They say that the best things in life are worth waiting for. Finally, after a decade, two EPs and a string of singles, Swedish Death Metal outfit RIKET are set to unleash their first full-length. Simply titled 2026, you will only need one listen to realise it has been worth the wait, for this is a well-created and brutally impressive listen.
RIKET – 2026
Release Date: 10 April 2026
Words: Jools Green
RIKET lyrically find inspiration in themes that encompass darkness, struggles, and war. With a sound that melds the raw aggression of Death Metal with a Thrash drive and old school Punk defiance and attitude, 2026 is performed in their native Swedish tongue.
The band say the album is “rooted in the darker corners of our shared past: small historic tales of catastrophe, blunder, and human downfall.” The result is both darkly unnerving and crushing as hell.
Each of the nine pieces is dated with the year of its reflected event, beginning with the first single released last May, 1868: Sommar Vid Vinterviken (Summer By The Winter Bay), which looks back at the disaster at Alfred Nobel’s explosives factory at Vinterviken.
Opening on pounding, repeating riffs punctuated with ominous melodic swathes, the pace quickens before an ominous mid-point break, rebuilding on more pounding, almost industrial-sounding rhythms. Then an explosion expands out into searing leadwork before returning to the original trajectory. A powerfully expressive piece.
Next is the second single released this February, 1867: Storsvagåret, known as the year of the great famine brought about by severe freezing conditions resulting in poor harvests. This was worsened by work requirements to receive aid and the continuation of cereal exports to Great Britain. Some of the local emergency committees mixed the flour with lichen and had it baked into bread before distributing it to the poor.
Its consumption caused chest pains and, in children, vomiting. The flour aid was also secretly mixed with tree bark. Musically, a pounding repeat dominates, and the harsh vocals are delivered with vitriol. The vocal layering is impactful, the lead work is searing, and together, they make a statement that grabs your attention. I love how the pace and intensity build towards the close. It delivers a strong sense of dark desperation.
I am not quite sure what event 1965: Höghus Och Kultur refers to. The title translates as high-rise buildings and culture, and there are a lot of historic events around that subject, but nothing I can pinpoint. However, musically it is a catchy beast, an up-tempo driver that pounds along and grabs your attention from the outset.
The vocals are delivered with raw rapidity, and between the pounding drives, there are catchy swathes and searingly good blasts of leadwork that have a slightly thrashy quality, along with a wonderfully ominous lead segment midway through. Then, once again in the second half, all across the piece, the switching is frequent and slick, making it such an irresistible listen.
Next up is the third single released in March 1948: Att Döda Ett Barn (To Kill A Child), which tells of a terrible tragedy, where a moment of distraction and the driver not noticing the child in the road leads to the terrible loss and eternal burden of those involved.
Musically, it is probably my favourite RIKET piece. It has a very defined Swedish Death Metal sound and a repeating melodic element that is somewhat reminiscent of Rogga Johansson’s style, which I like immensely. You get a flowing mix of punchy drive and hauntingly emotive melodic swathes with the vocals punching through, and instead of a lead burst, the melody is reflected in a clean guitar passage in the second half. You do not need to speak Swedish to appreciate the emotion embedded within this piece. It is a superb listen.
1885: Dödsdansen (I Månskensnatten) reflects upon “The Dance of Death in the Moonlight Night” when Swedish singer Kristina Nilsson gave a free concert to the less well off from her Stockholm hotel balcony. This attracted so many people that it resulted in a human stampede and the death of many people, mostly women and children, for which Kristina largely blamed herself.
Musically, it is beautifully reflective to open with a clean acoustic guitar, then switching to a driving, crushing tumult of riffing, which largely dominates the piece, reflecting the stampeding crowd. This is broken up with melodic swathes that overlay the crushing riffs.
The midpoint zenith is a frantic bust of squealing leadwork, while the close is quite dramatic too, rapidly dropping away to acoustic guitar once again.
The next ill-fated tale is 1897: Mot Polen (Towards the Pole), referring to Andrée’s Arctic balloon expedition of 1897, a failed Swedish effort to reach the North Pole via a hydrogen balloon. He ignored many of the early signs of danger associated with his balloon plan, most importantly, not checking the equipment and the greater loss of hydrogen than expected.
This resulted in the balloon crashing after two days. The men S. A. Andrée, Knut Frænkel, and Nils Strindberg were unhurt but ill-prepared for the trek back, with no one making it back to safety. Their fate was not discovered for thirty-three years.
Musically, it’s a super atmospheric piece opening on icy winds, slow sombre riffs, and a very haunting tone to the vocal growls. I do like the contrast from the imposing swathes of tremolo picking dropped in amongst the more sombre segments. The midpoint leadwork is superb, soaring and uplifting, and for me suggests hope and success that was never realised. Closing on the icy winds, it is a beautifully expressive and powerful piece from RIKET.
1991: 2000 år (Saliga äro De Tålmodiga) Years (Blessed Are The Patient) I suspect refers to a period of significant political and economic change in Sweden when they underwent political turbulence and at times faced severe economic issues and recession. It is a sombre, reflective piece to open, and I love the protraction of the opening growl.
Afterwards, the pace elevates slightly, rising and falling, reflecting the social situation but always maintaining that sombre, serious mood. I like this piece immensely.
Although I do not know the story behind 1937: Lågor Vid Portarna (Laws At The Gates), what I do know is what a powerful, emotive and engaging listen the piece is. There is a haunting, repeating melody at the core that twists and mutates with fluidity. The vocals are delivered with power and authority, with leadwork that soars but maintains an ominous tone.
Final piece 2009: Alla Ska I Jorden (All Shall Go To The Earth) is a cover of a piece originally by Swedish rock singer-songwriter Stefan Sundström. The original was largely acoustic and was a powerful and moving piece in its own right.
RIKET follow true to the original with the raw bleak vocal delivery and acoustic element, but swap the blues rock element of the original with a more Death/Doom element, which works equally as well. I think it is an excellent interpretation.
2026 is an undeniably powerful listen, even more so because I love a good backstory. RIKET release 2026 on 10 April 2026 via Black Lion Records, it will be available as CD, vinyl or digital download. Pre-orders are available from orcd.co/blp0192.
