Genre/Influences: EBM.

Format: Digital, Vinyl, Cassette.

Background/Info: Tomas Zackarias Westberg is a Swedish artist who has been involved with numerous projects. During the past few years he mainly focused on his EBM project Syntet, releasing multiple singles. “Hjärtats Slag” was released by the end of 2020 and is the project’s debut album featuring ten songs.

Content: While the front cover of the album looks clearly inspired by a Throbbing Gristle album, the sound is into pure EBM. Syntet deals with a somewhat minimal-like EBM sound, which reminds me of DAF. The songs have been sung in Swedish and are featuring some backing guest vocalists; Leif Viklund isn’t exactly a familiar name, but one of the songs is featuring J3 from à Grumh… (and that’s maybe not totally surprising as one of Westberg projects, Queer, was influenced by à Grumh…).

+ + + : Syntet took me by surprise. This project deals with pretty cool retro/minimal-driven EBM. There’s something to say about nearly every single song although I have a preference for “Ungdomens Hus” and “Som Du”. All songs excel in great minimalism, like reminding us that a good song doesn’t need to be complex. It’s just the power and efficiency of the sound treatments and structures.

– – – : The songs are pretty short and that’s a pity; before you really realize it the album is already coming to its end. 

Conclusion: If you like retro-EBM and you don’t know Syntet yet, just buy this work without hesitation!

Best songs: “Ungdomens Hus”, “Som Du”, “Brinner Ut”, “Lova Mig Allt Blir Bra”, “Genom Natt Och Dag”.

Rate: 8.

Artist & Label: www.facebook.com/syntetmusik