Swedish metal powerhouse THERMALITY unleashes their most ambitious and emotionally charged record yet "Concept 42," out via Black Lodge Records. Following the global breakout of their 2024 release "The Final Hours," which dominated international metal charts and entered the official Swedish sales rankings, THERMALITY returns with a bold sonic statement. Recorded at the iconic Fredman Studios in Gothenburg, "Concept 42" marks the dawn of a new creative era—one that fuses technical mastery with raw emotional power. This album isn't just heavy. It's immersive, atmospheric, and unrelenting. Each track is part of a larger conceptual journey

The album has 12 songs, and "Friction" is first. It leads in with a little intro, leading to a firm riff and a heavy sound. As is a common feature in the genre, the music teeters on Thrash Metal with the riffs and harsh vocals, but the harmonized guitars create that melodic sensibility. I hear some IN FLAMES influences in "Brainstorm," both in the way the vocals are delivered, and the meaty, harmonized guitar parts. Add in the big chorus, and it's very close. You could do a lot worse as influences. IN FLAMES always has the melodies down, and that's why I like them so much. THERMALITY follows suit well. "Inception" is the first single released from the album, and it has a nice combination of aggressiveness with melody. That, by definition, is the genre. Some of the tones are a bit somber, and they nail the vulnerable side of their music.

The title track features meaty bass notes along with the firm palate of guitars and drums that move well together. Again, the melodies are on point here, and the harsh vocals bring the bite with them. "Breaking Point" uses atmospheric tones to set the initial mood, and that guitar riff is punishing. The chorus is large and melodic, and the structure of the song is as thick as concrete. "The Hollow" is another melodic song, and I must add, that often bands in this genre have the "death" part down, but not the "melodic" part, and THERMALITY offers both. The also offer them not as equals, but the melody helps to temper the aggressiveness. "SMILE" is another winner, and so far, the band hasn't missed a step. The bottom end is weighted, but the melody helps the song to rise.

"Lost Inside" has a deep, dark groove to it, and if your head isn't moving along, you might be dead. The clean female vocals are also a really nice surprise, and they help the album in the diversity department. "Tomorrow" is the final offering, and those twin guitar harmonies are excellent. The harsh vocals here are very angry, but the cleans are more somber and help the song to cool down a bit. This was an excellent album, and the balance the band was able to maintain throughout the album is noteworthy. As a longtime fan of the genre, it's hard not to compare them to country-mates, and you could do a lot worse than an IN FLAMES comparison. Some might not like too much melody in their music, but again, it is so well done here.