Release Date April 10th, 2026
Format Digital/CD/Vinyl
Genre Hard Rock, Stoner Rock
Origin Norway
Bergen usually spits out black metal icons and frostbitten shrieks, but Masheena is a different beast entirely. Born from a mix of seasoned veterans from the Norwegian scene, this crew spent their early days proving they could master the heavy, fuzz-drenched grooves of the desert while keeping a foot in the classic rock vault. After their debut "West Coast Hard Rock" shook up the underground, the lineup shifted, bringing in fresh blood to reinforce the foundation laid by Luis-Alberto Salomon and the Heggernes brothers. Now, they return with a refined focus, trading some of that initial novelty for a more concentrated dose of high-voltage energy on their second full-length outing.
"Let The Spiders In" is a loud, arrogant reminder that big riffs are the only currency that matters. The album kicks off with "Been Waiting", and it’s immediately obvious that the production by Machine has stripped away any unnecessary fluff to leave the skeleton of the songs exposed. There is a swagger here that feels earned, not faked for the sake of an image. The transition into "Going To The Mountain" shows the band is comfortable leaning into those mid-tempo grooves that make your neck ache without needing to rely on excessive speed or gimmicks. It’s the kind of sound that sounds best coming out of blown-out speakers in a basement.
The vocals on "One Eye" and "A Game You Don't Want To Lose" have a certain snarl that pairs well with the thick layers of guitar. Luis-Alberto Salomon handles the heavy lifting on the six-string with a style that values the hook over technical showboating, while the rhythm section of Tarjei A Heggernes and Bård Heavy Nordvik keeps the pulse steady and heavy. There’s a noticeable shift in "Life Is But A Sin" where the atmosphere thickens, showing that Masheena can handle a darker vibe without losing the momentum they built in the first half of the record. They aren't playing around with experimental nonsense; they are just hammering home the point.
Halfway through, "Sara Lost Her Way" and "In Her Eyes" keep the pressure high. The band relies on a formula of catchy choruses backed by a wall of sound that feels authentic to the hard rock tradition. The songs are short and focused, avoiding the trap of dragging out ideas past their expiration date. "Don't Tell Her" and "Riffy" do exactly what the titles suggest, delivering straightforward hooks and a relentless low-end rumble that keeps the energy from dipping. It’s clear the time spent in the studio was used to trim the fat, resulting in a collection of tracks that demand to be played at maximum volume.
By the time "You Owe Me" brings the album to a close, Masheena has successfully avoided the sophomore slump. They have doubled down on the elements that made their debut work, the heavy grooves and the melodic sensibilities, while tightening the screws on the songwriting. It’s a relentless, high-energy trip that confirms these Norwegians are more than just a one-hit wonder in the stoner rock circuit. If you want something that respects the old school while having enough teeth to stay relevant in the current scene, this is the record to put on.
Score: 7.5
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