{{Short description|Swedish post-punk band}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Makthaverskan | image = | image_size = 300px | landscape = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank --> | alt = | caption = | alias = | origin = Gothenburg, Sweden | genre = {{flatlist| * Post-punk * dream pop * jangle pop * gothic rock }} | years_active = {{start date|2008}}–present | label = Luxury (Sweden), Run For Cover (US) | associated_acts = | website = {{URL|http://www.makthaverskan.se/}} | current_members = *Maja Milner *Hugo Randulv *Irma Pussila Krook *Per Svensson *Andreas Palle Wettmark | past_members = *Gustav Data Andersson }}
'''Makthaverskan''' are a Swedish post-punk band from Gothenburg, formed in 2008. Led by vocalist Maja Milner, the band combines post-punk with elements of dream pop, jangle pop, gothic rock and shoegaze.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yu |first=Zhenzhen |title=Makthaverskan: För Allting |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/makthaverskan-for-allting/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Story of Goth in 33 Songs |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-story-of-goth-in-33-songs/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=Pitchfork |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-20 |title=Swedish Dream Pop Act Makthaverskan Announce New Album; Share Shimmering Lead Single "This Time" {{!}} Dusty Organ |url=https://dustyorgan.com/2021/09/20/swedish-dream-pop-act-makthaverskan-announce-new-album-share-shimmering-lead-single-this-time/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |language=en-US}}</ref>
==History== Makthaverskan began in 2008 with the release of both a mini CD with a collection of demos and their debut self-titled album, released by Luxury Records.<ref>{{cite web|title=Artist in profile: Makthaverskan|url=https://news.yahoo.com/artist-profile-makthaverskan-120907439.html|publisher=Yahoo News|accessdate=10 March 2015}}</ref> According to vocalist Maja Milner, the name Makthaverskan refers to the female version of the Swedish word ''makthavare'', which refers to a powerful male. The name came from a friend of band member Hugo Randulv, and Milner said "it describes Irma and me pretty well, since we both take charge and are powerful."<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last1=Kaplan |first1=Ilana |title=Makthaverskan Want You to Embrace Your Youth and Try to Sleep with Young, Hot Guys |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/makthaverskan-interview/ |access-date=10 March 2015 |publisher=Vice}}</ref> Milner was 16 when the band formed and Makthaverskan quickly ascended the Swedish festival circuit.<ref name=":1" />
In 2011, the band released the single "Antabus". Two years later, the band released both a 7" single titled "Something More" and their second full-length album ''Makthaverskan II'', which contained those singles.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|last1=Pelly|first1=Jenn|title=Rising: Makthaverskan|url=http://pitchfork.com/features/rising/9409-makthaverskan/|publisher=Pitchfork|accessdate=10 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Geffen|first1=Sasha|title=Makthaverskan – II|url=https://consequence.net/2014/05/album-review-makthaverskan-ii/|publisher=Consequence of Sound|access-date=10 March 2015}}</ref> Around this time, Milner moved to Berlin as a result of her interest in electronic music.<ref name=":0" /> ''Pitchfork'' named "Asleep" the 73rd-best song of 2014, and ''Makthaverskan II'' received recognition from the site as one of the most overlooked albums of the year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 100 Best Tracks of 2014 - Page 3 |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/9555-the-100-best-tracks-of-2014/?page=3 |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=Pitchfork |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-01-23 |title=Down Is Up 14: Makthaverskan, Bridge Collapse, The Courtneys |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/222-down-is-up-14-makthaverskan-bridge-collapse-the-courtneys/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Overlooked Records 2014 - Page 2 |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/9448-overlooked-records-2014/?page=2 |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=Pitchfork |language=en}}</ref>
In 2015, the band released a 7" single titled "Witness", which ''Pitchfork'' awarded with its Best New Track honor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Makthaverskan: "Witness" |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/17314-makthaverskan-witness/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Claymore|first1=Gabriela|title=Makthaverskan – "Witness"|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1735070/makthaverskan-witness/mp3s/|publisher=Stereogum|accessdate=10 March 2015}}</ref> The band's third album ''III'' came out in 2017, and guitarist Gustav Data Andersson left the band prior to its release in order to embark on a solo career.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Swedish Band Makthaverskan Watch The World Burn On New Song "Eden" |url=https://www.thefader.com/2017/09/13/makthaverskan-eden-premiere |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The FADER |language=en}}</ref> Andersson and Randulv also played in the band Westkust from 2011 to 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=BrooklynVegan |date=2015-03-03 |title=Makthaverskan side project Westkust releasing debut LP on Run for Cover (stream a track) |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/makthaverskan-s/ |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=BrooklynVegan |language=en-US}}</ref>
The band's fourth album ''För Allting'' was released in 2021, supported by the lead single "This Time".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-14 |title=Makthaverskan Announce New Album För Allting, Share New Song |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/makthaverskan-announce-new-album-for-allting-share-new-song-listen/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref>
In November 2025, the band released "Pity Party", the lead single to their fifth album ''Glass and Bones''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=INTERVJU + PREMIÄR: Makthaverskan – ”Pity Party” {{!}} HYMN|url=https://hymn.se/2025/11/27/intervju-premiar-makthaverskan-pity-party/|date=2025-11-27|access-date=2025-11-27|language=sv-SE}}</ref> The album was released on 3 April 2026, and it was named "Album of the Week" by ''Stereogum'', who described it as "the Sundays jolted to life with the hair-raising intensity of Love Is All, or Alvvays haunted by the spirit of Siouxsie and the Banshees."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-31 |title=Album Of The Week: Makthaverskan 'Glass And Bones' |url=https://stereogum.com/2494076/album-of-the-week-makthaverskan-glass-and-bones/reviews/album-of-the-week/ |access-date=2026-04-03 |website=stereogum.com |language=en}}</ref>
==Band members== *Maja Milner (vocals)<ref>{{cite web|title=Makthaverskan Interview|url=http://www.slothboat.com/2014/10/makthaverskan-interview.html|publisher=Slothboat|accessdate=10 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413205329/http://www.slothboat.com/2014/10/makthaverskan-interview.html|archive-date=13 April 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> *Hugo Randulv (bass, guitar) *Irma Pussila Krook (bass, guitar) *Per Svensson (guitar) *Andreas Palle Wettmark (drums)
Earlier members: *Gustav Data Andersson (guitar)
==Discography== '''Studio albums''' *''Makthaverskan'' (2009, Luxury, Run for Cover) *''Makthaverskan II'' (2013, Luxury, Run for Cover) *''III'' (2017, Luxury, Run for Cover) *''För Allting'' (2021, Run for Cover) *''Glass and Bones'' (2026, Welfare)
'''Singles''' *"Antabus" (2011, Luxury) *"Something More" (2013, Luxury) *"Witness" (2015, Luxury, Run for Cover]) *"In My Dreams" (2017, Luxury) *"Demands/Onkel" (2019, Luxury, Run for Cover)
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Musical groups from Gothenburg Category:Musical groups established in 2008 Category:Run for Cover Records artists