Hater has returned with ‘Mosquito‘, and thankfully, it is much more pleasant than its namesake suggests. While an actual mosquito in your room in the middle of the night is a cause for psychological warfare, this Swedish quartet has delivered a collection of tracks that feel more like a cool breeze over a Malmö meadow. They’ve managed to bottle that specific brand of Scandinavian melancholy and mix it with enough jangle to make even the most cynical shoegaze fan crack a smile. It is the kind of record that makes you want to wear a beige trench coat and stare longingly out of a train window, but, like, in a really cool, fashionable way.
The production on ‘Mosquito‘ is crisp enough to satisfy the audiophiles but maintains that hazy, dream-like atmosphere that Hater has mastered over the years. Caroline Landahl’s vocals remain the secret sauce here; she sounds simultaneously bored with the world and deeply invested in your soul, floating over driving basslines that keep the energy from dipping into a total nap-fest. It’s indie rock that doesn’t try too hard to be “edgy,” which, in 2026, is a revolutionary act of its own. If this album were a person, it would be the friend who shows up to the party late, looks effortlessly better than everyone else, and then leaves early to go read a book by a lake.
If you’re looking for the absolute cream of the crop, a few tracks demand an immediate spot on your “Vibes” playlist. The title track, “Mosquito,” is an anthemic standout that proves the band can do big, sweeping melodies just as well as they do intimate lo-fi sketches. “Bad Luck” is another highlight, featuring a rhythmic drive that practically forces you to bob your head while contemplating your latest life choices. Finally, “Summer’s End” captures that bittersweet transition of seasons with a guitar tone so shimmering it might actually be made of literal sunlight. It’s a fantastic outing that proves Hater is still the undisputed heavyweight champion of Swedish indie-pop.
Links of interest:
https://www.instagram.com/haterrmusic/
https://hatermalmo.bandcamp.com/album/mosquito
https://www.firerecords.com/product/hater-mosquito/