“We’re a hopeless case, I think!”

Wolverine frontman Stefan Zell laughs. It’s been a decade since the Söderhamn quintet last released a full album, 2016’s ‘Machina Viva’, and four years since their last EP, 2021’s ‘A Darkened Sun’, raised hopes that the Swedish prog metallers were back with a vengeance.

“Life got in the way,” Zell sighs when talking about what they’ve been up to in the ensuing years. “We released ‘Still’ in 2006, that’s going to be 20 years ago soon! Up until then, we were really focused on the band. With ‘Still’, we thought we had the album, but everything just went quiet; it just didn’t take off.

“We have always prided ourselves on creating albums that we feel proud of. We want to really feel like this is something we can stand by.”

Step forward Everon’s Oliver Philips, who’s worked with the Swedes since 2001’s ‘The Window Purpose’ debut album, and whose own band has just made their first new studio album for 17 years, for Music Theories Recordings!

“When we started writing for this album, we again wanted to work with Oliver,” Zell says. “He’s produced albums before for us, and I wanted to record vocals with him again. And he helped us get in touch with [Music Theories Recordings founder] Ed van Zijl, and one thing led to another. It ignited our spark again. I’m also 20 years older now than when I recorded ‘Still’. To think I have a sober look at it now, I’m really happy to be able to release this album.”

Today, Zell is brimming with enthusiasm, fired up by the knowledge that his band - the ‘Machina Viva’ line-up of Jonas Jonsson (guitar), Thomas Jansson (bass), Marcus Losbjer (drums), and Per Henriksson (keyboards) remains intact. For a band unafraid to delve into the disquiet corners of life, the mood is bold and upbeat.