallerstedt has now been with the band for six years.After all, drummers often face the threat of being replaced (or spontaneous combustion).
“It was frustrating at times, but it also forced us to mature,” Carlson recalls, drawing parallels to how people grow after experiencing a romantic breakup. “Now that we’re in our 30s, we can step back and enjoy every moment of what we do. At the same time, we want to keep getting better.”
Carlson believes Orbit Culture started gaining attention with their third album, 2020’s. Nija. But its otherworldly successor, descentwhich might be considered a watershed record in Orbit Culture’s work, Carlson released the band’s December EP, forgotten (Seek and Strike) as an indication of the direction his band is heading.
“I was able to choose from 12 songs.” descent” he says. “Two of the songs were strong songs that couldn’t be put on the record for reasons of length. We felt they could take on a life of their own. [as an EP]”
The more Carlson talks about the band’s next record, the more excited he gets. Carlson revealed that Orbit Culture will soon begin working on this effort with producer Buster Odeholm of Swedish death metal crew Humanity’s Last Breath. A giddy Carlson said Orbit Culture would shoot for the stars with their fifth full-length.
“Our songs will be in the same vein, but with some experimental elements,” he says. “I think we’ve had to be cautious in the past.”
When asked if Orbit Culture embraces the loud, quiet dynamics that have become their trademark sound, similar to metal versions of the Pixies and Nirvana, he nods.
“I like that comparison. That’s what we want it to be,” Carlson attests.
That’s an ambitious promise for a band that has yet to achieve a meteoric rise but has already developed a commanding sound of its own. Will Orbit Culture’s next full-length be the one that sends them into the stratosphere?
Karlsson doesn’t go that far when hinting at Orbit Culture’s next release. Still, it has great potential for him.
“I think this is a big step up for us,” Carlson said.
Photo courtesy of Orbit Culture
For more information about Orbit Culture, please visit: their website.peruse Seek & Strike stores For orbit culture goods