Hostilia
Biography
Some bands spend years chasing trends. Hostilia would rather chase the feeling that made them fall in love with thrash metal in the first place.
In an era of endless editing, digital shortcuts and machine-like precision, the Gothenburg quintet remains stubbornly devoted to the qualities that once made thrash metal exciting: raw energy, ferocity, memorable songwriting and soul. That philosophy runs through every second of “The Curse of Khamun” – an album created with the conviction that music should sound like it’s being played by people, not computers.
Formed in Gothenburg, Sweden, in the fall of 2021 by brothers William Lindeblad (guitar) and Albert Lindeblad (drums), Hostilia quickly built a reputation as one of the most exciting young bands in the new wave of Swedish thrash metal. What started as a shared obsession with the classic metal records of the 1980s soon evolved into something much bigger.
Since the release of their debut album “Face The Fire” in 2025, the band has experienced a rapid rise. Critics embraced the album with enthusiasm, earning Hostilia praise from some of Europe’s biggest metal publications.
“Face the Fire is absolutely convincing. This talented quintet is one to keep both eyes and ears on.” – Metal Hammer
The band’s reputation as a live act grew even faster. Following tours and appearances alongside bands such as The Haunted and Dismember, Hostilia arrived at Sweden Rock Festival determined to prove that the hype was justified. The response was overwhelming.
“The competition is fierce among the young and hungry bands of the Swedish thrash wave, but today’s performance makes me wonder if Hostilia is already pulling away from the pack. The Gothenburg band takes no prisoners and places itself firmly on the throne of Swedish thrash metal.” – Sweden Rock Magazine
For their second album, “The Curse of Khamun”, the band made a conscious decision to take an even bigger step back in time. The philosophy was simple: nobody knows what Hostilia should sound like better than Hostilia themselves. The album was recorded and produced entirely by the band themselves, with acclaimed producer and engineer Per Stålberg (Welfare Sounds) assisting during the mixing process.
Every guitar on the album was recorded through real, mic’d amplifiers. No amp simulators. No shortcuts. No digital stand-ins. Hostilia believes that too much of today’s metal has lost the human element. When every drum hit lands with identical force and every note is locked perfectly to a grid, something important disappears. Hostilia wants listeners to hear the energy and the personality that once made thrash metal feel dangerous and alive.
To push the old-school approach even further, the final mixes were transferred to reel-to-reel tape, adding genuine analogue tape compression and character before mastering.
“The Curse of Khamun” also arrives less than a year after its predecessor – a release schedule that feels almost rebellious in today’s industry but was perfectly normal during metal’s golden era. If bands like Kiss, Black Sabbath and Motörhead could release two albums within a single year, why shouldn’t Hostilia?
The album’s title and artwork explore an Egyptian theme. Since many great metal bands eventually seem to make an Egyptian album, Hostilia figured it might be best to get theirs out of the way early.
Musically, however, there are no gimmicks involved. “The Curse of Khamun” builds on everything that made its predecessor stand out: razor-sharp riffs, memorable songwriting, aggressive energy and a genuine love for classic thrash and heavy metal. The result is a record that sounds unmistakably old-school while refusing to become a nostalgia exercise.
Two full-length albums in one year. A rapidly growing reputation as one of Europe’s most exciting young live bands – and an unwavering belief that metal should sound organic and alive.
For Hostilia, this is only the beginning.
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