Spiders - Killer Machine (2018)

Based out of the musically rich city of Gothenburg, Swedish hard rockers Spiders employ a refreshingly spirited and decidedly non-black metal-influenced sound that harks back to late-'70s and early-'80s decibel pushers like Girlschool, Motörhead, and even Aussie underground punk purveyors Radio Birdman, not to mention fellow retro-rock Scandinavians Graveyard and Kvelertak. Formed in 2010 around the talents of John Hoyles (Witchcraft), Olle Griphammar, Richard Harryson, and charismatic frontwoman Ann-Sofie Hoyles, the quartet issued its eponymous debut EP via Crusher Records in 2011, followed in 2012 by its debut long-player, Flash Point, the latter of which earned the band a Swedish Radio Award nomination for best rock/metal album of the year. Spiders' sophomore studio outing, the Spinefarm-issued Shake Electric, arrived in November 2014. ~ James Christopher Monger