From Shadows to Steel – Watcher's Chains of Crystal Rips Through 2025

After covering a band that holds a bigger name in the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal, it's time to shift gears and dig into the underground—where the real blood flows and steel shines untamed. Today’s victim: Sweden’s Watcher. Born as a solo vision by Viktor Gustafsson (you might know his voice from Lethal Steel), Watcher clawed into existence in 2023 and was quickly snatched up by Turborock Productions, an underground Swedish label for maniacs only.

But don’t be fooled—Watcher’s been grinding gears nonstop. In one blistering year, they dropped their debut full-length Key to the Unbreachable (I am the proud owner of a signed tape. First time I've ever won anything in a giveaway!) and a tasty single, Beyond the Iron Gate. Fast forward to 2025 and Watcher has mutated into a real-deal full band. Oscar Nyberg thunders on bass, Jakob Nilsson commands the drums, and shredder Max Warnby (from Master Massive) brings the axe fire. Some critics spat on the first full-length —calling it "middle of the road" or a "one-time affair." But y’know what? They just didn't get it. At KIT 2025, I saw Watcher shirts everywhere, sold through Turborock, looking absolutely killer. Trust me, Watcher is gaining a cult following pretty fast — and I'm damn well ready to join it.

And now… Chains of Crystal. Just an EP? Think again. This record obliterates their debut LP. It’s the sound of Watcher hitting maximum velocity—fueled by new blood and an uncompromising vision. The riffs? Ridiculous. The rhythm section? Tight as hell. Let’s tear this beast open and bleed it track by track.

Blodad Tand kicks things off—Swedish title, roughly “Bloody Tooth.” The intro’s pure 70s worship: gritty dual guitar licks, a bit of blues sprinkled inbetween, before slamming into FWOSHM/NWOBHM madness. Viktor’s vocals? Better than ever — layered, echoing, and slightly haunting. There’s a second vocal track buried deep in the mix, just a whisper behind him, but it adds so much atmosphere. No idea what he’s singing about, but it doesn't matter. It still rocks! The song loops full circle with that opening lick fading it out. This is how you open an EP: with class, hooks, and edge.

Avenged of the Lightning Flash is where things go full battle mode. The riffing twists and turns with progressive flair — think US Prog like Queensryche. Around the 1-minute mark, the mix flips: guitars drop back, and suddenly bass, drums, and vocals are right in your face. It’s one of those production choices that hits you like a bolt from the title. And the chorus? “LIGHTNING STRIKES AGAAAAAIN! OHOoooHOooOOOHH!” Good luck getting that out of your head — I’ve had it looping in my skull for hours during the writing process. Infectious doesn’t even cover it.

Beneath the Burning Skies dials it up again. Faster. Heavier. More punch to the gut. This one’s a headbanger’s dream from the first note. Viktor’s vocals walk the line between theatrical and razor-sharp—when he lets loose, it’s spine-tingling. Currently one of the best voices out of Swedens Underground Gutters. Max’s guitar leads are drenched in melody and power, pushing this track into “best of the EP” territory. And again, that chorus—“Beneath the burning skiiieieieiees!”—burns itself right into your brain.

Then we hit Raider of the Silver Moon. Sweet hell, that intro! Dual tremolo harmonies slicing through the night like spectral blades. It's euphoric. Around the 2-minute mark, the band throws the switch and the tempo rockets off like a war machine, hitting overdrive in the final half-minute. This song is a masterclass in dynamics—build, break, explode. By this point, Watcher’s sound is unmistakable: sharp, melodic, steel-plated. You hear them once, you know it’s them forever.

This is no exaggeration—Chains of Crystal might just be the best EP I’ve heard in 2025. It's short, sweet, and savagely executed. From the debut full-length to this, Watcher has leveled up into something special. The EP clocks in at 19 minutes and 19 seconds, and not a single one of those ticks is wasted. Pure, molten heavy metal.

Support this damn band. Buy the merch. Fly a Watcher shirt. Go to the gigs. And may the gods of heavy metal bring them to Germany soon.

🦇 Grab their merch and EP here: https://www.turborock.se/?s=watcher&post_type=product

Watcher - Chains of Crystal