Review: Watcher "Mistress Of our Time"

Release date: 25/09/2026

Label: Dying Victims Productions

7–10 minutes

The Nwothm

Dying Victims Productions presents “Mistress of Our Time”, the second full‑length from Sweden’s Watcher, available on CD and vinyl. Watcher began in 2023 as Viktor Gustafsson’s solo project, built around a clear fascination with traditional heavy metal and a desire to explore that style with focus and intent. Two early releases followed in quick succession, the debut album “Key to the Unbreachable” and the EP “Glory or Agony”, both of which helped define the band’s direction and attracted listeners who appreciate classic metal delivered with purpose.

As interest grew, Gustafsson expanded Watcher into a full band. Guitarist Max Warnby and drummer Jakob Nilsson joined in late 2024, giving the project the foundation it needed to move beyond its one‑person origins. The EP “Chains of Crystal” arrived in 2025 and marked the first recording from the new lineup, followed by a Muskelrock appearance that helped establish Watcher on the live circuit. Later that year, second guitarist Timmy Lindgren completed the formation, allowing the group to begin work on a more ambitious full‑length.

“Mistress of Our Time” represents the culmination of that growth. The album reflects a band that has strengthened its identity, broadened its creative reach and embraced a more vivid, fantasy‑driven atmosphere. With a complete lineup in place, Watcher approach their material with greater confidence and a clearer sense of what they want to express. The record builds on the foundations laid across “Key to the Unbreachable”, “Glory or Agony” and “Chains of Crystal”, presenting a fuller picture of the band’s evolving vision.

Review

Sorceress is up first and we get some big open chords, cymbals smashes and loads of oh ohs to open. The music powers forward with charged rhythm guitar work and excellent harmonies. I am loving the loving the production a it feels spacious and clean helping everything have presence. Theres a noticeable bounce to this uptempo number and did i mention that vocal work Viktor Gustafsson gels with the music magnificently. Every moment feels enticing and structurally the song pulls you in with all its chops and changes. A great start indeed!

Utvalda Sva¨rdets Natt continues to shine gloriously and deliver that uplifting feeling. The quick picking and nifty guitar work of Timmy and Max will grab your attention! The shifting tempos bring jolts of energy combined with moments of weighty head banging fun. It is notable that Watcher bring a lot of melody and harmonies and this song is a great example. The solo section brings a bit of spice and fire to the mix all while Jakob and Max keep a tight pounding rhythm section going throughout. Considering I haven’t really heard much of the band I already feel some what intrigued!

Out of Your Sight breaks things up with crying guitar licks and huge open rhythms adding a bit of emotion and feeling to the fold. Soon enough the band tear the place up with furious kick-snare work and storming guitar fury. The bass booms along in the background while Viktors vocals smash through the musical wall like an pickaxe to rock. The solo work is stupendous shooting notes in every direction – the perfect opportunity for those of you who love to get up and go nuts air guitaring. Straight to the point fast and flaming heavy metal served sizzling!

Down from the Skies Divine drifts in with acoustic guitar notes, the sounds of waves and powerful chants from Viktor. Unlike the previous songs this is a lot slower pace to begin with opting to use the space, echo and ripping chords to add some punch along with its acoustic bed. But this doesn’t last long as soon enough everything picks and we are launched into some action. Meaty rhythm work and smashing drums take control before we return to the vibes of the intro section. And over time this back and fourth between the slow and faster sections seems to be the trend. Some sizzling lead work makes use of panning starting one solo in one speaker then moving to the other. This is certainly a song that comes at you like a masterful strike full of emotion and energy.

Chalice of Light sings with some nice arpeggios to open backed by rung out chords before the song builds up and you are thrown into the mosh. This is certainly one of those songs where you can let yourself go to, while throwing back a beer and have a good time with your mates. There are moments where you can headbang and moments where you can stomp around. The thrashy drums will have everyone running around in a frenzy. There is great balance between great melodies and interesting structure ideas that will keep your ears locked on what is going on. The solo work squeals while also having a slightly dark vibe to it which is a pleasant touch. This is certainly one of those good old heavy metal tunes.

It is time to raise your fists as your about to feel the bite of 2084! Opening moments feel some what grand and majestic with beautiful harmonies on top of rumbling tom-tom patterns. All so bright and glorious! Then the music takes full charge with the fiery verses and musical breaks. It tears through like a tornado while feeling bright and impactful. And just short of one and a half minutes you get an excellent harmonies guitar section, whet i can imagine people singing hey, hey, hey along at a show. The lead work really does shine on this track twisting and turning peaking through all the right moments. Everything from the vocal work to the playing is just kickass on this song!

Cult of Andromeda takes off like a you are strapped to a rocket, the skin on your cheeks pulling back from the winds lashing at you. Then soon enough switches things up for a more mid-pace direction. The guitar work is a bit darker here, heavier and carrying a lot of weight. But the melodic phrases at the end of sections certainly adds a bit of flair. Jakob and Max go hard on the rhythm section keeping a strong backbone and everything moving forward. I love the group chants and I couldn’t help but tap my feet or sing along in my head. Smashing stuff indeed!

Glömskans Sjö makes a loving return to acoustic notes ringing out and kissing your ear drums. It feels calm and collected all while Viktor sings his heart over the top. But in true Watcher fashion, they ramp things up bringing back the driving guitar force. The music rolls along on mid pace double kick patterns once again taking the music in a different direction. At moments it feels like your trying to pull your self through thick mud while carrying the world on your shoulders. The slow picking guitar and bass work locks in nicely with the drums all while injecting little moments of melody!

The start of Chosen by Fate feels some what heroic like you are taking your army of an epic journey or that you have just celebrated a victory. But that once again doe not last has you prepare to meet the thrash. The drums smash things up as they destroy everything in their way. The song goes full speed for the most part letting you sweat and burn off some energy. I love the somewhat frantic feel to the song and not giving a care in the world. There are of course moments where it is not all pedal to the metal so there is great balance there. Another awesome song on an awesome album!

And so we reach The Raven, the final track on the record. At just over eight minutes can this deliver? Well the gentle shrouded acoustic guitar notes creep into your mind pushing you close your eyes and focus. The vocal lines here just work so well with the acoustic ideas and gentle breeze in the background. It certainly feels like you are watching out from a tower over the lands. A lonesome lead comes in singing its notes before crash wallop bang. Just wow, this rhythm section is totally epic. I am instantly caught and the cymbal smashes here with the vocals nail it. I am loving melodies running through the song and teh crushing guitar work that is going on.

Sometimes when you see a long song on a record you feel cautious but The Raven is not like that. Its intricate structure grabs your attention and doesn’t let you get bored for a second. You move from storming the walls to slower moments where you can focus more on the lyrics.Interestingly the vocals at moments made me think of the style of Wytch Hazel. The solo explodes and cuts right through the mix like an axeblade. Either way, this song is an epic piece of music perfect for an album closer! Great stuff

Conclusion

“Mistress of Our Time” closes with the same sense of adventure that runs through the entire record. Watcher shift between calm acoustic passages, storming riffs and triumphant hooks, creating a journey rich in imagery and emotion. Their growth is clear, with stronger arrangements and a more defined creative voice guiding each track. It is an album that invites you into its world and holds your attention from the first note to the last.