Release date: 26/06/26
Label: Edged Circle Productions
It seems like something I might’ve said before, so bear with me if so. A lot of what we cover here at The NWOTHM is rooted in looking back. Nothing wrong with that at all. Younger, and/or newer, bands digging older sounds can ONLY look back at what came before them when culling influence. More often than not, the result is like finding an antique, cleaning it up, & polishing it to look new. If that sounds like a negative worded like that, it isn’t. A lot of great records in the era of the NWOTHM have come out under those circumstances. However, there is a rarer air for some bands.
Enter Dead Kosmonaut and their newest album “Retrospectre”, and really, enter Dead Kosmonaut in general. Since their debut album in 2017 (“Expect Nothing”), they’ve been breathing the air of bands that not only are forged in a bygone era, but also sound as if they were actually part of that era to begin with. Given some of the band’s lineage, they kind of are, which no doubt helps it sound familiar, fresh, and most importantly, earnest. There is nothing that sounds like a band reaching for something beyond their grasp. What we have here is a band with it all right in their hands.
I was stoked enough with “Retrospectre” that I reached out to bassist/founder Matthias Reinholdsson for some more details on the band, & the album. We started with the first two singles, and album starters, “Wake Of Aquarius”, and “Out Of The Shadows Rising”. They were perfect choices to whet the appetite of existing fans, and to entice new recruits. Both are high impact with choruses strong enough to hold up arena ceilings. In regards to the former, “I finally got to nail a proper opening track. That had been a missing piece, if you ask me” states Reinholdsson.
A trait that separates the band from the rest of the pack is an element of open space, & air. Not that there’s anything wrong with just hammering power chords, but this band doesn’t just hammer power chords. Much more in line with a rock music mentality than a lot of metal, but once you hear this album it’ll make sense. This is very much metal that knows how, & when, to rock. Compositional strength, by any means, is clearly a point of focus for the band, and a notable part of what sends these tracks over the top is the performance of singer Pelle Gustavsson, aka “Hellbutcher”. Now, if you’re familiar with only his work in Nifelheim, or his eponymous band, you are in for a WILD awakening. A lesser known virtue discovered by a shocked Reinholdsson when assembling the lineup: “I initially met him back in the late 90’s, so I knew of his black metal background, but when I heard him sing with his “Dead Kosmonaut voice”, I knew I had to have him.”
In the six years between albums, changes in label (High Roller to Edged Circle Productions), lineup, and band approach have only served to bolster the quality of the band’s output. While Reinholdsson still composes much of the material, this album features a more collaborative Kosmonaut. A fortuitous move by the previously principal songwriter as this opened the door for epics like “The Battle Is Over”, written by Gustavsson, & the title track, largely composed by drummer Henrik Johansson. Both feel like songs written for a journey. “The Battle Is Over” hits in a way that makes me feel like the battle is actually just beginning to the tune of a steady, & methodical, march. “The Retrospectre” hits much differently. A melancholic slice of power that builds itself into a tower of incredible & emotive trade off solos between guitarists Fredrik Folkare and newest member Peter Hallgren. As a closing song, it’s important to ride that line of leaving a listener satisfied, AND hungry for more. Consider that task nailed. At seven songs, and just under 40 minutes in length, this album is guaranteed to get your attention, and leave you before it loses it.
Conclusion
Ever since I first heard Dead Kosmonaut, they struck me as a band much more concerned with the entire forest than they are just a few of its trees. This tracks. “I want to explore the broad canvas that is classic Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. There are so many different ways and styles to do this, and I want to add them to the Dead Kosmonaut palette. It’s what I’ve envisioned, and it’s a formula we can expand within for a long time if we want.”, states Reinholdsson. Some bands seek greatness in phases, or doses. Dead Kosmonaut is a band that seeks it in totality. You will be humming these songs, trust me. If you see Dead Kosmonaut at the end of the bar, walk over, buy ’em a round. They’ve earned it. As far as new Heavy Metal goes in 2026, you probably aren’t going to do better than this. This is how it’s done. If this album doesn’t stick to you, then you’re buying your glue from the wrong factory. See you in outer space.
TheNwothm Score: 10/10
Links
Bandcamp: Retrospectre | Dead Kosmonaut | Edged Circle Productions
Facebook: Dead Kosmonaut | Facebook
Instagram: Dead Kosmonaut (@deadkosmonaut) • Instagram photos and videos
Label: Edged Circle Productions
