When a debut album manages to sound both raw and refined, you know the artists behind it have put their hearts on the line. That’s exactly what Malmö-based indie folk rock band And The Broken have done with Changes, a nine-track record released on October 8, 2025. After several EPs that hinted at their evolving sound between 2022 and 2024, the group finally delivers a full-length project that feels like both a statement and a confession. Recorded in singer Tobias Borelius’s home and the band’s rehearsal space, this album carries the intimacy of a live performance and the warmth of genuine craftsmanship.
The record opens with Into the Black, setting the emotional tone immediately. Written by guitarist Johan Hellsten, this song was the first to be tracked when Johan and Tobias gathered a day before the rest of the band. Its melancholic atmosphere feels cinematic, layered with echoing guitars and a haunting cello performance by Nelly Karinsdotter Pålsson. There’s a sense of stillness and introspection, reminiscent of Australian post-punk and the dark romanticism of Greg Dulli. It’s a slow-burn opener that invites listeners into the shadows before the light gradually appears across the rest of the album.
The title track Changes follows as the heart of the record. Initially inspired by the gritty edge of Dinosaur Jr., it evolved into something sunnier and more relaxed, soaked in the soft glow of a West Coast summer. The addition of Svante Svärd’s saxophone and the mellotron brings an unexpected warmth to the mix, adding a layer of nostalgia that feels cinematic yet deeply human. You can sense the band finding comfort in impermanence here—the way seasons shift, people grow, and perspectives soften with time. It’s not just a song about change; it’s about acceptance.
Then comes June, a track that feels like a coming-of-age memory sealed in sound. The ukulele gives it a playful pulse, while the lyrics capture the restless energy of youth and the search for identity. Tobias originally wrote the verse and chorus before the band built it into a fuller piece, and the result is a song that glows with empathy. It’s based on a true story, which explains why it feels so emotionally grounded. The song’s simplicity hides its sophistication—each note seems to balance hope with melancholy.
Running Out of Time takes a turn toward folk-pop territory with a soulful trumpet part by Jens Lindgård that immediately makes it stand out. The band’s critics compared it to Fleet Foxes and Mumford & Sons, and it’s easy to understand why. The harmonies soar without losing their tenderness, while the lyrics—originally written about a bird—morphed into a meditation on aging and the fleeting nature of time. It’s one of those songs that lingers after it ends, echoing in your mind with the reminder that life moves faster than we think.
With Rust, the mood shifts inward again. A late-night text from guitarist Linus Lindvall sparked the song’s creation, and its stripped-down structure reflects that intimacy. Featuring only acoustic guitars, vocals, and cello, the absence of drums or bass makes it feel fragile and exposed. Yet, within that sparseness lies a quiet power. It’s a piece that finds strength in vulnerability, proving that sometimes the softest sounds leave the deepest impact.
The next pairing—Polaroid and Cardboard Boxes—was originally conceived as one track before being split into two distinct pieces. That decision feels brilliant in hindsight. Together, they create a narrative arc of a relationship under strain, balancing tenderness with tension. Polaroid captures the fading beauty of shared memories, while Cardboard Boxes symbolizes the bittersweet process of moving on. These two songs feel like emotional siblings—interconnected but independent, each telling its own side of the story.
Modern World pulls listeners back into the social and existential present. Initially written as a short, introspective song by Tobias, it evolved into something much more dynamic as the band’s chemistry transformed it. The inclusion of Svante Svärd’s saxophone again adds grit and groove, and the song’s core lyric—“Crazy people rule the world”—lands with sharp clarity. Musically, it channels a Velvet Underground energy: loose, slightly chaotic, but undeniably magnetic. It’s both a critique and an anthem for anyone feeling out of place in a world that often seems upside down.
Closing the record is Leave After Midnight, a song with a backstory that feels as personal as the track itself. Written by Tobias after a night out with his friend Jonatan—who also designed the album’s artwork—it captures that late-night haze when the fun fades and self-awareness creeps in. The lyrics are honest and self-deprecating, a reflection on knowing one’s limits and learning when to step away. It’s an understated yet perfect way to end the record, gently leading listeners out of the emotional world And The Broken have built.
What makes Changes so compelling is the way it embraces contradictions. The album feels both spontaneous and carefully constructed, nostalgic yet forward-looking, personal but accessible. Every member of the band contributes something essential—whether it’s Tobias’s heartfelt songwriting, Johan’s textured guitar work, Linus’s intuitive instincts, or the guest musicians who add color and dimension to the arrangements. The production by Andreas Ejnarsson and Linus Lindvall maintains a warm, organic tone throughout, making even the most complex moments feel natural.
There’s an emotional continuity across Changes that ties its nine tracks together, even as the band experiments with different sounds—from folk and indie rock to soft jazz and acoustic minimalism. The through-line is sincerity. These are songs written and recorded in spaces where the band feels comfortable, and that intimacy translates into the listening experience.
With Changes, And The Broken deliver a debut album that feels both personal and universal, blending the honesty of folk storytelling with the energy of indie rock and the subtle sophistication of jazz-inflected arrangements. It’s a record about growth, self-reflection, and the beauty found in uncertainty. By capturing the small details of human experience—late-night thoughts, fading relationships, quiet moments of clarity—the band has created something enduring.
In a musical landscape often dominated by spectacle, Changes stands out for its quiet conviction. It’s an album that invites you to listen, not just hear. And in doing so, And The Broken have introduced themselves not as newcomers testing the waters, but as seasoned storytellers ready to make their mark.
