Makthaverskan played Great Scott – 10/8

Gothenburg, Sweden’s Makthaverskan, who specialize in a particularly effective brand of emotionally forthright and hook-y post-punk, played Great Scott earlier this month along with Denmark’s Lower. 

Visa issues had prevented Makthaverskan from entering the country earlier this year when I’d planned to see them at the same venue, and I missed out on their Middle East Upstairs makeup date due to my own incompetence, so I was glad to finally catch them on this Thursday evening. The quintet pulled off a detached-but-appreciative charm, and nailed a short and sweet set pulling largely from their excellent 2013 sophomore album Makthaverskan II. 

Once tangential associates of Danish punks Iceage, Lower played a set with significantly less scowl and snarl than I’d anticipated based on that fact and a familiarity only with their early demos. The band was much more post than punk on this night, anchored by vocalist Adrian Toubro’s earnestly theatrical stage presence. It was a solid opening set, but might’ve benefitted from a bit more bite.

Photos from both performances below.