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**Kent - Vapen & Ammunition**
★★★★☆

By the time Kent entered the studio to record their seventh album in 2008, Sweden's most beloved alternative rock band had already weathered two decades of creative evolution, from the grunge-tinged angst of their early years to the synthesizer-drenched grandeur that had made them stadium-filling legends across Scandinavia. Yet something felt different this time around. The quintet – Joakim Berg, Sami Sirviö, Markus Mustonen, Martin Sköld, and Harri Mänty – were entering what many sensed might be their final chapter, and *Vapen & Ammunition* carries the weight of that premonition like a beautifully crafted funeral shroud.

The album's title, translating to "Weapons & Ammunition," suggests a band arming themselves for battle, though the warfare here is largely internal. Berg's lyrics have always possessed a melancholic poetry that resonates deeply within Swedish culture, but on these ten tracks, there's an urgency that feels almost desperate. This is a band confronting mortality – both personal and artistic – while simultaneously creating some of their most accessible material to date.

Musically, *Vapen & Ammunition* finds Kent retreating from the experimental electronic territories they'd explored on previous efforts, instead crafting a sound that marries their alternative rock roots with a newfound pop sensibility. The production, handled by Stefan Boman, is crystalline yet warm, allowing every shimmering guitar line and synthesizer wash to breathe while maintaining the density that makes these songs feel cinematic in scope.

The album's masterstroke arrives early with "Töntarna," a soaring anthem that builds from whispered vulnerability to stadium-sized catharsis. Berg's vocals float above a bed of reverb-soaked guitars and subtle electronic textures, creating something that feels both intimate and epic. It's quintessential Kent – the ability to make the personal feel universal, the local feel cosmic. Similarly powerful is "Vinternoll2," which strips away much of the band's typical sonic architecture to focus on Berg's haunting delivery over minimal instrumentation, proving that sometimes less truly is more.

"Petroleum" showcases the band's skill at crafting pop songs without sacrificing their artistic integrity. Built around a hypnotic guitar riff and driven by Mustonen's precise drumming, it's perhaps the most radio-friendly track in Kent's catalog, yet it never feels calculated or cynical. The song's environmental themes are delivered with characteristic Swedish directness, wrapped in melodies that burrow deep into the subconscious.

The album's emotional centerpiece, "Ismael," finds Berg at his most vulnerable, delivering a performance that feels like a confession whispered in the dark. Sirviö's guitar work here is particularly noteworthy – economical yet expressive, providing the perfect counterpoint to Berg's introspective lyrics. It's the kind of song that reminds you why Kent became such an integral part of the Swedish cultural landscape.

Not every moment reaches these heights. "Ensammast i Sverige" feels slightly undercooked, its promising premise never quite developing into the emotional powerhouse it threatens to become. Similarly, "Passagerarna" meanders where it should soar, though even Kent's lesser moments possess a craftsmanship that many bands would consider their finest work.

The closing track, "Hur jag fick dig att älska mig," serves as both summary and farewell, its title translating to "How I Got You to Love Me." Over seven minutes, the song builds from gentle acoustic beginnings to a wall of sound that feels like both celebration and lament. It's the sound of a band saying goodbye without explicitly stating their intentions.

*Vapen & Ammunition* would indeed prove prophetic – Kent announced their disbandment just four years later, making this album feel like a beautifully orchestrated swan song. The record peaked at number one in Sweden and earned critical acclaim across Europe, but more importantly, it provided a fitting coda to one of Scandinavia's most important musical stories.

Looking back, *Vapen & Ammunition* stands as Kent's most cohesive statement – a perfect balance of their experimental impulses and pop instincts, delivered with the wisdom that comes from two decades of making music together. It's an album that feels both timeless and of its moment, a reminder that the best art often emerges when artists sense their time is running short.