photos by Ekaterina Yakyamseva

(Comrade Aleks has brought us many good interviews for many years, all of them worth some attention, but some stand well forward of others, and this discussion with Johan from Rikets is one of them. Read it and you’ll see why.) 

The debut album by Swedish death metallers Riket was released to mark the band’s tenth anniversary. And it’s not just another melodic death metal band, as, foremost, all lyrics are written in the native language and it’s inspired by historical events in Sweden. And as you may imagine, the album’s title 2026 isn’t just a number. At the same time, there’s no room for the usual metal cliches like Vikings’ conquests or war in Riket’s lyrics, and every song is named after the year when this event took place. The band focuses on more specific authentic topics, which you will learn from the interview below.

Meanwhile Riket has created an organic, well-produced, and honest album in the key of sophisticated yet straightforward melodic death metal. And 2026 has every chance of being remembered by listeners for more than just the lyrics. Continue reading »