Biography
Makthaverskan approach indie pop with a theatrical flair that blends punk bite and post-punk theatricality, all while retaining melodic charm and prettiness. Led by Maja Milner's speaker-rattling vocals and driven by the band's urgent intensity, their initial releases stood out as a somber counterpoint to the cheerful Swedish indie pop sound prevalent in the early 2010s. The first three albums fulfilled that vision before the group pivoted toward the dreamy atmospherics of 2021's För Allting.
The band originated in 2008 and adopted a name drawn from the Swedish term for a powerful male, then altered with a feminine inflection. Its lineup featured vocalist/keyboardist Maja Milner alongside guitarist/bassists Hugo Randulv and Irma Krook, guitarist Gustav Andersson, and drummer Andreas Wettmark. Following a demo, they secured a deal with Luxury Records and issued their debut album, I, toward the end of 2009. Next came the "Antabus" single in 2011, coinciding with Randulv and Andersson's entry into the shoegaze outfit Westkust; both musicians maintained ties to Makthaverskan, leading to the March 2013 arrival of the second album, II, which was trailed by the "Something More" single.
Continued audience growth through recordings and performances eventually drew the attention of Run for Cover, which brought II to American listeners in 2014. Visa complications blocked a planned U.S. tour, yet the group reached SXSW in early 2015 around the issuance of the "Witness" single. Andersson had since departed to pursue solo work, so the remaining four members spent three years laboring in the studio with producer Hans Olsson Brookes on III, issued jointly by Luxury and Run for Cover in late 2017.
After further live appearances and the 2019 double-sided single "Demands"/"Onkel," the band commenced work on a fourth album with guitarist Per Svensson newly added. Songs developed without prior full arrangements, allowing room for exploration. Under producer Hannes Ferm of HOLY, they incorporated synthesizers, drum machines, and a shimmering layer of reverb across the dream pop-inflected För Allting, which surfaced in 2021.
The band originated in 2008 and adopted a name drawn from the Swedish term for a powerful male, then altered with a feminine inflection. Its lineup featured vocalist/keyboardist Maja Milner alongside guitarist/bassists Hugo Randulv and Irma Krook, guitarist Gustav Andersson, and drummer Andreas Wettmark. Following a demo, they secured a deal with Luxury Records and issued their debut album, I, toward the end of 2009. Next came the "Antabus" single in 2011, coinciding with Randulv and Andersson's entry into the shoegaze outfit Westkust; both musicians maintained ties to Makthaverskan, leading to the March 2013 arrival of the second album, II, which was trailed by the "Something More" single.
Continued audience growth through recordings and performances eventually drew the attention of Run for Cover, which brought II to American listeners in 2014. Visa complications blocked a planned U.S. tour, yet the group reached SXSW in early 2015 around the issuance of the "Witness" single. Andersson had since departed to pursue solo work, so the remaining four members spent three years laboring in the studio with producer Hans Olsson Brookes on III, issued jointly by Luxury and Run for Cover in late 2017.
After further live appearances and the 2019 double-sided single "Demands"/"Onkel," the band commenced work on a fourth album with guitarist Per Svensson newly added. Songs developed without prior full arrangements, allowing room for exploration. Under producer Hannes Ferm of HOLY, they incorporated synthesizers, drum machines, and a shimmering layer of reverb across the dream pop-inflected För Allting, which surfaced in 2021.
Albums
Singles
