On "Iconoclasts," von Hausswolff continues her exploration of the cathartic power of extreme sound, pairing a thunderous doom metal foundation with soaring, ethereal choral arrangements. This album solidifies her position as a singular voice in contemporary extreme music, pushing the boundaries of what both metal and sacred music can achieve.
- "Iconoclasts" was recorded over several sessions in studios across Europe, including the legendary Grand Temple of the Church of St. John in Paris. The album features a large choir assembled specifically for the recording, comprising over 50 singers from various European choral traditions. The release was preceded by a cryptic series of visual teasers and a single, "The Serpent," which hinted at the album's ambitious scope.
- The album was produced by von Hausswolff herself, with additional mixing and mastering by longtime collaborator Randall Dunn, known for his work with Sunn O))) and Earth. Chart performance: N/A - the album was released in late October 2025, and a full chart analysis is pending.
- Von Hausswolff's previous work often incorporated the resonant acoustics of pipe organs, but "Iconoclasts" sees her expanding her sonic palette to include more prominent choral arrangements and amplified instrumentation, creating a richer, more dynamic texture. The album's themes delve into the nature of belief, the subversion of religious iconography, and the search for transcendence through sonic force.
Anna von Hausswolff is a Swedish composer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist known for her unique blend of orchestral doom metal and gothic gospel. Her work often explores themes of the sacred, the profane, and the occult, utilizing pipe organs and a powerful vocal delivery to create a sound that is both beautiful and terrifying. Von Hausswolff's music exists in a space between the visceral and the spiritual, challenging traditional genre boundaries and audience expectations. She is an artist who demands attention, and her records are often landmarks in experimental and extreme music.
